Riley Cairns

Hmmmm, yea Nah! I have had my share of sleeps at many a 5 Star Hotel around the world and unfortunatly The Riley Cairns , dose not stand out for me.

My most recent stay was in October 2025, a girlfriend and I went to Cairns for Estatic Dance and instead of driving the 2hrs back up the hill to home at 10pm at night, we decided to indulge, stay in a nice hotel and relax.

I have stayed at the Riley 5 or 6 times since it opened in 2018, simply because of the Pool.

Except for snowboarding trips, 99 percent of decisions on where to stay are based on the The pool! First of all what it looks like in general, followed by how the atmosphere will feel for early morning swims, vibe around the pool midday and of course, sunset and evening swims with lighting ect....

I do have to say that The Riley swimming pool is sensational and if you have ever been to Cairns you will know that swimming in any season is an absolute must, so the Pool has to be good. The Riley Pool dose not disappoint. The Hotel is build around the pool as a central feature, infinity views off across the esplanade and into the Coral Sea, white soft sand around the edges, plenty of options for sitting and laying down from poolside sofas to bean bags, sun-baking chairs and shaded kabanas. Poolside service for food, drinks and coffees - it really is a tropical paradise vibe.

And thats were it ends for me.

Don't get me wrong, its a lovely Hotel, rooms are clean, its modern and comfortable, however I would say upmarket over luxury, 4 stars not 5.

Call me old fashioned but for me luxury begins at check in, is followed by classic timless finishings, (quality materials used to build it) and ends with reception staff acknowledging you are a person, smiling, eye contact, manners ectera.

WHAT I LOVED

• The Pool

• The Coffee - Incredible Coffee @ Paper Crane Restaurant & Pool side eatery

• View from the rooms and Pool across Coral Sea and Cairns Esplanade

• Foyer and guest waiting area - Tropical relaxed and classy Deco, Water Dispensers with fresh fruit inside, Free Pool Table and other games

• Great Location - Cairns Esplanade, no road noise in the rooms

• Stunning sunset drinks from Rocco's Rooftop Mediterranean Bar

  
  

WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME

• The single beds are really small, like need to wake up to turn over

• Rooms smell damp

• Indifferent and disinterested staff at Check in and check out - let me elaborate, I am local to Cairns, I live on the Atherton Tablelands 2 hrs up the hill and the Macadamia nuts they sell in the rooms are Macadamias that I buy and eat most weeks from the supermarket. They of course take them out and put them in their own packaging and sell them for an exorbitant price - all that aside, I know that and was happy to pay the $12 for the small packet of nuts - but.... they were rancid! I know this because like I said I eat them all the time, so upon checkout when the young woman was dutifuly and mindlessly asking how my stay was I mentioned the Nuts. I was kinda hoping that they would offer to compensate me for it however what I got was " PAUSE - so you consumed the nuts"!

  Yes I did!! so, I'm sorry Riley, you don't get my star to bring you up to a 5.

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  Riley Hotel Pool - Cairns