Nightelier Rye

The room was nothing like the photos, and it wasn't even the type we had booked. We reserved more than a month ahead but were given what looked like an accessible room, with holes, damage and stains on the walls. The bathroom had no exhaust fan, the shower curtain only closed halfway, and the air conditioner remote didn't work properly. Reception said no other rooms were available, which was hard to understand after we'd seen a couple check in just before us as walk-ins for two nights. We were also told that booking through Expedia instead of the hotel's site didn't mean we'd get a better room, which was a surprise to us. Check-in staff seemed careless and weren't much help. Checkout was disappointing too, with indifferent, rather impolite staff.

We were really pleased with this place. The twin king room was much larger than I'd expected, clean and modern, freshly painted, and had a great view of the beach and carnival. It looked just like the photos, and everything was within walking distance. The reception ladies were lovely and helpful. On arrival we got a 20 percent discount at Rye pub to use over the 2 days we were there, plus 4 drink vouchers worth $10 each. The kids also loved the outdoor pool. If I come back to Rye, I'd choose this same place and room again.

The reception ladies made our stay so much better. They were friendly and went above and beyond, just amazing. Our beach view room was stunning and spacious for me and my 3 kids, aged 17, 14 and 7. I'll 100% book here again.

Ian at reception made check-in effortless and was exceptionally helpful. We also loved the spacious room, the hotel's prime location and especially the heated pool, which was kept at a very comfortable temperature. During the summer holidays it gets lively, with a nearby carnival and a popular local pub close by. That suits young families well, though anyone after a quieter retreat should keep the peak season bustle in mind.