Hotel Mercure Darwin Airport Resort (Darwin, Australia)

Though those with light luggage will find the terminals within a comfortable walking distance, the complimentary, on-demand shuttle runs 24-hours, and guests appreciate the prompt, courteous service.

Guests rave about the outdoor pool, and in particular the lush, tropical landscaping around the deck, which creates a relaxing, "resort" atmosphere and the bar overlooking the area is popular with parents supervising older children, too. There is also a bush walk behind the hotel, ideal for stretching your legs after a long flight.

The property offers a variety of room types laid out over a fairly large property, and some seem to be in better repair or more modern than others. The bungalows receive particularly positive reviews because they offer a lot of privacy as well as a decently equipped kitchen if you don't fancy lining up for the breakfast buffet. Guests are often pleasantly surprised by the lack of airplane noise, and many have rated their rooms as both clean and comfortable.

Some areas of the property seem to be past their prime, with guests reporting dated decor and various maintenance concerns, including leaky bathroom fixtures, peeling paint, and worn carpet.

Though the restaurant receives many positive reviews, reported issues include overwhelmed staff (resulting in long waits and other errors) and concerns with food quality "for the price."

Guests arriving in the wee hours after a long flight have been dismayed to find their requested room type unavailable or else the kitchen closed, generally resulting in an unhappy experience. Though the staff earn many positive reviews, poor resolution of customer satisfaction issues has been reported by disgruntled travellers.