Can anyone recommend a decent hotel in cairns?

Can anyone recommend a decent hotel in cairns? I spend every second week up there and will for the next few months. Everywhere I've stayed to date is either dilapidated or riddled with rude staff and poor food.

Avoid the Novotel up there, it's not great. The Hilton is okay. I've been told the Holiday Inn is excellent up there though :)

i've always stayed at the hilton never had a problem though the in room dining doesn't change much but they have two restaurants (one new one) both not apart of the hotel, but can be charged to room.

Hi Bruce,

The Holiday Inn is pretty good, also try Rydges Matson Plaza, or Mantra Trilogy (if you are going soon, I believe Mantra is having $99 a night at some hotels), the Casino (was Sofitel not sure if it still is) Cairns International (Pullman), The Pier (Sharngri La), Park Regis city Quays. All of these are pretty good

I would recommend the Hilton ,especially if you are a gold or platinum H'Honors member.,good  restaurants are only a two minute walk along the boardwalk  

I see you work on boats Bruce. Tourist or working boats? Some of the hotels may give you a discount if you have an ID card or a letter from your employer showing you work "locally" in the area. I used to work on Liveaboard dive/cruise boats up in Cairns.

Thanks for all the advice, will be sure to try the recommendations.  

Thanks for the tip SaltyJ, my company  based in Sydney  carries out engineering work on larger pleasure craft and commercial vessels. We are currently refitting a vessel, job duration is approx. 10 months. 

Hey Bruce,

The Northern Greenhouse is pretty good value.

It is a quite converted hostel on Grafton Street. Around $95 a night including breakfast, unlimited internet and a Sunday BBQ. It is the old Shooting Star Appartments, but it's been converted. TTNQ Hall of Fame and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, three years in a row.

In the interest of full discolsure, I have a stake in the parent company.

Cairns has the same disease that most tourist destinations in Nth Qld has, RIPOFF. The illness kicks in North of the Noosa River, to be fair it spreads in a straight line from there to Perth.

Hi Bruce

My company always puts up in the Novotel Oasis on Lake Street. The rooms themselves are decent, but the restaurant is truly the pits - I think it has been one of the few places I have actually sent my meal back and got up and left to eat elsewhere. Breakfast in restaurant was OK, what you would expect in a large hotel buffet, but somewhat chaotic with staff trying to deal with the numerous International tourists in a sometimes gruff manner. Room service breakfast was much better, arrived on time, and was as per order.

Other than that the rooms are pleasant, nice pool (but watch out for the flying foxes that hang around in the trees around the pool), small but functional gym, staff are OK without being overly friendly.

Would I stay there if my company wasn't paying for it ? If I got a great rate.

Try the Harbour Lights Hotel. Usually quite cheap for a modern room with kitchen, lounge end and right across from the Hilton. The views are spectacular. It's a couple of years ago though but it was probably the best value considering the location and it's newer and modern. Back then I got a $110 deal it was a 1 brm apartment. 

I know I'm a little late to the party, but try the northen beaches if you're going to have a car. Blue Lagoon on Trinity Beach is great. 15 minutes to the CBD, so not too bad. 

Bruce, If you have a car, why not stay in an apartment? I have (for a number of years) stayed at the 'Royal Palm Villas' at 148 McLeod Street. Not new, but very clean, comfortable, with all mod-cons and run by an incredibly helpful couple. Very reasonable rates.