Skycity Darwin Hotel, Darwin

This is very much a family resort, with great access to swimming and beach based activities and located within easy reach of the city centre by either the three times a day free hotel shuttle or a 5 minute taxi ride. The beach is the location for the iconic Darwin moonlight market each Thursday evening - not to be missed. Older people who do not love gambling may find the ever present noise of slot machines and the constant emphasis on spending time and money at the tables irritating, but if that is your scene then this is the place for you!

I had originally booked a Deluxe Room which I thought was going to have ocea views but instead overlooked a park that was very muddy at the time due to the rain. When we checked in we asked if we could upgrade to an Ocean View Room (was willing to pay extra) but they said they were fully booked. When we got to our Deluxe Room we were shocked because the room was dark and dingy and it felt really damp and clammy. I took off my thongs and felt the carpet with my feet and it was wet. My friend sat in the armchair and her arms got wet. We rung the front desk and complained and he didn't even question us as he said he knew the room was damp! I guess he was hoping that we would be one of those customers that never complained! In any case, we were moved to an Ocean View Room straight away (even though at check in they seemed to be fully booked). The room was much nicer, but still very outdated! The bathroom was pretty cramped. There was a letter given to us explaining that maitenance was taking place around the hotel but we were assured it would not start until 10am. At 7:30m each morning we heard loud banging from the room next door and by 9am the drilling had started as well. I would class this hotel as 3 stars, yet it claims to be 5 stars. The only good thing about this hotel is the fact that it is part of the casino and on the beach. Everything else is very standard. I would not stay here again.

This is our 4th time we have stayed at Skycity Darwin in as many years. We decided to spend our New Years Eve in somewhere other than home (Brisbane) and were not disappointed. The rooms were comfortable (even though the bathroom was a little small) and, as usual, we had to get used to glasses steaming up when leaving our room to catch the lift! Having a choice of restaurants on the premises meant not having to leave the establishment at night if you did not want to. The Sunset Buffet restaurant, whilst good value as far as price, often had long queues for breakfast lunch and dinner. It would have been good if in house guests were allowed to jump the queue instead of having to wait behind people who did not have reservations. Will certainly head to Skycity again when next staying in Darwin.