Introduction
I’m only spending one night in Brisbane, and my next flight will be leaving at nine tomorrow morning, so I figure I might as well stay at the airport. I’m staying at the Pullman Hotel, which opened in 2018.
Location & Access to the Hotel
The hotel is easily accessible on foot. As I exit the terminal building, I simply follow the signs for the airport hotels via the SkyWalk, which links the domestic terminal with the railway station and the parking. It’s about five minutes to the hotel.
Check-in
The lobby is quite busy when I arrive at the hotel just before five. All three reception counters are occupied. It doesn’t help that one counter is busy dealing with a complicated middle aged woman totally oblivious to the queue.
The reception staff are friendly and polite. The check-in process is swift and efficient and I get a rundown of the hotel’s facilities.
Superior Twin Room
I’ve booked a superior twin room with two double beds. Like the rest of the hotel, the room is well kept. All the fixtures look new and there are hardly any signs of wear.
The room has a fridge, a kettle, and a Nespresso machine. There’s plenty of tea and instant coffee to keep you up all night, if that’s your inclination. In the fridge there are two cartons of milk and two cartons of water.
The room has a good sized desk with a USB and standard Australian power outlets. There’s a welcome note on the desk and a box of some kind of confectionery. I’m not quite sure what it is, looking at the wrapping, and the writing is too small for my old eyes.
The beds are spacious enough and I like that there are so many pillows. However, for my liking the bed is way too soft.
The bathroom is large and has a walk-in shower but no bath.
My room is on the eighth floor. From here I have a good view of aircraft approaching both runways.
Amenities
In addition to the tea and coffee making facilities, the room includes bathrobes and slippers.
There’s also an executive lounge on the tenth floor that I have access to owing to my Diamond status with ALL Accor. The lounge is open 24 hours and offers tea, coffee and soft drinks. It has nice views of the ramp and looks out toward the international terminal. However, it is quite small.
Happy Hour
When I check in, the receptionist tells me that there’s a happy hour for guests with access to the executive lounge. However, the happy hour is served downstairs in the bar behind the lobby. I’m guessing that’s because the lounge on the tenth floor is too small.
The happy hour is rather nice and quite generous. It consists of complimentary drinks and antipasti. So I guess I won’t be needing to get dinner.
Breakfast
The breakfast service is quite extensive, there are hot and cold dishes. In addition, other items and egg dishes can be ordered directly with the waiting staff. Being an airport hotel, breakfast starts quite early, at 05h30.
At this stage of the trip I’m starting to wonder how it is that they make such lovely cappuccinos in Australia?
Conclusion
The Pullman Brisbane Airport is a nice hotel that is conveniently located within walking distance of the domestic terminal. If you’re arriving at the international terminal, it’s probably too far to walk.
My room was nice and well appointed and had everything I needed. It terms of airport views, I suspect that the Ibis right next door may have an advantage based on the building’s orientation, but I can’t be sure.
That Rimowa looks very well travelled!
I’m struggling with an inner torment about that suitcase right now. It’s basically been everywhere with me and has served me well. So I feel rather attached to it emotionally. The problem is that it’s pretty banged up by now. Rimowa give you a life long warranty on the removable parts. But now the shell is quite damaged too. But I’m not ready to part ways.
Could you save it for the memories and pick up a new one for your travels?
I think that’s a very likely scenario. I have an appointment with Rimowa on Monday, then we’ll have a more accurate diagnosis.
Thank you very much for your enjoyable blog. I was wondering if you had any insider knowledge that might answer this question. “Why, at so many Australian international airports, are the domestic and international airports so far apart?”.
You mention the situation at Brisbane (you can take a train between the two – or a bus), the situation in Sydney is similar and at Perth. Even little Cairns, which has hardly any international traffic separates the two terminals by a good walk of several hundred metres.
I have asked Aussie friends this questions, including one who used to work for Qantas. No one seems to know the reason.
Enjoy the rest of your trip. Best wishes, Nigel
Indeed, that is most annoying for travellers passing through many Australian capital cities. Melbourne is the most user-friendly as its international and domestic terminals are all linked and a short walk away from each other.
Sydney isn’t too bad with the airside shuttle. Consider it a complimentary apron tour.
You only get the airside transfer if connecting from domestic to international and on Qantas. International to domestic you have to clear immigration and customs with your bags, recheck them, and the transfer is landside.
Hi Nigel, I think there are two reasons for that. The first is that for a long time the Australian government had a two-airline policy, with TAA doing the domestic flying and QANTAS only operating the international, and therefore, the long-haul flights. The second is that international traffic at mant airports in Australia only started to develop at a later stage. Initially, international flight concentrated on Melbourne and Sydney.