Alivio Hotel Cairns

It was a bit inconvenient that the front desk staff wasn't there at the scheduled times, but the room was surprisingly spacious, just as pictured, which was great.

The hotel isn't in the city center; it's located along the main road. Check-in was remote – they sent us a code for the main door and a safe containing our key. The rooms are a bit dated, and the cleanliness isn't top-notch, but overall it's okay. In the bathroom, the shower door was wobbly. Regarding breakfast, the hotel description states that vouchers are only for weekends, but in reality, they're available every day. Perhaps this is just for the winter period, I'm not sure. They provide AUD 20 per person for breakfast at a neighboring building. And let me tell you, that breakfast is divine! It's an à la carte menu, and we tried many things over three days, and everything was delicious. Of course, we paid extra, but it wasn't a huge amount. One day it was AUD 11, another day AUD 15, and for the one in the photo, AUD 24. Water is complimentary, coffee is AUD 6 – so you can definitely stay within budget if you skip the coffee. Also, behind the café building, there's a laundry service where you can wash and dry your clothes. It's AUD 6 per wash or dry. Nearby, there's a 'Night Owl' convenience store that was open when we arrived late, and a pizzeria next to it was also open, so you won't go hungry. The room really could have used a microwave. There was crockery, but we had to wash it in the bathroom sink, and no dish sponges were provided.

It says 24-hour check-in is available, but the staff is only there until 8 PM. After that, it seems to be self-check-in, and I had to call to finally get checked in. It was a struggle since I'm not good at English. The hairdryer wasn't in the room, and when I asked for one, I was told it wouldn't be possible until the next morning, so drying my hair was a real hassle. Because of experiences like this, I recommend checking in during the hours when staff are present.

It's a bit far from the center of Cairns. There aren't many supermarkets around, which was a little inconvenient, but on the other hand, it allowed for a quiet stay.

The service was very friendly.