About Rydges Newcastle
Situated on the harbour, the 4.5 star Rydges Newcastle (Formerly Crowne Plaza Newcastle) places guests near the Newcastle Museum and the Civic Theatre. The hotel features a business centre and an outdoor pool.
The hotel has 175 suites, each one offering city or river views, along with plush king or queen beds, separate seating areas, breakfast bars, cable TV and Internet access. Many suites have a private balcony.
Facilities at the Rydges Newcastle (Formerly Crowne Plaza Newcastle) include a 24-hour front desk, a fitness room, dry cleaning and laundry services, luggage storage and meeting space. Valet parking costs extra.
On-site dining is available at the harbourside Seasalt Restaurant and Bar. Plus, guests can order room service from the 24-hour Body and Soul menu.
The hotel lies within a 20-minute walk of the Newcastle Ocean Baths, Fort Scratchley and Nobbys Beach, within three miles of Broadmeadow Racecourse and a 30-minute drive from the TreeTop Adventure Park.
Positive Reviews
positive:
Fabulous location
Guests love the location of the Crowne Plaza Newcastle and rate the harbour views highly. Enjoy them from a harbourside room or from the Seasalt Restaurant and Bar. Even better, step outside and stand at the water's edge. Guests enjoyed seeing the local fishing boats and tugs.
positive:
Spacious suites with good amenities
The size of the suites at this hotel go down well, with guests finding they have ample space to spread out a little and relax. The separate seating area gives a home-like vibe, as does the separate breakfast area. Suites are also described as clean and comfortable.
positive:
Guest experience is a priority
Reviews indicate that the staff at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle put guest satisfaction at the top of their list of priorities. Guests rate the service culture here highly, commenting how they felt welcome and were well looked after during their stay.
Negative Reviews
negative:
Slow service in the bar
Although guests are generally positive about their experience in the hotel's restaurant and bar, a number of reviews indicate that slow service in the bar is a fairly regular occurrence. Guests report waiting for up to 30 minutes to be served a glass of wine - a little unexpected near the Hunter wine valley!
negative:
Occasional issues with water pressure
While not a frequent complaint, some guests do mention that they found the water pressure in their suite was dismal. You might end up taking a less than refreshing shower in the morning.
negative:
Extra costs mount up
The Crowne Plaza Newcastle is far from a budget hotel, so you shouldn't expect the rooms to come in that cheaply. What bothers guests more is the array of extra charges. You should anticipate paying additional fees for Internet access, parking and service charges for room service.