Hotel The Seabreeze (Port Stephens, Australia)

Food lovers  love it here. Menus are extensive and unusually, even vegetarians have some great choices. Everything is prepared to order by members of kitchen staff who are obviously dedicated to their work. The result is amazing quality food that is well presented and reasonably priced. The sweets are to die for and accompanying beers, lagers and wines are equally impressive. There’s a good night out to be enjoyed; particularly on Saturdays when they also stage live music.

Recently upgraded rooms are attractively decorated and furnished. They are also cleaned to perfection and there’s loads of piping hot water ‘on tap’. Bed linen and towels are good. Staff members, generally, are friendly and efficient.

The location is great with the Marina, shops and restaurants, all just a short walk from the hotel.

If you book in here on the strength of waterside views, you’ll be disappointed. Any views are to the parking lot, with any water in the far background. Another water-related problem relates to the sink in the room. It has a very strange design which defies you to get your hands under the taps.

When you book in to a busy, food-serving pub with guest accommodation attached, you do expect a degree of noise. Here, though, it seems to echo, so you get multiple servings.

Reception isn’t manned during the night, so that situation is, itself, an invitation for elements of rowdyism and guest inconvenience. Yes, there’s a phone to ring for assistance but the ‘out of order’ sign makes it a waste of space.