Booked 2 apartments this week and despite a few small issues which were swiftly address by one of their managers Amy Moylan, overall a very enjoyable stay.
Look forward to staying there again when next in Canberra as the location and facilities was great.
All staff were well mannered and welcoming.
Thanks
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Having stayed at other Ovolos I was hoping this would be one of the better ones but I was to be disappointed. Having followed signs and caught the lift to the 1st floor I was then confused to find that the signs for the hotel led me to a bar and restaurant. Only after a while did I spot the reception desk over the far side which means you have to haul your bags through the bar/dining area to check-in...with no signs to point you that way.
Having got a room keycard I had to find my way along a dark corridor to the room...which was equally ill-lit. There was even more fun when I went to locate the light switches which are black on a black background in a dimly lit room. So, once again the Ovolo policy of style over practicality wins again.
The room itself was a good size and the bathroom was very good...unlike other Ovolos (Brisbane with its bad design and Melbourne with its tiny sink). However despair was about to strike again when I checked the in-house restaurant menu. It showed in the menu key that "VG" meant vegan...but what was available for "VG" people ? Side orders of veg and chips. Every effort spared in making that menu inclusive...
I think I've now given up on the Ovolo brand. I love their Alibi restaurant in Sydney but the hotels really don't make the guest comfortable in the ways they should despite all the "everything's free" and "we're different" marketing.
Ovolo has tried to set themselves apart by a focus on the design of their hotel space. This works really well with the hotel being a vibrant meeting place as well as providing interesting accommodation. Whilst a sceptic could rightly claim that this is achieved with little more than wooden plank cladding and piles of logs in the reception area it is effective. And the building construction is adventurous too. The rooms are equally appealing from a design perspective.
Two things to be aware of. Heating and cooling are intended to minimise the impact on the environment. There is no thermostat on the wall here. And operating the system requires manual intervention such as opening windows and doors! Fresh air in a hotel! Instructions are on the in-room iPad.
And secondly, there are two parts to the hotel - the first two floors with the themed rooms are the hotel, and the rest of the busing are the Ovolo apartments. If you are booking through a third party, make sure you know which you are booking. Ovolo's website does not make this clear and their freebies only apply to direct bookings. If you are tired of Business hotels, Ovolo Nishi is a welcome change.
Hey Ian123456789,
Thanks for your informative review on our property! It looks like you had a pretty great stay overall!
You're very right, the apartments that we have are set apart from the standard as they're eco-friendly by design, while our hotel rooms are also eco-friendly, this is achieved in a slightly different way and they do have a wall mounted adjustable thermostat if this is more to your preference and the wonderful Ovolo Freebies too!
I hope to see you back again soon,
Rachel
every detail in room was attended to - great bathroom, really comfortable bed, good sized room - would have been even better with a small table or another chair. really funky and earthy and sustainable, lovely touches including the 'loot bag'. Breakfast and dinner at the restaurant 'Monster' were very much enjoyed, staff at the restaurant, bar and reception were very attentive and friendly. very comfortable bar and sitting area. would definitely stay again
Hey VkMb,
Thanks for your great review!! I'm so excited to hear you had such a wonderful stay with us at Ovolo Nishi. I hope we get to welcome you back to our great property soon!
Cheers,
Rachel
This hotel is a cocoon of urban comfort. I was supposed to stay just the one night but decided to stay the second as I found it so comfortable and aesthetically beautiful (I did not leave the hotel the whole second day/night). The palace cinema, restaurant and fire pit in the lounge with private little seating areas make it very tempting to stay put and really unwind. All the staff were great especially Nathan in the restaurant and Royston the sommelier who gave impeccable service and made my solo dining experience a memorable one.
Hey LD13travel,
Thanks so much for your awesome review of our great hotel, I am so glad you enjoyed your time here!! We do have a great team, and your comments have been passed on to both Nathan & Royston directly.
We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotel again soon.
Cheers,
Rachel
I recently stayed a few days on business. The room was dark and despite turning on every light, it was impossible to read or work. There was no desk or chair and the only place to sit was either the bed, the toilet or a wooden bench (the bathroom had the best lighting).
The labels on the black light switches were unreadable and as the result I inadvertently turned on the do not disturb switch whilst trying to illuminate the room, resulting in my room not being cleaned the following day.
Sure it’s eco everything, and darkness would be even more some ... the the facilities just dont delivery practical business accomodation. I won’t be staying again.
Dear Philip9999999,
Thank you for your feedback.
We strive to leave a positive impression with each and every one of our guests and I am sorry you did not have a fantastic stay with us and the lighting in the rooms was an issue.
We do have some lovely Sun rooms, which have tonnes of natural light in them which may be more suited to your needs, we also have rooms with desks & chairs available too.
We would love to welcome you back in the near future,
Cheers,
Rachel
