Manly Waves Hotel

The bed was so comfortable, and I loved the tidy, spacious bathroom, spacious by comparison, lol. The air conditioning worked great, and the big fridge, kettle and microwave were all good. There were three of us with two big gear bags and three personal bags, so it was tight, but we made it work. The sliding door onto the patio made the room feel much bigger. The beach was so convenient, just one lovely block away. Inland, there was a great, really spacious café two blocks away, in and around the corner. We also had a great breakfast at the café right on the beach, on the town side of the lifeguard building. All in all, we loved it. Great value and a good vibe.

Manly is easily my favourite part of Sydney, and this place made the stay even better. The room was fantastic for the price, which is hard to find in this area. I booked at the last minute to split up a long drive. They waited for us to arrive, then offered us a nicer room without hesitation. The service at Manly Waves and Studio Apartments was outstanding. Theo, I believe, and the owners and management are genuinely warm, down-to-earth people who made us feel like family. I honestly couldn’t fault it. Hands down my best stay in Sydney, and I’ll be back.

The location is the one thing this place has going for it: it’s close to the beach and within walking distance of pubs, cafes, and restaurants. That alone wasn’t enough to make this stay worthwhile. We were visiting friends and barely used the room beyond sleeping, so we tried to push through. We shouldn’t have had to. It didn’t match the advertised room, and the standard was nowhere near acceptable for the price. It was disgusting. There was a strong cigarette smell when we arrived, and a zip-lock bag covered the smoke alarm. The bedsheet had a visible blood stain. Either the cleaner missed it through very poor attention to detail, or it was noticed and left there anyway. Neither is acceptable. Sand covered the floors and lounge, while dust and hair lined the architraves. Walking barefoot was unpleasant enough that I kept my shoes on, and I wouldn’t sit or lie on the lounge because it didn’t feel clean. The bathroom window was covered with a sheet that seemed suspicious. It didn’t appear to open onto another wall in our room or to the outside, and it was beside the cleaners’ supply storage. It seemed possible the bathroom backed onto an area staff could access. Even with the window covered, that left me extremely uncomfortable. One night I came back alone and felt far more on edge than anyone should in a hotel. The whole place felt off. Staff behaviour didn’t help. In the middle of the day, a cleaner skated around on a skateboard outside our room, blasting music from a portable speaker. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, but it was bizarre enough that we kept our valuables hidden and extra secure. When we arrived, staff were gathered out front like it was a casual family BBQ. Friendly, sure, but not professional. After seeing other low reviews, the similarities were uncanny. These problems seem ongoing, with no sign of an intention to improve. The business seems comfortable operating at a mediocre standard. Guests provide every dollar the place earns, and even a budget hotel needs to meet basic expectations for cleanliness, security, and professionalism. Those aren’t luxuries. Manly Waves needs to take a hard look at itself, train cleaners in proper workplace conduct, and bring the rooms up to an acceptable level of cleanliness. The rooms should either be upgraded to match the online photos, or the photos should be made more accurate. Or just call it a hostel. I would never stay here again and strongly advise others against it.

Getting around Manly was easy from here. The beach, cafes, and other things to do were just a short stroll away, which made the trip relaxing. I stayed at Manly Waves Studios & Apartments and found the room clean, comfortable, and roomier than I expected. It had the amenities I needed, modern fittings, and thoughtful touches that made it feel homey. The bed was especially comfortable. Check-in went smoothly, and the staff were welcoming, responsive, and friendly throughout. Five stars, and I’d gladly stay again. It’s convenient, clean, and good value.