Holiday Inn & Suites Sunshine Coast by IHG

The pool was a lovely temperature, and the kids had the best time there. The pool bar was great too, with lovely staff, and breakfast was FREE. We’re a family of four and found the room comfortable, a nice size without feeling cramped. The shower room was cool, and the kids and I loved it. The foyer had a wonderful smell, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. I wasn’t expecting to like this place as much as I did, but I’ll absolutely stay again when I’m in the area.

It’s right in the centre, about 15 minutes from the airport, with a bus stop only a few minutes’ walk away. Getting around was easy, though dining options nearby were somewhat limited, so you can always order Uber Eats. The rooftop pool is small but a nice bonus. I stayed three nights in a clean, comfortable room. Since the hotel is relatively new, everything felt fresh, and it was quiet at night, so I slept well. The bathroom was disappointing, with a shower and toilet that looked quite cheap, as if they were cutting costs. The shower’s see-through glass panel is awkward when sharing a room, though it’s fine if you’re travelling solo. Breakfast was okay, with only a few choices, but it’s free, so I can’t really complain. Despite a few drawbacks, I had a comfortable stay.

The hotel was clean and updated, but for the price, it wasn’t worth it. They don’t have their own parking garage, so you pay for the public garage on top of your stay. I called at 9am to arrange a cot for our infant and was told it had been added to the room as a priority. The person seemed more interested in signing me up for the rewards program than answering my question. I called again at 2pm to check on the cot and ask about early check-in. Another operator focused on signing me up, then transferred me to a dead line. We went to the hotel early to see if we could check in. At check-in, there was no cot noted in the booking, and we were lucky one was still available. Even an hour and a half after check-in, there was no cot in the room. Reception didn’t know what a Portacot was, and said housekeeping didn’t start until 4pm. The lovely housekeeper arrived at 5pm and apologised, saying she’d only just been told to put a cot in our room. It should have been there before we arrived. Poor management all around. The restaurant was closed when we went down for dinner, the TV was a nightmare to get working, and one side of the bed had what felt like a plastic sheet under the top sheet, making it extremely hot and uncomfortable to sleep on. The instant coffee was the world’s worst. For such a new hotel, things should be a lot better. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The location worked perfectly for us, close to the beach and Sunshine Plaza, and I’d definitely stay again. We spent four days here and had a great experience. It was quiet and very clean, and you could see the effort put into keeping everything comfortable and well maintained. Breakfast is the only meal they offer, but there are good lunch and dinner options nearby. Compass Menu is a five-minute walk away and has excellent food and service. The pool was clean, and the gym was good too.