HOTEL REVIEW - Sundowner Motor Inn - Rockhampton

UPDATE!  The Sundowner Motor Inn Rockhampton has now been renamed as The Q Motel Rockhampton.

For a weekend of plane spotting, I thought I'd give a different place in Rockhampton a try and after a quick online search I settled on the Sundowner Motor Inn.

'Sundowner' is chain of accommodation places and being impressed with one that I stayed at one few years ago I thought this place might be ok.  And it was.  It was ok but not spectacular!

The Motel is located on the Bruce Highway (Gladstone Road) and is situated away from the 'hustle and bustle' of the centre of town.  It is around 4km from the Airport and 2km from the centre of Rocky.

My first impression was that it would be pretty quiet - I arrived on a Friday evening around 8pm to find the reception closed for the night but with the proprietors 'on call' to enable me to obtain a key.

I believe I was given one of the executive rooms - I believe some have been upgraded - however my first impression was that this room was pretty much like most other motel rooms that I had stayed in.  The room was on the first floor up a narrow set of stairs which could be a bother for some older people or if you were to carry lots of bags!

There were two beds, a desk and chair, tea and coffee making facilities and a pretty small bathroom.  A sliding door led to a small private balcony.

There is WiFi in the room.

Some Family rooms offer self-contained kitchen facilities. Outside, there is an on-site BBQ outdoor area and laundry facilities available.

The motel features a restaurant which is available for evening meals along with a bar.  Complementary continental breakfast is also offered in here which I had and was impressed with the wide range of options available.

I did enjoy my couple of nights at the Sundowner Motor Inn Rockhampton.  The bed was comfortable and facilities quite good - especially the complimentary breakfast.  Surprisingly the possible noise from the busy Bruce Highway was pretty much non-existent.

This motel certainly loves up to its 'reputation' as being one of the the best value places in Rockhampton! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.

HOTEL REVIEW - Reef View Hotel - Hamilton Island

The Reef View Hotel is the main mutil-storey accommodation facility on beautiful Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays region of Queensland, Australia.

The Hotel features 359 spacious, well-appointed rooms all with private balconies overlooking either landscaped tropical gardens or the stunning Catseye Beach and the Coral Sea.  

All rooms face out to sea and have outdoor furniture to sit back and relax and experience the spectacular Whitsundays sunrises and sunsets. 

Although the local cockatoos love to perch themselves on each railings so you will need to keep the doors closed!

The upper-most floors boast 18 luxuriously appointed suites. 

Other facilities at the Hotel include a massive and welcoming reception area including tour booking desk and a very handy souvenirs shop.

The Pool Terrace restaurant has a fantastic menu and offers a daily buffet breakfast with seating on the deck of the Hotel's pool.

Hamilton Island has frequent transport busses which pull up at the front entrance of the Hotel every 10-30 minutes which provide free transport for guests to the Island's other facilities including restaurants, pools and the marina, and also up to One Tree Hill where you can catch some stunning sunsets while enjoying a glass of wine at the bar up there.

I would definitely recommend the Reef View Hotel and a getaway to Hamilton Island is a must, I can’t wait to return.

HOTEL REVIEW - Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel - Sydney Airport

I was very lucky to recently stay in a King Suite on the top floor of the Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel.  The Sydney Airport accommodation is located at the Sydney International Terminal and just 181 steps to the check-in counters, a short 10-minute journey to the Domestic Airport and less than 20 minutes to Sydney’s city centre.

Transfers to and from the Domestic Airport are available via bus, train, super shuttle bus and car. Discounted parking is also available for hotel guests.

There are 318 well-appointed rooms at the Hotel with the room higher up featuring great views of the entire Sydney Airport and the main runway right out your Hotel window.

The top floors are available to plane spotters and the Hotel offers Plane Spotting 'Packages' with accommodation, food and drink vouchers and complimentary binoculars!

This King Suite offers extra room and a sitting area, and like the other King Rooms on the top floor for plane spotters, they have the very comfy Rydges 'Dream' Bed as well as amenities such as 42-inch flat-screen TVs with free-to-air channels and free Wi-Fi to keep guests entertained and connected during their stay.

The hotel features a welcoming reception area as well as a business center, flight arrival and departure information. Guests also have access to a coin operated laundry facility.

There is a modern restaurant where buffet breakfast is available daily, and a bar/bistro on the ground floor which is quite popular for after-work drinks and meals.

With its superior views over Sydney Airport and the unique plane spotting package, I certainly would recommend the Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel for any plane spotter!