About Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns
Set amid tropical gardens in downtown Cairns, Rydges Esplanade is a modern, multi-storey chain hotel offering upscale lodgings. Perks include three outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts painted in Australian Open blue and a health and fitness centre featuring a gym, spa and sauna.
The smart, air-conditioned rooms feature flat-screen TVs, en-suite bathrooms and tea and coffee-making facilities. The private balconies offer mountain, city or Coral Sea views. Family rooms add games console links for the kids. Apartment-style units with kitchens are also available.
Besides free Wi-Fi throughout and paid parking, amenities comprise a 24-hour reception with a tour desk, lifts and extensive function rooms.
The swish on-site CHB Restaurant & Bar serves a full buffet breakfast. It also provides all-day dining, with a focus on Australian dishes and tasty tapas.
Boat tours of the amazing Great Barrier Reef depart from the main marina, which is five minutes’ drive from Rydges Esplanade. The Centre of Contemporary Arts Cairns is nine minutes’ stroll away.
Negative Reviews
negative:
Unreliable Wi-Fi
A number of guest reviews mentioned the slow speed of the Wi-Fi, whilst some guests were frustrated by the speed, others were equally frustrated about its reliability with some reviews highlighting that staying online was a struggle.
negative:
Town a Bit of a Walk
For some guests the 10 minute walk into the night markets in the centre of town was a little bit too long and their reviews commented that they thought that the hotel was too far out of the city centre. Other reviews warned future guests that Cairns is very spread out so take some good walking shoes.
negative:
Old Rooms
A number of reviewers mentioned the tired and dated rooms at the hotel which some believed were in desperate need of an overhaul. Some guests also mentioned stained carpets and shabby bed linen in their reviews which also could use replacement.