Crystalbrook Riley

Great hotel with resort vibe. Easy walk to restaurants and activity of centre in Cairns, but far enough away to feel relaxing. Very quiet rooms. Staff were exceptional. We initially only booked for 4 nights as we were not sure based on the mixed reviews but extended for the next 4 nights. I could not fault the staff. The pool area was delightful and a great place to relax and well serviced.

We had the most amazing time! The room was kept to a high standard and the whole team was very welcoming and incredibly kind. I would recommend this hotel to everyone, within walking distance to almost everything. 10/5 stars 🫶🏼🫶🏼

While I only stayed overnight, my experience at Crystalbrook Riley was exceptional. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, anticipating my needs and making me feel welcome from the moment I arrived. The hotel itself is a haven of luxury. It boasts a stunning pool that is incredibly inviting on those warm Cairns days. The rooftop bar offers breathtaking views and is the tallest in Cairns, providing a unique and sophisticated experience. My room was spacious, impeccably clean, and well-appointed with all the amenities I could possibly need. The hotel truly offers everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay, making it difficult to even leave the property. The location is also fantastic, with a short walk to the Esplanade and all the attractions Cairns has to offer.

This is hands down the best hotel I've stayed at in Australia. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. As a Muslim, the chef personally approached us to ensure our dietary needs were met, which we really appreciated. The reception team was always available to assist with any questions or requests we had. The cleanliness of the hotel was exceptional. Our room was tidied daily, and the pool, lobby, and restaurants were spotless. There was so much to do around as well. Every shop is a walking distance. We didn’t have to hire a car. The hotel staff recommended the activities and helped us book them. I honestly didn’t want to leave.

My partner and I were extremely excited to stay at Crystalbrook Riley upon recommendation from a friend who lives in Cairns. Unfortunately, we experienced multiple issues, which you would not expect at a 5 star hotel. These issues were listed to staff at checkout and were advised that they would be passing our comments to management, however, we are yet to receive a response and we checked out three days ago. We paid close to $500 per night for three nights in the Panoramic Sea Room. As other reviews have pointed out, some rooms in the tower face the city and mountains with only a glimpse of the sea. This is misleading advertising, and I strongly believe it should be addressed on your website. It’s frustrating to pay the same price for a room that doesn’t match the advertised view, especially when other rooms with better views are available as part of the Panoramic Sea Room booking. The room itself was small and lacked basic amenities. There was only one mirror, and it was in the bathroom, making it very inconvenient. There was nowhere to hang wet clothes, which likely contributed to the musty smell in the room which was evident as soon as we walked in. Additionally, there were no face washers, which I had to request from reception. We went down to speak to reception as I was sure we were in the wrong room. Reception assured me that I was in the panoramic sea room but agreed that it faced the city rather than the sea. As they were fully booked, they couldn’t move us for the first night and I do appreciate that the staff moved us to a room with a better view for the second and third night, however, this room was not without its own issues. The shower in our second room sprayed water everywhere. Literally, you turned the shower on water came everywhere including straight in your face. It needed a simple tightening of the holder, which could have been easily fixed with an Allen key. We reported the issue to staff, but we were told it couldn't be addressed during our stay. As a result, we had to endure low water pressure to ensure it stayed on its holder and deal with the mess of water splashing all over the bathroom. I even had to use extra towels to clean up the mess. When I asked for more towels, the staff member gave me some that were stained and had an unpleasant cooking odor. Furthermore, I requested a new floor mat due to the wet one in the bathroom due to our shower issues and I was told they didn’t have any available, but was instead given another towel. The inconsistency in the quality of towels and the lack of attention to basic needs was disappointing. There was also a large coffee or other liquid stain right next to the bed. Who knows how long it had been there but it was not a great look for a hotel. While I understand that things don’t always go perfectly, I feel that for the price we paid, the experience did not meet expectations and put a damper on what was meant to be a nice hotel stay in Cairns. Lastly, there was some confusion at checkout, which we assume is due to the room changes, as we had a $20 mini bar charge against us. We didn’t touch the mini bar at all during our stay so we can only guess it was for the previous occupants of the room. Really disappointed with the lack of communication and our overall experience.

I recently stayed at Crystalbrook Riley and whilst the hotel has a fantastic location and a pleasant atmosphere, I encountered several issues that detracted from my overall enjoyment. Firstly, despite the hotel’s assurance that charges would be deducted from my $200 security deposit, over the last week I have seen three separate charges on my account, despite the hotels insistence that the room service charge has been deducted from our security deposit, this is incorrect and has left me going back and forth with various staff. It’s been 11 days since my checkout, and this unresolved issue has impacted my confidence in the hotel’s billing practices. Additionally, while my room was clean, I found it to be quite basic for what is marketed as a five-star hotel. Amenities such as a toothbrush and other standard items you would expect at this level, were missing. It felt like the hotel fell short in providing the little comforts that enhance the guest experience. The pool is lovely, but guests frequently left their belongings at the pool all day occupying chairs then disappearing and making it difficult for others to find a place to sit. The pool is also accessible from the esplanade so anyone, regardless if they’re a guest or not can access the area and use it. Overall, while there were some positives, these issues significantly impacted my stay. I hope management can address these concerns to improve the experience for future guests. With some attention to these details, Crystalbrook Riley could truly live up to its five-star reputation.

Everything I look for in a 5-star hotel is found here. Terrific staff, very friendly, helpful and accommodating. Excellent dining options, a very well appointed room with attention to details such as grooming products (delightful body wash, especially), a likewise very well appointed pool area (ample shade and lounge provisions are much appreciated) and an all-round highly attractive and well-maintained design. Sustainability initiatives are also very important and pleasing to see and recognition of our wedding anniversary with complimentary bubbles was much appreciated. Will definitely return and really look forward to it.

Excellent stay in Cairns . Staff more than helpful. Perfectly situated for access to nightlife, restaurants and the wharf. Very surprised at some of the negative reviews. I found the the reception staff to be outstanding. Room was superb, clean and everything worked. Buffet breakfast was excellent although do agree that too many birds had inside access to the restaurant. I was on a long tour of Australia in Oct/ Nov 2024 and this hotel was up there with the best I stayed in.

Other hotels in Cairns can be run down but the Crystalbrook Riley is cool and glistening. Location is central but not honky tonk and restaurant is cool. But best trait is the staff-- helped set up trips, dinners and more. . . AND refused to accept tips. A gem with a great staff.

Absolutely adore this hotel! Rooms are roomy and bright. Bathroom however is pretty dim. There is no magnifying mirror. Staff is very friendly and has great recommendations for food and adventures.