Hotel Tropiq

We stayed for two nights at the end of our travels around Australia. The hotel’s a good budget choice for travellers who want somewhere cheap but decent. Our basic room suited the price, had strong air con, and a nice big fan over the bed. Everything worked, and the TV had Netflix, YouTube and other options. The pool was nice for relaxing, even though there wasn’t much seating; it stays open until 9 pm, so you can swim all day. The centre is a 20-minute walk away, or an easy five-minute Uber from this location. Staff were lovely, especially the long greyish-haired guy, who was friendly and chatty. He also let us keep the room for an extra two hours on checkout day at no charge, with no fuss.

For the price, it’s hard to beat. The bathroom is a bit dated, but there’s a nice pool and a free BBQ area. The location is good, and the man at reception was friendly. There were a few ants in the room, but that’s probably quite normal in the tropical north.

On Christmas Day we checked in and found the room didn’t have a basic, non-negotiable item: a blanket. At 8:30 pm we called reception to ask for one, and were told nobody was on site to help. No staff, no solution. They suggested using towels, already wet from the shower, or the mattress protector as a blanket. I wish I were joking. I spent the whole night freezing in a room I’d paid good money for, on Christmas of all days. They made no effort to fix or escalate the problem or offer meaningful help. Later, when we asked for a partial refund for the inconvenience and complete lack of basic service, they flatly declined. A hotel that can’t provide a blanket, staff the property or take responsibility for its failures shouldn’t be taking bookings, especially on a major holiday. Absolutely unacceptable, and one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had.

It’s a budget stay, but has everything you need. Housekeeping, the pool guy and reception staff were all friendly, humble and helpful. Vanessa at the front desk was super. I’ll definitely be back. Well done!