Adelaide’s intercontinental hotel is the epitome of many of the brand’s former hotels: solid but lacking in charm and personality, even a little old-fashioned.

In the absence of a Marriott hotel in Adelaide, I’m forced to look at the competition, in which case my choice is usually the IHG family. In this case, I found an Intercontinental well located and at an affordable rate for this short stay.

You’ll find a summary of the articles about this trip to Australia at the bottom of the page.

Booking

I booked a standard room at 200 euros a night 3 months before my trip. I will later accept an offer of a paid upgrade to a Club room on a high floor, bringing the price of the night to 300 euros.

All this deserves a few explanations. I hesitated for a long time to join the Intercontinental Ambassador program, of which I have been a member in the past and which, for 200 euros a year, gives me various benefits including Platinum status with IHG One Rewards and a guaranteed upgrade. A priori interesting because it would have allowed me to have this club room for less than I did. But at Intercontinental, an upgrade to a club room does not give access to the club lounge, unlike customers who have booked a club room directly.

As I rarely stay at IHG, I value the lounge more than the status, so I made this decision. I dined there two evenings against only one evening at the restaurant, so in the end I was financially better off. If I often stayed at IHG, my choice might have been different, but as things stood, this seemed the most rational choice.

Location of the hotel

The intercontinental Adelaide is located in the city center, on a major thoroughfare where the train station and the city’s museums are located.

It’s well placed for sightseeing, especially as the city center isn’t very spread out: you’ll be at most 20 minutes’ walk from most tourist sites.

If you choose a room with a river view, your room will overlook the river and a large park where you’ll also find a stadium where many sporting events and festivals are held.

It also adjoins the convention center.

Allow 15 minutes by cab from the airport.

Check-in and welcome

I arrive from the airport in the early afternoon. The building is imposing, but reminiscent of all the old Intercontinental buildings, very standardized and lacking in charm.

I enter the lobby, which confirms my first impressions: it’s imposing, in perfect condition, spacious but with an old-fashioned 80s charm.

The reception is very friendly and in 5 minutes I have my key and can go to my room.

The room

You enter through a small vestibule that opens onto the bedroom on one side and the bathroom on the other.

The room is very large for a room of this category and very bright.

The bed is large and the bedding of very good quality and comfortable.

There’s a sofa and lounge area.

A desk with a nice view.

The view over the river and the park. Really nice and pleasant.

In the distance we see the ballet of planes on final approach to the airport.

The bathroom is large and includes a shower and bathtub.

All in all, a lovely, spacious and bright room, but one that seems to have remained stuck in the 90s, with its slightly old-fashioned (but very well maintained) furniture and, something that always betrays the age of a hotel, not enough and badly placed power sockets. For example, there are no sockets near the bed.

Let’s finish with the video tour.

Bars and restaurants

The hotel features several bars and restaurants as well as a club lounge. I’ll only try the lobby bar and the lounge.

Lounge – Aperitif buffet

I went to the lounge on all three nights of my stay, and on two of them the service provided was enough to dissuade me from dining thereafter.

The place is pleasant, bright and not overcrowded. Like the rest of the hotel, however, it’s like being in the 90s.

Although there are no hot dishes, the service provided is varied and of a high quality, and by the end you’ll be completely full without paying any attention.

We’ve seen much more impressive stuff, but it gets the job done.

Lobby Bar

The hotel features a bar in the lobby, which also has a terrace. I went there for a snack during the day and a drink at the end of the evening.

Rather pleasant, a little less dated than the rest of the hotel. The service is very good and the staff adorable and attentive. A waiter will take almost 10 minutes to introduce me to his local beers and help me choose.

Mid-afternoon snack:

On the last evening, the waitress even offered me a free snack at the end of the service, which she didn’t offer to the other tables.

The facilities

The hotel has a gym and swimming pool.

The gym

It’s bright (not blind), spacious and well-equipped, even if the equipment isn’t state-of-the-art.

The Pool

Outdoors, it’s a good size without being gigantic.

There aren’t many deckchairs around, but I’ve never seen it used much. The setting, however, is hardly inviting.

Service

Very friendly and helpful staff.

Check-out

I’ll leave my express check-out form in the box provided in the lobby and the hotel, and leave without having to go back to reception.

Bottom line

A serious hotel with a solid service, but like all the old Intercontinental, Sheraton and other hotels, it’s starting to show its age and is struggling to inspire the slightest interest or emotion.

The articles about this trip to Australia

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