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A1 Inn the City

141 Lake St, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
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Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.

About

#30 of 34 hostels in Cairns
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Centrally located, only 5 minutes walk to City, Shopping, Restaurants, Cairns Esplanade and Lagoon. Budget Motel rooms with air-con, private ensuite, tea and coffee facilities, microwave etc. One Bedroom Air-Conditioned Apartments with kitchen, lounge and separate bedroom that sleeps up to 4 people. Tour Booking office and Car Rental Office on site. Motel Rooms from $75.00 per night. One Bedroom Apartments from $85.00 per night.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
10Reviews0Q+A3Room tips

Reviews
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Eva Simonsen wrote a review May 2019
Roskilde, Denmark34 contributions53 helpful votes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-budgetfriendly and great experience! The staff was incredibly kind and super helpful in getting us (two broke students) discounts on a variety of tours and literally spending an hour giving us great advices. These three ladies are the sweetest❤️ The room was tidy and clean. Furthermore the hotel is located right in the heart of Cairns, so you can walk to everything. The only annoyance was how loud and rude the guests at the Koala Inn (which was located behind the A1) were and we were woken up several times by them screaming. But the A1 should not suffer due to the poor behaviour of guests at the Koala Inn! A hidden budgetfriendly, gem in Cairns😍🦋
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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DrRobertRehovot wrote a review Nov 2018
Rehovot, Israel460 contributions154 helpful votes
And it has a swimming pool! Nothing fancy but a very refreshing swim cooled me down. Clean basic plus a microwave fridge and electric kettle. Milk in the fridge for your morning cuppa. Quiet. Shower and towels and soap. No shampoo. AC and ceiling fan. I see reviews complaining about 7 am noise but I left at 7 am so no complaints. Friendly and helpful staff willing to accommodate out of hours check in. I was very pleased.
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Date of stay: November 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from RosaC4108, Manager at A1 Inn the City
Responded 14 Nov 2018
Hi Robert, Thank you for your review regarding the budget motel for $75.00 per night including private shower etc. Hope to see you again when in Cairns. Kind regards, manager.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Les M wrote a review Aug 2018
Bairnsdale, Australia80 contributions34 helpful votes
Being an older establishment, the room was ultra basic and no frills but adequate for a cheap overnight stay, The business is also a hire car agency, so being woken by car detailers, cutomer collections and air comressors filling tyres right outside the wndow quite early was very annoying.
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Date of stay: August 2018
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: don't expect to have a sleep in! :)
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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scottstanton42 wrote a review Jan 2017
Brisbane, Australia58 contributions14 helpful votes
We made a booking here for four weeks in advance but needed to cancel our booking a week later due to an unexpected family medical emergency. We contacted Wotif to try and cancel but were informed that the Motel had a no cancellation policy and that they would not supply a refund without the permission of the motel. We contacted the motel and they would not provide us with a refund and only offered us accomodation at another time, even though we were cancelling over three weeks before the booking date. When we stated that we had no plans to return to Cairns in the near future they didn't seem to care and remained inflexible on the issue of a refund, in fact we found the person on the end of the phone to be quite rude. I would avoid this place all together if you are looking at a client focussed holiday, it's all about the cash it appears! Wotif were very helpful but had their hands tied.
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Date of stay: January 2017
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Responded 19 Mar 2017
Dear Mr Scott Stanton. Sorry to read your review regarding cancelling your motel booking due to your unexpected family medical emergency and that offering a credit for your 2 nights accommodation for you, your family or friends was not acceptable. Unfortunately it states on Wotif when booking there are no refunds but on this occasion we were willing to offer a credit. It is unfortunate you changed your mind for the same two nights, 20th and 21st February and decided to stay at the Mantra Trilogy instead as per your reviews and facebook page. I am glad you and your partner enjoyed yourselves and perhaps will reconsider to come and stay with us on your next visit to Cairns as per your facebook page that you stated you would be back. Regards, Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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carlespg7 wrote a review Aug 2016
barcelona26 contributions31 helpful votes
We went to "A1 Car Rentals" only to rent a car for one day, and even the price was economic (but not as their publicity says), there were more companies with the same prices, better cars and more services (such the option to reduce the insurance excess).
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Mr&MrsBrown wrote a review Aug 2015
148 contributions99 helpful votes
Booked in here after leaving accommodation to last minute in early August 2015. Rooms looked ok on wotif. Receptionist was nice. You can't see rooms from the front or probably wouldn't of booked.. It's located behind/in a car rental place. Room old, bed hard, showers and bathroom old and cracked. Towels clean. Good little set up of microwave and cutlery. Morning noise started at around 7am- cleaning, people running up and down stairs, staff talking sounded like they were in the room with us, cars starting coming and going. Would not rebook, would not recommend.
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Date of stay: August 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Alison C wrote a review Jun 2015
Rockhampton, Australia25 contributions21 helpful votes
This small motel is located behind a car rental store and tour booking centre on Lake St in the heart of Cairns. When I arrived, I was greeted by name before I had even introduced myself. They had been expecting me. The service was superb: the lady who checked me in was friendly and helpful. The room was clean and secure. Yes, the decor is old and shabby but the room is adequate and worth it for the price. It is air conditioned and has a ceiling fan, too, and a small fridge. I will happily stay here again.
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Date of stay: June 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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plush74 wrote a review Jun 2015
Melbourne, Australia24 contributions51 helpful votes
I booked a room at this motel at the last minute on Wotif for the busy Queen's Birthday weekend. The description and photos were promising, the price was pretty good for a city centre motel although not much cheaper than some reputable chain motels and hotels. I should have had an inkling that there would be a problem when no one at the airport shuttle bus counter, not the driver, had heard of this place or were aware of its existence. The motel is not visible from the street, if it were I would not have handed over my money. It is hidden behind a rental car lot and reception is a combined car rental, tourist information and motel check in. Even though told to check in strictly between 2 and 5pm when I arrived the office was closed, I had to call for the receptionist to come and open up, The lady was pleasant enough and assisted me with questions about things to do and see in Cairns. She explained the motel was behind a security gate and told be the room number. When I went through the gate I felt as if I'd been transported to a Thai brothel or Tijuana crack den. The property is in extremely poor condition; old, untended, dilapidated and neglected. The room was large and tidy with an appearance of being clean but was furnished with old, damaged furniture, the couch was stained and torn. There was an air of grim despair. The sheets were clean, but worn, as were the towels in the bathroom. The kitchenette and bathroom were clean enough, but everything is so old and second hand it gives the impression of being covered in a sticky dirty film, even if it isn't. Nothing has been done to update this place for many, many years. The room door did not lock properly, the only lighting was bare fluoro tubes, there was detritus everywhere on the landing, the stairs looked dangerous. I did not even bother to look at the pool area, it looked abandoned. I was shocked that I had paid so much for such a dump, no wonder there is an explicit no refund policy. I was also not surprised I appeared to be the only person staying, apart from a woman in the room below who appeared to be a resident and yelled at me every time I went up or down the stairs. I checked out the first thing the next morning and moved to an 4 star hotel a few blocks away, paying not much more than I had for the experience of staying at the A1. For what it is the A1 Inn is way overpriced and should not be listed as an option on any hotel site. Even on a budget you can find better and do better than this "motel", pay a few dollars more and stay somewhere decent.
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Date of stay: June 2015
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: There is no good room.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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JKTrips wrote a review Feb 2015
Glasgow, United Kingdom89 contributions44 helpful votes
Ideal location, nice owners, ideal for those on a budget. Good location for exploring further north and the reef. Travelled as a group of students and we were not disappointed. Also hired a car for a few days - pretty reasonable.
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PNG_Travel_Geek wrote a review Nov 2014
Cairns, Australia437 contributions43 helpful votes
I transit through Cairns regularly on my way up and down to Papua New Guinea and like to stay in good value, comfortable accommodation walking distance from the main drag (the Ibis Styles hotel in Florence St is my favourite in this regard). I have already tried many other hotels around Cairns and this time decided to try something different and booked A1 Inn the City Motel on Wotif for a one night stay. The one and only other review on TripAdvisor offered dire warnings about this property but I wanted to see for myself. My understanding is that this property used to be conjoined with a backpacker place at the rear but this has now been sold off and A1 Inn the City Motel now consists of only 4 units located at the rear of Billabong Car Rentals also known as A1 Car Rentals which also doubles as the reception for the motel. There are actually 6 units but one seems to be occupied by the owner and one by the manager. Of the four units available for letting, two are typical motel-style studio rooms with a double bed, and two are one-bedroom flats. I booked a studio motel room but was "upgraded" to a one bedroom flat due to a double booking for the motel room. Reception closes at 6pm and I arrived around 7.30pm and had to ring the manager's number (given to me in advance and also printed on the gate leading through to the back) to get her to come and check me in. This could be problematic if you are a guest arriving very late at night, or if you have just arrived from overseas and don't have a mobile phone that works here, so I would actually not recommend this motel if you are arriving at night. The quality of the accommodation is 2.5 star, clean but tired and in need of a makeover and new furniture but then that would bump the price up which would remove one of the attractions of staying here: a motel room in central Cairns under AUD 90. The tiled floor in my flat was clean. The beds each had clean sheets and a duvet. The one-bedroom flats have a double and a single bed and a built-in wardrobe in the separate bedroom, and another single bed in the living area outside. So the bedding would suit a family with two kids, or a triple for three adults sleeping apart, or four adults if two don’t mind sharing the double. There is a dining table with 4 chairs and a flat screen TV but I didn’t use it. The bathroom was very big with a separate toilet room within the bathroom. No bathtub but the shower recess was large and the water pressure was strong. Some upper reaches of the bathroom had not seen a broom lately but the “business end” of the bathroom was well cleaned. Small soaps are provided but no other toiletries. Apart from the big bathroom which is always a boon for fatties like me, the best part of the unit was the kitchenette. Although not new and flash, the kitchenette has enough crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils to host a dinner party. The cupboards contain electric frying pan, toaster, sandwich maker, microwave, all manner of mixmasters and other cooking appliances, plus a full shelf of condiments and spices that I assume were left behind by previous tenants and carefully saved instead of being turfed out in the trash. So there are half used bottles of soy sauce, sesame oil etc that will be very useful if you want to cook for yourself: you will only need to buy the main ingredients. Of course one night transits like me don’t cook for ourselves: we head to the self-serve Asian food buffets at the night markets for a cheap feed, and come home with a kebab from Oasis Kebab on the Esplanade (best in Australia!) for the late night snack. There is of course no restaurant at this tiny motel, no room service, no breakfast service. The nearest soda machine is in the laundrette a few doors down, the nearest hot food outlets are on the Esplanade or in neighbouring motels, and the nearest convenience store is the IGA mini mart near the Esplanade which is open till 11pm I think. Just one caution: the rear windows of the rooms are not very secure (my bathroom window wasn’t able to be locked at all) so don’t leave valuables in your room when going out. I imagine there has never been a break-in otherwise the windows would have been fixed and security grilles would have been fitted by now, but be aware of the risk if staying here. Would I stay at A1 Inn the City Motel again? Yes, especially if travelling with a family or a couple of mates and needing triple accommodation. (This place and Ibis Styles in Florence Street are two of the few motels in Cairns that have rooms with a double and two singles). There are better places for the same price all the way along Sheridan Street as far as Cairns North but who wants to walk all that way to and from the action centre of the city all the time or, worse, who wants to pay for a cab to get out and back to your hotel all the time? Yes the manageress and the owner are a couple of “handle with care” ladies but this is not another Fawlty Towers – yet. Just be polite and they will look after you just as well as anywhere else, won’t they Sybil?
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Date of stay: October 2014
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip: it's worth the extra $20 to get the larger room with full kitchen.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
£53 - £62 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandCairns RegionCairns
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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A1 INN THE CITY - Updated 2024 Prices, Reviews (Cairns, Australia)

Frequently Asked Questions about A1 Inn the City
Which popular attractions are close to A1 Inn the City?
Nearby attractions include Cairns Aquarium (0.09 miles), Esplanade Boardwalk (0.2 miles), and Cairns Museum (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at A1 Inn the City?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, airport transportation, and kids activities.
Which room amenities are available at A1 Inn the City?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a refrigerator.
What are some restaurants close to A1 Inn the City?
Conveniently located restaurants include Snoogies, Cruze Coffee, and Gelocchio.
Does A1 Inn the City have airport transportation?
Yes, A1 Inn the City offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is A1 Inn the City located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.09 miles away from the centre of Cairns.
Are any cleaning services offered at A1 Inn the City?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.