What a pleasure, then, to stay recently in the Sofitel Adelaide - opened late last year in difficult times - but a true five-star property with staff to match.
With several of Adelaide's benchmark hotels needing a serious zhoojing, the arrival of the Sofitel Adelaide was perfectly timed.
The City of Churches now has a internationally-recognised five-star luxury hotel with a delightful French accent.
The Sofitel is a serious breath of fresh air with its relaxed vibe allied to serious hospitality.
I'm a hard marker when it comes to hotels - with a definite preference for boutique properties - but this Sofitel ticks a whole lot of boxes for gourmets and lovers of luxe pampering.
The $150 million project is locally owned and incorporates South Australian heritage with French savoir faire.
The hotel is centrally located on Currie Street in the Adelaide CBD - a short stroll from just about anywhere you'd want to go.
It was Adelaide’s first internationally recognised five-star address to be built in 30 years.
The $150 million property offers a choice of 251 luxurious guest rooms and suites (even the entry-level rooms are spacious) with a choice of city and Adelaide Hills views. All rooms have plenty of plugs and USB ports - and the wifi is fast and reliable.
The pièce de resistance is an impressive Presidential Suite with its own dining room and open living room concept, a walk-in wardrobe, private study and a grand bedroom with an additional en suite bathroom.
It's lovely, but I'd rather spend my money in the excellent Garcon Bleu restaurant (that's if I actually had any money).
All Luxury Club rooms and suites at Sofitel Adelaide provide guests with access to additional complimentary facilities and services at Club Millésime, situated on level 10.
Think afternoon tea and pre-dinner evening drinks and canapés, as well as personalised check in and check out.
The hotel also has an impressive indoor heated pool and gym.
GM Rachael Harman says the stylish marble used throughout the Sofitel was sourced personally by the hotel owner, Daniel Palumbo, and his family direct from Carrara in Italy.
“Most of the features in this hotel, from the art and furnishings to the flooring, have been selected and overseen by members of the Palumbo family,” Harman said.
Art also plays an important role with the hotel displaying work from around a dozen local and international artists.
GM Rachael Harman says the stylish marble used throughout the Sofitel was sourced personally by the hotel owner, Daniel Palumbo, and his family direct from Carrara in Italy.
“Most of the features in this hotel, from the art and furnishings to the flooring, have been selected and overseen by members of the Palumbo family,” Harman said.
Art also plays an important role with the hotel displaying work from around a dozen local and international artists.
An original piece by Newcastle-based fine-art photographer, Alexia Sinclair, titled Field of Dreams (above), forms the centrepiece of the hotel lobby.
Garçon Bleu, the excellent French-inspired restaurant, has already been reviewed in these pages (although I must say my breakfast experience was underwhelming given how good the rest of the hotel is).
There is also a street-level Champagne bar, Déjà Vu, with a selection of beverages, lighter meals and casual eats seven days a week.
The Sofitel brand has a theme of art de vivre (the art of living) - which is very much delivered here.
Rates start from $320 per room per night ranging to $5,000 per night for the Presidential Suite.
See www.sofiteladelaide.com.au or call 08 8432 1900.
# The writer was a guest of Sofitel Adelaide
