on May 29, 2006
The upside:
*************
Friendly and helpful staff with very pleasant disposition, from frontline staff to chef to chambermaids. Shaded parking facility at A$10 overnight/per day. Breakfast is not included but is available at A$9 for an American breakfast, or A$12 for both continental and American. Short walk to the Hay and Murray Street Malls, in less than 5 minutes. Just walk through the London Arcade which is round the corner. Even shorter walk to the Swan River and the Harbour. Deluxe rooms have full length windows which offer spectacular views of the Swan River and the south bank. Hot water is available in an instant in the shower. Toggle between room heating and air-conditioning. Bed is VERY comfortable with medium-firm pillows.
The flipside:
*************
Non-smoking room reeks of stale smoke after room has been made. Either the chambermaid is a heavy smoker, or the doors have been left open while the smoking rooms were being cleaned. Also the path to the adjacent car park is like a dumpster and is inconvenient. Although there are access doors to car park on every floor, they are locked at all times. The only way is through the side door on the ground floor of the hotel. If you're very tall or very large, the largest beds might not suit you. Largest is a twin bed, nowhere near a king or even a queen. Lastly there is NO FREE INTERNET. However there is one computer station in the lobby with paid-for internet access.
Pleasant stay, reasonable rates, picturesque view of Swan River. I don't think there is a pool.
NOTE: I tried booking this hotel through Travelocity but it stated it didn't have vacancies. What a lie. When I went into ReadyRooms.com.au, they had a place for me, AND at a lower rate.
on September 21, 2008
