Has anyone stayed at the Angsana Resort in Palm Cove? My husband and I are hoping to stay in Palm Cove during the middle of October and are thinking about booking a one bedroom suite at Angsana. Has anyone stayed there before? Would you recommend it? Would anyone recommend the Sebel or another hotel in Palm Cover instead? Thank You!

Hi - never stayed at the Angsana but found the Sebel to be lovely (It's a Mirvac property, like the Quay Grand and Quay West in Sydney) Stayed recently at the Novatel Palm Cove and had a great suite there. I would highly recommend either of these.

i THINK THERE IS A PACKAGE OFFERED FOR aNGSANA ON lUXURYLINK.COM. tHIS WEB SITE HAS GREAT TRIPS AND LOTS OF GOOD DEALS. wE'VE DONE sAN FRANCISCO AND ITALY WITH THEM AND WERE VERY SATISFIED.<BR>WE STAYED AT SEBEL HOUSE LAST YEAR AND FOUND IT CHARMING. THE RESTAURANT IS FABULOUS. IT GETS BUSY SO MAKE A RESERVATION.

My wife and I stayed at the Marriot Courtyard next door but checked out the Angsana hotel. The Angsana is one notch above the Marriot Courtyard. The restaurant is one of the best in Palm Cover and had a great view. But with an internet rate of $150AUS ($78US) for a one bedroom suite ocean view on the Marriot Courtyard Website (AAA discount) I couldn't resist as Angsana was about twice as much or more at the time (April). Angsana is the only hotel that is directly on the beach all the others have a small road in between. The actual distance to the water though is about the same. The street is really no big deal though but you can here the busses drive by every now and then. I would definitely recommend it because i thought it was the nicest hotel in Palm Cove. But after staying in both Palm Cove and Port Douglass I like Port Douglass better (Peninsula Hotel) because there were more restaurants and shops. If you stay on the northeastern edge at Peninsula or other place you get the same feel as Palm Copve as they are well away from all the activity. Besides most dive, snorkel tours and rainforest tours start from Port Douglass if your staying at Palm Cove. They pick you up at your hotel though.

Thanks so much for your responses Nikki, Delores & RS. We are booking with Angsana today. Does anyone know if the box jellyfish will be a problem in mid October? It would be a major let down if we couldn't jump into the ocean for a swim while we're there....although I had heard there are netted swimming areas....We will of course have the opportunity to dive/snorkel on a few trips we're taking out to the reef and various islands....but - just wondering. And are there any other restaurants in Palm Cove that anyone would recommend dining at/making reservations for? Finally, does anyone know if there is a grocery store in Palm Cove? Thanks again for all your help and suggestions!

Technically all the signs and books say Late October through May is stinger season. It was a bummer for me to not go in the water but my wife and I were there for two days after we landed before we went to Lizard Island so not going in the ocean wasn't too traumatic for me. It's really dependent on ocean water temps and the currents as jellyfish like warm water and are mainly washed ashore or hug the coastlines beacause of prevailing wind and ocean currents. Your best bet is to email the hotel and ask them. I emailed Angsana several times and they always replied promptly. If you're really worried not being able to go in the water you must stay on an outer island. Check out http://www.queenslandislands.com/ for one of the more comprehensive websites on the islands or get the Lonely Planet Guide to the Great Barrier Reef Islands at a library or bookstore. By the way the water on the coast is not nearly as clear as out on the islands (and is often brown or greenish) because of the rivers that flow into the ocean briging sediments and silt.

I forgot, there are two grocery stores in Palm Cove but they are tiny- about the size of a small 7/11 but they do have meats, veggies and fruits but not a lot of variety. One is I think called Pete's and is actually part of a fast food restaurant - about 200 yards from Angsana and the other (a little bigger and better quality and variety) is at the farther end of Palm cove about 800 yards.

Thanks RS! How was Lizard Island by the way? Did you go just for the day or did you stay over night at the resort? We may go just for the day as that is only what time permits but have heard it's (the resort and Island itself) excellent!

I don't think you can go for a day because it is so far and would cost too much. The only people allowed are on the resort or on the national park campgrounds about 3/4 mile from the resort. Lizard was faboulous a combination of absolute luxury and casual atmosphere in a location that is and feels so far away from everything. It's very pricey but well worth it for a once in a lifetime type of experience. With 24 separate beaches and the ability to take the resorts motorized boats out you can never see people during the day if you like. The food is all five star gourmet- I never carried a wallet or room keys (they have them if you ask) the entire five days we stayed there. The snorkeling off the resort beach was also remarkable and the best I've seen from a beach anywhere. Consider it if fits!