Forrest Hotel and Apartments

For AFL fans wanting their team to beat the Giants, this place is ideal. Manuka oval is only a stone’s throw away, and you can walk to the footy and then to restaurants afterwards. There’s shopping for the ladies too, so the location has a lot going for it. Forest Apartments offer good value, with rooms or apartments to suit different budgets. Secure on-site parking is available and, best of all, it’s free, which is getting rare in Canberra. There’s also an on-site office and staff. Canberra has plenty to offer, and so do the Forest Apartments.

The room was cozy and clean, with extra pillows, blankets, and electric blankets. Fresh towels came daily, and room service cleaned the room and topped up the tea and coffee. The staff were so friendly, and the price for two nights was hard to beat. We were a 10-minute walk from the AFL, and the location was central to everything we needed. It’ll be our go-to next time NM play at the stadium.

We booked Forrest Hotel and Apartments at short notice for two nights at about 155/n. It was much cheaper than a cabin at the sprawling Alivio Tourist Park further out of town, which was booked out on a Sunday night, I think. Forrest Apps is made up of several different two-level buildings. Ours was 110, Albany Apartments in the next street, a ground-floor one-bedroom apartment in a nicely finished, renovated older block. I’m not sure all the apartments have been renovated. The kitchen had modern appliances and plenty of utensils and crockery, which suited me as I like to cook. The bathroom had modern fittings and a large walk-in shower that was easy to use. The bed was comfortable but firm, and there was lots of storage. There were two large TVs, wifi, and aircon. Staff were friendly at check-in, though we didn’t see them after that. It’s in Manuka on a quiet, pleasant, well-kept tree-lined street, close to Parliament house, museums, galleries, Glassworks, markets, and the lake, all easy to reach by bike. I think it’s good value for the location. We could park right outside our room, handy on a driving holiday with a campervan when you always need to duck out for something else. I never really knew where Canberra’s AFL games were played, then found out it was just around the corner. I’d stay here again.

Edit: After I posted my review, the owner contacted me directly to apologise for the communication and service problems. They also confirmed the cot fee refund had been processed. I appreciate the quick follow-up and the effort to address my concerns. If I’m in the area again, I’d consider staying here with my family. Original: I stayed at this hotel twice in one week, with a mix of good points and frustrations. Both apartments were clean, modern, and comfortable, with a nice bathroom and kitchen. The first stay came with a welcome surprise: an upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment for me and my toddler. The washing machine and dryer were especially useful while travelling with a child. I’d asked for a cot in advance and staff confirmed it would be provided, but what arrived was more like a bassinet and much too small for my daughter. I had to go into the city to buy my own travel cot so she could sleep safely, which was inconvenient and cost extra. We were in a one-bedroom apartment the second time. The room was again clean and modern with the same useful amenities, but I had trouble getting an answer about a refund for the cot fee. The staff member I spoke to didn’t seem to know what I meant and made no effort to check or follow up. There was adequate parking, which was convenient, though the on-site restaurant is closed on weekends. The rooms themselves were well-equipped, but the cot problem and poor communication affected my experience. It wasn’t the worst stay, but at the time I didn’t think I’d choose to come back.