Alex Hotel & Spa

I enjoyed my stay at Alex Hotel. However I am generally keen on indie brands and unique experiences and don’t particularly enjoy the mainstream. For those who are up for a hotel chain experience ie provision of all supplies and standard bellboy / butler service, I recommend you stick to the standard hotel chain experience. For those contemplating a stay here I am providing the rundown so you know what to expect. We will start with cons cos bad news before the good is always best. Cons: - No dropoff area There is no official dropoff area so it can be challenging to offload luggage. If traveling with someone you can however do a sidewalk dropoff. The hotel is located on a corner of James St beside the library. Come in via William Street so you don’t miss it. - There are limited amenities in the room so bring your own toothbrush, bedroom slippers and do take note that water, coffee and tea as well as the fridge are located on level 1 that you can access at any time. - The noise from the street as some complain, is there if you take a unit with a balcony. However if you close the windows the sound is greatly reduced and there is air conditioning so you won’t suffocate. It’s a small price to pay for the convenience of the location. And put on the earplugs if you really have an issue. Nothing is perfect. - Information on the accommodation is provided briefly by the reception as well as available on posters or a PDF file on the site so unless you ask more or try to be more resourceful you might miss some of the important info that makes this a much more pleasant stay than some have claimed it to be. Pros: - The last con is really precedence to what the pros are here. I enjoy indie experiences and this was one of the usual I am more than used to. The amazing thing that I noticed through the poster and through a Google update the hotel had but missed out on experiencing due to my short stay was the collab they have with Chris Wilson Fitness Studio. It would have helped if the info was shared by the reception or even when I booked the stay. - The breakfast while limited was of great quality. I’ve been to multiple hotel chains during work travel and you only get good quality if the hotel chain is a local one. Sure you get quantity at these buffets but it depends on what you are after. Coffee was by a proper barista with proper beans. - The plugs had proper USB C sockets and the TV had Chromecast so you can cast from your phone - The toiletries are amazingly good and you don’t get the same when it comes to typical chains. - The service while limited due to lesser staff was good enough for us. I witnessed one staff at the counter from afternoon till late night. If you have to stand at the counter all day, I doubt you’d have a big smile on your face for every person who walks in but she was polite and friendly. F&B staff particularly the barista were equally friendly and provided good service that was authentic. - The location is amazing. We were next door to a good car park CPP at the library costing $17 for 1 night and had multiple street parking options. We were walking distance of the museum and other cultural buildings as well as the busport and the city centre with multiple food options. Overall wherever you go, be prepared for your stay. I had viewed a few hotels before deciding on Alex Hotel and decided on it cos I wanted an Aussie experience and I found it here. If you are looking for a global hotel experience definitely relook your options.

I have stayed in thousands of hotels all over the world in 15 years of travelling for business. This hotel looked good on paper but turned out very poor. Rooms small and awkward and not as nice as pictured, Staff where rude, and when trying to converse with the staff and eventually the manager i instantly got attacked and made to seem like i was the one causing the issue. And told they wouldn't deal with me anymore. I will not stay here again. Ive stayed in thousands of hotels all over the world in 15 years of travelling for work.