Holiday Inn Sydney - Waterfront by IHG

Hotels
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DP Murphy Hotels
8 (793 reviews)
300 Esplanade , Sydney , ca

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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 793 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
A
Anna • couple • gb
6
Good location but needs work.
Pros:

Good location and nice staff

Cons:

Our room wasn’t particularly clean and there were lots of screaming children running up the corridors until nearly midnight. The walls were also extremely thin, we heard our neighbours most of the time even their alarm going off in the morning! Lots of renovations going on while we were there which we weren’t aware of before hand.

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
A
Arina • solo_traveller • ca
10
Pros:

Everything was great! Was upgraded to a water view room, nice and fast check in.

Cons:

The only thing is water wasn’t complementary, other than that, everything was perfect

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
E
Erin • couple • ca
7
Comfy bed, okay room
Pros:

Beds were very comfy, staff were great, knowledgable and kind

Cons:

Room was small, small bed, dated furnishings

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • ca
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jill • solo_traveller • ca
10
Great hotel on Sydney waterfront.
Pros:

Excellent staff, great breakfast, nice, clean rooms and wonderful location on Sydney waterfront. Thanks for a great stay!

2026-06-21 • via Nuitee
G
Ginette • couple • ca
8
Très bien
Pros:

Le fait que l'hôtel a des restaurants sur place. Quand nous sommes fatigués par les visites durant les vacances ça fait du bien de ne pas avoir à se déplacer pour le repas du soir.
Aussi, le personnel est très acceuillant

2026-06-18 • via Nuitee
I
Ivan • extended_group • ca
7
Pros:

Breakfast was great

Cons:

Soundproofing between the rooms is not great

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
P
Pat • solo_traveller • ca
7
Pros:

The room was comfortable.

Cons:

The hotel was run down. Work being done.

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • solo_traveller • ca
8
2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • extended_group • ca
10
This hotel is close to the ferry to take us to Newfoundland.
Pros:

We liked that we could borrow the bath chair so was able to take a bath in comfort.
Nice view of the water.
The Crown restaurant was very good and our server, Lea-ann was excellent.

Cons:

Didn't like we had to pay $7.00 to park our vehicle when there was plenty of parking available.

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • couple • ca
9
2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
A
ardeno2026 • Family
10
Great service!
Pros:

We stayed here for my son's birthday and we had a good time. Service was awesome especially from Mahesh. He made sure that we have everything we need and checked on us regularly. We'll definitely come back!

2026-06-08 • via Tripadvisor
D
Dwayne • family_with_children • ca
7
Pros:

Breakfast was fair to good. Cold coffee. Location of hotel was good

Cons:

Granddaughters were performing at a dance recital. Was hoping for a late check out so they would have a place to get dressed.

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
N
Norma • solo_traveller • ca
9
Pros:

Location

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
H
hiker1963 • Couples • Killington, Vermont
10
Beautiful view, great location
Pros:

Beautiful view. Clean spacious room. Friendly staff. Great location right in town. Excellent breakfast including fresh fruit.

2026-06-05 • via Tripadvisor
K
Kip • couple • ca
3
it was average at best
Pros:

Location

Cons:

The fact that the pool and gym were closed and then I was still made to pay $7.00 per night parking. We paid for those amenities and were not subsidized for them being closed. Not very good customer service.

2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
G
Gordon • solo_traveller • ca
10
2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
E
Everton • family_with_children • ca
6
2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
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