Placid Waters Holiday Apartments

We came for an event at Sandstone point hotel last weekend, and the location worked perfectly. Shops, cafes and fish chip shops were an easy walk away, with the waterfront and picnic areas just opposite. Management were polite and helpful. Our room was spacious, with modern furnishings and decor, and a large balcony looking over the pool. We’ll definitely stay again.

The room was big, and I could have overlooked its age, but the beds were very uncomfortable and management made the stay miserable. On arrival, a rude lady in admin questioned why I’d travelled so far for just two days and asked my kids’ ages. I’d booked for two children, but ended up bringing four and was willing to pay the extra when I left. Instead of speaking to me properly, she yelled about it so loudly that everyone in the complex heard. I also felt monitored the whole time, with cameras keeping an eye on you. It was really uncomfortable. The internet costs extra, and the deals they offered felt like a rip-off. I had to use my mobile hotspot for the kids, but reception there was poor. There were no toiletries apart from toilet paper, and hardly any coffee or sugar. I’ve never stayed in a hotel without free internet and toiletries. For the price, it wasn’t worth it, and I’ve stayed in much better places for less. The pool was supposed to be solar heated, but the water was cold. That felt like false advertising. Early on Sunday morning, the church behind the complex woke me with singing. I’d rather sleep in a gutter than go back, and I’ll tell everyone I know to avoid it. If negative stars were possible, I’d give them. Definitely not Placid Waters. The rooms were a good size, but the management were so rude that I’ll never return.

The apartment was like a TH7 sauna in summer, and I woke up eight times within an hour from the heat and lack of ventilation. The aircon didn’t work, so we moved the three bed mattress into the living room, the only place with ventilation and air-conditioning. Don’t stay here in summer, especially in spring or summer. It needs work to meet proper living conditions in Australian weather. Placid Waters should put air-conditioning in the bedrooms before someone gets seriously hurt. The apartments also need cleaning, there was dust on most surfaces.

We left after less than an hour and had no holiday, but were initially left $1300 out of pocket. When we drove away after eventually getting the refund, someone flipped us off through the window. It took days of being ignored and hung up on before the refund was issued. We’d booked a few nights to spend the holidays with family. At the pool, permanent residents verbally abused our young children several times for being too loud and discriminated against our child with a disability. My family felt very upset and unsafe, so we decided to go elsewhere and asked for a refund. Reception refused and said we were unreasonably upset. Both the residents and reception showed little care or understanding. We were given our own sheets to make the bed, weren’t allowed to change the aircon settings, and weren’t provided pool towels. The cutlery and kitchen utensils weren’t sanitary. Notes around the unit listed specific instructions and expectations, including a $30 charge if we didn’t clean the kitchen before leaving, on top of the cleaning fee. The balcony railings were dangerously low, and the external doors had only a flick lock to secure them. One door didn’t work. The place was very outdated physically and mentally, and the experience caused my family immense pain and left us with no money for the rest of our holiday.