The location exceeded our expectations. It’s just a few steps from the esplanade and right in the heart of Manly Beach, surrounded by plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops. The wharf is also only a 5-minute walk away. The bed configuration was exactly what we were looking for — one king bed and two singles — which is surprisingly hard to find in Manly. The room had all the essentials, and both check-in and check-out were smooth and hassle-free. Having a designated parking spot was also a huge bonus.

The unit is located in quite an old building with only one working elevator. The room itself is dated and could benefit from some cosmetic renovations and minor repairs, though that wasn’t a major issue for us. The main problem was the cleanliness. I would strongly recommend the owner reconsider the current cleaning service, as the unit appeared to have been only minimally cleaned. There was a plastic anti-slip bath mat in the bathtub/shower, and when we lifted it to reposition it, we found extensive mould underneath — both on the tub surface and on the mat itself. It was quite disturbing. The couch in the living room also needs either a deep clean or replacement, as it was heavily stained throughout. We ended up covering it with a spare bedsheet just so we could sit on it comfortably. Another major issue was the hot water system. The unit only has a 50L hot water tank, which will reheat every 45 minutes and does not operate during the peak periods of 6–8am and 7–9pm. As a family of four, this was highly impractical. Two of us consistently ended up having freezing cold showers. On one occasion, despite the system supposedly resuming after 9pm, we still did not have hot water until nearly 10pm.