CBR hotel recommendations

[thewinchester]

Does anyone have any good recommendations for hotels in CBR for a 1-2 nights?

I'm planning to fly in there next month, take Sunday and Monday to myself before attending an event for the whole of Tuesday, and flying out that evening back to PER.

Thinking a property on the 4-5 star level, and was looking at the Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort which QF Holidays has available for ~149/night.

Any recommendations on properties to stay (QFF points partners preferred), and what are the cab fares like from the airport to city?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BlueAU]

Eagle Hawk is like 15 mins out of town! I only stay there if I'm en route to Vic.
Rydges in town (Other 2) were dodgy last time I stayed.

Hmm I think cab fares are about $20-$30? I don't remember. Skyring will be able to tell you! He is in the very good 'know' of CBR Cabbies.

 

[markis10]

Eagle Hawk is like 15 mins out of town! I only stay there if I'm en route to Vic.
Rydges in town (Other 2) were dodgy last time I stayed.

Hmm I think cab fares are about $20-$30? I don't remember. Skyring will be able to tell you! He is in the very good 'know' of CBR Cabbies.

Eagle Hawk was no where near a 4 star when I stayed there 10 years ago, and its on the way from Sydney, not Yass/Vic. The Hyatt is cool but expensive, Crowne Plaza is also expensive, worth having a look at Diamant.

 

[BlueAU]

Eagle Hawk was no where near a 4 star when I stayed there 10 years ago, and its on the way from Sydney, not Yass/Vic. The Hyatt is cool but expensive, Crowne Plaza is also expensive, worth having a look at Diamant.

Yeah I stay there as its near the turn off to Monaro Hwy! I stayed there in August actually. I wouldn't call it 4 star, maybe 3.5 .... (plus they gave me a card and it didn't unlock door. Told me batteries in door needed to be changed and I would have to wait 30 mins for a technician to come change it. You gotto be kidding! Asked for a new room and got a weird look from the check in person :shock lol!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

If you can get it cheap the Crowne Plaza is lovely.. nice modern rooms, great service and close to the CBD (and the Wig and Pen for a few micro brewed beers!)


The regularly have cheap rooms on wotif (but check the hotels website to make sure they are cheap)

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Oh and second question, depending on traffic from $17-$25 when I was there last (last year).

There is a bus to the CBD I think but infrequent (once again last time I was there)

 

[Commuter]

Crowne Plaza can be reasonably cheap (approx $200) and is quite central. You can walk to shops and the Civic very, very easily. It's modern, and I found the staff to be pretty good.

Hyatt is nice but you can't really walk anywhere quite so easily.

Cab fares to the city centre from the airport, including airport fees, are generally between $22 and $28.

There is a bus to the CBD I think but infrequent (once again last time I was there)

I think it's every 30 min or so during the day. It takes ages though, and I don't recommend it because the fares are $9 or thereabouts - to me, the extra time and lack of comfort is not justifiable considering the small difference in fares.

 

[dajop]

Earlier last year I stayed at the Hotel Realm in Barton, and was quite impressed. Then it was pretty much brand new, modern and very comfortable, with good pool etc in basesment. Not too far from the restaurants/cafes of Manuka and Griffith either.

 

[jamesatfish]

Another vote for the Hotel Realm in Barton based purely on the quality of the rooms and furnishings - I haven't stayed there myself (I live in Canberra) but my wife's company has done work for the hotel and adjoining private apartments and the rooms are probably the best I've seen in Canberra.

The Hyatt is still a nice place - the hotel is ageing but it's still Hyatt service and quality.

Both of those are on the south side of the lake but no more than 5-10 minutes drive from the CBD, even in 'peak hour' which isn't really an issue in Canberra.

 

[docjames]

DO NOT stay at Rydges. We stayed at the one near paliament and when we got to the room it stank of cigarette smoke. This was a non smoking room that must have been a smoking room in the past.

The next room they took us to was no better, so we moved floors and although better (we put up with it), still wsnt great.

Time over again, i'd go the Crowne Plaza.

 

[harvyk]

Eagle Hawk is in the middle of no where. AFAIK most people who stay there are there for conferences \ weddings being held at Eagle Hawk.
I'd go +1 for Crowne Plaza, it's very central.
Hotel Realm is also very nice, and only a cheap taxi fare to city \ Manuka \ Kingston.
Hyatt isn't in the city but all major arterial busses in Canberra go past it's front door. I'd be surprised if you have to wait more than 5 minutes to get a bus to take you into the City, also a taxi fare from there would also be very cheap.
Diamant also seems quite nice, the city has sort of expanded so the building is now of the very edge, rather than out in the middle of nowhere.
Also Wig n Pen is a must visit for any beer lover...

 

[docjames]

Forgot to add:

The Park Hyatt on Commonwealth Ave is awesome if you can get a decent rate.

 

[esquire]

I stay in Canberra a couple of nights nearly every week for the past 2 years, except when I am sent to Perth or it is Christmas. Such is the complexity of hotels availability in Canberra (and I've noticed it has actually got worse this year even though there are more hotels open!) I have to book rooms upto 3 months in advance. On short notice I have ended up in Queanbeyan at the ACT is sold out ! :shock:

As such I have tried every single 3-5 star in town.

For the price range you are requesting, especially if you are travelling during parliamentary season (which now seems to includes the weeks in between sittings) Rydges Eaglehawk (in NSW) is probably your only real option.

The Crowne plaza is great however the prices recently (and until two weeks before Xmas) are around the $350+ per night if you want flexibility and thats for a standard room......

My regular choice is the Hyatt (easily the best hotel in Canberra) which I have now made my home... mainly by changing hotel allowances over the years on my contract. However even sometimes it is sold out or too expensive ie budget week - even on government/diplomatic rates (ummm $600+ per night... I don't think so) so my other choices are:

• Diamant Hotel - reasonable rates and nice new hotel (really a good 4.5 star)
• The Realm (once again a good 4.5 star) is good although prices are reasonably high most of the time
• Rydges Lakeside is OK - a trip back to the 70/80s however Quality
• Hotel -Clifton on Northbourne is fine for longer stays
• If you want to be in the city the Novotel and Quest are OK, likewise the Medina James Court and Waldorf.

Best of luck!

 

[Commuter]

• If you want to be in the city the Novotel and Quest are OK, likewise the Medina James Court and Waldorf.

Medina James Court, IMO, is better than Waldorf. Waldorf rooms tend to be pretty small, don't you think?

Now that Crowne Plaza seems to be a bit too far off the OP's budget, I have just remembered that Marque isn't too horrific and I think within the OP's price range, although it's not somewhere I would particularly choose to stay at, as I prefer CP for its location and decor. It's just about within comfortable walking distance to the city too. (For OP: The Marque Hotel Canberra > Canberra Accommodation & Hotel )

 

[Gold Member]

I commuted to CBR for 9 months and stayed in the Novotel every day of the week. The only nice things I have to say about the Novotel are that:

1) Its central to everything
2) Pool area isn't too bad on a nice day with the outdoor deck
3) I was able to get 3:1 QFF points (after much efffort pursuing)

Other than that, bit of a dive.

The Hyatt, on the other hand, is very nice. But as others have stated, its in the middle of nowhere (unless you're govt).

 

[thewinchester]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and info, will take a detailed look - and it looks like I'm spoilt for choice.