Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

​We really enjoyed our stay at Shangri-La Cairns! The location right next to the marina is incredibly convenient, with plenty of great restaurants located right underneath the hotel. ​We stayed in a one-bedroom suite. While the room felt a bit dated for the price point, the amazing views and immaculate cleanliness more than made up for it. The pool area was fantastic, and the staff were warm and helpful throughout our stay. ​Pro tip: The building is uniquely designed as a large triangle, which means some rooms require quite a long walk down the hallway. If you prefer to minimize walking, I’d recommend requesting a room close to the elevators. Overall, a lovely stay.

I’ve read some ordinary reviews on this hotel but I have to say we absolutely loved it. The location alone is unbeatable. Our room was in the first floor very nice spacious with big balcony and a great view of the marina. We had horizon club access which was very handy for daily breakfast and a pre dinner drink. The highlight was the super comfortable king bed - the best hotel bed we’ve slept on in many years, so good in fact we have subsequently purchased one for ourselves at home. We were a bit unlucky with the weather during our stay but coming home to the hotel after a day out was a pleasure. The valet parking was great. True the layout meant a long walk to our room. True the hotel is a bit dated but certainly not anywhere near as weathered and dated as other premium hotels I’ve stayed in the tropics where the climate wreaks havoc with buildings inside and out. True the pool area is a bit meh and there a lot of families in that level so for us we avoided most of that with our location in the hotel and the pool was of minimal interest to us in the rain. Credit to the friendly staff especially concierge and the ease of arrival and departure. Any request was met quickly and professionally. Would stay here again

The hotel is located on a helicopter pad. Paid for a suite. Like sleeping at an airport. Avoid at all costs

I really rate this hotel. The location is fantastic if you are heading out to stay on an island or just going on a day trip to the reef - it is across the road from the reef terminal where the ferries depart. Being at the marina also gives it a holiday vibe. The rest of Cairns has a vibe but it's a bit more Surfers Paradise a la 1990. All the staff - five stars. Every interaction was excellent. This is a solid choice for families - our room had two Queen beds plus a day bed/couch. The bathroom is large (but no bath). We had ample room with two young kids. Half the rooms are on the ground floor and they have chain locks on the door to the outdoor area above small child height. Magnificent - no more small child balcony stress! The buffet breakfast was something to behold. Barista coffee was included and basically everything you could want was there but also good quality. You know those danishes you normally regret taking and only eat one bite of - not here. You will eat the whole danish and go back for the mino croissant. My six year old had the following feedback - the waffles are too sweet and she would prefer an automatic pancakes machine. But honestly, we are nit-picking at this point. The pool is large and although heated was still a little cold for me (we visited in winter and there had been a lot of rain). They are great for bigger kids. Little kids might want a shallower, warmer pool. Lots of loungers and a bar for those who lounge. Final note - the gardens. If you are at all a green thumb- they are a real treat. I understand they grow some rare plants and have tours on certain days. They are not enormous, but they are quite beautiful tropical gardens.

Excellent stay in Cairns. The location is unbeatable, the hotel is right next to several popular restaurants and the Cairns Esplanade. It is also conveniently located next to the Reef Terminal. The atmosphere is exceptional; I enjoyed the openness and plants in the lobby. The one-bedroom suite was beautifully clean and spacious, and the outdoor patio was beautiful. The staff was kind and accommodating in bringing in a roller bed. Everything in the hotel was clean, including my room. Noise was minimal, except for a party on the marina one night. The breakfast buffet was excellent, as were the canapès at the Horizon Club. Would stay again!