We had the pleasure of staying at the Mantra after being stranded in Sydney due to the weather.

I had to admit, I did have high expectations. In the past when searching for accommodation, all the Mantra hotel website images I'd seen seemed quite swish and new.

The lobby in the Mantra at Bond Street was fairly standard. It was late when we arrived and with around fifteen other people we were told we had to wait to check in, which I thought was a little strange. Staff were polite, but not overly welcoming. Given the circumstance and time of the night I suppose I can understand.

The lobby toilet is in dire need of repair. It's tired and definitely not up to standard for a hotel lobby toilet.

We stayed on the fourth level (room 417 if I recall, as the numbers had come off the door and were only legible by the sticky residue left behind).

The small suite was generous. A self-contained studio apartment complete with a kitchen as well as a washer and dryer in the bathroom. The apartment itself also had heating and cooling however the switch I believe was in the wardrobe.

I was impressed that washing detergent was available; however there as no point in washing our clothes as our stay was barely overnight (six hours).

The decor I suspect can be seen as being a little aged but it's fairly standard and not bad in the least.

The only downside was the level of cleanliness in the bathroom. Most of it was clean with the exception of a few things. The showers really do need a re-caulking. The mould has gotten into it and really, by hotel standards that should be cleaned and replaced.

Everything else seemed reasonably clean. As I said, our stay was short and so I didn't have an opportunity to have a more comprehensive look. The bed was clean and comfortable and I think for the price of the studio apartment, the cost is reasonable. It's pretty much—you get what you pay for.

Would I stay again? I'd consider it, but there are other places you can stay where mould is not visible in the bathroom. That being said, the availability of a washer and dryer is attractive, so yes I definitely would consider staying again.