We have learned a sharp lesson about 'boutique hotels' in Sydney. It means old fashioned, not particularly clean, very jaded, and very poor facilities. We had booked in here for a few nights, arriving at 7.00am early morning we did not expect access to our room but at least somewhere where we could freshen up. We were told to use... more

Brilliant location in The Rocks, you literally cross the street and go down a flight of steps and you are staring at the Opera House and the Bridge. Lots of places to eat and drink without having to venture far. I loved the charm and character of this old building, even the narrow winding stairs! Small double room that had... more

We have just returned from Sydney and spent four nights there, split between the beginning and end of our trip. I chose the Russell for its great location in the Rocks district, close to Circular Quay and the Harbor Bridge. Since my husband and I traveled with our 13 year old daughter, we got the suite, which is comprised of... more

We wish we had read the TripAdvisor 11/16/07 (San Francisco, CA) review prior to making our reservation--it mirrors our experience. We appreciate historic properties. The Russell, however, is just old, musty and lacks charm. Further, the hosts were quite rude. There is no elevator/lift and the only access is via a narrow (read one-way) staircase consisting of 24 steps with... more

The Russell Hotel is located a stone’s throw from the Circular Quay - great location for taking the ferries, walking to the Opera House, and exploring the historic Rocks district. The breakfast room is located on the 1st floor so entering the hotel was a little confusing - it looked as if you are entering a restaurant instead of a... more

Location, location, location. Be aware that you won't spend much time in the hotel anyway and being right on George Street can be priceless. I liked the hotel and its personnel a lot. Breakfasts were delicious as well. One thing is that rooms are located on the second/third floors that requires some climbing up and down the stairs with no... more

The Russell has the perfect location. It's a small, quirky "boutique" hotel directly across the street from the Circular Quay. This was our first trip to Sydney and we were thankful to be so close to the typical touristy action. Upon arrival, we were a bit confused where to check in (past the restaurant and up the stairs), but once... more

I stayed here Feb-2008 for 2 days. It cost $240 a night but with the extra charge for paying with Amex - it cost an extra $20 a night. However the staff did warn about that on day 1 - so if I wanted to I could have paid with cash to avoid it, however I didn't have $500 spare... more

What a great hotel! We stayed at the Russell during mid December for two nights. It was my first time in Sydney and it was a great place to crash. I don't like the big chain hotels so I picked one with a bit of character and this hotel definitely has that! It is just across the street from Circular... more