The Bay Apartments

The apartment’s cleanliness was a real disappointment. The floors looked dirty as soon as we walked in, so we had to ask the cleaner to come back the next day. Even after that, our feet were black every day, as if dirt was ingrained in the floorboards. There was sand in one bathroom, hair on the floor and bathroom tiles that weren’t clean. It felt like the place had only been given a surface clean. We were all so disappointed, and I’ve never rated a place this low. Cleanliness is a basic part of a holiday, so sadly I won’t stay at The Bay Apartments again. Maybe it was only our apartment that had this problem. The location was spot on for our first visit to Hervey Bay, close to the beach and cafes. Our spacious three-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor had lovely views and a huge balcony. The pool was amazing, and the shaded kids’ pool was great for the grandchildren. Staff were helpful and polite when we needed them. Location gets five stars from me.

The service left me shocked and disappointed. I called the after-hours number for reception a couple of times, but nobody answered or called back. When I raised it, both the man and woman I spoke with were dismissive and unprofessional. Their unfriendly looks and greeting through the small reception window made me feel like a bother. The place and location are great, but management’s unfriendly manner really let me down. We thought the location was perfect, with a short walk along the esplanade to cafes and shops in either direction. The pool water was lovely and warm, and there were always plenty of chairs. Our apartment was spacious, though otherwise only very clean apart from the bedroom carpets, which were stained and felt dirty. They need a steam clean or replacing. The mattress was too soft, lumpy and uncomfortable, nothing like I’d expect in an expensive, highly rated apartment. From the balcony, high trees across from the apartments blocked much of the beach view, and we also looked over the pool.

We stayed with three couples and had plenty of space without feeling crowded. The apartment was comfortable, clean and had everything we needed, in a fantastic location. Restoration work to repair cyclone damage was happening, but it didn’t disrupt our stay. A great place for a quick getaway, and we’d happily come back.

The pool and hot tub weren’t available when we arrived because of lingering issues from the recent flooding. They were working on our last day, and we got to enjoy them for several hours. Someone we ran into by the pool also helped get the sauna ready and kindly gave us a late checkout, so we could spend a little longer enjoying Hervey Bay. Our room was spotless and ready when we arrived, and the service was very friendly. There’s a full fridge, oven and dishwasher, as well as a washer and dryer. Just check the front desk hours, as they’re only open a few hours a day and may be closed on Sundays. I won a trip to Australia that included this hotel, so I can’t compare its price with other places. Can’t wait to visit Australia again!