We should probably stay at the Cairns Hilton as we can increase our overall Hilton points total, but I've read so many nice things about the Sebel Reef House in Palm Cove that I'm torn between the two. Does anyone have thoughts on these two hotels? Which do you prefer? What is the Hilton's location like? Is it near restaurants/shops? Should I forget about adding to my Hilton points and instead choose the Sebel Reef House? We'll be there 4 days in early December. Thanks!

Sebel Reef House at Palm Cove just awarded Tropical Tourisms North Queensland's top "de-luxe" accommodation; Sofitel Reef Casino in Cairns awarded top "luxury" accommodation. Sebel Reef house is just across road from Palm Cove Beach - Cairns Hilton borders Trinity Inlet in the heart of Cairns CBD where there are plenty of restaurants, shops and the Casino. There's some good eating spots within walking distance of Sebel Reef House but not much in the way of shopping and there's no casino. Of course, both hotels have their own restaurants.

Hi Albeny,
Not stayed at either hotel, however we stayed in Palm Cove and visited Cairns many times.
It really depends where your interests lie.
If you want to relax in possibly one of the loveliest, peaceful, tranquil areas of Queensland then Palm Cove is for you, and previous posts for the Sebel suggest it compliments Palm Cove perfectly and is gorgeous, however if you like the hussle and bussle of town life lots of people,plenty of busy restaurants, cars and no beach then Cairns is for you.
As Pat says the shopping and restaurants in Cairns are too numerous to mention and PC has just a few.
My advice would perhaps be to split the trip and do both, or if you think PC will be too peaceful(if there is such a thing) May I suggest Port Douglas, which is a little further up the coast from PC, this I guess is a compromise.
Check out this website for Palm cove.
www.palmcove.net
Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas are easily reachable by the local bus service wherever you decide to stay.
Not sure of the weather in early december, and be careful as the stingers may be around then too, but Pat will be able to give you precise info on that.
Whatever you decide have a fabulous time.

Muck

I have just returned from Queensland, including two weeks in the Cairns area, and agree that your choice should be location rather than hotel. I actually stayed in both Palm Cove and Cairns, split by a trip up to Cooktown and Cape Tribulation. Palm Cove is quiet, friendly, and has a beautiful beach. If you plan to visit any time between now and next April, however, you will have to swim inside the stinger net, as there are box jellyfish during the Aussie summer. Cairns is lively, and full of shops, bars, and restaurants. You can take a bus to the northern beaches or a ferry to Fitzroy or Green Island, but there is no beach in Cairns itself.

Port Douglas is probably better than either, with some great hotels and restaurants. It is also closer to the outer reef and the Daintree Forest/Cape Tribulation region.

Hi albeny - Muck's right - the stingers (box jelly fish) are here. And this year they're huge! So don't let a beach be part of your decision making - there are stinger nets but they're very small enclosures and I wouldn't be too certain that the peanut size Irukangi couldn't get through mesh anyway. this variety of jelly fish were until recently not considered too dangerous but two tourist fatalities last year (Hamilton Island and Low Isles off Port Douglas) put paid to that theory. Enough to say I spent an hour and a half walking on Cairns beaches in residential area yesterday and not one local had so much as a big toe in the water - frustrating as it was a sunny 31C. All the hotels have pools and there's a huge manmade stinger-free lagoon in Cairns CBD - paid for by the local ratepayers.

Port Douglas is closer to Cape Tribulation than Cairns (its a 1250 mile reef and Cairns and PD are only a spit away from each other by sea) but no closer to the outer reef - we had a boat for years and never noticed any appreciable difference. To be pedantic the closest point to the reef in the area is Cape Tribulation.

You are right about the reef, Pat, but anyone planning to go to Quicksilver on the Agincourt Reef will have to board the catamaran at 0830 in Cairns, then go to Port Douglas and transfer to another catamaran for a 1000 departure from there. On the return journey most people are transported by bus from PD to Cairns. By my reckoning that's an extra 2 1/2 hours travel time.

On the other hand, Cairns is more convenient for trips to Kuranda and other tourist attractions, not to mention the airport.

This is true Heimdall - but why would anyone prefer to travel to Port Douglas to take Quicksilver to reef if they're staying in Cairns when there is a greater choice of boats leaving from Cairns? You don't have to take catamaran to PD - Quicksilver have coach connection both ways to Cairns and it is a very scenic drive, but you have less time on the reef.

True again, Pat. I am just pointing out some of the advantages and disadvantages of Port Douglas vs Cairns. There seems to be a big rivalry between the two towns, and I have a feeling I'm being drawn into it. Both are great places with different characteristics, so no point in being negative about either. Yes, there are many boats going to the reef from both PD and Cairns, but I have noticed many posters to this forum express an interest in Quicksilver, which is actually based in PD.

Cairns is great too - I stayed there and loved it. Frankly during the stinger season Cairns is probably the best place to stay, as the beaches are off limits and Cairns has the lagoon plus much more.

Just returned from Oz and spent two nights at Sebel Reef House. While the grounds were lovely, nice pools and landscaping, we were disappointed overall. Many of the rooms are located very close to the dining room which is open air. We went to sleep each night and woke up to the rattle of dishes. Not our idea of a great place to stay. Asked if we could move rooms but the only other option was to stay in a room overlooking the parking lot next door. If returning to Palm Cove, would definitely look into Angsana, beautifully located. I think Sebel Reef House is way over rated.

We stayed at the Hilton in Cairns because of problems with flights when one of the airlines went bankrupt. Fairly typical big Hilton, nothing special. I wouldn't choose to stay in Cairns or that Hilton.

Starfish 1 - What type of room did you book at Sebel Reef. I'm booked there in January for 3 nights and wouldn't want to replicate your experience. We have booked the Verandah room and I'm a light sleeper so don't want to listen to dishes when I go to sleep. Thanks, B

barbee, we had a verandah room as well so check with them as to its location. Let them know ahead of time that you do not want to be near the dining room but many of them are very close by anyway. Hopefully they can do something for you. The design of the eating/kitchen area was just not very well considered.