Caloundra Central Apartment Hotel

The ocean views and location were fantastic, and I'd definitely stay here again. The outside area was great too, though it could use a little TLC to make it more appealing.

We chose this place while travelling through Queensland because we're not that interested in the beach, and the pool and BBQ area looked like a good fit. When we arrived, a notice said both were closing for upgrades, but the work hadn't started yet, so we thought we'd still get to use them. We bought food for a BBQ the next evening, but the next morning at 7:30 we were woken by drilling and hammering, and the pool and BBQ area were closed. That was disappointing, and we wouldn't have booked if we'd known there was even a chance they'd be shut. Still, I wouldn't have left a bad review just for that. What made me angry was that Martin, the property manager, lied. The attached images show what happened, and people can judge for themselves. Hotels.com apologised that the property didn't seem to care about us and requested a refund, but that wasn't what we asked for. We only wanted an apology from the property. The pool and BBQ may stay closed for some time, and you might not find out until you arrive. You have been warned.

The staff were fantastic, the area was quiet, and the location was good. Free parking was handy, and the pool and BBQ areas were pretty nice. But after eight nights, I didn't feel the apartment was worth the price. The two-seater couch barely fit my partner and me, so we were practically sitting on top of each other. The TV needs replacing: the top third of the screen was hazy and had lines through it. There was no broom or mop, and we didn't have enough dishwashing liquid or bin liners to keep things clean. The bed wheels had no brakes on the laminate floor, so it rolled every time we sat or lay down.

We had a good stay and the friendly, helpful staff made a difference. The pool, BBQ and surrounding area were great, and the room served its purpose. We knew we'd booked a tiny studio, and there wasn't much choice in town because we booked so late. The owner-occupiers were a pain with the noise, and we got caught up in a parking dispute. The rules were so vague that it nearly came to fisticuffs over a spot we thought was rightfully ours for the five days.