Crowne Plaza Canberra

What is your Priority Club status?
Diamond

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest room – King Standard City View
Upgraded to King One Bed Suite

How are the rooms?
Large floor area with a wide balcony, outdoor and indoor glass dining tables and a work desk.
Unexpectedly, there is an electric hob/cooktop, with cutlery, dishes and a drying rack. Home-sized freezer and fridge (containing overpriced minibar which is manually reconciled)
Floor-to-ceiling windows/doors, minimal curtains, so the room could get quite cold, but could be adequately heated by the air con which was responsive to controls.

Room was very clean but showing its age, especially the bathroom. In particular taps felt loose and was difficult to get temperature of water right.
Bathtub has water jets.
Floor of shower cubicle surrounded by a high metal box preventing flooding, although the doors did not close properly.

How is the exec. lounge?
None

What was good and what was bad?
- Received a handwritten welcome card presented at check-in
- Diamond breakfast generally good, contents of buffet varied slightly from day to day with plenty of choice, though only western food available.
- Barista coffee and egg cooking station with table service. Egg shell in my poached egg.
- Restaurant is in large open atrium and was quite cold in early morning (even in September), food also cooled down too quickly.

- Received 500 points/night for declining housekeeping


- Hotel parking is expensive but there is adequate space for drop-off and pick up by car both in the hotel’s driveway and on the street.
- On street parking is $3/hour 0830-1730 M-Th/0830-2100 Fri/0830-1200 Sat, free outside these times. Also possible to park free halfway up Amaroo St (short walk across park) except between 0900-1100/1400-1500 on working days. I used both these options.

- Lifts very slow and always crowded, require room key to activate, yet unrestricted access to all floors by stairs (entrance to stairs is hard to find if not looking for it)


Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Paid A$270 / night including 5000 bonus points - a reasonable price as I only booked one day in advance
1.9% card surcharge if charged through the IHG computer system. No surcharge if using the physical card reader at the front desk. Cash is accepted too.

Photos of suite and view