This was the most expensive hotel stay I’ve ever booked in Australia, at around $400 per night, and unfortunately it was also one of the most disappointing.
I’ve stayed in many hotels, including the Mercure in Newcastle city centre at roughly half the price, which was far superior in almost every way — particularly room comfort and breakfast quality.
The room itself was extremely hot. Despite raising this with staff, the only intervention was cleaning a dusty air-conditioning filter, after which I was essentially told to accept that the system turns off once the room reaches 20°C. In reality, the room remained baking hot overnight, resulting in heavy sweating and a completely sleepless night.
Breakfast, which we paid extra for, was equally disappointing. Staff were noticeably unpleasant and unengaged — their facial expressions and body language made it clear they were not accommodating or attentive. One staff member was openly picking his teeth in front of guests, which was unhygienic and unacceptable. Baby high chairs were dirty and had to be cleaned by us, whereas at other hotels (including Mercure), staff proactively clean these for guests.
The breakfast offering itself was very limited and poor in quality. Fruit was clearly out of date — the melon and watermelon had an off taste. Bakery options were minimal, portions were very small, and overall choice was extremely limited. There were no mugs available at the coffee machine until we pointed this out. No one introduce
