Everyone has certain amenities in mind for a hotel when they are traveling, but certainly when you are on a long-haul journey to a destination you might never have the chance to return to again, one of the key amenities is location. Because if you only might be there once, you might as well be where all the action is.

The difficulty is: how to get the prime location when you are on a budget, without winding up at the international equivalent of a Motel Six?

In Sydney, there is an answer: The Old Sydney Holiday Inn.

Okay, I'll admit: when I took my own first trip to Sydney (yes, I said 'first!'), I booked the hotel on a recommendation but internally thought, "A Holiday Inn? I'm going to Sydney and staying at a Holiday Inn?" Perhaps the biggest benefit of those initials thoughts was being amazingly surprised at how much I loved this hotel during my stay.

With 175 rooms, this hotel is modest in size - just perfect so you don't feel lost in the shuffle, creating a more intimate experience. Located in the historic Rocks area of Sydney, the hotel is housed in one of the historic buildings, lending it a distinct, Australian flavor. It may be a Holiday Inn, but from the outside, it doesn't look it.

The lobby is huge, and opens all the way up to the glass windows far above. Every room on every floor opens up to the view of the lobby below. The rooms are good-sized, clean, and nicely appointed; here perhaps is where you are reminded that you are in a Holiday Inn. That is not to imply there was anything wrong, for our room was perfect for our needs: just enough space, a desk and hi-speed internet connection, tv, phone, and the standard amenities you would expect, like coffee maker (including a nice selection of teas), a comfortable bed. But it was, in essence, a Holiday Inn reminescent of many others we had stayed in, though admittedly slightly more upscale than most.

The hotel offers Standard Rooms, Executive Rooms (especially nice for business travelers, or those who want a little extra space, nice duvets, and a recliner), and Deluxe Rooms (which also have a sofa bed). Bathrobes are provided in all room categories, as well as a refigerator and mini-bar - all nice extras to have.

And while the hotel offers other amenities you would come to expect in an international hotel (newspaper daily, business services, tour desk & concierge, foreign currency exchange, safety deposit box at the front desk), it was arriving at the rooftop that makes you instantly love this hotel: the view!

Nestled on the roof is the outdoor swimming pool, including plenty of lounge chairs, as well as a whirlpool tub. But there, so close you felt as if you could reach out and touch it, was the Sydney Opera House, and off to the left, the Harbour Bridge.

The view from the rooftop is astounding, and highlights the great location of this hotel. Circular Quay, from which most ferries and harbour cruises depart, is located a quick five minute (or leisurely ten minute) walk from the hotel doors; the Opera House is perhaps 10 to 15 minutes beyond that. The Harbour Bridge is an equal walking distance aware. The fine dining restaurants and shops are all within easy reach, and a short stroll up the hill takes you into the heart of Sydney. In essence, all Sydney has to offer is within easy reach of this hotel, especially with Circular Quay right next door.

Best of all, the Rocks Market is literally right outside the hotel doors. Held on Saturdays & Sundays, the Rocks Market is a craft and artisan marketplace of some truly amazing workmanship, and the best place to souvenir shop (why buy a dime-a-dozen trinket at a tourist shop, when you can get a hand-made craft at the Market)? Imagine my delight when we stepped outside the hotel doors to find the front of the Market beginning right there!

In terms of location and value, you really won't find a better bet than the Old Sydney Holiday Inn. In a beautiful boutique building, it has perhaps one of the most enviable locations in the city at a pricetag that won't break the vacation budget. It certainly made my stay in Sydney memorable - and earned my two thumbs up.