Appalling stay at Ibis Styles Canberra

[markis10]

Perhaps the question should be; are there any decent Ibis Styles, I've had to use one or two and always been disappointed. Hotel of last resort for me.

It’s a brand, not a guarantee of a certain type of hotel. The Ibis Styles in Brisbane has been a standout since it opened, the Ibis in Adelaide opposite what is now the Pullman the same. Like Mercure new builds are good, inherited hotels not so much, in the case of Ibis Styles they were all seasons.

 

[dajop]

, Perhaps the question should be; are there any decent Ibis Styles, I've had to use one or two and always been disappointed. Hotel of last resort for me.

No complaints whatsoever with recent stay at Ibis Styles London Southwark, good location and modern fit out , more designed for a younger crowd but than me but that didn't worry me (for those familiar with Marriott, like a Moxy in some ways) and a basic breakfast included. For 115 GBP was a bargain. Also stayed a couple of times at Bali (Legian), last year, not at all a luxury resort, but good enough for the price I paid.

Edit: Also IS London Gloucester Road - great stay, we were upgraded to a room with a lovely terrace. Rare at that end of the market (or any end of the market) in London. Nice property for the price level.

It's really down to the property owner on any given day how well they enforce brand standards and the level of upkeep (presumably between audits).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The ibis styles in Silom is quite nice, rainbow crowd targeted of course.

 

[Seat0B]

There are in Asia!

Totally agree on that. And we also had a great one in Seville.

 

[termx]

Google Maps reviews rating of 3.2 should have rung the warning bells

According to Travel Weekly, the property was last renovated in 2012.

Accor's Ibis sub-brand is pretty much trash. I stayed at Ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth St recently and it was very basic. The Ibis Styles Sydney Central was worse. Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour slightly better. Ibis Sydney Olympic Park is just trash. Ibis Sydney Airport Mascot even trashier.

If you're staying 1 night for business and don't expect much, maybe Ibis is just OK. Anything more, book somewhere else.

 

[jase05]

Whilst the whole Ibis brand isn’t on my banned list I do avoid them like the plague and will only go for them if nothing else is available. I’ll even go to another hotel chain rather than use them. I stay at the Ibis styles Broken Hill for work as there isn’t much else there and they do look after me and likewise when I have the odd work visit to Mt Isa which sadly isn’t that often these days.
The only other one that I’ve willingly stayed at is at Pt Macquarie as the Mercure and Mantra are pretty poor and since renovations I think the Ibis styles is better.

 

[dajop]

Never stayed in an ibis (styles or vanilla) branded property in Australia. It sounds like the standards of the brand are lower than what I'd expect or have experienced outside Australia. Have never felt the need to avoid the Ibis brand and wouldn't consider the properties I've stayed at (in UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, China, Vietnam) as trash, but do take reviews into account somewhat, so maybe there's a bit of self selection going on.

In fact @MikeG 's experience would subpar for even the small number of Ibis budget properties I've stayed at in other countries (well maintained, clean but basic sleep and go properties).

 

[RooFlyer]

The Ibis Styles in Hobart was pretty good, a year ago. Great views from one side, if that’s your thing.

 

[Pavle]

I’ve stayed at Ibis Dubbo and Ibis Coffs - Dubbo was possibly the worst room I’ve ever stayed in, but the nights tippped me over to the next Accor status level, and I rewarded myself at the Sofitel Sydney in a suite for the effort

Driving to Thredbo in a few months and have a 1 night stay booked here. It will be an arrive at ~9pm and depart by 6am type of stay, so wasn’t too fussed, however there’s not a chance I would book any ibis for a multi-day stay in Australia again.

 

[markis10]

I’ve stayed at Ibis Dubbo and Ibis Coffs - Dubbo was possibly the worst room I’ve ever stayed in,

Don’t make the mistake of comparing all Ibis’s together, an Ibis budget is in no way comparable to an Ibis or Ibis Styles and often doesn’t even participate in All. Ibis Melbourne near Queen Victoria Markets has a full service restaurant & apartments that I often get upgrades to for instance.
Ibis budget Dubbo left the chain last year.

 

[Pavle]

Don’t make the mistake of comparing all Ibis’s together, an Ibis budget is in no way comparable to an Ibis or Ibis Styles and often doesn’t even participate in All. Ibis Melbourne near Queen Victoria Markets has a full service restaurant & apartments that I often get upgrades to for instance.
Ibis budget Dubbo left the chain last year.

Yes, agree. Ibis budget was formerly ’formule 1’ and it shows. I’ve stayed at plenty of various Ibis properties, but only in regional locations in Australia, and they are for the most part, fairly rough.

Ibis ambassador in Myeongdong on the other hand was great.

 

[MikeG]

Having stayed there many times, I don't think I do.

A hotel like that one, which has many one-night motel type stays, for a guest with a week-long stay, can't change the room at some point?

I don't think that's ever happened to me at any hotel where I was booked for a longer stay.

What I do these days, if at an impasse, is to request a pro-rata refund on my remaining stay and move hotels. If you are genuinely willing to "walk that talk", it has worked well for me. Hotel management usually suddenly take note and see what they can do.

But I've walked sometimes also.

Way too much hassle Given how busy we were . As you probably know, as a consumer if we are not able to get resolution during the stay one can get resolution after the fact.

Our main needs during the stay was a bed to sleep
In and entertainment (ie tv). The bed was horrendously uncomfortable as well. I find it tough to find any redeeming features of this hotel (motel). One to warn people about methinks.

The location was good I guess. We wanted somewhere central, not in the city. As we had to travel North and south of canberra…

 

[Flyerwin]

It's a specific issue with Canberra - I've stayed in that Ibis before as I wanted to stick with Accor while in Canberra recently, but I learnt from Canberrans that the local boutique hotels are way better, and you avoid that Ibis.

 

[Beer_budget]

I lived around the corner from that Ibis about a decade ago, and the inside looks more or less how I imagined. There aren't really good Accor options in Canberra (maybe the two Sebels, they are at least newish?). We lived part time out of the Peppers in 2024, and it'd be my pick of them - still a lot of maintenance issues because it's overdue for a reno, but staff were usually quick to act on issues and occupancy is generally low enough to get moved if there's a deal breaker issue.