Country
Australia
City
Cairns
Hotel
Crystalbrook Flynn
Rating
5-star
Room
Urban Master King
Notes
The Good
- Spacious and uncluttered rooms
- Close to Cairns Pier where Barrier Reef tours depart
- Surrounded by restaurants and family attractions
The Bad
- Poor meal selections for vegans and vegetarians
- No 230v outlets near the bed, only USB
- Wheelchair access is difficult to locate
- Hotel pools are not exclusive to guests
X-Factor
- Direct access to Cairns Esplanade at the rear
Introduction
Crystalbrook Collection has, in just a few years, swept into Australia and challenged the way hotels think about sustainability and sociability.
While the company has since expanded to Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay and Newcastle, Cairns was always its first target, immediately setting about constructing three brand new hotels which would set a new bar for service with an environmentally conscious modus operandi.
First to open in late 2018 was ‘Riley’, followed a year later by ‘Bailey’. The third of the North Queensland siblings, ‘Flynn’, arrived in late 2020. As is often the case with the youngest sibling, it’s the more free-spirited of the bunch.
Guests and visitors at Flynn see this warm and cheeky personality in various ways, from the bright, inviting interior and vibrant atmosphere through to playful handwritten notes scattered around the hotel.
As part of its agenda of sustainability, all Crystalbrook properties are cash-free across all restaurants, bars, and the hotel itself, so leave the cash in your wallet.
Location & Impressions
One of Australia’s biggest non-capital cities, Cairns is the metropolitan centre of North Queensland, with tourism a critical cog in the machine.
Tourism accounts for many businesses located on the three kilometre Esplanade, especially around the Cairns Pier – the jump-off point for many daily cruises and adventures to the Great Barrier Reef.
Crystalbrook Flynn, along with Riley and Bailey, all occupy prime real estate in this action packed corner of the city. The three are separated by no more than two blocks.
Guests at Flynn enjoy direct access to a multitude of shops, restaurants and attractions mere steps from the rear entrance, including a Ferris Wheel and free public swimming pool patrolled by lifeguards.
Parking around the hotel is plentiful with lots of public spaces. For more security, a space within the hotel will cost $12 per night.
To access the carpark, reception staff will hand you a gate buzzer to keep until check-out.
Take note that while the hotel does offer wheelchair lifts at both its front and rear entrance for accessibility, there are no ramps available as an intermediary between the lift or stairs.
Room
Crystalbrook offers guests the ability to check-in via a smartphone app, however this can’t be done at all until the room is ready.
First, you must import your reservation via a code generated by the app. Once you’ve been notified your room is ready, the app will serve as your room key.
If you’d like something more tangible, reception can issue you with a circular RFID fob made from timber.
‘Urban’ guest rooms at Crystalbrook Flynn are spread across two buildings – the Abbott and Esplanade Tower – named according to the road they overlook.
Apart from some subtle design elements, rooms are similar but vary in size from 25-41sqm, with family style rooms also available through interconnecting doors.
Rooms are spacious, with a large floor area unencumbered by coffee tables or other furnishings, while there is a small desk in one corner and a relaxation chair in another.
Balconies are similarly expansive, albeit with only one chair, which means…
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