The Sarah by Urban Rest

This is really not worth considering as a stay in Sydney, it maybe cheap but they really should call it a hostel. After travelling extensively this is the only venue to ask for selfies and passport photos before arriving, and also asking for 200 dollars security deposit. The room was tiny, admittedly we booked the petite room, but there is absolutely no where to put your belongings. There are no hooks, no table tops. Towels have to remain wet after the shower. The bathroom provides no privacy with a glass wall and even a mirror on the wall opposite, I would not recommend staying here with someone who you are not familiar with. The bedding was filthy, they haven’t bothered to use traditional duvet cover, simply put the duvet between 2 sheets so you end up sleeping in just the duvet, and we know this duvet is not cleaned anywhere near enough, clearly stains on the duvet and the bottom sheet. We sent photos of the stains and they still have not responded and it’s been a week. The location is not central, it’s quite a walk to many of the city’s destinations you would want to visit. No breakfast available even though it is advertised. No safe in the room so you end up having to carry passports and valuables everywhere. Overall, you need to add a lot of improvements to make this room/hostel a pleasant place to stay

Attempted to access the cafe earlier in the day but was told it was closed (at midday) - understand it was a late request. Customer service is based in the UK after hours and Bondi in the day - lovely staff who attempted to help, but obviously not great being remote. Slightly disconcerting that the front door takes ages to close - anyone can walk in off street if you don’t wait around for front door to secure itself! (Security risk). Was allocated the accessible room (Apt 2) which was strange as didn’t book/require and had booked many months in advance. The bathroom was flooded after showering - no counter space to place toiletries on, accessible bathroom door which not ideal for able bodied guest. Couldn’t not offer a change of rooms due to max capacity - so not really happy. Could hear neighbours and those in the hall like they were in my room- paper thin walls. Was clean, plenty of towels, hanging space, small fridge, kettle and tea - so not a complete right-off for 1 night stay, but won’t be back.

Property itself was really clean and well decorated. I didn’t mind how small the room was because it had nice big windows and balconies and everything I needed. It was a bit strange having to walk through the closed cafe downstairs to get to the room but I would stay here again.

Need an entrance keypad at head height. I appreciate the need for an accessible level pad, but it’s too low to see for standing guests.

Absolutely awful. #1. We were supposed to receive check-in instructions 48 hours before our arrival. We did not. I tried to reach out to Urban Rest, but no one would answer. I finally reached out to ******* the night before, and they were able to get a hold of Urban Rest and have our check-in instructions e-mailed to us. #2. It was 38c(98f) in Sydney when we checked in. There is no temperature control in the place. No thermostat. The room was well over 40c(100f). They provided a small plug-in AC unit, which we plugged in immediately, only to find that it did not work. I reached out to Urban Rest (they are not easy to get a hold of), and was told to use the fans in the room, which there were none. I was then told that it was supposed to be cooler tomorrow. Meaning: 'you will be miserable today, miserable tonight, but you may be a little less miserable tomorrow.' #3. There is no parking near the location. But what is worse is that they were useless in helping. Q: Can we park on the street? A: I don't know. Q: Is there a parking garage nearby? A: I don't know. #4. The majority of the time the code to unlock the door didn't work. And since there are no employees, you just have to send there entering it repeatedly until it does. #5. The room is TINY. I've been in small hotel rooms before, but this is so small the sink doesn't fit in the bathroom. It's out next to the bed.

Let me list the ways this place is terrible: #1. We were supposed to receive check-in instruction 48 hours before my arrival. We did not. I hadn't received them 24 hours before my arrival. When it came to the night before my arrival, I finally tried to contact Urban Rest to find out how to get into the place, but no one answered. I finally reached out to ******* (who I had made the booking through) and they were able to get a hold of someone, who then e-mailed me the instructions. #2. There is no parking near the location. Fine. My issue is when I asked about parking no one knew anything. Q: Can I park on the street? A: We don't know. Q: Is there a parking garage nearby? A: We don't know. #3. It was 38 c (98 f) in Sydney when we checked in. The room, which had been closed up, and has no temperature control in any way, was even warmer. It had to be over 40 c (100 f). There was a small AC unit, which we plugged in immediately, and quickly found out, that it did not work. So the situation was this: we check into a room that is over 40 degrees and there is no way to cool it down. I reach out to Urban Rest and the woman I spoke with told me that she will try to get another AC unit. I soon hear back from her that another unit isn't available and to use the fans in the room. There are no fans in the room. Her final response is that the temperature is expected to be lower tomorrow. So in essence we are told that you'll be miserable today, miserable tonight, but you may be a little less miserable tomorrow. I tried to call the Australia number repeatedly after that because the room was unbearable, but no one answered. #4. The code to unlock the door didn't work most of the time. We were left standing at the door entering it repeatedly until it finally worked, which was usually 5 or 6 times because there are no employees to help you. #5. I can deal with a small room, but this was tiny. So small that you had to shuffle around the perimeter of the bed and the sink couldn't even fit in the bathroom, so it is out next to the bed. #6. I don't know what the confusion is with the cafe on the first floor, but it was very disorganized. The staff were friendly enough, but they didn't seem to even know there were people staying upstairs. We were given vouchers for breakfast claiming a "mouth-watering menu from 8 am - 2 pm." But when we went down for breakfast at 9:00, we were told that the person who makes food wouldn't be there till 9:30. Which was when we had to leave for the airport, so we didn't get any food.