Mantra PortSea

Resort is lovely really nice pools and gardens. Lady on the front desk was great, very friendly and helpful.

The positives: Kids loved the pool slide A very kid friendly breakfast including an automated pancake machine and defrosted croissants was provided. The bed was comfortable. The air conditioning kept the room cool (and sounded like a small jet engine whilst it did so). The laundry was very easy to use with a tap and go screen. The negatives: A general feeling that no one cares: We were informed this is a no service hotel so wash your own towels if you want clean towels. No you will not be helped with your luggage. No you will not get into your room before 2pm. The drinks at the pool bar are awful. When we found a dead rat in the patio outside our room it took 8 hours and 2 visits to reception to have it removed so we couldn’t dry washing outside, eat outside, be outside or open windows as there were many flies. When the apartment next door was being demolished we simply got a note under the door saying ‘we understand this will be inconvenient’. It was. I hate to be so honest, but you couldn’t pay me to return to this hotel.

Things I liked: The staff on reception were all really friendly and helpful. You can fill up water bottles at reception from a lovely water filter - and buy a glass bottle so you can fill it with the sparkling water. The included breakfast was pretty good - it had plenty of options. I liked the layout of my 1 bedroom apartment - it had everything I needed. There’s a great little Asian plant-based restaurant called Bam Pow across the road (you will need to book in advance). Much better cocktails than the hotel & they have a good happy hour. Also the bottle store is across the road. It’s only about a 10 minute brisk walk to the Coles supermarket, even though they tell you it will take 20 minutes. Be aware that you have to cross a very busy road to get to the shaded pathway to Macrossan Street. A lot of the reviews complain about the towel situation, I guess because at most resorts pool towels are available poolside whenever you need them. I took my own towel, but did not need it. They gave me two towel exchange vouchers for 7 day stay. And there’s a clothes airer on the balcony, so you can dry towels overnight outside (since it is so warm). Things I disliked: The pool is not heated, so not that many adults were using it (it took your breath away when you got in). And you couldn’t really use it after about 5-6pm without feeling too cold (by then there is no sun & there’s a breeze most days). There is a spa pool, but all the children had claimed that and throughout my stay it was doubling as the kiddies pool. So you had to share it with children playing games where they dive under the water and wave pool noodles about in your face. It was most unpleasant. There is nobody supervising the pool, so children just scream all day. Perhaps if they heated the main pool slightly in the winter months, more people could enjoy it. The pool toilets did not appear to have been cleaned in the whole time I was there. Probably don’t look too closely at the cleaning in your room either, or give it a good deep clean yourself when you arrive. Think of it as a holiday home, not a high-end resort. You won’t get to sleep in as the cockatoos wake you up before 7am, so no need to worry about missing breakfast. I might stay again, but not in the school holidays.

We had a great time with my wife at the Mantra. The team members were courteous, helpful, and our room was clean, and well-appointed. We had a lovely weather so we spent a lot of time at the pools, which were perfect for us. The hotel is only a few minutes walk from the main street, which was not too much for us.

A cozy getaway for a few days, and we cannot mention a single thing that could have been better (maybe the breakfast, but its good for continental). We had a superb time, and made nice memories!

This hotel was absolutely amazing! 10minute walk into town or 3 minute scooter with Beam and right on the beach! But they also have a beautiful pool! The staff were super accommodating and helpful - honestly they went above and beyond for me and my partner. We will definitely be staying here again! Shout out to Taran and Tamas, Thank you for everything - Carla and Ben