Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront

I travel a lot, and this was one of the best beds I’ve slept in. No idea if it was the mattress or the sheets, but I had a fantastic night. The room was really spacious too, with a large fridge and plenty of shelves for unpacking if you’re staying a while.

We got a good deal, though prices at the Waterfront vary by date. I was disappointed that our New Year booking didn’t get the beach view room we’d reserved about a month and a half ahead. Parking costs extra, but it wasn’t too expensive for a full day. The hotel was decent, and the food satisfactory.

Breakfast was the best part of my stay, and the staff in that area were lovely. The bed was comfortable too, so the bed and breakfast were the standouts. The hotel needs attention, though: the bath towels had holes, there was no minibar price list, the room kettle wouldn’t switch off after boiling, and there was mould in the room. Please deal with those issues as soon as you can.

The location is great, and breakfast was nice. That’s about where the positives end. We arrived at the Vibe Hotel for the final three nights of a package holiday with a reputable company. Until then, the trip had been full of first class service and experiences. At check-in, I asked about a late checkout because our flights left late at night. I was immediately told it cost $30 per hour and wasn’t recommended. When I asked if there was a room or shower where we could freshen up and change, I was told we could pay for another night. We were offered the outdoor shower by the pool, which isn’t very practical, or the disabled toilets to change in. Our room was about 250m from reception, and no one offered to take our bags there. I can’t remember the last hotel I stayed at that didn’t provide complimentary water or a bottle and a note suggesting guests refill it from the tap. Staff were pleasant when I asked about these things, but seemed to accept that this was just the standard and there was nothing they could do. It didn’t ruin our holiday, but the little things matter. I came away feeling the Vibe Hotel had given up, so I’ll avoid the chain in future.