Headlands Austinmer Beach

The ocean views were gorgeous, and the apartment felt huge, with plenty of room for just the two of us. We only stayed one night, so I’d love to come back for longer. My only wish is that checkout was later.

The food is what lets the place down. It’s seriously overpriced, and despite the menu making it sound restaurant quality, it came across as generic pub food with almost no flavour. The meals felt like frozen food. I’d go for the views and a drink, then eat somewhere else. With tourists still paying those prices, I don’t see much changing. The hotel itself has been done up nicely, with good places to sit and huge screens in the courtyard.

We like this spot and the regular staff are good. The hotel is nice, and the food is good, but our Sunday visit was spoiled by the manager. Our table booking had been made three weeks earlier and clearly mentioned mobility issues and a request for the sports bar with a view. We were first seated at stools that didn’t work for us. The regular staff sorted that and moved us to a suitable table. Then the manager came in and made us move again for a group that was 30 minutes late for its booking. The alternative was noisy, had no view, and was too far for us to walk. There was no apology or help moving, no compensation for being moved twice, and the manager disappeared without following up. Luckily, a table opened up in the same area and we took it. Sunday can be busy, but that’s no excuse. One bad manager nearly ruined our day.

We came for breakfast while visiting friends who live nearby, and it was awesome. The price was reasonable, the presentation was good, and it tasted fantastic. The coffee was pretty decent too. It’s an impressive hotel with great views, and it’s friendly to both dogs and children. Definitely worth a look if you’re in the area.