La Promenade Absolute Waterfront Apartments

The location is great, but our Christmas break was ruined by a disgusting and frightening stay. The apartment we had wasn't maintained and the cleaning was awful. It was extremely dirty, with mould on the ceiling near the air con, a dirty towel in a bedroom drawer, rotten timber around the spa and dirty dishes in the cupboards. The pool was filthy and cloudy. We weren't allowed to touch or adjust the aircon. The garage door was broken, so there was no secure parking and anyone from the street could go straight into the lifts. There was no security camera on the first floor where we were broken into, no deadbolt on the door, and the fire doors and front entrance were left open. We were broken into and robbed while asleep. We immediately reported it to the police and checked out because we didn't feel safe. Management handled it poorly and was passive-aggressive, partly blaming us and saying we'd left the apartment door open. They said that was what the police told them, but investigators told us directly that this wasn't the case. We honestly think it could even have been an inside job. We had to fight to get a refund for leaving early. It took a whole month and countless emails, many ignored, before they finally processed it. We were told it had been approved on December 31, but after weeks of chasing, found it hadn't actually gone through until January 28. Simply not good enough. We'd looked forward to Christmas, but instead spent it worrying about mould and the break-in, then being treated poorly. The apartments are individually owned, and clearly the owners of the unit we stayed in hadn't maintained it. Disgusting experience all round. Stay elsewhere and avoid it at all costs.

We had four one-bedroom apartments booked for our family Christmas, one on each floor. After reading some recent negative reviews, I was nervous about staying at La Promenade, but thankfully we were pleasantly surprised. Nobody in our group had significant issues. I believe the rooms are privately owned, and there were differences in decor and facilities between them. We had room 103 with an ocean view. It was extremely clean when we arrived, had an excellent view and everything we needed for four nights. The rooms are basic and a little dated, with some small cosmetic flaws, but that didn't bother us. The location was a real plus, within walking distance of the beach, shops, restaurants and bars. The bed was comfy, and we had aircon, a full-sized fridge and very good shower pressure. The downsides were slow elevators, old balcony furniture that was falling apart, and Foxtel not working, though there was free to air. Our room also lacked the divider curtain between the bed and living areas that the other rooms had, which made things hard with our toddler going to bed before us. The kitchenette was a bit pokey and not suited to cooking a big meal. There were also some carpark wars, with people in other people's allocated spots. We had a lovely stay and wouldn't hesitate to go back to La Promenade.

The food was a highlight. My eggs benny burger had a perfectly cooked egg, balanced hollandaise and bacon that melted in my mouth. The kids were happy with their pancakes, and the French toast with maple and bacon really stood out. Prices felt fair for the area, and the food quality made it especially good value. We went with friends as two families for Sunday breakfast during Christmas week, when the markets were on and Caloundra was at its busiest. Expectations were modest, but the experience was genuinely impressive. A quick call less than an hour ahead got us a table, with clear and polite expectations. Ordering at the counter was quick despite the crowds. My friends ordered just before me and already had hot drinks by the time I placed my order, then our meals came a couple of minutes later. Plates were cleared quietly and promptly. They kept the table comfortable without pressuring us to leave or order more, which matches my past experiences here. As a local who's visited many times and stayed in the accommodation, La’ Promenade is an easy choice to return to, and works well for relaxed family or group breakfasts even at peak times. Well done La Promenade, 10/10! No photos, I wasn't planning to write a review and was enjoying the meal and company.

The location and outlook were beautiful, but the stay was very disappointing. The furniture looked tired and tatty, and the kitchen area and cooking utensils weren't up to scratch. Calling it ‘Executive’ is misleading when it falls so far short, especially at that price. The staff member on duty when we arrived was extremely rude.