I think the Holiday Inn has to be one of the best Perth hotels for a family stay in the city. Not only was the four and a half star hotel recently refurbished and is incredibly modern, it is also slap bang in the heart of the CBD, opposite the Central Park building on Hay Street, close to the pedestrian shopping malls, cafes and attractions.
Chef, Little Chef and I were excited about our Holiday Inn staycation. I was there on assignment for Buggybuddys, Perth’s top kids website, who I also write for. We didn’t have time to travel anywhere for a break, so discovering our own city was a great alternative and we jumped at the opportunity to check out the Holiday Inn.
We pulled our car up in the driveway at the side of the hotel, which is really convenient if you want to take advantage of their valet parking. We entered the lobby and were promptly checked in by the welcoming ladies at the front desk. Particular attention was paid to Little Chef, who was given an activity pack and told that there would be a special surprise if he completed the book, so he was totally on a mission to finish it!
Our Rooms
Pic Credit: Holiday Inn Perth
We grabbed our overnight bags and electronic key and excitedly headed to our Family Room on the seventh floor. The Family Room features a massive king sized bed in the main area, which faces a large 48” flat-screen TV, perfect for lying in bed and watching a movie!
There’s an adjoining separate bedroom (which we were stoked about!) with a further two single beds and a 32” flat-screen TV. There’s also a desk – where Little Chef quickly set to work on his activity book. It kept him entertained for ages!
The bathroom has a walk in shower, loo and sink. There’s lots of useful, quality toiletries. Handy if you forgot something from home, like a shower cap or hair band. The shower had good pressure, which is always something I look for.
There are far too many extras found in the Family Room to name, but I found these very helpful:
o Individually controlled air conditioning in each room
o High-speed internet connection to plug straight into your laptop
o In-room pay per view movies
o iPod dock / Radio in each room
o A desk with chair in each room, with very handy USB and other power outlets
o Menu magazine – always a good read
o Coffee and tea making facilities
o Mini refrigerator with a make your own mini bar. The mini bar fridge is empty and can be filled upon request. This eliminated pestering for chocolate and crisps from Little Chef.
o Black out curtains – I love a dark room!
o Also an in-room safe, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, plus info and ordering via smart TV
Exploring the City
After we had a good look around our room, we set about exploring the city. Earlier we had spied Wolf Lane from our window.
It’s well known for being one of the best places to spot some vibrant street art in the city, as well as being home to a good café or two.
Next it was time for a spot of shopping down the Murray and Hay Street malls. It had been a little while since we’d done this and I was really pleased to see lots of new stores to check out and buskers creating a lively atmosphere.
With all that walking, Little Chef “needed” an ice cream treat. Honey Creme on Barrack Street is a good spot for a sweet treat, where they specialise in soft serve ice cream.
It’s a short walk to Perth Arena, so the hotel is an excellent spot to stay if you’re going to an event in the city too. A free CAT bus stop is opposite the hotel, next to the leafy Central Park. The Holiday Inn is also within easy walking distance to all the attractions of family friendly Elizabeth Quay. There are several family friendly restaurants located close by like Jamie’s Italian, Tony Roma’s and the Holiday Inn’s own Ivy & Jack, which has a good kids menu too.
After a bite to eat at Tony Romas, we settled in for a relaxing evening in our room. The beds, with choice of firm or soft pillows, are very comfy and we loved the novelty of snuggling up and watching TV in bed. Something we don’t do at home.
The Breakfast
After a restful night’s sleep and a lazy morning, we headed down to Ivy & Jack restaurant for a buffet breakfast. It’s a large and modern space, with lots of tables, including large tables for groups and some cosy booths too.
All the usual breakfast option are available. There’s a large choice of hot and cold dishes, including eggs, baked beans, pastries, muesli, cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt and much more. There’s even a stir fry and fried rice option, which many of their International guests enjoy.
Little Chef enjoyed a traditional cooked breakfast with all the trimmings, including scrambled eggs, sausages, two types of bacon and a crisp hash brown.
I had a similar breakfast to him, though I have to stick to a gluten free diet at the moment. There were still lots of hot options for me, some tasty GF toast and I also enjoyed a selection of their fresh fruit.
There’s lots of options for your morning drinks too. An espresso coffee machine makes lots of different styles of coffee, different flavours of teas are available and there’s a juice station where you can make your own healthy combination of fruit and vegetables.
As soon as Little Chef finished his meal a waiter offered him an Aussie animal themed activity pack, which kept him occupied a little longer, so we could enjoy our breakfast in peace. That was a great idea.
Our very tasty breakfast filled us up and was a brilliant start to the day. At Ivy & Jack they do a fab coffee too. We grabbed a couple of takeaways to enjoy across the street in the shady Central Park. Little Chef slurped on his milkshake while he chased the pigeons around.
Soon it was time to head back to the hotel and pack for our 11am check out. Not only did my husband and I feel very welcome at the Holiday Inn, but Little Chef was made very welcome too and told to treat the hotel as his home for a couple of days. The staff were excellent with him. He was very pleased to receive a jar of Holiday Inn candy for completing his activity book too, from local lolly makers Roc Candy.
After we checked out, there was even a complimentary bottle of water in my car for the drive home, what a nice touch. We really enjoyed our weekend at the Holiday Inn and would absolutely recommend it as a brilliant place for a city stay-cation. Sometimes all you need is 24 hours away from home to escape the housework and spend some quality time with your family.
Great Value for Families
Now that there’s heaps of hotels in Perth, the room rates have become very competitive, making a staycation affordable for families. Kids aged 12 years and under stay at Holiday Inn Perth for free when sharing their parents’ room. Up to four children aged 12 and under eat free any time of the day in the Holiday Inn restaurant, Ivy & Jack (Not applicable to room service menu).
To book your city staycation visit holidayinnperth.com.au
We stayed as guests of Holiday Inn. All opinions are my own.