The Lord Nelson

Make sure to book a sea view room. The other side of the building would be a mistake. With the doors open, you can hear the waves and get the sea air, since it's so close to the water. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the staff friendly. I had seen mixed reviews before going, but was pleasantly surprised. Bars and restaurants are a short walk away, and I'd definitely stay again. Parking is limited, though there should be somewhere to park on the street if the lot is full.

The best thing about this place is the beachside setting and the view. Otherwise, with all the options around, I'd look elsewhere. There were bugs on the bed, some kind of gnat, not bed bugs, and they were only on the bed. At the front desk, the first person I spoke to was dismissive and argued with me. Another person blamed the open patio door, but we'd only opened it three times to go in and out, shutting it right after each time. We stayed four nights. The bugs started to lessen on the third night, but every day we were told the hotel was full and they couldn't move us. We were on vacation, with our children and in-laws in other rooms, so booking three rooms at another local hotel at short notice wasn't going to happen. The hotel is supposedly non-smoking, but smoking seems optional in the restaurant and lobby, which are connected, and there are tables in the lobby. On our last day, they wouldn't restock the toilet paper, saying we were leaving and they wouldn't replenish anything until after checkout.

The shower was cramped, the water pressure weak, and the drain clogged easily. The bed was kind of small too. Still, my wife and I enjoyed our short getaway at The Lord Nelson from the 17th to 19th February. We had a nice sea view, a Samsung TV that worked well, and a fridge with a freezer. There were eight wall plugs in the room, which was plenty, and complimentary shampoo and shower foam.

The beachside setting gives good views, though the tide means the beach isn't accessible until afternoon. Staff were friendly, especially the receptionist. The hotel itself is fine, but needs some care and updating. Our bed linen was old and torn, and the balcony furniture was tatty and worn. It felt overpriced, though okay for a couple of nights. There's a store across the road for beer and water, but no food. Burger Bus is 500mts away, with a couple of shops nearby. For other restaurants and 7 / 11, it's about 1km: turn left out of the hotel, walk to the roundabout, turn right, then go 500mts to the 7/11 and affordable Thai restaurants.