I recently stayed at Crowne Plaza Adelaide for a few nights and came away thinking it was a good, comfortable hotel, but not one that really stood out.
As an IHG Diamond member, I was upgraded to an Adelaide Hills View Room. It’s always nice to get an upgrade, but to be honest, I couldn’t really tell much of a difference. The room looked pretty much the same as the standard rooms I’ve seen online, with the main difference being the view. Looking out towards the Adelaide Hills was pleasant enough, but it wasn’t something that made the stay feel any more special.
The hotel is in a great location on the edge of the city. It’s easy to walk to Rundle Mall, restaurants, bars and plenty of Adelaide’s attractions. I hardly needed to use public transport because most places were within walking distance. If you’re visiting Adelaide for a few days, it’s a very convenient base.
Check-in was quick and easy. My Diamond status was recognised, and I was given the choice of welcome amenities. Instead of taking the bonus points, I chose breakfast, and I think that was definitely the better option.
The room itself was modern, clean and comfortable. It had everything I needed, including a good desk to work from, plenty of power points and a comfortable bed. The bathroom was also a good size with a nice walk-in shower. Everything was well maintained and housekeeping did a good job during my stay.
Even though I had the Adelaide Hills View Room, I honestly don’t think it’s worth paying extra for. Apart from the view, it felt exactly like any other room. If you’re lucky enough to get upgraded, great, but I wouldn’t book this room category just for the view.
Breakfast turned out to be one of the best parts of the stay. There was a good selection every morning with all the usual hot breakfast items like eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns and mushrooms. There were also pastries, cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread and juice. Everything was fresh and the buffet was kept well stocked. The coffee was decent too. It wasn’t the biggest breakfast buffet I’ve ever had, but there was more than enough choice and the quality was good. I’m glad I picked breakfast instead of the bonus points.
The hotel also has a small gym and an outdoor pool. Neither is very big, but they’re perfectly fine if you want to fit in a quick workout or have a swim after a day out. I used the gym once during my stay and it had the basics covered. It’s not somewhere you’d spend a long time, but it’s nice to have.
One area that didn’t really stand out was the service. There was nothing wrong with it at all. Everyone I dealt with was polite and efficient, but there wasn’t anything memorable either. Staff did their jobs well enough, but I never had one of those moments where you think, “That was great service.” It was simply fine, and sometimes that’s all you need.
The hotel itself feels modern and well looked after. The lobby is bright and welcoming, and the public areas are clean and comfortable. It seems to cater to a mix of business travellers and tourists, and it does that job well.
As an IHG Diamond member, I appreciated having my status recognised with the room upgrade and welcome amenity. Even if the room upgrade wasn’t particularly exciting, getting breakfast included added good value to the stay.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Crowne Plaza Adelaide. It’s a comfortable, modern hotel in a very convenient location. The breakfast was good, the rooms were clean and quiet, and the facilities were enough for a short city stay. The Adelaide Hills View Room didn’t feel much different from a standard room, and the service was nothing to write home about, but everything worked as it should.
