Holiday Inn Sydney - Waterfront by IHG

Hotels
DP Murphy Hotels
8 (790 reviews)
300 Esplanade , Sydney , ca

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Cons:
Poor cleanliness
Noisy environment

Categories

Cleanliness
6.75
Multiple mentions of dirtiness, mold, and broken facilities.
Service
7.75
Inconsistent service mentioned; some staff responsive while others unhelpful.
Location
9.25
Great proximity to downtown and attractions, well-rated by guests.
Room Quality
7.25
Mixed reviews with some old and dated rooms, but mention of renovations.
Amenities
8.25
Amenities like the pool and breakfast are mentioned positively despite some issues.
Value for Money
8.25
Overall positive sentiment, but issues with cleanliness slightly detract.
Food and Beverage
8.25
Generally positive but limited options during busy times.
Overall Experience
8.25
Good experiences highlighted, but some severe shortcomings noted.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 07:01

Property Description

Waterfront Location on Esplanade Boardwalk
Situated along the picturesque Esplanade boardwalk in Cape Breton Island, Holiday Inn Sydney offers a stunning waterfront experience for guests.

Indoor Pool with Waterslide and On-site Dining
Guests can enjoy the thrill of the indoor pool with a waterslide and savor delicious meals at the two on-site restaurants.

Convenient Amenities and Nearby Attractions
With free in-room WiFi, a fitness centre, and a business centre, the hotel ensures a comfortable stay for all guests. Explore nearby attractions like Casino Nova Scotia and the Fortress of Louisbourg during your stay.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure at Holiday Inn Sydney Nova Scotia.

Important information:

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card is required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.

Pre-paid credit cards and debit cards cannot be used to guarantee a reservation. A credit card is required when booking.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: YQY

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 6 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs CAD 7 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 790 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.75
Service: 7.75
Location: 9.25
Room Quality: 7.25
Amenities: 8.25
Value for Money: 8.25
Food and Beverage: 8.25
Overall Experience: 8.25
X
X4049GCbethl Family
4
Safety hazards not addressed
Pros:

Our visit was amazing until the very end. We booked this hotel for my daughter's 10th birthday. She had 2 friends stay with us. They had an amazing time. In the morning before checkout, one of the little girls cut her foot very badly on the grate in the pool. My husband called to tell me that she was bleeding badly. The front desk could only give me a handful of bandaids, 2 alcohol wipes, and some gauze. I ended up using my personal first aid kid. I insisted on an incident report. The manager in charge was kind and took down the information. Myself and the injured child's mother wanted to ensure the hazard was followed up on. This was not a small cut, it was a deep gash. The hotel manager replied to the mother with blatant false information that involved me, claiming that I refused further treatment. Claiming that the manager on duty checked back in with me the day after and that I reported that the child was fine. None of this occurred. We were very detailed in what happened, and where it happened. The GM just keeps insisting that there isn't a problem to be found. I practically begged her to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, and got brushed off. I don't recommend this hotel if you want your kids to stay in one piece while they play.

2026-05-26 via Tripadvisor
G
Gordon solo_traveller ca
4
Pros:

Food, the service was good and the view from the hotel room was very nice.

Cons:

Bathroom was small and the carpet floors looked dirty, not good smell.

2026-05-11 via Nuitee
A
Annette family_with_children ca
10
Pros:

Beds were comfortable. Breakfast was delicious.

2026-05-09 via Nuitee
J
Jody solo_traveller ca
4
2026-05-09 via Nuitee
T
taramV3164CX Business Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
10
Good stay
Pros:

Despite being under construction I had a warm welcome to my late night drive from Halifax to Sydney.
Room was super clean and cozy with the heat on and a great night at this hotel. Breakfast was great. Meeting at the Cabot Room downstairs for the CB Chamber of Commerce was well done with coffee and pastries.

2026-05-01 via Tripadvisor
W
Wendy family_with_children ca
8
2026-04-30 via Nuitee
6
623francinej Family
2
Watch your children
Pros:

I was here for a birthday party for my daughter. It was snowing out and i had a slip and fall by their entrance because it was not cleared or salted. Then later on in the night i was locked in a room and assaulted by their staff. Watch your children! It’s not safe! I want to take legal action and I’m worried about young children and families who visit this hospital. I was to afraid to speak out about my experience but going forward it may prevent it from happening to someone else.

2026-04-22 via Tripadvisor
P
Phyllis solo_traveller ca
2
Not satisfying
Cons:

When I stayed I had people knocking on my door all hours of the night , called down stairs several times and no one answered the phone . I was extremely sick from a day surgery and the night there didn’t help me any

2026-04-22 via Nuitee
A
AliCia family_with_children ca
10
2026-04-21 via Nuitee
H
holly solo_traveller ca
1
2026-04-20 via Nuitee
K
Kathleen couple ca
7
Older but cost efficient, and convenient
Pros:

Location! Walkable to almost everything.

Cons:

Tried to charge me for parking when my booking said it was free - and then, all their accessible spots were occupied with vehicles not displaying an accessible placard. (The staff did comp the parking fee for me though).

Pool did not have good signage, very hard to find the door, and the pool towels were easily missed also.

2026-04-17 via Nuitee
P
pierre-nelson solo_traveller ca
9
2026-04-11 via Nuitee
H
HOSAM couple ca
8
Excellent and will do it again.
Pros:

I loved the location, the spacious room, the view of the room, the cleanliness, the comfortable beds.

Cons:

The breakfast was included but it’s not an open buffet. Also the smell of the swimming pool.

2026-04-09 via Nuitee
L
Laurie solo_traveller ca
9
Pros:

Friendly staff, very accommodating.

Cons:

Free popcorn was empty and would have liked a microwave.

2026-04-07 via Nuitee
K
Karen family_with_children ca
9
Pros:

Parking and service was excellent! Plus having 2 restaurants in the hotel was a bonus!

Cons:

N/A

2026-04-07 via Nuitee
P
Pavlo solo_traveller ca
10
2026-04-04 via Nuitee
R
Rolanda solo_traveller ca
8
2026-04-03 via Nuitee
D
Donovan couple ca
9
Great staff. Kids loved the pool and waterslide
2026-03-22 via Nuitee
M
MAC DOUGALL solo_traveller ca
10
2026-03-21 via Nuitee
L
Lambert family_with_children ca
7
2026-03-21 via Nuitee