The Stellar is just on the corner of Hyde Park so you get a nice stroll through the park on your way to the harbour, Opera House etc. It's also pretty well next door to a good sized supermarket - useful as the room has a microwave and toaster plus small dining table and chairs. There's a good bed, large TV and excellent shower. Service is OK but not particularly friendly. We wouldn't hesitate to stay there again

My friend and I (both female, early 30's) stayed at the Best Western Hotel Stellar for three nights in December 2011. First the good: The location was decent and we found it relatively easy to get to most sights/ locations of interest, particularly the Royal Botanical Gardens. A few of the female staff members at the front desk were very nice and tried hard to make guests happy. It's also nice to have a kitchenette on a long trip for drinks and breakfast items.

Unfortunately, that is where the good ended for me. There is no way this is a four star hotel - manage your expectations closer to a 2 star. Most of the staff at the hotel were either rude or appeared to be completely untrained in customer service and the surrounding area. Yes - this is a Best Western and not a Ritz Carlton and the front desk staff is not a concierge, but a friendly smile and basic suggestions of restaurants, neighborhoods, things to do and public transportation are expected at almost any hotel (but not here). Even in the pouring rain, there is no one that will call a cab, help with your bags, or even open a door. The wireless in our room - which came at a hefty cost - only worked intermittantly and constantly had to be reset through the front desk. The "happy hour" advertised throughout the hotel is really the woman at the front desk having to leave her post to make you a drink, and you will be the only person / group there and made to feel like a burden. The bed is hard as a rock, room cleaning may or may not happen on any given day, and the hallways are filthy.

Worth noting, almost all of my other reviews on Trip Advisor are overwhelmingly positive. Yes - I like a nice hotel, but good (or bad) service is what really sets a hotel apart. We stayed at another Best Western in Christchurch, NZ on the same trip and had a great experience - it's not an issue with the brand. I would never stay at this hotel again - stay closer to the harbor and away from the Hotel Stellar.

Stayed just two nights in Jan 2012 at the Stellar and were pleasantly surprised. Clean, comfortable and a nice location for us - next to Hyde park and Oxford street and very close to train and bus stops which we used. We had a nice walk to circular quay for a trip on the ferry to Tooronga park zoo and caught the free sydney circle bus back to the hotel at the end of the day.
It's a small hotel didn't seem to offer all fancy extra's of really big hotels, but we weren't looking for that - just an economoical, comfortable, relaxed central location to explore Syndney from. staff were always very helpful - only one minor annoyance was the electric sliding entry doors were not working well - meaning you had to wait on occassion for staff to notice you and open the doors from inside...hope they have it fixed by now!

Our room was one on the main road, so it was a bit noisy when the traffic started in the early hours, but very nice room. It was a pleasant surprise really.