No (Cap)ella Sydney
The Capella in Sydney was a delightful stay. I stayed there this past weekend to attend my cousin's wedding at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney's Darling Harbour.
The first thing that stood out to me, even before I got to the room, was the service from the friendly staff, from the assistance of the bell staff with no expectation of tips, to the front desk personnel, particularly Eden, who was quick to check me in, walked me to my room, and even took pictures of me and my family before our departure for the wedding. Another staff member complimented me on my Hello Kitty bag charm and gave me tips on where to get more in Sydney City. Aside from one rude male staffer in the Living Room, the service was exceptional.
The front desk upgraded our room for a small fee, and I was settled into my room before 11 am. The stay comes with complimentary breakfast, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages at the Living Room downstairs all day (plus a cocktail hour between 4:30 and 5:30 pm), and all non-alcoholic beverages in the room were complimentary as well.
This sort of hospitality is something I've mainly only experienced in hotels in Asia, countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and the like. This is uncommon for a hotel in Sydney's city CBD and is a beautiful touch.
The room itself was large, spacious, and spotless. Everything was operated through an iPad placed in the room, and I could communicate with the service staff through WhatsApp, which has become a common occurrence on the last few trips I've taken over the past couple of years.
But I think the most personal touch was the journal included in the room, which prompts you not only to reflect on this stay during your travels, but, I will be taking it with me on my future travels, to decompress and reflect on what a privilege it is not just to travel, but to travel in this capacity, and stay in the places I've stayed.
The wedding itself was a good time as well. Though the Hyatt Regency can often come off as mass-produced, the decorations and the speeches were tasteful, even if some of the guests/company weren't (lol).
