Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns

We were greeted well by the reception. The hotel is impressive in pictures but lacks some serious maintenance. Carpets, doors, room entrances, bathrooms are old. The room lacks power outlets. Beds were just ok. Bedsheets were good but blankets were old. Not worth the price, I would say. The location is not bad. It’s within walking distance to the reef terminal, food places and nightly markets.

The staff were like a warm hug on a cold day—super welcoming, attentive, and helpful when it came to booking tours. Those two older gentlemen? They could probably teach a masterclass on Cairns knowledge, and were great to chat too. Now, let’s talk about the rooms, pools, and hotel—they're so outdated they might as well be in a museum! And the bathroom? Oh boy, it’s got more mould than a science experiment gone wrong, and the cleaning service? Let’s just say it could use a little pep talk. We stayed for 8 days, and not once did the vacuum cleaner get a workout. But hey, the location is a gem! Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the city centre —only a 15-minute stroll to the hustle and bustle. The whole hotel is crying out for a makeover! On the bright side, the buffet breakfast was pretty good—like a solid B in the world of breakfasts and the view from our balcony was beautiful.!!! It was decent, but I was expecting a Michelin star experience after seeing the photos of there outdoor areas.

This review is disappointing. Booked through a travel agent and paid for three adults, to then be given a 2 person room and a trolley bed. Rydges would not admit changing the rooms. The agent confirmed the booking for three. A family holiday with a teenager with a bad back not getting much sleep. The hotel was full, Cairns was 97% booked out, not many options, suck it up. Thankfully the next hotel lifted our spirits. The view doesn't help a poor sleep.