2-Star Hotels in Queensland, Australia

This hotel is centrally located in Cairns, close to the Esplanade and the Great Barrier Reef departure terminal. It's right next to a large Woolworths supermarket, making shopping incredibly convenient. An Uber from the airport was only about $20. The terrace off the kitchen is fantastic; dining out there in the tropics is just perfect. Each bed has a reading light, a charging outlet, and a privacy curtain, which is very convenient. The shared bathrooms are clean. The indoor air conditioning was too cold. On my first night, someone in the dorm coughed all night, making it impossible to sleep. I ended up having to sleep on the sofa in the common lounge. The only downside was the front desk staff – they were cold and often absent. I checked in at 5 PM, and there was no one there; it was all self check-in via QR code. When I asked staff for help, the most common responses I got were ”I don't know” and ”it's not my responsibility.”

Actually Myself and my colleague booked two family cabins for three nights. That is for work and we were the only guests. As per advertised on trip.com we paid for including buffet breakfast. Following day morning when we went for the restaurant we were told they have not been provided our names and we need to pay for breakfast.. So I had to bring my booking print out and show the restaurant staff breakfast was included. Even though they let us eat there they were not convinced and were suspicious I guess. So that day my colleague went to see the manager of the accommodation and he said to me she was not convinced about breakfast was included. My colleague said it was very unpleasant and embarrassing. She told him I need to come down too. But later when I went to see her she said everything is sorted out and problem was they didn't know anything about Trip.com and trip.com send the booking through ******* and wrongly mentioned each of our booking included three adults and the extra payment is for additional adults as they understood. So the third day morning we didn't have issue at the breakfast as our names passed on. But unfortunately last day morning restaurant staff asked us to pay for breakfast because our name was not on the list. Luckily the chef remembered us and he was very politely let us eat. Even though we paid for breakfast we were at mercy of good people. Whole experience was very inconvenient and embarrassing. I think main bungle was done by Trip.com. But management did not bother to completely sort it out. This was my first time with Trip.com and Aaok Moondarra Accommodation Village. My colleague said he did not have issues previously with Trip.com but all those occasions were without breakfast. Other than that accommodation was really good. It had got good Wi-Fi, YouTube and Netflix. My advise is if you book through Trip.com for an accommodation with breakfast make sure with the accommodation that it has been correctly passed on to them.

Okay here’s my review. The Espy has so much going for it in terms of being central to the entertainment precinct of Cairns Esplanade.  Check in was easy and friendly and the two bunk dorm had its own dedicated ensuite bathroom which was very clean and quite large. The bedroom was clean and the bunks were enclosed wood and steel construction with zero squeaking. Clean towel and linen provided. So that’s all the very good stuff. The not as good things I observed were: - the lounge/common areas were dimly lit, very tired (bordering on festy) furniture and not somewhere I’d socialise due to limited seating, very few power/USB outlets or clean comfortable seating. - The pool…. Or should I call it the tropical punch bowl of various biological matter and other detritus… if you’re keen of growing something fungal on your body, go in…. I decided not to. -Kitchen and meal prep area all seemed clean and safe to get your mung bean and tofu ready for consumption.  - The personal under bunk locker was missing its latch and with two roommates I had to say a little prayer that my gear would be safe inside my enclosed bunk. Overall this was my maiden voyage as a backpacker and at 57 years of age, I’ve stayed in a lot of Hotels and Motels costing far more for way less cleanliness. I rate this place highly for all the good reasons above.  The not so good stuff is easily fixed by management but for $65 per night in peak season, I don’t think you can get any better value in Central Cairns right near the action. Pubs, cafes, night market and the City Lagoon. Thanks Espy crew, you made this old dog’s stay a pleasant one and will be back if and when the opportunity presents itself.

The room itself was clean and the stay was fine, and the receptionist was friendly and helpful. However, the checkout experience completely changed my view of this place. I accidentally checked out late and immediately apologised and asked about any fees. I was first told there wouldn’t be a charge, then the owner stepped in and said there would be a $50 late checkout fee, before changing it again and saying it would be waived if we left within five minutes, which we did. Despite being polite and cooperative throughout, the owner’s attitude was rude, confrontational, and unnecessarily aggressive. Instead of handling the situation professionally, he made it uncomfortable and seemed more interested in arguing than resolving the issue. The lack of clear and consistent communication around the $50 fee made the situation even more frustrating. All around, based on this experience, I would recommend avoiding.

Upon check-in, one person will give you a tour of the accommodation. The futon is soft and warm, and there are two types of pillows provided: one firm and one soft.

When booking, I was a little skeptical because the price was cheap, but I didn't expect it to be really good. It is worth mentioning that the front desk is not 24 hours, but they are very attentive to prepare Self-checkin for visitors who check in at midnight, and send emails to guide how to operate. Staying for two days can be considered very comfortable. The location is excellent, and it is close to the sea in the center of the city. You can walk along the beach at night. It is a great place to travel alone.

The hostel has just opened for a month. The environment is clean and sanitary. The owner and his family live on the first floor. They are very nice. The kitchen is clean and spacious. The 10 ppl female dorm is very clean. The shower room, toilet, and sink all have separate doors. It is not so crowded to wash in the morning. The room is very spacious and the overall is very good. Surfboards can be rented for 10$/day. The hostel is also close to the beach. The supermarket is also close.

I had a great stay at this motel. The room was clean, comfortable, and well‑maintained, with everything I needed for a few nights away. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and check‑in was quick and easy. The location was convenient, making it simple to get to work and explore the area. Overall, it was a pleasant and hassle‑free experience. I would happily stay here again.

After a long day of driving, i arrived at the place because i just needing a place to sleep for the night. It’s basic, as expected, but at least it was clean. The room was small and plain, with just the essentials—a bed, a desk, with shared bathroom. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, and the amenities were minimal, but it served its purpose as a quick stopover. The staff was polite enough, and while it’s not somewhere we’d stay for more than one night, it worked for what we needed: a budget-friendly, no-frills place to rest before hitting the road again.

The location is super convenient, with a Woolworths supermarket nearby and close proximity to the station. I especially loved the table outside the kitchen; it was so pleasant to eat outdoors when the sun was out. You need to leave your passport as a deposit to borrow a hairdryer, and the front desk seems to close at 7 PM, so you have to return it before then. The bed design is unique compared to other hostels. Although there are no curtains, it still offers a good level of privacy. Regarding soundproofing, you can hear the pool party outside, but everyone usually disperses at night, so it doesn't get too noisy. There are lockers in the room for storing your belongings, and you can store your luggage for free after check-out.