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I'm going to admit something that feels a little embarrassing now: I never really understood Sydney staycations.

Whenever people suggested booking a hotel in their own city, my immediate reaction was always the same. Why would I spend money sleeping somewhere that's essentially down the road from my house?

Then I spent two nights at Hotel Woolstore 1888 in Pyrmont and completely changed my mind.

What I hadn't considered is that a staycation isn't really about the location. 

Sydney is a beautiful city, and we live in paradise everyday anyways. 

It's about removing yourself from your everyday routine just enough to switch off properly.

Watch: Paige Carmichael shares what not to do while travelling. Post continues below.

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Do NOT Do This When Travelling

No laundry waiting for me. No staring at the dishwasher. No deciding what to cook for dinner. No looking around my house and mentally adding things to tomorrow's to-do list.

Just two days of eating well, wandering around the city and sleeping in a beautiful hotel that felt very far removed from everyday life.

It's the ultimate reset.

The funny thing is that Pyrmont isn't exactly a destination I'd ever daydreamed about escaping to. I'd driven through it hundreds of times. But walking into the old wool store building felt a bit like stepping into another city entirely.

The heritage building dates back to the 1800s, and much of that character has been preserved. There are exposed sandstone walls, original timber beams and brickwork throughout, giving the place the kind of warehouse-apartment feel people spend millions trying to recreate.

It's probably why so many people compare it to a New York loft. And for once, the comparison doesn't feel completely ridiculous.

Image: Supplied.

We stayed in the Shearer Suite, which struck a lovely balance between character and comfort. The room felt thoughtfully designed without trying too hard. There were bold colours, plenty of space to spread out and a bed that made getting up each morning considerably more difficult than it needed to be.

The robes also deserve a mention because I've become convinced that putting on a hotel robe is one of the fastest ways to trick your brain into relaxing.

One of the things I appreciated most was the location. 

Pyrmont sits in that sweet spot where you're close to everything but slightly removed from the chaos of the CBD. We could walk into the city in around 15 minutes, wander through Darling Harbour and then retreat somewhere quieter when we'd had enough.

That convenience became obvious pretty quickly.

On our first night, we walked into the CBD for dinner at Margot Osteria, and I have thought about that meal an unreasonable amount since.

We started with the steak tartare, which arrived topped with an impossibly crispy nest of finely sliced potato, before moving onto a steak that justified every bit of menu indecision. The carbonara was rich without being heavy, and the crème brûlée at the end was the sort of dessert that makes you immediately start planning your return visit.

The dinner at Margot Osteria I still think about. Image: Supplied.

By the second evening, however, we were in the mood to go absolutely nowhere.

That's how we ended up spending the evening downstairs at Percy, the hotel's restaurant and bar.

The restaurant leans into Spanish-inspired sharing plates, making it the kind of place where you accidentally order far more food than intended because everything sounds so appealing.

Dishes and drinks at the hotel's bar, Percy. Image: Supplied.

The standout dish for me was the Torreznos — crispy Spanish pork belly served with a vibrant green sauce that cut through the richness perfectly. There was also a tequila cucumber margarita involved, which may have influenced my mood for the better during the remainder of the evening.

The restaurant itself feels warm and intimate, with exposed sandstone walls and low lighting that makes everyone look slightly better than they do in real life.

Percy is led by Executive Chef Eli Lozada, who has worked across the IHG group and Crown Sydney. The menu feels approachable and every dish we tried was executed thoughtfully and designed to be shared around the table.

By dessert (a to-die-for crema catalana) we were fully committed to not leaving the building for the rest of the night.

The thing I realised during this trip is that the best staycations don't really need an itinerary.

We slept in and enjoyed breakfast downstairs at Percy before wandering aimlessly around the city.

One of the underrated joys of staying in Sydney is getting to enjoy parts of it you don't normally make time for.

Living in the suburbs means many of the stores I love aren't exactly around the corner, so we ducked into Uniqlo, browsed H&M Home and spent far too long exploring shops we'd normally rush past on a workday.

Lunch was at Wholegreen Bakery on Clarence Street, a fully gluten-free bakery that somehow manages to avoid all the stereotypes people associate with gluten-free food. Even my non-gluten-free partner couldn't stop talking about the meat pies.

The beauty of a staycation is that there's no pressure to optimise every minute. You can spend an afternoon shopping, people-watching or sitting somewhere with a coffee and somehow still feel like you've accomplished something.

And then there's the nightlife.

One of the best parts about staying in the city is that you can enjoy Sydney's bar scene without immediately calculating how expensive the Uber home is going to be.

If you're in the mood for something dark and atmospheric, Palmer & Co. remains one of my favourite spots for a late-night drink. The Press offers a similarly moody energy, while The Caterpillar Club's dimly lit interiors make it ideal for settling in for a few hours.

For cocktails with a view, Dean & Nancy on 22 is always worth the elevator ride. Perched high above the city, it's one of those places that reminds you how spectacular city-living looks after dark. It really adds to those New York piano bar vibes.

By the end of the weekend, I felt noticeably lighter than I had when I'd checked in.

Not because I'd discovered some magical cure for burnout but because I'd simply given myself permission to step outside my normal routine for a couple of days.

And it turns out that was enough.

If you're anything like me and have always dismissed the idea of booking a hotel in your own city, consider this your sign to rethink it.

Hotel Woolstore 1888 reminded me that Sydney can feel completely different when you're experiencing it as a visitor rather than racing through it as a local.

And rooms aren't as eye-wateringly expensive as you might expect either. The Shearer Suite starts from around $219 a night, with member rates and special offers sometimes dropping it below $175. Considering the location, character and amount of time I spent wrapped in a robe, I'd call that money well spent.

Sometimes the holiday you need isn't the one that requires a passport.

Sometimes it's just two nights away from your own washing basket.

Feature image: Supplied/Cassandra Green.