Notes & Photos is my equivalent of a review however reviews are so subjective to the day, your mood, the staff that hour, the weather, & your interactions with other people you need many to get an accurate rating. My notes & photos are more of a personal story of my stay, with some pros and cons that I experienced:) This blog is reader-supported- I make a commission if you purchase from links 🙂
Review Overview Summary
This was my 2nd stay and I will stay again for the Resort Experience in a location that is walking distance to everything in Cairns, the extensive menu with vegan options that is half price with my Accor card and for the pool and swim up bar.
Next time I would stay in summer or a warmer month to make the most of the pool which is unfortunately not heated and would request a room with a newer mattress (for context it was only me that thought the side of the mattress was a bit worn down and I am heavy, the person on the other side of the bed thought it was totally fine).
Last Stayed late May 2024
What I loved about Novotel Cairns
The location is A plus – this is really the only option walking distance from Cains that is true resort accommodation – low rise, great pool, tropical gardens.
The pool is beautiful
The room was updated, spacious enough and you could cast to the TV for movies
The swim up bar is open every day and all the staff were really friendly at both bars, some even offered good local tips on things to see
Staff were efficient at making drinks and coffees (for context i recently waited 40 minutes for a coffee in an Accor in Melbourne, it was usually a couple of minutes for one here).
It was my 40th Birthday – they left me birthday treats in the fridge which was lovely to arrive to
I got a room upgrade to a pool view – Thankyou Novotel Cairns
If your an Accor plus member you can use your free night when available (if your staying somewhere and plan on eating at the hotel you can really make you money even in a single stay between the free night and food discounts then after that everything is a bonus)
The restaurant menu is extensive with lots of vegan options
What I would Change about Novotel Cairns
The pool needs to be heated in colder months – the only people spending any extended time in it was kids who didn’t feel the cold. Im sure the uptick in swim up bar cocktails would pay for the heating – I desperately wanted to throw my hard gifted 40th birthday cash 😉 at them all afternoon in the pool with a drink in hand but I was too cold.
I personally felt the mattress sloped down at the edges like there was no integrity to the mattress wall. I wish all hotels would change their mattress more often, I honestly feel like their rarely good at any hotel.
There is only one balcony chair which is just weird but as its a small balcony didn’t really use it anyway, preffered to be by the pool
Table service at the restaurant would be a nice option in the evening, even if only on the weekends which are busier – you have to always walk to the bar to order. There is QR codes on the table which I normally love but they are not compatible with using your Accor discount but would be a fine alternative for none members. I had assumed based on the website info that there was both a table service restaurant and seperate bar area but in reality its all the one menu with order at the bar. That been said, table service would mean sacrificing cheap food and it was very reasonably prices so its probably a fair trade off. If your an Accor member you can always walk into town to the Pullman restaurants for table service with a discount there.
