Rydges Hobart

The location and old school building are the good parts, about 10 minutes from Hobart town centre. But I wouldn't stay again. Our superior twin had a lounge area that was pointless since the only TV was in the bedroom, where you had to lie on the bed to watch it. The TV itself was cheap and awful. The bed was worse: the mattress was far too soft, and the base felt like it was coming apart, as if you might fall off. The worst hotel bed I've had. The room was missing small things that matter, like hooks for wet coats, decent tea and coffee, proper sized cups, and a shower door that doesn't stick. The bar's two for one drink offer has so many restrictions it's not worthwhile. There are better places to eat and drink about a 10 minute walk away on Elizabeth St.

The staff were good, the restaurant was nice, and the bed was comfortable. Food was pretty pedestrian, though plenty of guests may be happy with those flavours. The place still falls short because of poor design and execution, and I wouldn't stay again. The room was big with high ceilings, and the bathroom was large, but there were plenty of problems. The huge bed footboard blocked the TV, whose menu was so poor the cheap set wasn't worth using. There were no power points by the bed for charging phones. Pedestrians could see in through the windows, including the bathroom, which had no frosted glass and awkward blinds. The toilet wasn't screened off, so the smell spread through the room. The sink bench was too high, and the small, oddly oriented sink looked designed for appearance over use. The kettle was tucked in a cupboard instead of being left on the bench. The shower had no shelf for soap, poor tiling, mouldy grout, a weak fan that also had to serve the toilet, and a useless towel rail. I could keep going.

They charged me a punitive $233 after failing to confirm a booking I'd tried to cancel a month earlier because my plans changed. I believed it had been cancelled, explained that to them, and they seemed not to care. Their unfriendly systems and lack of proactive booking management became entirely my problem. Show some empathy and take responsibility. I received just one booking confirmation and no reply to my complaint, while EVT can send me marketing every day. They put making money ahead of caring for customers. Avoid them.

The staff were courteous and helpful, and they let us leave our bags after checkout since our flights weren't until the evening. The room was spotless, which matters to me because I'm fussy, and much more spacious than expected. Along with the bedroom and very large bathroom, there was a little sitting room I hadn't expected. It cost half as much as any other hotel for the number of nights we needed, so it was really lovely. It's about a 20 minute walk to the city centre, but we enjoyed the interesting little shops along Elizabeth Street. If walking is difficult, an uber costs only a few dollars, and there's a bus stop right outside. The outdoor steps up to our room were a bit uneven. They were fine for us, though they could be hard for someone with mobility issues, so check with staff before you book.