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Too Cheap for Points, Too Much for Cash: DoubleTree Darwin

February 4, 2019

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DoubleTree Darwin Hotel Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

Cash vs. Points
Don’t you hate when a hotel is too many points to validate booking and not cheap enough to validate paying? The DoubleTree Darwin was 19k points a night or $88. It didn’t meet the 0.6 cent valuation. This required me to come out of pocket. Sure, $88 a night is not bad but this is the second time I’ve paid cash on this trip to stay at an average place (see Hyatt Regency Sydney: Not My Favorite Hyatt). It certainly adds up.

a cookie in a paper bag — How much do you value a free cookie?

Rainy Season?
Coming to Darwin during rainy season (November through April) is like going to Scottsdale in the summer. It’s hot and there’s no sign of life. The hotel was empty and the streets were deserted.

Hotel Itself
From the outside, the hotel looked like it belonged in the Middle East. It had that old school Benghazi look to it. a building with a palm tree

Room
The room was quite nice for the rate I paid. The pool looked like a perfect place to spend an afternoon if my reason for being here weren’t croc hunting (see Croc Jumping Darwin: Keep Your Hands Inside at All Times). a bed in a hotel room a room with a bed and a desk and a television a desk and chair in a room a bed with white sheets and a round table a room with a glass door and a chair a view of a city from a balcony a pool and palm trees by buildings a view of a parking lot and a pool of water from a high rise building

Bathroom
These showers with no doors drive me crazy. Can someone explain why I want water leaking into the bathroom? a group of glasses on a counter a group of small bottles of shampoo and towels a bathroom with a sink and a mirror a shower head and a shower head

Breakfast
I’m fairly sure I was one of only a handful of people staying at the hotel based on the number of cars in the parking lot. The Hilton Gold included breakfast that was easily enough to serve more people than showed up that morning. a room with tables and chairs a shelf with food on it

a shelf with jars of food and spoons — World’s most disgusting whatever it is.

a omelette on a plate

I experimented with the juicer and, despite the nice taste, will not be buying one anytime soon. a counter with plates of fruit and utensils a juicer and fruit in a basket a glass of liquid next to a measuring cup

Overall
Good enough chain hotel in Darwin if you want the perks of a familiar brand. I just wish the room rate was twice as much so I could’ve used my points with confidence.

2 COMMENTS

Christian February 5, 2019 At 2:50 am

Vegemite, accept no substitute. Add in a little marmite, and all you’re missing is some ipacec to complete the weight loss regimen.

Reply
- thepointsoflife February 7, 2019 At 3:40 pm
  
  so gross
  
  Reply