Sunday, July 10, 2011

HOTEL REVIEW – Novotel Brisbane Airport Hotel – Brisbane


Obviously being an aviation enthusiast, accommodation near an airport is always a preferred option!


The Novotel Brisbane Airport Hotel is located close to Brisbane Airport – about a 5 minute drive to the International Terminal and a 10 minute drive to the Domestic Terminal – and is situated in the Airport-One Estate Development, which has a Woolworths shopping centre and the Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) in the same block.

The hotel is a four-star luxury hotel, with a very luxurious looking foyer and reception area – where very friendly staff welcomed us for our recent two-night stay.



We had booked online through their website – quite easy to navigate – booking a standard room with a King Bed, as well as a daily hot and cold buffet breakfast. All details were confirmed, and the two staff checking us in were even able to arrange for me a room that overlooked the airport!!



Up to the third level (of five) and the view over the airport isn’t great – we could only see the old international terminal (logistics apron), as well as most of the aircraft departing Runway 19, which was the active runway during our stay.


Obviously, if Runway 01 was in use, then nice views of arriving aircraft could also be seen.

The room itself was quite roomy with many luxury features. There was a big and very comfortable queen bed, plenty of lights and switches and dials, and a wide screen plasma television with free cable television channels and free in-house movies. There is also a desk and chair, sitting chairs, a large mini-bar and full tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom was quite large, with a big shower, and a basin complete with overhead make-up lights.




The buffet breakfast was served daily in the aptly named Catalina Bar and Restaurant. The hot and cold buffet was massive with cereal, toast, rolls, and a full hot selection, including freshly made pancakes!


The last thing to mention was the paid parking at around $16 a day, but there is a big free carpark right outside the Hotel, and most guests (like us) end up parking here. It isn’t secured or monitored, but Hotel staff reported to us that there have never been any problems.


In all, the Novotel Brisbane Airport Hotel was a great place to stay. A great location on the North side of Brisbane, close to major shops (including the DFO), and the Gateway Arterial Roads that take people both to the North and the Sunshine Coast, as well as the South side of Brisbane quite easily, and then further to the Gold Coast. The Airport location is also quite handy for plane spotting too! We enjoyed a great room, with a good view, and a great breakfast which made our stay very enjoyable, and we will definitely be staying there again in the future!