DoubleTree by Hilton Darwin Esplanade

The hotel itself was very nice inside, the staff were helpful, and breakfast was excellent. Renovations were underway outside during our stay, with cranes and tradies in view. That wasn’t made clear when I booked, though I guess it explains the good price. Getting to the free parking meant going through several heavy doors, but we had little luggage and no pram. Even after I checked at the desk about needing a card or pass to exit without a charge, they billed us $10 when we left. Free parking was included in my booking.

The pool and its bar were my favourite part, and the buffet breakfast was great, with good coffee too. All the staff were helpful and lovely. My room was nice and had what I needed, but a construction crane right outside the window was unfortunate. I should have checked the website, as the hotel was getting a facelift during my December 2025 stay. I’ll come back once the renovations are finished.

The desk staff were wonderful and the room was comfortable. There were large ongoing works at the hotel, but we still had a great night and no complaints.

The bed was comfortable and the sheets were clean. I could walk to the city centre from the hotel. At check-in, no one mentioned that breakfast costs less if you book it the night before than if you pay in the morning. I found that out by accident, a day before checking out.