PARKROYAL Parramatta, Sydney

The problems started the minute we got there. Our room wasn't ready and we had to wait 15 minutes. (I could have forgiven this but the room only had 2 single beds not the 2 doubles I was quoted and paid for.) "Have some drinks vouchers!" was the remedy given to us by the reception staff. All was fine on the first day/night however, it was the second night that all the major problems started. Our room was not cleaned and towels were not changed, despite following instructions to leave towels in the bath tub. A call to housekeeping was rather uneventful, the woman even suggested that it was my fault for folding the towels and placing them in the tub, instead of just throwing them in all scrunched up. Eventually we were given clean towels however the beds weren't made nor were the bins emptied. That same afternoon, a guest opened our door with a key given to them at reception. Upon hearing voices in the room, the guest quickly closed the door before entering. A call from reception quickly followed, sending "their apologies" and offering more drinks vouchers. This was all getting a little vexing but what pushed me over the edge was the incident in the middle of the night. A guest (most likely intoxicated), began pounding on my door shortly after midnight screaming obscenities and to let him in. Quite upset and shaking I called security and when someone came up was told "There's no-one here now, keep the door locked and call them if he comes back." What good would keeping the door do? Someone had already entered our room earlier that day. The next morning I had an early appointment and so left my parents to check out for both mine and their rooms. I was not able to inspect the bill until our return to Brisbane and there I found that we were charged for a "no show". Suddenly it all made sense... the room was let to someone else because as far as reception was concerned the room was vacant and the room we were given was not our intended room. (Hence it not being ready and only having 2 single beds instead of 2 doubles). As far as housekeeping knew the room was vacant, so there was no need for them to clean it. The overcharge for the "No Show" was refunded however the hotel had no interest in hearing our other complaints because we were no longer guests. Had I been checking out, the complaints would have been made loud and clear while we were still guests and drinks vouchers were not going to cut it this time. This hotel ruined our wonderful weekend away and my first stay in a "real" hotel. The every time I tell people what happened that weekend, I just get more angry each time. We were treated with contempt and our complaints totally disregarded. There are other hotels in Parramatta, don't waste your time and money staying at the Crowne Plaza. They do not care about the satisfaction of their guests.