Great bang for your (Aussie) buck! (Criterion Hotel (Rockhampton, Australia))

Member Name: flodombey

Product:	Criterion Hotel (Rockhampton, Australia)
Date:	14/04/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Price, great atmosphere, food

Disadvantages: Busy, noisy and full of backpackers

We stayed one night at this hotel/motel in May 2008 during a road trip along the Bruce Hwy between Brisbane and Cairns. Of all the budget accomodation we stayed in this was the best value and we enjoyed our night here immensely.

Room - was basic but clean, we had a shower cubicle in the room but had to share toilet facilities, I never saw anyone else in them though. We had a double and a single bed, access to the verandah, a tv and fridge and a sink, what else do you need for a one night stay?

Food - we ate at the attached bistro downstairs and the food was amongst the cheapest and nicest we had on our trip, true aussie classics impressed us and the beef sausages were very tasty and great value, would highly recommend, especially if, like us, you are on a strict budget.

There was a band on the night we stayed, they played in the bistro/back room from about 10pm and were very good (called the Twins I think), the atmosphere was lively without being aggressive and despite the fact the football was also on that night it didnt get rowdy at all. Drinks were reasonably priced and the bar staff very friendly.

If you want a quiet, proper hotel then this isnt the place for you - it is bustling, lively and packed full of backpackers making their way up and down the Bruce Highway so the atmosphere is pretty laid back and can be rowdy - but if you can put up with that it really is great value for money and a brilliantly fun place to stay.

The building is a typical queenslander motel but well maintained and the interior is impressive (in a retro kind of way) too. Great bang for your buck.

Summary: Great value stop on the Bruce Highway