A week or so late but...
Property: Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Room booked: Queen + single, Garden view
Room Rate: Accor Plus Stay Longer and Save.
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room upgrade: Yes. One bedroom suite. (see notes)
Early check in: Not required
Late checkout: Granted to 12:00
Free internet: Yes. School holidays + kids on devices = slow internet
Welcome drink: Yes, 2 x vouchers to split between three. Cheese platter and bottle of red wine.
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A
We had a ski trip to Japan booked for January, but I wasn't confident about borders opening there, so booked this as a placeholder. We pulled the plug on Japan in Oct so two weeks at the beach was a good plan B.
Having stayed here before I booked the basic room with some confidence of an upgrade with around 50% of the rooms at this property being suites.
At check-in I was advised we'd been upgraded to a refurbished executive room with two double beds overlooking the lagoon. While
technically an upgrade, my personal view is that going from a queen bed to a double is a downgrade.
I politely suggest both Mrs H and I would prefer a Queen, even if it mean sacrificing the view or going back to the room type booked. The response: "Oh let me see if any of our one bedroom suites are available. But they're not refurbished and it would mean a sofa bed for Miss H."
Bingo!
For a two week stay, a hotel room would have been very cosy regardless of the bed. So even though the suites are in desparate need of a refurb, we we happy to have a partial kitchenette (microwave & toaster) but no cooktop. Also a large bathroom, corner spa. But most importantly, plenty of space.
I'll summarise on a few service aspects and then talk specifically about the restaurant.
Front desk: Other than the check-in, this was all a bit going-through-the-motions. Fair
Housekeeping: Some days we had to stop them as they were doing other rooms to ask for items that weren't replenished, loo paper especially. Poor.
Activities: Free water sports year round. During holidays there are beach games for the kids hourly. In wet weather these switch to indoor things like cupcake decorating, movies & playstation competitions. Good
Activities staff: One or two were very guest focussed and enjoyment seemed to be a priority. Others must have recently had WHS training and were more like the fun police, bordering on rude at time. Overall, poor.
Bar staff: They seemed under-staffed so service was slow. But the staff were friendly and polite. Fair
Breakfast restaurant staff: Outstanding (see below)
Dinner restaurant staff: Mixed bag (see below)
Seafood buffet: Outstanding
I've written about the breakfast here before and it just keeps getting better. The food is very good - the usual hot and cold options. It's also expansive with three large two sided service areas. Eggs include scrambled, poached for fried, but for Plats and above there's a secret code for made to order omelettes.
But what sets this breakfast apart is the staff. Yet again they were outstanding. Most of the staff being the same from our previous visit last year. A couple remembered us from that trip and one addressed us by name without referring to computer or guest lists.
Though we were happy to wait in the queue on busy mornings, there were at least three occasions when we were seen by the supervisor, pulled from the queue and seated at the next available table (slightly embarrassing actually, but appreciated).
It's auto coffee machines included with the buffet, but there is barista coffee at the bar. There is
no coffee tax for status holders.
Within a couple of days staff knew our order. On several days this was extended to table service and the coffee was delivered without us ordering. First class service. The staff were all happy to chat and really efficient. Gifts for staff on day of departure were met with humility and genuine gratitude.
Dinner is an order at the counter, take a number, food delivered to table, system. The first night was really good. Meals were prompt. Large portion sizes . Very enjoyable.
However, on the second night two of the three meals were burnt (I'm talking dark brown, almost inedible calamari) and the third meal was incorrect. Miss H ordered a chicken burger with Chipotle on the side (assuming it would be too hot for her), but it came with chipotle on the burger AND on the side. We sent that one back and the waiter quipped "yeah the kitchen wasn't sure if you didn't want it, or wanted extra on the side, so they just guessed". I'll give the waiter points for honesty - but seriously, if you're not sure, just ask!
All four meals at the restaurant (one seafood buffet and 3 a la carte) all came with a larger than expected Accor plus discount.
I won't say too much so as not to kill the golden goose, but will offer two examples:
- A la carte dinner 4 adults, one child (excluding drinks) $86.
- Seafood buffet 2 adults 1 child $130.
So while there was one particularly bad dinner, the deep discounts meant I went easy on them.
Overall, its' a good hotel resort option for those with children who like outdoor activities.
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