Great Barrier Reef > Great Barrier Reef Hotels

Advantages: Truly magnificent views of Whitsundays. Handy base for exploring other islands by ferry.
Disadvantages: Could be considered impersonal - high rise resort style holiday.

Reef View hotel, Hamilton Island offers magnificent views of the Whitsundays. Travellers tip is to stay on the upper floors - These are the Coral sea rooms it's much quieter, and the views are better. It's worth paying a little more to do this. Lower floors - known as Garden View - (especially near the night club/bar) tend to be a bit noisy from my experience. I stayed here earlier this year (2008), found the rooms spacious, clean and comfortable. ...
...cruise out to the Barrier Reef which was a highlight. Also had full use of all resort facilities, non-motorised watersports, catamarans etc. Worthy of note - be careful of stingers (venemous jellyfish) at certain times of year when swimming. My room was furnished in bright cheerful tropical colours, wide balconies. Two king-size beds in the room. All the usual facilities one would expect for a resort hotel - aircon, colour TV, tea and coffee making, ... Read review

Advantages: Great to unwind
Disadvantages: none

Daydream Island is just out of this world. If you just want to get away and be spoilt this is the place to go. It is located 5km from Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach. There are several Ferry Companies but the the one which I used was Fantasea which i found very good value.The ferry took about 20minutes. Daydream Island Resort and Spa has several activities which you can try out for no charge which is great. On the Island there are Tennis Courts ...
...you can have meal. The Daydream Rejuventions's Spa is very near the beach and is situated in the northern part of the island. It has 16 individual treatment rooms and several have balconies. There is the most advanced Hydrotherapeutic,salon equipment and also after you under went this wonderful treatment to unwind you can the enjoy refreshments on the exclusive balcony. There is an Open Air Cinema where they show films 3/4 times a week. So if ... Read review

Advantages: wonderful nature, off beach snorkelling, pool, underwater observatory, beautiful fish
Disadvantages: march flies, basic accommodation, sometimes rowdy groups from party yachts come through at night, not fridges in all rooms, trek to the loo, restricted showers, campers kitchen was dirty, also bedbug issue

Hook Island Wilderness Resort is probably the best budget option for the Whitsunday Islands. Accommodation is basic, in dormitory style rooms with up to 8 people sharing. Standard rooms with a double bed and 2 single bunks ( intended for families) have kettle and fridge, dorms (8 people) do not. You can upgrade to an ensuite room with a double and 2 single bunk sets if you want a bit of extra luxury. Rates: Ensuite $140 per couple $65 per extra ...
...per extra adult $25 per child Dorms $35 per adult $25 per child $25 per adult $15 per child The shower block and toilets are a 2 minute walk away and are basic (unless you have ensuite). Showers restricted in the daytime as all water must be conserved, so only shower quickly between 6pm and 10am. And there's always camping available. All rooms and the campsite are on the beachfront. Other facilties include volleyball net, three sea kayaks ... Read review

Advantages: Peaceful cabins in tranquil surroundings, beautiful beach
Disadvantages: Remote, stinger season

I travelled to Cape Tribulation with a company who let me choose the duration of my stay and my accommodation. I stayed 2 nights and overnighted in the Cape Trib Beach House. Cape Tribulation is several hours north of Cairns and the route is not especially easy - it requires a ferry crossing and several km of unpaved roads so I would recommend going with a company who drive you up there and bring you back, leaving you with free time in between. Cape ...
...You don't go to Cape Trib for an energetic holiday - you go to chill out and relax - and the set up at the Beach House reflects this. Beside the bar is a swimming pool, surrounded by loungers, which is only a minute's walk from the pristine beach. So days become about lazing on the beach, popping back to the pool for a swim (you can't dip in the sea during Stinger season), to the internet in one corner of the restaurant to check emails (it's slow, ... Read review

Advantages: Nice location and nice traveller atmosphere
Disadvantages: Unclean, poor hygeine and expensive. AVOID THIS PLACE!

Just stayed here (13 Dec 05). Initial impressions were good although you have to drive on a 3km unsealed road - this makes most hire car insuramce invalid. Unfortunately, due to uncleanliness under the fridge, we had a cockroach infestation. Not easy trying to sleep with giant cockroaches trying to cuddle up to you. I killed 17 in all during an unpleasant night...many others got away. This was not what i expected from the premium rate St Crispin ...
...it. They crawled over the fresh fruit and cereals that were later out at breakfast. This explained the outbreak of stomach complaints amongst the resort guests. The staff, who were intially friendly and helpful, dealt with the complaints poorly. They kept replying "this is the rainforest, what did you expect?"...perhaps a clean room that didn't invite infestations of cockroaches. Other guests in the backpacker dorms were also dealing with serious ... Read review