Macarthur Chambers

I’d come back. The apartment’s lovely renovation and comfortable interior made it feel like a home away from home, especially for a longer stay. It’s easy to get around from here, and the staff were welcoming and friendly.

I’m glad I didn’t have to haul my luggage up 12 flights with an elderly parent. The lifts and pool area still need repairs and upgrades, and there doesn’t seem to be much urgency about getting them done. The main problem, though, was the bathrooms in apartment 808. The toilet pedestal wasn’t fixed to the floor and nearly tipped while I was sitting on it. Both bathrooms had a 62cm step up into the shower, with no rail or other aid to get in or out. Unless you’re an Olympic pole vaulter, those showers aren’t usable. Internal parking is almost nonexistent, despite what reception says. Great location, but I’d never stay here again.

Restaurants, shops, and attractions are all close by, which made the location ideal. The staff were friendly and helpful, and getting through check-in and checkout was easy. I had a great stay and would come back.

The hotel’s response to my private feedback was the most disappointing part. I wasn’t asking for compensation, just sharing constructive feedback after a poor stay. They dismissed my concerns because I hadn’t raised them during the visit, said the air conditioning was “newly installed” so couldn’t have been faulty, and didn’t address the bed safety issue at all. It came across as though the problems didn’t matter once we’d checked out. Guest safety and feedback should be taken seriously whenever they’re raised. The beds were uncomfortable and unstable, shifting around easily. One single bed was lopsided, and underneath it were what looked like food cans propping it up. The double bed had the same makeshift supports. That felt unsafe and completely inappropriate for paid accommodation. The air conditioning worked in parts of the apartment on the first night, but not in the main bedroom, then stopped working altogether the next night. We set it to the lowest temperature and highest fan speed but had to use pedestal fans. We got back close to midnight, there was no on-site reception, and we were checking out the next morning, so arranging a technician then wasn’t realistic. There were only four towels for four guests over two nights, and no reception to ask for more linen. We had to call the after-hours number several times. Once there was a loud bang in the apartment and a smell like something electrical burning. The person who answered didn’t know what to do and told us to contact reception, even though reception’s number redirected to that same after-hours line while it was closed. Another time, I asked whether we could leave the cars in the car park after checkout and was again told to speak to reception, which wasn’t open on Sunday. The lack of help on site and limited after-hours support really affected our stay. Before arriving, I’d told the hotel we might need to check in after hours. They said they’d send access details “closer to the date of arrival.” That date was the same day they sent the message, but no instructions ever came. I had to leave an event early to get there before reception closed. Given the apartment’s price, the whole stay was very disappointing.