Mascot Hotels with Breakfast

Pros: 1) Spacious, practical layout with a large balcony, perfect for families. 2) Very close to the airport. An Uber ride costs around AUD 16 in the morning and AUD 22 at night. 3) Plenty of USB sockets in both the rooms and the lobby, which is very convenient. 4) There's a heated pool and a 24-hour gym. 5) Replenishment requests are delivered quickly. 6) Equipped with a washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Cons: 1) The front desk service was mediocre. Upon entering the room, we found one of the bedroom doors locked, and it took multiple calls and reminders before someone came to unlock it. 2) The slippers were incredibly thin, practically like walking barefoot. I've never encountered such poor quality slippers in a hotel before. 3) There was a toothbrush on the shower caddy in one of the bathrooms. 4) The shower door in one bathroom easily hits the sink cabinet when opened, which is quite dangerous. 5) The kitchen lacked a soup pot, only providing a frying pan, which was very inconvenient. 6) Some household appliances were malfunctioning: two USB ports on the dining table were broken, the kettle lid couldn't be opened properly, and the shower in one room made a rattling sound when in use. 7) Even on the strongest setting, the dryer couldn't fully dry the clothes.

Hotel location and surroundings: It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the airport, mostly on sidewalks, though you do have to cross a main road in the middle. The section of road approaching the hotel can be quite dark at night. While there's a McDonald's and convenience store nearby, getting to them requires a long detour because of a major road. Front Desk/Check-in: There's an accessible ramp, which is convenient for luggage. The staff were all very welcoming and helpful, and the check-in process was smooth. Amenities: There's a snack bar near the front desk with reasonable prices. There's also a restaurant on the same floor where you can grab a bite to eat. Room: The room isn't large, but it was spotless. There's a wall-mounted desk and chair, which is handy for working. The wet and dry areas of the bathroom are well-separated, and the shower area is notably raised. The room comes with a large glass carafe and two cups. You can refill water at the water station in the hallway, and the water is clean with no strange taste – a big plus. The only minor downside is that the air conditioning is slow to cool. Even set to 20 degrees Celsius with max fan speed, it still takes at least 10-15 minutes to start feeling cooler. Shuttle Service: You can book it when you check in at the front desk, and they'll give you a green ticket. The earliest shuttle is at 5:00 AM, and then it runs every half hour. The ride takes about 10-20 minutes. Shuttle Service Note: The free shuttle service has been discontinued; it now costs $12 per person.

I stayed at this hotel a few years ago. I chose it because it's close to the airport, not far from the subway station, and offers a shuttle service, which, though paid, is still cheaper than taking the subway and saves you the hassle of lugging luggage around. Compared to my previous stay, the hotel facilities have been upgraded; all power outlets now include USB ports, which is very convenient for charging phones. My reservation stated that airport pick-up was included. Upon arrival, I also booked the drop-off service. When checking out, the front desk staff didn't look closely and overcharged me for the pick-up service. After I pointed it out, they admitted the mistake and said they would refund the overcharged amount. However, I received a notification that my card was charged (because the initial deposit was insufficient). After contacting Trip.com, they helped resolve the issue. I thought the hotel would just refund the overcharged pick-up fee, but they ended up refunding both the pick-up and drop-off fees. I'm very satisfied with their service.

Accommodation was as described: simple, clean, comfortable, low cost and convenient to Sydney airport and Mascot station. Breakfast was a choice of cereals. No complaints.