Doubletree By Hilton Perth Waterfront

Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first walked into the Doubletree By Hilton Perth Waterfront, I wasn’t expecting much. I mean, it’s a chain hotel, right? But this place actually surprised me. The lobby has this understated elegance that doesn’t scream “corporate,” and you can immediately tell they’ve put thought into the design. What really got me though was stepping out onto the terrace area and realizing just how close you are to the Swan River – like, you’re literally right there at Barrack Square. The ferry terminal is maybe a two-minute walk, which is pretty clutch if you want to hop over to South Perth or catch one of those river cruises without dealing with Perth’s parking situation (which, let’s face it, can be a nightmare in the CBD).

The rooms are solid – not groundbreaking, but they’ve got that crisp, modern feel and the beds are actually comfortable. I stayed on the river side, and honestly, waking up to those water views never got old. You can watch the ferries puttering back and forth, and if you’re up early enough, you’ll catch the rowers from the various clubs heading out for training. The bathrooms are spacious with decent water pressure, though I’ll warn you – the walls aren’t super thick, so if you’re a light sleeper and get stuck next to a family with kids, you might hear some of the hallway chatter. The staff at check-in were genuinely helpful too, not just going through the motions. They actually gave me useful tips about where to grab coffee (there’s a great spot called Toby’s Estate just a few blocks up on Hay Street) and mentioned that the weekend markets at Fremantle were worth the train ride.

What really makes this place work is the location – you’re walking distance to everything that matters in Perth. Elizabeth Quay is right there, Kings Park is totally doable on foot if you don’t mind a bit of a climb, and you’re close enough to the Murray Street Mall for shopping without being in the thick of the weekend crowds. The hotel’s restaurant is decent for breakfast, though I’d probably venture out for dinner – Perth’s food scene has gotten so much better in recent years, and you’re spoiled for choice within a few blocks. I particularly loved being able to walk to the Bell Tower (sort of quirky if you’re into that) and having easy access to the CAT bus if you want to explore further out. The only minor gripe I had was that the elevators can be a bit slow during busy periods, but that’s pretty typical for hotels this size. Overall, it’s one of those places where everything just works – the service, the location, the comfort level. You know what I mean? Sometimes you just want a hotel that doesn’t give you anything to worry about, and this delivers on that front.