Hidden Tips

The top tip when staying at the Spring Hill Inn is to control for the noise. Nearly all guest reviews have it that the walls are “paper-thin.” So, to get a good night’s sleep, you absolutely must bring some really high-quality earplugs. You might want to ask for a room on the top floor or at the end of a corridor so that there’s less walking and noise from rooms next door. Being ready for this one big downside is important for getting all the good things that this hotel has to offer.

An excellent way to economize is to avail oneself of the hotel’s shared kitchen facilities. The lodge has neither an on-site restaurant nor does it serve breakfast; nonetheless, it does make available a tidy shared kitchen with a microwave, kettle, and toaster. A Woolworths Metro supermarket is just a short walk from there. You can easily pick up groceries, coffee, many breakfast items to prepare your own simple meals. It’s a great way to save money compared to eating out for every meal in the expensive city center. Outdoor garden area is a lovely quiet spot for your morning coffee.

Make the most of the “in-between” location on foot and check out all the great ’hoods that surround. You’re in prime walking position to a zillion attractions. Walk one direction for 10 minutes to the edgy nightlife and great restaurants of Fortitude Valley. Walk another direction for 15 minutes to kick back in the stunning, world-class Roma Street Parkland. Walk south for 15-20 minutes and you’re smack dab in the heart of the CBD for shopping. You can hit up three separate Brisbane precincts from this place and never pay for a taxi.

Just down the road, some real local history: the heritage-listed Spring Hill Baths just a 10-minute walk away. Established in 1886, this is the oldest surviving swimming pool in the southern hemisphere. Instead of a row of changing cubicles, newsworld charm lines one side of the pool. Very small fee to get in and you can swim laps in truly beautiful and historic Victorian-era setting. That is so authentically local an experience to do just around the corner from your hotel, and a perfect way to cool off on a hot Brisbane day.