Mercure Charlestown

It takes about 2 hours to drive from Sydney to the Mercure Charlestown Hotel in Newcastle. It was less than 1pm when I checked in at the hotel front desk, but the lady at the front desk was very enthusiastic and checked me in immediately. We booked a double bed + single bed room. The room was very clean. The window of the room faces the front yard, and there is a big road outside the yard, but you can't hear any noise even if you open the windows in the room, it's very quiet. The room is cleaned every day and the bed is very clean. Hotel restaurant: We stayed for 3 days and 2 nights, and had breakfast at his restaurant for $27/person. The waiter was very enthusiastic and specifically asked us if we wanted boiled eggs or fried poached eggs (unlike Westerners who use butter to scramble eggs). The breakfast is not as plentiful as in a 5-star hotel, but we were very satisfied with the two breakfasts and the style was enough for us to choose from. We had dinner out on the first night and at his restaurant on the second night. From appetizers + main dishes + desserts, every dish is exquisitely prepared. I usually don’t like taking pictures, but I couldn’t help but take a picture when I saw the appetizers. The service staff are very polite and always ask if we are satisfied after serving the food. Swimming pool: The reason why I chose this hotel was because it has an outdoor swimming pool. After checking in, I read the instructions saying that I couldn't swim after 6pm, so I went to ask the front desk. The front desk told me that there is no time limit and you can travel at any time, which is great. The pool is not big and changes a bit quickly from shallow to deep, but we can swim so it doesn't matter. If you have a family with children who cannot swim, it is best to bring a life preserver. During this month, from 5 pm to 7 pm, the water is warm and the sunshine is not strong. It is highly recommended. Note, if breakfast is not included in the reservation, both breakfast and dinner need to be booked at the front desk. The parking lot at his place is free, which is another reason why I booked his place. The parking lot is divided into front and back yards. The window of my room faces the front, so I parked in the front yard. I rarely write a review with so many words, just because I enjoyed my stay! 😊