Upon arrival you will notice quickly that the hotel has a fantastic location, situated on the edge of the docks where all the boats leave to explore the great barrier reef. You can walk to your choice of boats leaving for the reef, shopping and such is all within a short walk, including the night market, and the casino is across the street. This is where you want to be in Cairns.

Arrival is fairly easy, with courteous doormen and front desk staff. They each went out of their way to assist us from the day we arrived to the day we departed. I really cannot say enough about the entire staff of this hotel. They all appear to be fairly happy and seem like they want to help you. Even the housekeeping staff were warm and friendly.

The entire lobby area is very large and spacious, with a bar and restaurant as well as several sitting areas.

Without having to ask we received exactly what we had requested prior to arrival – a high-floor room facing the water. The room was on their top floor, which is their executive floor (7th), although the executive lounge was closed the entire week we were there for refurbishing. Use of the elevator is restricted by your room card key for all floors.

The room was inviting with sliding glass doors leading to a private balcony (which it appears every room has) overlooking the water, where many small boats are docked, and small mountains in the background. A gorgeous view. Several small amenities awaited us, with a letter from the manager – and a coupon for continental breakfast buffet for two for each day of the stay (to be used in their lobby restaurant).

This was the kind of treatment you wish for at a Hilton.

The bed was very comfortable, as was the comforter and pillows. This is a place for relaxation. The room was clean and the bath was supplied with an abundance of amenities (soaps, razor, toothbrushes, etc., etc.). An in-room safe was supplied at a minimal charge (AUD$3-4), which is nice when you are heading out for a day of fun in the sun and don’t want to worry about passports, cash, etc. A special key must be requested and signed for at the front desk.

According to the floor plan most rooms appeared to be similar, with the corner end rooms appearing to be slightly nicer? There was one executive suite in the middle of the floor.

The entire hotel has a seven-story open-air atrium on the inside, as you go to your room, with trees and vines and greenery inside making it feel very tropical.

The restaurant has the same view as the rooms that face the water, but you mostly overlook their small, beautifully-maintained grounds. The breakfast included is cold, but you can upgrade to a hot breakfast for an additional charge. We stuck with the continental breakfast since there was an abundance of fruits, toast and jams, meats and cheeses, cereals, and juices. This is one of those times when the continental breakfast is fine.

Access to the pool is the one of the very few criticisms I would have of the hotel. I cannot believe the steps necessary to get to and from their pool area. You go to the first floor (using your card key), down the corridor to the stairway door, down two flights of stairs to an exit door (where you again need your card key). The same routine is necessary to leave.

I will say that once you jump through these hoops it is worth the efforts – their large outdoor, heated pool and extremely large whirlpool are to die for. There is also a fairly good exercise area, sauna, etc. Maybe it is good that it takes so much effort to get there, given that the whole pool area was infrequently used while we were there (lucky for us).

Overall this was one of the best Hilton experiences that we’ve ever had (and we’ve stayed at a lot of Hiltons). While the hotel is not the newest or most luxurious property, it is simply a very elegant and relaxed atmosphere with extremely helpful and friendly staff.

I took time to fill out the "catch me at my best" card here, commenting about the extraordinary efforts of their staff. They deserve special recognition compared to most Hiltons IMHO.