Hotel Canberra Rex (Canberra, Australia)

It's a mile or so from the city centre, proper, but visitors benefit as the result of this somewhat quieter location. Canberra isn't huge, as cities go, so you can walk to virtually everywhere. Public transport, though, is excellent and there's no shortage of taxis. Not only is the hotel well located, it's priced competitively too.

The main entrance is immaculate and creates the ideal first impression. Members of staff are very friendly and efficient. They'll make sure that you have all the tourist information you need to find your way round this splendid city.

Rooms are bright, airy and attractive. Beds are really comfy and they've thought to include a store of extra blankets and pillows. There are upgrade options. The ultimate is the apartment accommodation in the adjacent complex. Room service is efficient and the meals are of excellent quality.

The blue operating lights on the many electrical room services do tend to illuminate the room itself and it's a bit of a bind having to go round unplugging everything to achieve something that's approaching darkness. It's good to have all these extras though!

When there are so many things to applaud here, you feel as if you are treading on eggshells when making a negative point. Breakfast is mediocre though; as instanced by the use of powdered eggs which everyone else stopped using after the war years! Must do better.

There is no storage space in the bathroom for all those small essentials. For some reason, they've elected to put the refrigerator in an enclosed cupboard with no air circulation; so it doesn't work.