The ship's papers
- Check-in
- 2pm. Earlier only if the room is ready.
- Check-out
- 10am. Later only if available, and a fee may apply depending on the time.
- Card hold
- $100 per night, taken at check-in for incidentals. Release can take 7 to 10 business days, or longer with some banks.
- Age
- 18 or over to book and to stay without a legal guardian.
- Front desk
- 24 hours, 365 days.
- Wifi
- Included for in-house guests for the whole stay.
- Luggage
- Stored at reception if you arrive early or leave late.
Changing your mind
For bookings made directly with the hotel, you can usually amend or cancel through the link in your confirmation or by calling Reservations, and fees can apply within 24 hours of arrival. Bookings made through a third party are changed through that agent, under its own policy. No-shows generally lose the first night; the hotel notes that this can vary by booking type.
When our desk quotes a stay, our reply states who would hold the booking and whose cancellation terms apply. Read that line before you say yes.
Families and extra beds
Interconnecting and family configurations exist but are limited, and the hotel wants them arranged through Reservations. Rollaways are $50 a night in king rooms and suites only. Portacots are free. All of it is subject to availability, which is why we ask before quoting.
Children are welcome in the family dining venues with an adult. The Sports Bar and Spin Café are part of the casino and are 18+.
Cars, bikes and taxis
Outdoor parking is free, subject to availability; the facilities page counts 300 car parks. Valet parking costs $15 a day. Bicycle hire is free. There is no courtesy bus: reception or valet will call you a taxi, and local shuttle companies run airport trips. More on the road in on getting here.
What to wear
Around the resort the standard is clean, neat and tidy. The casino adds its own rules: no swimwear, no singlets, no high-vis or workwear, no steel-capped boots, and stricter footwear rules later at night. If in doubt, the hotel says to ask before you arrive.
Smoking
Only in designated areas: one on the poolside lawns near the back rock wall, one on the main driveway near the concierge, and a dedicated smoking room. The casino's private Orpheus Room includes what the hotel calls Townsville's only smoking lounge.
Public holidays
A 15% surcharge typically applies to food and drink on public holidays. It is worth knowing before an Easter or Christmas stay.
Packages and member rates
On 31 October the hotel's packages page listed four stay packages by name: Early Bird Exclusive, Bed & Brekky, Gimme More and a Defence Members Discount. We have not printed their terms because they change; read them on the hotel's packages page or ask us to check them against your dates. The hotel's membership program, Vantage Rewards, is free to join and gives members at least 10% off eligible accommodation and dining, with promotional packages possibly excluded. It covers The Ville and Ardo.
Gift cards
Digital only, sent by SMS to the recipient's mobile. Values typically from $50 to $999, valid for three years, bought with Visa or Mastercard (not AMEX), and spendable on accommodation and dining at both The Ville and Ardo. They cannot be cashed out.
What the hotel does not publish
Pets: no policy on the hotel's site. Accessible rooms: no details such as roll-in showers or room widths. We will put either question to Reservations for you, and we will not guess the answer.
Sources for this page (read 31 October 2026):