The Marina Hotel - Mindarie

The room itself was very nice, but it only had a kettle. A toaster or microwave would’ve been handy, especially with food and drinks costing so much. For example, a bacon and egg breakfast and a small burger were $28 each. The thermostat was stuck at 21.5 degrees and staff couldn’t fix it, though they offered a tiny electric heater. It was cold while we were there, but we didn’t use it because it looked like a little plastic fire hazard. Staff did all they could.

The room was spacious and very comfortable, with a wide balcony looking out over the marina. The location is handy too, right by the waterfront restaurants and shops.

We were woken before 7am by workers trimming plants in the garden, which we didn’t appreciate. The balcony’s wooden railing also seems unsafe: it’s soft and waterlogged, looks like it’s rotting, and water comes out when you press on it. The room was very noisy above the coffee shop and bar, where people below could be heard clearly. We’d booked a room with a different view, so that was disappointing too. It was freezing in the room, and the air conditioner on the so-called setting “4” barely helped. We’ve brought a small fan heater on previous visits and would recommend doing that. At first glance the room looked run down, but much of that seemed to be dirt or mould that could be cleaned. It didn’t smell clean when we arrived, and our feet turned black walking around barefoot. The corners, space behind the door and light switches were dirty. The bed runner was stained, had hairs on it and was unpleasant. We did appreciate having a proper doona cover instead of the used doona placed between two sheets. For $350, though, we expected a refreshed, well-maintained room. It seems to be getting more run down each time we visit.

A nice spot to enjoy drinks by the harbour and browse the boardwalk shops. There are two very good places for a drink, including a brewery.