Pavilion on Northbourne

The breakfast buffet had the usual choices, like bread, waffles, cereal, juice, coffee and hashbrowns, plus freshly prepared egg dishes if requested. The breakfast staff were polite and helpful. Front desk staff were warm and polite too, and promptly helped us switch rooms when we found out ours was right over the parking gate, which made a lot of noise as cars went in and out. Our room was small but fine for two, with a compact bathroom, a small freezer in the fridge, good wifi coverage, plenty of parking and a comfortable enough bed. The central air conditioning had a dial, though I couldn’t tell if it worked because changing it didn’t seem to change the temperature. The rooms and carpets look worn and need upgrading, and a microwave in the room would be useful. Good value for money, recommended.

It’s a central, convenient base for everything we needed, with the tram stop nearby as a bonus. The staff were very friendly in every area. We had a lovely few hours on Valentine's evening, with drinks and bar snacks by the water feature. Our room was clean and very comfortable. Very happy with the stay, and we’ll choose and recommend the Pavilion for future trips to Canberra.

For a short, inexpensive stay in Canberra, this hotel is hard to beat. I don’t think you’ll find better value for the price, especially with its location near the City Centre, restaurants, shopping centres and other sights. It looked much nicer than I expected, inside and out, though quite a few interior areas were dated and worn. The carpets in the walkways on each floor looked especially derelict and brought down the appearance. Check-in was smooth, reception staff were friendly, my room was what I’d expect from any other 4 star hotel, and the general amenities were up to standard. I only stayed one night, so can’t comment on room service or food. Free onsite parking was a great bonus. I took one star off my service rating because I had to pay for a disposable toothbrush and toothpaste. It wasn’t much, but charging $1 for one felt petty and made for a poor customer experience. They could absorb the cost or add it to the room price. I’ve travelled all over the world, across first, second and third world countries, and this was the first time a hotel has asked me to pay for a disposable toothbrush. Crazy.

We keep coming back because the price, central location and facilities suit our family when we need to stay in Canberra. It’s an older hotel, but it’s always clean, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the free parking is a real plus. The breakfast buffet is consistently good, and dinner at the restaurant is tasty with great service, though the portions feel small for what it costs. We’ve stopped ordering room service because every time we tried it, the food was gross. My child loves checking out the indoor fish ponds, and somehow we often have the pool to ourselves. Getting there means walking through the restaurant, or going via the car park, which I’d rather avoid with a young child because of the cars. We also love all the plants around the place. Traffic noise at night can be rough for light sleepers, and the bed is only moderately comfortable. It’s not the fanciest or newest hotel we’ve stayed in, but for what we pay, it works well for us.