121-123 The Esplanade, Cairns, Australia | (888) 399-9863
Excellent location on Esplanade, also a short eight-minute drive from the airport
Spacious and pleasant rooms with mini-fridges and large windows
Outdoor pool has adjacent hot tub
Two dining options; decent breakfast buffet selection
Gym has cardio and weight equipment
Four-computer business center
Hotel’s signature warm cookies on arrival
Free Wi-Fi (with free Hilton Honors program membership)
Some rooms and common areas look dated
Room air-conditioning can be loud
Wi-Fi is spotty throughout
Fees for parking and breakfast
This is a reliable upper-middle-range DoubleTree chain outpost with a fantastic location on the edge of the popular Esplanade area. With a pleasant inner atrium, a clean outdoor pool, gym, and decent dining options, the hotel checks off several boxes in terms of convenience and quality, but nothing is particularly fancy. Rooms are spacious and simple, with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs; several also have lovely sea views. Some interiors look dated and Wi-Fi comes with connection issues. The property’s proximity to downtown Cairns and to the airport makes it a solid choice for tourists and business travelers, but the Shangri-La Hotel The Marina has the style and luxe factor that the DoubleTree is missing -- though the rates are higher.
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Scene
Standard DoubleTree chain property, with some dated areas but lovely inner courtyard
This is a fairly straightforward DoubleTree property, with generic (and some dated) but clean interiors. The spacious lobby is framed with large windows that let in lots of natural light, and it has a sizable central seating area with comfortable couches. The inner courtyard is especially pleasant, featuring a walking path weaving through some tropical foliage and a small fish pond. There are also a few dining and lounging spots where guests can soak in the sun, though piped music in some public areas does get loud. The crowd here is mostly a mix of couples, families, and business travelers, so the vibe doesn’t ever get too rowdy.
Location
Beautiful Esplanade location, walkable to Lagoon and downtown entertainment
The hotel’s waterfront location on the Esplanade, a major tourist attraction, is a highlight, especially for tourists. It’s just far enough away from the bustle in the center of the boardwalk, but still an easy six minutes on foot to the Esplanade Lagoon, picnic areas, and downtown Cairns. There are also several Great Barrier Reef tour and diving facilities under a 10-minute walk away. Sites other than downtown attractions are best reached by car, including Mission Beach, the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, all of which are at least 20-minute drives away.
Cairns International Airport is an eight-minute drive away. The hotel can assist with arranging transport, but doesn’t provide airport transfers of its own.
Rooms
Simple but contemporary, with flat-screen TVs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and mini-fridges
Rooms are available with two double beds or one king bed. They’re spacious, contemporary, and have minimal frills -- they could use more character. However, the rooms are clean and the neutral tones give them a rather sophisticated look. All units feature large floor-to-ceiling windows, and several come with modest balconies. City and mountain views are nice, but sea views are undoubtedly prettier and a more popular choice. Suites have separate bedrooms and are almost double the size of standard rooms. Like most DoubleTree properties, accessible rooms are available here, too.
All rooms are non-smoking and come with sleek desks, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and air-conditioning; guests do report that the air-conditioning units are loud. Wi-Fi is free to hotel loyalty members (free to sign up) but is unreliable in terms of speed of connection. Tea-and coffee-making facilities are provided, along with mini-fridges and ironing equipment.
Bathrooms are on the small side and decorated in simple tiling. All come with shower/tub combos with handheld showerheads, toiletries, and hairdryers. Suite bathrooms have stand-alone hot tubs.
Features
Decent breakfast buffet, outdoor pool, and gym
The hotel’s casual yet modern Atrium restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner and has a pretty location overlooking courtyard foliage. Breakfast isn’t included, but the selection of omelets, fruits, yogurt, and baked goods is both tasty and fresh. The trendier Vine Room is open for lunch and dinner, and serves craft beers, cocktails, and small plates. Children’s menus are available, as is 24-hour room service, but the selection is limited.
The outdoor pool area isn’t the biggest and doesn’t include a pool bar, but it doesn’t get crowded. There’s a separate hot tub adjacent to the main pool, and both are surrounded by a scattering of deck chairs. The on-site gym is modern and well-equipped with treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines.
A guest internet corner has four computers that are free to use with printing and photocopying services. Wi-Fi in common areas is free, but guests complain that the signal is spotty. There’s a meeting room, but the carpeting is dated and the room overall looks tired.
Other amenities include a vending machine and self-serve coffee machine (both have fees). Parking at the covered lot isn’t free, but the per-day fees are reasonable for the area. Laundry services are available. There are also plenty of accessible features, including Braille elevators, accessible parking, wheelchair ramps, and the allowance of service animals.
