Best City Stays in Albany, Western Australia
A city stay in Albany means being close to the town centre, with restaurants, shops and the Albany Entertainment Centre within reach, and the coast a short drive away. Three properties suit that: ibis Styles Albany, Quality Apartments Banksia and Albany Central Apartments. They are practical family bases rather than boutique hotels, and two of them are apartments with kitchens. Quality Apartments Banksia is a minute's drive from the centre, Albany Central Apartments is within walking distance of the Entertainment Centre, and ibis Styles is a few kilometres out. I would choose by whether you want a kitchen, a restaurant on site or a short walk into town.
Albany is a small coastal city on Western Australia's south coast, with a harbour, a historic centre and a relaxed pace. A city stay here means being near the town centre and its services, with beaches and national parks a short drive away. Visitors tend to be families, couples and people travelling the south coast by car, and a car makes the whole region easier.
Three Albany Bases Close to the Centre
Albany is compact, so the useful question for a city stay is how close you are to the centre and what you can do without the car. Two of the three properties below have kitchens and one has a restaurant, and all list parking or family rooms. I would decide between them by distance from the centre and whether you want to cook.
Quality Apartments Banksia Albany is the best rated here at 8.6, from 744 reviews, and is listed as a five-star property. It offers family-friendly apartments with self-catering facilities and air-conditioned spaces, and most units include a two-person spa bath, with some also featuring an internal laundry. It is described as just a minute's drive from the city centre, which makes it ideal for city stays and for exploring the region. I would choose it for a couple or family who want a spa bath and a kitchen close to town, and I would confirm the unit type for the laundry.
Albany Central Apartments is a family-friendly aparthotel with fully equipped kitchens, private bathrooms and air-conditioning. Guests have free WiFi, on-site private parking and family rooms, and the property is within walking distance of the Albany Entertainment Centre and a short drive from Albany Regional Airport. It rates 8.3 from 172 reviews, a smaller sample than the other two, so I would read recent comments. I would recommend it as the most walkable base of the three, for a stay in which you want a kitchen, parking and a short walk to the town's attractions.
ibis Styles Albany is a family-oriented four-star hotel a few kilometres from the town centre. It offers spacious family rooms and suites with free WiFi, air conditioning and flat-screen TVs, plus an on-site restaurant, free parking and accessible facilities. It rates 7.5 from more than 1,400 reviews, the lowest score here but the largest sample. I would choose it if you want a restaurant on site and a familiar hotel format, and I would accept that you need a short drive to reach the centre. The family rooms and suites are described as spacious and accessible facilities are listed, which widens the range of guests it suits.
The three suit different priorities. Quality Apartments Banksia is the best rated and the closest by car, Albany Central Apartments is the most walkable and has a kitchen and parking, and ibis Styles Albany is the one with a restaurant and the largest number of reviews. None of the descriptions lists a pool, so I would not expect one. All three are described as family-friendly, and the two apartment properties give you a kitchen, which is useful on a longer stay in Albany. In short, the choice is between the walkable apartment, the spa-bath apartment closest by car, and the hotel with a restaurant and the most reviews.
A traveler's takeI would choose Quality Apartments Banksia Albany for a couple or family who want a kitchen and a spa bath a minute's drive from the centre, since it rates 8.6. For the most walkable base with parking and a kitchen, I would pick Albany Central Apartments, near the Albany Entertainment Centre. For a restaurant on site and a conventional hotel room, I would use ibis Styles Albany, though it is a few kilometres out.
City StayQuality Apartments Banksia Albany
★4.3Self-catering apartments with spa baths, a minute from Albany city centre
Why guests love itQuality Apartments Banksia suits families who want self-catering space just a minute's drive from Albany city centre. The apartments are air-conditioned, and most units include a two-person spa bath, with some also offering an internal laundry. That makes longer stays with children easier, since meals and washing can be handled in the apartment. I would choose it for the kitchens, the spa baths and the short drive into town.
City StayAlbany Central Apartments
★4.2Family-friendly apartments with full kitchens and parking in central Albany
Why guests love itAlbany Central Apartments are aparthotel-style units for families, each with a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine, a dining area, air conditioning and a private bathroom. Free WiFi and free private parking are included, the Albany Entertainment Centre is within walking distance, and Albany Regional Airport is a short drive. An 8.3 score from 172 reviews is fair, and I would choose it for the practical home comforts on a longer stay.
City Stayibis Styles Albany
★3.8A two-storey chain hotel on Albany Highway in Orana, with family rooms and a grill
Why guests love itThis ibis Styles is built for families who drive. A room with two double beds, a restaurant open for every meal and a garden with barbecues mean nobody has to go back to the car after a day out. The main family attraction in Albany, the National Anzac Centre, is a short drive away and works well for school-age children. The weak points are the location on the main highway into town, with nothing to walk to, and the absence of a pool, which matters on a summer stay. With more than 1,400 reviews and a 7.5 out of 10 average, it is a dependable chain stop rather than a destination in itself.
Local tips
- 1Choose Albany Central Apartments if you want to walk to the Albany Entertainment Centre and the town.
- 2Pick Quality Apartments Banksia if you want a spa bath, since most units include a two-person spa bath.
- 3Use ibis Styles Albany if you want a restaurant on site and free parking, and plan a short drive into the centre.
- 4Rent a car or bring one to reach the coast and the national parks beyond the city.
- 5Read recent reviews for Albany Central Apartments, as its 8.3 rating comes from 172 reviews.
- 6Ask the property about the unit type at Quality Apartments Banksia, since only some units have an internal laundry.