San Simeon Apartments

The beach is close and the view is good, but at almost AUD$300 a night this wasn't worth it. The beds had sand, the curtains and couches were old and stained, and there was no aircon for the summer heat and humidity. The games room felt like a tiny dungeon, and reception was empty all weekend. The serious issue was the power points. Several gave us a sharp zap when switched on or off. We tried to find Reception three times between Friday 3PM and Saturday 5PM and couldn't get help. Faulty sockets like that are a major safety hazard, especially with families and children staying there.

I visited my wife and her girlfriend while they were staying for a week and was impressed by how much space the rooms had. Their balcony had uninterrupted ocean views, and the kitchen had plenty of utensils, pots and pans. They had a lovely, quiet and relaxing stay. Everything in the room was very clean, and they enjoyed the pool area too.

After driving up from Sunshine Coast, we were told our booking hadn't come through. Reception was due to close at 5pm, and when we arrived at 5:30 the receptionist wouldn't come down to open the gate or discuss it in person, saying it would be inconvenient. I called around and luckily found somewhere much better: a spacious place with two floors, upstairs bedrooms and a private balcony, plus two beds downstairs, each with its own bathroom. The reception there was friendly and helpful with our late arrival. It was closer to everything and had much more room for three people.

The location was perfect, with the IGA within walking distance, and we really enjoyed the pool, tennis court and games room with its ping-pong table. Basement parking was available, the receptionist was lovely and waited to hand us the keys, and tennis rackets and balls were already in the cupboard. We had everything we needed in the apartment and would come back. We booked through booking.com and paid about $300 more than nearby apartments. For our six nights there was no service at all. The tiny sachet of dishwashing liquid was enough for one wash, and guests are expected to buy everything from toilet paper and tissues to hand soap. When I asked for another rubbish bag, they first asked how much longer I was staying.