Holiday Inn Sydney - Waterfront by IHG

Hotels
•
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
8 (825 reviews)
300 Esplanade , Sydney , ca
+1 902-562-7500

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
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

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 825 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
Annemarie • extended_group • ca
1
It reflects a complete lack of proper maintenance, cleanliness, and concern for customer safety and
Pros:

Dinner was okay.

Cons:

I have stayed in budget hotels around the world, and this was, without question, the worst hotel experience I have ever had.

The condition of the room was completely unacceptable. The paint was peeling off the bathroom wall beneath the sink, and there was visible black mold. The bathtub was badly chipped, with much of the ceramic coating missing, and the shower walls were covered in black and orange grime. Even the corner of the bathroom door had an unidentified black substance on it. The overall cleanliness and maintenance of the room were far below any reasonable standard.

When I brought these issues to the attention of the front desk, I was offered free parking as compensation. Frankly, that did not address the seriousness of the problem. A room in this condition should never be rented to guests.

I intend to file formal complaints with the Nova Scotia Hotel Association and post reviews on Google and other travel sites. As a professional writer, I will also be writing a feature about my experience and will include the photographs I took documenting the room's condition.

The staff member took my phone number and later called while I was out of cell service. I returned the call twice, but no one ever got back to me.

I am genuinely shocked that any hotel would consider this room suitable for paying guests. It reflects a complete lack of proper maintenance, cleanliness, and concern for customer safety and satisfaction.

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
E
Eric • solo_traveller • ca
9
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
S
Shelley • extended_group • ca
8
2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
L
Liesel • solo_traveller • ca
10
2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
R
Rico Mira • family_with_children • es
10
Pros:

Unicacion

Cons:

Todo muy bien

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
R
Roald • solo_traveller • ca
7
2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
F
FrauAngie • couple • de
10
Eine klare Buchungsempfehlung!!
Pros:

Ein tolles Hotel, tolle Zimmer mit Blick auf das Wasser. Frisch renovierte Zimmer. Das Frühstück a la Carte.

Cons:

Lediglich der hohe Preis am Canada Day ist zu kritisieren. Aber ja, verständlich!

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
N
Neville • extended_group • ca
10
Vacation
Pros:

Everything was exceptional

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • family_with_children • de
5
Das Hotel war in Ordnung, bis auf den L
Pros:

Das Schwimmbad war schön und der Bademeister war sehr höflich und gab sein Bestes, die Kinder im Zaum zu halten.

Cons:

Tatsächlich war das Hotel sehr hellhörig. Es waren sehr viele Kinder im Hotel, die sich lautstark auf den Fluren und im Schwimmbad verhalten haben. Bis tief in die Nächte hinein wurden die Türen geschmissen. Eine Dame vom Frühstückspersonal war sehr unfreundlich und fertigte einen eher ab, als dass man sich bedient fühlte. Kundenservice ist anders.

2026-07-05 • via Nuitee
A
Anil • couple • ca
9
Good location. Clean room.
Pros:

Clean and accessible to downtown

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
L
Lockie • couple • ca
9
The stay was good.
Pros:

Breakfast was very good. Location near the main street.

Cons:

The elevators were very noisy

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
B
Blair • solo_traveller • ca
10
great as always
2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
N
Nadine • couple • us
3
Pros:

the washing machine was not working no fitness center the ice machine was not working.
very disappointed nice location poorly run hotel

Cons:

everything staff were indifferent

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
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
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
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
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
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