We recently stayed at the Canberra Rex Hotel as a family of three, traveling from Sydney to celebrate the New Year. While there were some positive aspects, our overall experience was disappointing.
Starting with the positives, the reception staff were very nice and courteous, which we appreciated. We liked that it is very near a light rail station and quite close to parks, restaurants, and cafes.
The layout of the hotel posed challenges. Our room was quite far from the lifts, and with only two lifts positioned side by side in a corner of the building, accessibility was inconvenient. It seems the hotel design is to blame, as the lifts are not centrally located like in most hotels.
One of the biggest letdowns was the pool. We specifically chose this hotel for its pool, hoping our little one could enjoy it. Unfortunately, the pool heater was not working, and the water was freezing cold. To make matters worse, we noticed some bugs in the pool, which was unsettling. The staff wouldn’t have known the heater wasn’t working if we hadn’t informed them. It felt like the pool's maintenance and condition were overlooked, which was a major disappointment for us. Had we known that we won't be able to enjoy the pool, we would've settled in a hotel that is far more affordable.
As compensation for the pool issue, we requested and were granted a late check-out, which was a kind gesture from the hotel. However, it didn’t feel adequate given the inconvenience and disappointment we experienced.
Additionally, the King Suite we stayed in had some practical flaws. It only had one bin, which was insufficient for a family of three, as it filled up quickly. Another inconvenience was the shower area, which didn’t have any shelves. This meant we had to place shampoo and conditioner bottles on the floor while showering, which was far from ideal.
Overall, while the reception staff’s service was commendable, the hotel fell short in terms of facilities and maintenance. I hope the management takes these points into consideration for future guests.
