* We got our dates mixed up or booking.com did not book the dates we wanted. This resulted in us arriving unawares a day late for our 3 night booking.
Staff were not sympathetic at all. They basically said bad luck it's not our fault. Even though we had payed for the room the night prior that we didn't get to use they didn't offer us another night for that money or even a discounted extra night.
They offered us another night at full charge - no thanks, you've made a nights accomodation out of us for nothing.
So we decided to just stay the remaining 2 nights.

* On booking.com we requested the highest room possible or atleast with a view... We got a room directly behind reception on the ground floor and looking at head high wall of shrubs(blocking any view) and the sounds of the backpacker's over the road's beer garden music all day. If they couldn't accomodate our request atleast let us know before we get there, I would of booked somewhere else, another disappointment!

* Bathroom door was jammed/broken and wouldn't close. We notified the reception and the girl said she'd have someone look at it. I had the feeling by her half hearted response and reluctancy to look away from her computer screen that it meant 'yeah maybe next month'. No one turned up to fix the door.

* On check out we tidied the room and noticed the coffee at the mini bar was out of date 12 months. We mentioned this at reception and they weren't concerned at all. We got the response 'oh yeah we are eventually discontinuing it anyway'.

* On arriving home, we got our Amex statement and found they had charged us $34 to use Amex on a $800 accom bill. They did not notify us at reception/time of payment that there was a surchage.
By law this is has to be stated when someone is paying by Credit Card/Amex and also booking.com did not state it on our booking confitmation.

We called Waves and asked why we were charged and not told and got the hostile response 'you would of been told when you checked in or on your booking.com paperwork, and anyway Amex usually always has a surchage'.

We told her that no one informed us and we certainly would of used other method of payment if we had been advised of such a big surcharge.

She said the manager was away for the week and she'd get the manager to contact us when she returned.....We've had no contact to date and our stay was just before Christmas.

What a dissapointing stay in such a beautiful town. Do yourself a favour and book somewhere else!

P.s one good point - the free coffee and muffins in the reception area of a morning. Maybe if I cling to this memory I won't remember the rest haha!

My husband and I have just made a booking to stay at Waves Byron Bay.

I can not speak highly enough or commend Helen, for her extremely professional assistance, and also her empathy, which is why this is titled 'HEART WARMING'.

We are checking in 26/1/12, so will report back. But at this stage, we can't wait for our well deserved escape from reality .. cheers Helen and staff, see you soon, and to other reviewers watch this space, I have not been this impressed with resort staff in a very extremely long time ....

Stayed here for 6 nights, the staff were fantastic, welcoming and helpful! The room we stayed in on the first night was located on the ground floor and was spacious enough. However, my wife discovered a large number of cockroaches in the bathroom ranging from tiny to enormous. We had in the mean time upgraded to the penthouse at our own cost. The penthouse was spacious and had a view of the beach from the balcony but the bathroom was dark and the washing machine and tumble dryer needed to be replaced The whole hotel is badly in need of maintenance and upgrading. Given its proximity to the beach and the degradation that can be caused by salt water, some issues can be expected but the maintenance issues are massive, Windows that are difficult to open and close, rusty air conditioners and the list could continue. If you are staying bring some preventative bug spray.

Low-key hotel with simple frontage. Sand and blue colour tones in comfortable lobby. Easy below street parking next to hotel. 1 minute walk to the beach - best beach ever with fine sand that actually squeaks when you walk on it! Super-friendly people. Dive shop (Sundive) 2 minutes from hotel - easy rentals, good prices, drive to beach, launch boat, 10 minutes to Julian Rocks for some F.A.B. diving (Mantas, turtles, grey nurse shark). Recommend you make this part of your stay. Funky boutiques with surf wear and Island Exotic most amazing fashion store in town. Best restaurant "The Balcony" - be seen on it and not from it!! Good prices. Cheap lunch is falafel cafe nearby - AUS$12 for full pitta with falafel and home-made lemonade. Hotel gives you beach towels (clean every day) and boogie boards for the surf! Great breakfasts (included) of fresh fruit-filled muffins, Nespresso coffee (YAY!!), orange juice with apples available all day, plus daily newspapers. Cost only $210 per night - best value in NSW. Didn't both to drive 2 hours to visit Brisbane. It was all here. Room spacious and comfy too! Cleaned every day with fresh bath products supplied. What more could you ask. "Too easy" mate.