Overnighted here at the end of a business trip before flying out next morning for Sydney.

I wasn't overly optimistic about the hotel given mixed reviews I'd read and given its relatively unappealing location somewhat away from the airport (I didn't do the booking. If I had I would have stayed at one of the airport hotels).

First impressions weren't too bad (friendly and helpful driver in the hotel minibus) and the hotel itself looks okay on the outside. The reception area is quite small though and spartan, and the staff there were all in a bit of a dither - especially when they discovered that they'd have to upgrade me because of an overbooking of standard rooms.

Having negotiated the upgrade and the many stairs to the room (happily, someone carried my bags) I was more than pleasantly surprised by the executive room (see photos) which was clearly a quantum leap in size and amenity over the standard room. It was really impossible to find anything to criticise about it - including the funky shower with glass wall.

Went to Pallazzo Restaurant for dinner. The menu wasn't at all bad nor were the prices. The person who served us was pleasant (in a somewhat formulaic way) and attractive (to be honest she appeared to consider that "very attractive" would have been a more suitable description) and the meal quite well cooked (probably very well cooked by Port Moresby standards). In all we had an enjoyable time helped along by a very good Australian merlot at a price I wouldn't have been surprised to pay in a comparable Sydney hotel. Signing for dinner was a bit of a sterile experience. No "How was your meal?" or the like. Essentialy just "Sign here".

After dinner returned to my room, had two cups of coffee from the espresso machine supplied and watched television. Thankfully there were many channels to pick from as the night club soon kicked in pretty hard (and stayed kicking until early morning). The resonating bass sounds were probably good if you were there. They were less so in a room where, presumably, people other than myself were trying to sleep. I have to say I wasn't profoundly irritated by it. I suspect, though, that if I hadn't been upgraded I would have been.

Next morning went to the restaurant for breakfast. Found it and the staff on hand (when they eventually arrived) to be less than impressive - very sparse food and service and nothing to make you too keen about going back.

Checkout was reasonable if totally lacking in warmth or any form of animation (maybe they beat the staff?). There was some fuss over a presumably inadvertant attempt to double charge for the room but it was okay. Transfer to the airport was fine.

My recommendation? If you're here for an overnight then it's probably more than acceptable. The hotel isn't, however, slick. It isn't a resort, its setting is relatively unattractive and the staff could really do with a bit of a general gee-up. If you're staying longer than a night I'd suggest you stay somewhere else. My next overnighter in a month or two will be at the Airways Hotel. My next longer stay will probably be at the Crowne Plaza (best of a pretty ordinary lot - it is Port Moresby after all).