I was off my plane and out to the taxi rank in roughly 2 minutes. It’s a rare airport that allows exit so quickly. Taxi to the hotel is roughly $25.

I was delighted to pull up to the hotel and learn that it is the historic Canberra Hotel. It is a low structure, looking a lot like an old western hotel with a deep front porch. The bellman was quick to get my suitcase and direct me inside.

The front half of the hotel is public area, with the lounge/bar right after the check in area, then moving thru the restaurant area which goes along either side of the mid passageway. Rooms are to the back of the building. I was given a room on the ground floor. If I had been quicker witted, I should have asked for an upper floor (of which there are only 2). There was a wide passage way outside my door. As a woman traveling alone, I did not feel very secure. It also meant I had no privacy if I had my curtains open. Still, the room was very spacious, as was the bathroom. There was a separate shower enclosure from the tub.

The hotel has a comfortable executive lounge, called an Ambassador Lounge. Apparently, the hotel used to be a Grand Hyatt. When it remodeled, rooms were made bigger and the room count decreased. At that time it was reclassified a Park Hyatt yet retained its lounge. There are only 2 Park Hyatts in the world with a lounge. Breakfast is served there. During the day, you can use the room but only tea, coffee, and some cookies are available. Between 6 and 8pm, lavish canapés are available. I had seen the buffet table for quite an opulent afternoon tea in the lobby lounge for $35. Several of the same things were served in the Executive Lounge. I’m convinced the tea sandwiches were made up for both at the same time, as the bread was very stale. There was a nice assortment of excellent sushi, along with cheeses, crackers, nuts, pretzels, dried fruit, and desserts.

Most guests were in professional attire, which makes sense given the proximity of the hotel to the Parliament. It is my impression that this is the top hotel in town.

Internet is $29/day, billed at $.55/minute til it reaches the maximum. There are no free internet terminals, unlike most Park Hyatts elsewhere in the world.

My in room diamond amenity was an underwhelming 2 apples.