Learning to love the Staycation

I once told myself that I’d never succumb to the “-cation” trend. Whether it’s a me-cation or a man-cation, I’ve always thought it a rather strange trend to just slap “-cation” onto the end of a word and claim it’s the best thing since sliced bread. But I find myself hearing the term ‘staycation’ more and more. If a word has made it into the common vernacular then surely it's ok for me to use it sparingly, right?

It’s often the case when you live in a city that you only ever experience a small portion of it. Humans are creature of habit. We focus our attention on specific areas, rarely venturing out to see what else might be going on in the city around you. But the beauty of a staycation is that we get to experience our home through the eyes of a visitor, we get to break out of our daily routine and try something new.

Hopping onto the staycation bandwagon, I chose to have a mini mid-week getaway. Rather than just stick to one holiday type, I decided to mix things up and have a city vs. beach getaway instead. Because what’s better than one holiday? Two holidays! Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach fit the bill for the beach portion for my mid-week getaway, while Park8 at Hyde Park was just what the city doctor ordered.

The Park8 Hotel is located on the corner of Park and Castlereigh Streets, pretty much on the doorstep of Hyde Park - hence the name. There are only 36 rooms at the inn, making the decision on which room type to choose much easier. Wanting a view of the park, and a bit of space to spread out, I chose a one-bedroom loft room. Admittedly, my main reason for choosing the hotel was it’s location, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The biggest win, a coffee shop in the lobby.

My Loft Room - 502 - was split over 2 levels. On the ground floor was a kitchenette and living area, and up a narrow green-carpeted staircase was the bedroom and ensuite. On the top level there was a rather unusual little balcony/light well near the windows that took up a bit of space, but it was clearly there for more light. The black and white ensuite featured a large corner bathtub and a large round mirror hung above the vanity, bringing a bit of much-needed personality into the room.

It was a simple room, but it had everything I needed for a mid-week break. Besides, I had no intention of staying in the room for too long. The city was calling me.

As I said, the location was really the main attraction here. It’s within easy walking distance of the State and Capitol Theatres, Pitt Street Mall, QVB and Hyde Park, but most importantly, it’s close to the Hilton Hotel. You might find this an odd inclusion, but I dare you to find a better buffet breakfast than at Hilton’s Glass. It’s that good.

Heading out of the hotel, it was funny how I instantly felt like a tourist. I walk the pavements here all the time, but at this moment I felt like I was seeing the city through fresh eyes. The staycation may be a strange word, I think I like holiday-at-home better, but the idea behind it is one that I can fully support.

After painting the town red that night, I woke up bleary eyed the next day, had breakfast at Glass, and then checked out to head on over to Coogee Beach.

The Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, which started life as a Holiday Inn, has one of the best positions in town. Located at the southern end of the beach, it offered the perfect vantage point to take in the raw beauty of Coogee. My terrace on the fifth floor looked down over Arden Street, out over the foreshore park and across the water to Clovelly. I felt a bit like Mary Poppins gazing across the city rooftops.

Inside my Ocean View Room it was quite modern, with a muted colour palette that reflected the seaside location. Think cool blues and sandy yellows on the walls and artworks, a grey armchair in the corner, and extensive pine panelling. It was simple, but it worked. The space was lit by down lighting around the edge of the room.

Elsewhere in my room there was a cosy ensuite bathroom, a small desk area with a large TV mounted on the wall above it, and a minibar area. It was quite spacious. The large terrace had two timber lounge chairs, but as they were quite low I couldn’t really enjoy the view from them. The balcony area had an outdoor table and chairs, meaning you can take in the view while you enjoy a glass of wine or two.

The rest of the hotel took bolder design statements. The lobby was gorgeous, with a beautiful wave pattern stretching across the wall, contrasted by vivid green palms. The Bluesalt bar and restaurant both had fantastic views of the ocean and foreshore, meaning you can do a bit of people watching as you enjoy a meal or evening drinks.

Coogee Beach is one of my favourite spots to enjoy the beach in Sydney. It has a really relaxed, unpretentious feel to it. As you walk along the foreshore, taking in iconic sights such as the Coogee Surf Club or the Coogee Bay Hotel, you can't help but feel relaxed. If you’re after good coffee, you can do a lot worse than Coogee.

For my money, I recommend checking out the Churrasco Brazilian Style BBQ restaurant, the Brasserie at the Coogee Bay Hotel, and Square Peg Café.

Staycations may be new to the scene, but if you’re looking for a holiday that leaves you feeling refreshed and doesn't break the bank, it’s definitely the one to pick.

-The writer stayed as a guest of Park8 and Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach

When You Go

[http://www.park8.com.au/ |Park8]
[http://www.crowneplazacoogee.com.au/ |Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach]

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About Chris Ashton

Chris Ashton is a curious traveller always on the lookout for the new, bizarre and unusual. A fan of exploring ancient ruins, diving with sharks and getting lost in city streets, he believes travel expands your horizons and helps shape the person you want to become.

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