Ardo

The rooftop bar had tasty food and drinks, though the music was too loud for me. The ocean king room had a great view of Magnetic island. It’s a premium location, so it isn’t cheap. I did wish the $470 room had toothpaste, since I’d forgotten mine 😭.

We’d come back to Ardo for the accommodation. The rooms, bathroom, bed and balcony views were lovely, and the rooftop pool with food and drink service was a real highlight. Room service food was amazing and well priced, though the minibar was pricey. The restaurant was nice, but the woman serving us was unfriendly and impolite. My five stars are for the room, accommodation and room service menu.

The room was spotless and the bed very comfortable, but the service let the stay down. Check-in felt robotic, and there wasn’t even a question about how we’d enjoyed things when we checked out. The rooms felt sterile and unwelcoming. The TV was either very loud or off, with no volume control, though the complimentary spring water was a nice touch. They skipped fresh towels and a room refresh one day, and the cardboard coat hangers were a surprise. The rooftop bar has a divine view, but it’s pricey and you need to book for drinks or food. On arrival, a staff member told us we could stay only 45 minutes because everything was reserved, though not one table had a reserved sign. House guests should be able to drop in without question. Breakfast is at the sister property, The Ville. It was cold and a bit blah every morning, and we had to pay for barista coffee despite having an inclusive package. One morning they asked me to sign for breakfast; when I questioned the $89 amount, they said, “Oh, My Bad.” We spent a lot of time at The Ville, where the staff were much more pleasant. We’ll return to Townsville, but not The Ardo. It’s overpriced, even though it’s comfortable and very clean.

I had a wonderful stay at the ardo. The ocean view room is worth booking, and I really enjoyed the food, service and lovely minibar selection. I travel a lot, and I think the ardo is doing a great job for a regional hotel. I’m not sure why it gets so many bad reviews.