Punthill Narrabundah

The only real plus was being within walking distance of the German club. The building access was awkward with a lot of luggage, and the car park didn't feel secure at all. The rooms were rundown and very dated. In the master bedroom, the wall stopped short of the ceiling, so there was little privacy from our child in the other sleeping area. There was no TV or dedicated air-conditioning in that bedroom either. It relied on the system in the main living area, which did a poor job of cooling it.

We left after one night and booked somewhere else for the second. Cockroaches were all over the kitchen bench when we got back, so we had to go to nearby coles and buy Mortein spray ourselves. There was no receptionist around. More came out during the night, getting bigger, and some were in the bathroom. When one appeared near the bed, we'd had enough. We were up until 3am dealing with them. The bed hadn't been moved or cleaned underneath, and there were tissues and other little bits down there. I wouldn't shower because I was worried about the cleanliness of the whole place. We left before 10am. The receptionist was nowhere to be seen, then turned up late while we were packing. My partner went in to check out, but got the impression they were busy and took the key without asking about our stay. My partner had booked two nights by phone. They were told the AC didn't work and that a heater would be provided, but it was a tiny foot warmer, not enough for a whole room. Reception service at check-in was fine, though the hours were limited and we were told nobody would be there after 7pm. The main lift smelled of weed and Glen 20, as if someone was trying to cover it up. On our way out to shop, a woman was screaming down the hall, which should've been a warning about the night ahead. The car park didn't seem secure, with signs about protecting belongings and several interesting characters hanging around late. From what we saw, the place was infested with cockroaches and unhygienic, and the area felt unsafe. Staff didn't seem to care. This is not a four-star hotel. I've stayed in caravan parks better than this. After reading other recent reviews, we wouldn't have booked. We cut our losses and left one night into the stay. I wish I could give it zero stars.

The rooms are a good size, but dated. Ours smelled of cigarette smoke, the carpet hadn't been cleaned properly, and the air conditioning was out of order. To be fair, they gave us a small discount. The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, but customer service disappeared after hours and over the phone. We called around half a dozen times before, during and after our stay, and nobody answered or called back. Communication matters! WiFi was unreliable, sometimes too slow to join a meeting or download a PDF. The corner desk was tiny, so working from the room was difficult. Mobile reception was patchy too, including Telstra, which meant we couldn't use a phone hotspot. Entertainment options were limited as a result. There's no gym, and food and drinks seemed available only during business hours, from a locked fridge. Abode Narrabundah works for an overnight stop to break up a long drive, but I wouldn't choose it for a longer stay. Pet-friendly rooms are handy when travelling with furry friends, since options are limited. I've stayed at several Canberra hotels for work, including pet-friendly ones, and this place is below average, closer to a two- or three-star hotel.

The gentleman at reception was friendly and hospitable, and check-in was easy. After that, though, the positives stopped. There was hardly any staff available when I needed help, and nobody at reception when I checked out to hear this feedback. I was in room 21, down a long corridor and off to the right. It smelled musty, the main light switch was broken, and the lounge seat was splattered with what I hope was some kind of white paint. The bathroom was dusty and the shower screen hadn't been cleaned well. The old mattress had a big dip in the middle. There was used milk in the fridge and the countertops hadn't been wiped down. The price is reasonable, but as they say, you get what you pay for. Abode needs to do a lot of work at this site to bring it back up to standard. Will I stay here again? Definitely no.