Rendezvous Hotel Perth Central

The hotel's location next to a park with rock climbing, a skate park, the beach and food kids would enjoy is probably its strongest point. With young children, it might work if you get a very good deal. As a hotel, it felt like two stars to me, perhaps three for the location. The room was small and dated, with visibly damaged furniture, though the bed was pretty comfortable. I paid extra for an ocean-view balcony, but there was nowhere to sit and you had to stand and lean over to see the view. It didn't seem worth the extra cost. The pool and bar didn't improve things. The fake grass looked like green carpet, the bright orange plaster rocks looked nothing like the photo, and many of the palm trees were dead stumps. The spa water was murky, with bits floating in it, and wasn't very warm. There were lots of children in the pool, which isn't a problem in itself, but the hotel's condition made me question its hygiene, so I felt gross and didn't get in. The cocktails were pricey, sugary premixes that looked tacky, so we skipped those too. It didn't feel like a five-star pool or bar experience. There were extra charges as well, $25 to park at the hotel and a $5 room-service delivery fee. When we checked out and I gave an honest review, the receptionist told me it was a five-star hotel. I nearly laughed.

The room felt run-down and smelled bad. There was a large empty space where I assume a couch was meant to be, and the power points were terrible. Bring an extension lead if you need to charge something by the bed. There was rust and mould throughout the bathroom, the toilet paper was practically cardboard, and you could see corners being cut everywhere. Breakfast was very disappointing, with a poor selection and even worse quality. Don't pay for it. I asked a team member about a refund for the second morning so I could eat elsewhere, but was ignored. Service was terrible in general. I asked at check-in to pay the bond in cash, as I do when I stay somewhere, and was told they don't accept cash. I barely saw another team member until checkout, and whenever I went through reception there was nobody around. Overall, a pretty poor experience.

The location in Perth is great, and the only part of breakfast I liked was the scrambled eggs and apple juice. Even those were severely overpriced and not worth what they charge. The hotel itself needs serious remodelling and doesn't live up to its five-star claim. Staff could use retraining in proper etiquette. They remake the beds and things look tidy when you return, but there's just two thin sheets and a thin blanket to keep you warm. No quilts. The wall TV is at least 15 years old, and not up to date at all. I won't come back.

The location near kings park is central, and breakfast was good without being over the top. But the rooms were too hot, with no way to cool them below 20 degrees on the wall unit and windows fixed shut. The ensuite ceiling is only 2m high, so if you're over 6ft 5, you may want to reconsider using it. Shower water doesn't drain properly and runs into the toilet area. The sliding bathroom door jams when closed, which is not ideal in the middle of the night. PowerPoints are awkward to find and reach. The rooms have a bland look, with little colour or life. Staff were neutral, neither friendly nor unfriendly. We also met a guest who was angry that her room swipe card hadn't worked properly throughout her stay. My wife and I stayed for one weekend night, and so many of these problems had already been mentioned in other reviews. I had read them before coming, but nothing seems to have been followed up. Rendezvous Management, please listen to what guests write and address the issues, especially when you say you will. Update the air conditioning, fix the doors, improve the tired interior, and invest in staff development. And please market this as a 3 STAR HOTEL. As it stands, this is NOT a 4 STAR HOTEL.