The Doubletree Alice Springs joined the Hilton family on 1 May 2013. Prior to that, it was a Crowne Plaza. Information about it under that branding can be found here.
The hotel is about 2 blocks north of the Alice Springs Convention Center and Casino. If you are driving north from the airport (or Ayers Rock or Adelaide), there is a road to the golf course from Stuart Highway. Head east on this road. When you see the casino, turn left. You'll see flags at the road about 2 blocks north. This is the hotel.
When you arrive at the hotel, you can pull up in front and unload your luggage. There are free parking lots on both sides. We parked to the north. It has better lighting, important as there had been vandalism of 4 cars in the south lot the prior week. There are five buildings behind the lobby, all connected, in a serpentine shape. We were given an odd number room in building 5, the building closest to the lobby. This side of this building has superb views over the McDonnell Mountain range. I had booked a junior suite that proved to be a full suite. (Perhaps the Doubletree staff will rename it?) It had a half bath at the entry, a comfortable living room with wet bar and table for four, a bedroom, and a full bath off the bedroom. There are flat screen TVs in both rooms. Much of the furniture is dated, wicker, I'd say of 70s vintage. The mattress was firm and comfortable. There are 7 suites of this type and 2 of the Premier Suite, the top level.
Rooms only have wired internet. There is wireless access in the lobby with 20 minutes free for everyone.
The GM has come from the Taupo Hilton, New Zealand. He has been at the property about 2 weeks. The Front Desk Manager moved over from IHG. The other two IHG managers moved on to Hunter Valley. The remaining staff remains in place. They are employees of the company that actually owns the hotel. We met both of the two senior managers and were impressed by both of them.
Hilton elite benefits are substantially better than Priority Club. It will take all the junior staff a bit of time to understand we are not greedy when we expect free internet and breakfast. Senior staff gets it. The chocolate chip cookies were awesome.
There is a superb restaurant in the hotel, Hanuman, ranked the top restaurant in Alice Springs on Tripadvisor. It serves some of the best Indian food I have ever eaten, and also has Thai food. (We have Thai food in San Diego, and I focused on their Indian offerings.) You must book, as the restaurant is a destination for locals.
The property was dated but comfortable. I'm unaware of anything better in Alice Springs. I like the enthusiasm of the new managers. I really enjoyed Alice Springs. There's a lot to see that really helps give a sense of the Outback. There's the Flying Doctors, School of the Air, the old Telegraph Station where the final link of the telegraph line from Europe across Australia was made, ANZAC Memorial, and Hermansburg 125 km west of town where the Lutherans had a mission for aborigines reminescent of the California missions the padres established for Indians.
The hotel is about 2 blocks north of the Alice Springs Convention Center and Casino. If you are driving north from the airport (or Ayers Rock or Adelaide), there is a road to the golf course from Stuart Highway. Head east on this road. When you see the casino, turn left. You'll see flags at the road about 2 blocks north. This is the hotel.
When you arrive at the hotel, you can pull up in front and unload your luggage. There are free parking lots on both sides. We parked to the north. It has better lighting, important as there had been vandalism of 4 cars in the south lot the prior week. There are five buildings behind the lobby, all connected, in a serpentine shape. We were given an odd number room in building 5, the building closest to the lobby. This side of this building has superb views over the McDonnell Mountain range. I had booked a junior suite that proved to be a full suite. (Perhaps the Doubletree staff will rename it?) It had a half bath at the entry, a comfortable living room with wet bar and table for four, a bedroom, and a full bath off the bedroom. There are flat screen TVs in both rooms. Much of the furniture is dated, wicker, I'd say of 70s vintage. The mattress was firm and comfortable. There are 7 suites of this type and 2 of the Premier Suite, the top level.
Rooms only have wired internet. There is wireless access in the lobby with 20 minutes free for everyone.
The GM has come from the Taupo Hilton, New Zealand. He has been at the property about 2 weeks. The Front Desk Manager moved over from IHG. The other two IHG managers moved on to Hunter Valley. The remaining staff remains in place. They are employees of the company that actually owns the hotel. We met both of the two senior managers and were impressed by both of them.
Hilton elite benefits are substantially better than Priority Club. It will take all the junior staff a bit of time to understand we are not greedy when we expect free internet and breakfast. Senior staff gets it. The chocolate chip cookies were awesome.
There is a superb restaurant in the hotel, Hanuman, ranked the top restaurant in Alice Springs on Tripadvisor. It serves some of the best Indian food I have ever eaten, and also has Thai food. (We have Thai food in San Diego, and I focused on their Indian offerings.) You must book, as the restaurant is a destination for locals.
The property was dated but comfortable. I'm unaware of anything better in Alice Springs. I like the enthusiasm of the new managers. I really enjoyed Alice Springs. There's a lot to see that really helps give a sense of the Outback. There's the Flying Doctors, School of the Air, the old Telegraph Station where the final link of the telegraph line from Europe across Australia was made, ANZAC Memorial, and Hermansburg 125 km west of town where the Lutherans had a mission for aborigines reminescent of the California missions the padres established for Indians.