The Diplomat Alice Springs – close to everything!
The Outback Diplomat Alice Springs is a mid-range hotel/motel located in the very centre of Alice Springs.
The hotel is located just a short walk from the Todd Mall, which features a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops.
In fact, it’s only 2 minutes walk to Alice’s largest shopping mall
This review tells you everything you’ll need to know about the Diplomat, and will help you to decide whether it’s the place for you when you visit Alice Springs.
Things to Know Before You Book
Perhaps the main thing to be aware of before booking accommodation here is noise.
Our advice is to avoid the budget rooms which back onto the lane running between Gregory Terrace and Stott Terrace. This lane is renowned for being noisy at night. You will hear people talking, arguing and the occasional drunk!
The pick of the rooms are those facing Hartley Street, or into the hotel’s own courtyard area.
Also be aware that if you have mobility issues, you’ll need to ask for a ground floor room.
The only other thing to be aware of is the 4 Star rating. Remember, this is 4 Stars by outback standards, not by world standards.
The Diplomat is a 3 Star hotel by international ratings.
Otherwise, the Diplomat is a great choice if you want to be as close to all of Alice Spring’s restaurants, cafes and shops as possible, at a reasonable price (rooms from $99 AUD).
Learn more about accommodation ratings, expectations and experiences in outback Australia.
Check out our Outback Accommodation page.
Rooms
All rooms at the Diplomat feature en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, Foxtel, refrigerators, tea and coffee makers, fresh linen and towels, television and free movie channels.
Rooms are available in superior, standard, and budget styles.
Breakfast is served every morning from 6:30 until 9:30 am in the hotel’s dining room. Continental breakfast is also available for those who wish to dine before 6:30 am.
Now for the gritty details.
If you’re looking for designer bedspreads, or the latest in interior décor, you WON’T find it at the Diplomat. The rooms have that late 1980s/early 1990s feel stamped all over them.
Some folks will call this ‘tired and dated’; other people won’t care as long as the rooms are clean.
The budget rooms that I’ve been in at the Diplomat tend to be rather pokey. Clean, but very small. You don’t get a hairdyer or minibar. Not much room to swing a cat, so to speak.
The standard rooms are larger and far more airy, (as in spacious), and I’d recommend asking for one of these overlooking the pool.
The superior rooms have spa baths, and are slightly larger than standard rooms.
The pick of the rooms here are the superior rooms on the Hartley Street side which face the pool area.
As we’ve said above, there are budget rooms here that back onto a notoriously loud laneway. Avoid these at all costs, unless you’re a heavy sleeper.
Room rates begin at $99.
Get the best rates and read reviews.
Facilities
The Diplomat features a swimming pool, a coin-operated laundry facility, a breakfast room, a night porter, room service, 24-hour management onsite, a tour desk, an Internet café, off-street parking, and a barbecue area.
There’s also wireless Internet access, but it comes at a price.
Of course, the best thing about the Diplomat is that it’s close to some very good restaurants and cafes.
Right at your front door, you’ve got Uncles Tavern (which can be very noisy on Friday nights). Uncles is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and has a casual, friendly atmosphere.
You can download Uncle’s dinner menu here.
The menu is pub-style, and the décor includes flat-screen TVs, a jukebox and pool tables. There is live music every Friday night.
As I’ve said above, Uncles CAN get very noisy at times, otherwise it’s a good place for a chat over a beer or two.
There was another restaurant there, the Red Sands Restaurant, which was one of Alice Springs’ better restaurants. However, this is currently closed.
Unlike many of the restaurants in Todd Mall, we found that the Red Sands had good food rather than some of the bizarre tourist novelty offerings (like Wallaby Salad?!) we’ve seen in other establishments.
It was more expensive than somewhere like Sporties (Todd Mall) or the Juicy Rump (at Lasseters Casino), but then, the quality of the food was excellent.
The Diplomat Alice Springs also caters for business travellers and those interested in hosting special events. The hotel offers conference and meeting facilities including its Noonies Conference Room. The space is capable of holding up to 50 guests.
There’s also the Wintara Boardroom for smaller meetings and group gatherings. This hotel accommodation in Alice Springs provides an experienced event planning staff that can help guests with all of their special event needs.
Check out what others say about the Diplomat.
Overall Impressions
As accommodation in Alice Springs, the Diplomat is very convenient, but there is a trade-off for being near the hustle and bustle of town.
On the plus side, the hotel is located close to many of the towns most popular destinations including Aboriginal Art galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes.
If you are looking for a hotel that provides a relaxing stay in a quiet area, this location is probably not for you.
The hotel is affordable, so it is very basic. If you’re looking for high-end luxury facility, it’s probably not a good choice.
However, if your goal is to save money and stay right in the heart of Alice Springs, then the Diplomat Motel is is a great choice.
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