Grand Mercure Apartments Townsville

I was lucky enough to stay at the Grand Mercure Apartments in Townsville for about 8 weeks as part of my work, and I can honestly say they are the best accommodation I've tried in this city. The service is friendly and helpful, and they seem to actually want to have your business.

When I first checked in, the apartments were only about 2 weeks old since their opening, and the girl at the front desk told me all about their facilities etc, and even went so far as to give me a list of all the nearby restaurants and sights - very informative!

The rooms are spacious and clean; what you would deservedly expect from a good apartment, and they are kept in immaculate condition. There is a laundrette within the bathroom, and a mounted TV in the bedroom and main living area. There is also a quaint little swimming pool and gym, although so quaint that if you go during peak periods you may find there is no room at all for you.

There are a few warnings however (although only minor):
- There is no oven, but there is a stove.
- My TV remote in the bedroom disappeared, and after requesting a new remote almost every week for 6 weeks I never received one. The remote for the TV in the living room did not work on the bedroom TV. Oh well - made me read in bed more often!
- The fire alarm went off an astonishing 7 times in 8 weeks, ALL on Saturday or Sunday mornings, and none of them were real. I recall standing in the foyer in my shirt and trackies for the sixth or seventh time with a number of other disgruntled people who were woken from their weeknd slumber, waiting for the firemen to give the all-clear to a fire we knew wasn't there. Incidentally, I drove past the Grand Mercure just last Saturday morning and the firetrucks were outside once again (I kid you not)!

Finally, some tips for staying here:
- Lots of great restaurants on Palmer St right across/down the road.
- If you are checking in or out after about 8pm most nights you will have to go to the Ibis hotel next door to do so. Grand Mercure do not have 24 hour service.
- Don't bother paying for the undercover car parking unless you're too lazy to walk the extra 20 meters! Only on Friday and Saturday nights is it difficult to find a park. There is an uncovered car park round the back that usually has plenty of free spaces, and failing that, the back streets behind the hotel can yield you a space if you look for it.
- And beware, people in the adjoining room can hear you from the ventilation fans in the bathroom. I don't know how many mornings I was awoken by the gross man in the room next to me coughing his guts up as he went through his morning routine...
- Finally; there is no view from these apartments, just the backs of other tall buildings. It is an apartment of internal luxury, not external. But it knows it, and it makes sure it tries its hardest.