ibis budget Canberra - Watson, Australian Capital Territory

Leah B.

"Budget" is a correct description. I would recommend it for people travelling who need an affordable place to stay overnight and then leave for their next destination.
The fridge froze everything. The shower was not the best. There were unidentified sounds...?
There wasn't heaps of space but we could bring the dogs.
There is an extra cost for the dogs but I thought it was worth it.
There's plenty of walking tracks close by and great restaurants in Dickson not far from the hotel.

Andreas V. A.

It's exactly what I wanted from a budget experience. The crew was friendly and helpful. The room I booked was cozy, with a kettle if you really wanted to make coffee or tea. There was only cow milk available, though. For a budget experience, it was great. I would give it 5 stars as a budget place if they allowed for some kind of plant milk alternative to make coffee in the rooms. I would've enjoyed making a coffee with soy milk or something.

Ashlee J.

I stayed at the Ibis Budget Hotel in Canberra in April 2025 after filming a Survivor season nearby at Mount Majura. We checked in around 5pm and were greeted by a lovely man at reception who made the process really easy. He helped us organise our key cards (you can request two if you’re sharing a room) and gave us all the info we needed about parking and breakfast.

There was plenty of parking out the front, including a space to pull up and drop off near the entrance, which is handy if you’re arriving by Uber or taxi. There’s also a communal area by reception with tables and chairs where you can relax. The hotel has three floors and no lift, so if you’re carrying heavy luggage, it’s worth requesting a ground floor room.

We stayed in room 309 on the third floor, which had a double bed with a single bunk overhead. It was a little cramped with three of us, but for $132 a night, it was great value. The room included a small desk, a mini fridge, a kettle with tea and coffee, and a wall mounted TV. The bathroom was compact with a shower and toilet, while the sink and mirror were located in the main room. We had a small window with a view of the mountains and the road outside, although it didn’t have the same protective screen that other rooms seemed to have, which was a bit odd for the third floor.

The hotel’s location was ideal for us, especially after a long weekend of filming. It was close to our shoot location and had everything we needed for a quick and simple stay. If you’re planning to spend most of your time exploring Canberra and just need a clean, budget friendly place to sleep, this is a great option. The rooms also came stocked with shower gel, which was a nice touch.

Some of our friends checked in later that night and were able to collect their key cards from envelopes left for them with instructions. Just make sure to check your texts, as the hotel sends out room numbers that way for after hours check in.

Overall, I’d recommend this spot if you’re after a budget friendly hotel that’s more private than a hostel but still affordable. While the rooms are basic and a little dated, they’re clean, functional, and ideal for short stays in Canberra.

Bla Z.

For a budget hotel, this actually wasn't too bad! There were some downsides, but I also acknowledge that you aren't going to get everything with budget accomm.

It was close to the EPIC showground, which was what we wanted, though not the city centre, but we were happy personally being close to EPIC. It was in a nice quiet spot. It has the highway running nearby, but we didn't really hear the noise. We found the staff at the desk were really nice and personable. The bed was clean, the toilet and shower and sink were clean.

The room was small, but that's okay, it's budget accommodation. The bathroom was pretty tiny, and to be honest I would say it could do with a shower curtain, as every shower soaked the whole bathroom including the toilet. Other places I've stayed in though have had communal bathrooms, so at least this was private, but in a way a communal bathroom would probably have had more room. Definitely at least a shower curtain is needed!

We did also have to kind of wedge our suitcases in between the end of the bed and the wall to stop the bed from moving everywhere. And there were some noisy guests calling down the corridor to each other till past midnight, slamming doors, etc. (they could've been coming back drunk from the nearby festival or something). My son also did have trouble sleeping on the top bunk, as the mattress was really hard compared to the double bed below. I will say the double bed was really comfy (just needs to be locked into position though!).

That said though, it did have a good vibe and we were overall happy. The staff were really nice. They really made it nice with Easter decorations too. It did have a friendly, welcoming kind of feel to it.

Mairwen1

The Ibis was fine for a flying, one-night visit. We were in town for the Canberra Marathon so we were barely there, arriving late and leaving early. For our purposes, this was a cheap, practical option. |THE ROOM |This is definitely a budget hotel but it says so in the name so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Everything in the room is basic and utilitarian. It’s spacious enough to stow bags and move around easily but it’s spartan. There are coffee and tea making facilities and a small bar fridge but no wardrobe (although there are a few coat hangers on a short pole that sticks out from the wall - again, this is probably all that’s needed if you are only staying one night). The small bathroom was not great. The shower is one of those old tile fibreglass pods with no shower curtain (so your clothes get wet) and no handbasin in the bathroom (the basin is across the other side of the room).|STAFF/SERVICE|The helpful, friendly staff were a real plus. At check in, they were very welcoming and took the trouble to explain everything we might need to know. They were also accommodating, letting us have a late check-out the next day for post-marathon showers and opening the closed breakfast room so we could sit there for a while. |LOCATION|The hotel is right on the outskirts of the city. It’s handy for the airport but not for sight-seeing in the city. It’s OK if you have a car but there are no restaurants or cafes within walking distance. |PARKING|Do not pay for parking. We paid $5 for parking when we booked the room online but there was no allocated spot. Instead the large car park is open to anyone so there was no need at all to have paid for a spot.|NOTE: There are actually three Ibis Hotels in Canberra so be careful to check the location to avoid any confusion over the booking.

Vicki B.

Room to small for 2 adults & pet the bathroom don’t get me started. No microwave in room had to walk about 50 meters to use a shared one. Staff were very friendly &. helpful. Room also smelt un clean not fresh

Shannon M.

The budget ibis lived up to its name. The photography made the rooms look far more spacious than they are, but it was adequate for the cost. Cleanliness wasn’t up to standard on arrival, but the manager was very apologetic and resolved the issue. The $10 breakfast was a highlight—especially the pancake machine, which my kids loved! Additional perks like the affordable washing machine and dryer were great, and it’s pet-friendly, which is always a bonus. Genie, the assistant manager, was absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable.

I stayed with my two teenagers in a room with two single beds and a loft bed. In hindsight, it was a bit cramped, but we managed. The only downside was the clientele it seemed to attract. The bench out front often had some questionable gatherings for cigarette breaks, which made us a little uncomfortable.

Overall, it’s good value for money with some great features, but a few things to be mindful of depending on your expectations.

J0Mayer

The room we stayed in was elementary which was fine for an overnight stay. The bathroom appeared to be some sort of pod that had hair in it from the previous customer. There was no shower curtain so the floor got drenched. The ladder which led up to the top bunk was covered in what looked like coke. The basin to wash your hands was located on the other side of the room and not in the bathing pod.