Shantara Resort Port Douglas - Adults Only Retreat

We didn't find that customer care or quest safety was high on the list of priorities at this place. The disappointment began immediately on arrival at the hotel. It was 8pm and we found access into the hotel shut off by a gated entrance through which we could see the Reception desk which was obviously shut as the shutters were down. Not a happy situation after an 8 hour flight to Cairns and then a car journey of an hour and 20 minutes or so. After some hunting we found a way to contact someone at the hotel on the phone so that we got our keys to our room. Apparently the hotel had emailed arrival guidance and instructions to me which plainly they could not have as they did not have my email address! We also learnt that in Port Douglas eateries generally shut around 9pm so there were very limited options for an evening meal. The staff at reception were somewhat standoffish and seemed to treat guests like each one was only going to bring them problems There is a tiled corridor leading to our room which allows access into a small lobby, also tiled, with two room doors in it. One of these was our room. Between the corridor and the lobby there is a very nasty difference in floor levels of about 2cm. There are no warnings not anything to distinguish these different floor levels. A couple of days into a 4 day stay my wife tripped up on this raised lip, fell and broke her wrist. In terms of our holiday of Australia and New Zealand which we had only started a few days earlier it was a disaster When I reported the accident to the Receptionist she acknowledged the trip hazard without comment. We were very pleased to leave this hotel in all honesty. If you are looking for accommodation in Port Douglas I recommend you give this one a miss.

This was a good choice for a first visit to Port Douglas. Adults only meant it was super quiet (we were not on the side with the road) and it is in a great location for going to the beach, port or town - all easily walkable. We had a small studio which was a bit snug for 6 nights although the balcony was lovely and a good size. As others have noted the rooms are a bit dated and with wear and tear evident, but the grounds and gardens are immaculate. Found all the staff helpful - particularly Caitlyn who helped with transport to Palm Cove when I left booking it a bit late!

On our 3-week trip through Queensland, I was most looking forward to this hotel above all others. It was my biggest disappointment. I booked direct, thinking that would give us a good room. Not so! The one-bed suite we got had the bedroom window on a busy road and was a bit dark. The balcony was fine overlooking the pool, but the placement of the rooms around the pool means you can hear every conversation around you. We tried to change rooms to get a bedroom off the road, but no way. The pool was OK, a bit stained on the bottom. There is no ocean view whatsoever and you have to cross that busy road to get to the beach. Given how many other nice options there are in Port Douglas, many on the beach, I wouldn't stay here, unless all you want to do is spend the day by the pool. Pluses: the kitchen was well-equipped, there was a good washer & dryer, and parking was smooth.

Shantari is a lovely looking modern building with many apartments. We stayed in 5A which is a one bed. It is nicely furnished and has lovely art work on the walls. A galley style kitchen that has glasses, including wine & champagne, cutlery, kettle, plates etc and a 2 burner hot plate to cook if you wish. A 4 seater table, 3 seater couch, tv mounted on the wall & 2 coffee tables. From the living room, there is a small court yard with a table & 2 chairs that has a retractable awning. Next to this is your own spa, which also has a fixed awning. Going into the bedroom from the living, there is a king size bed, side tables with 1 drawer for some clothes, shelves in the wardrobe and plenty of room for hanging. The bathroom is large with a spa bath, single vanity with cupboard underneath to put some toiletries in and a large walk in shower. The water was always hot and the water pressure is excellent. The towels are the large bath sheets with 4 in the bathroom. If you need more, they can be obtained from reception. There is another veranda which has a table, 2 chairs and a sun lounge. This sun lounge is very uncomfortable. Outside the pool fence, you have a small deck with another sun lounge, this one is comfortable. The apartment is a direct access to the pool. There are a couple of ladders into the pool, but also some large steps for access. Another great feature is the pool is heated. The pool is chlorinated. SHANTARA is close to McCrosman St where all the shops, cafes & restaurants are. It is close to the beach which is lovely to go for a walk along, or a swim. It’s an excellent location. The only thing for me that was not good was the bed. It’s a king size, fantastic, but you would roll off the side as there is a lump in the middle. It needs a new mattress and pillows. Shanatara is a great place to stay and highly recommended.

Wonderful stay at Shantara Loved our stay at Shantara. Beautiful quiet resort in a perfect position. Close to everything you could need.

We can’t fault the location and the pool (there’s two) is heated beautifully and everything is very clean. We stayed in the top floor one bedroom apartment, the kitchen equipment is a little lacking and very basic, missed not having an oven or even air fryer. We also struggled to get any pool time as there’s only about 8 loungers and they were occupied most of the time. The complex is a little in need of some maintenance (broken and missing tiles etc). Otherwise we loved our stay (second time here)