KKanchana KhamtaIf you have an early morning flight departing from Hobart Airport and do not have a car (for example, if you have already returned your rental car), I do not recommend staying at this hotel. Even though it is close to the airport, you may face serious transportation issues like the one I experienced.
The hotel is located about 1.8 km from Hobart Airport. By car or taxi, it takes around 5 minutes. However, if you walk, Google Maps shows it takes approximately 25–30 minutes.
On 13 December 2025 at around 5:00 PM, I asked the front desk staff to help me pre-book a taxi with 13CABS for the next morning, using my Australian local number from my eSIM. After the booking was completed, I received an SMS confirming my 13CABS request, including the pickup date and time, as well as a tracking link.
On the morning of 14 December, I checked out very early at 5:45 AM. At that time, the front desk was closed, so I returned the key card at the counter. I then opened the tracking link from the SMS to check the taxi’s location. I could see a car on the map, but it appeared to be quite far away. I decided to wait.
As the pickup time approached, I went outside to wait at the drop-off area, but no taxi arrived. I checked the tracking link again and found that the car was no longer coming.
At 5:54 AM, I received another SMS from 13CABS saying:
“Hi this is 13 CABS. We are sorry for the delay, we hope to have a vehicle to 1 Holyman, CAMBRIDGE shortly. Do you still require a taxi? Please reply Y/N.”
I replied “Y” immediately. After waiting another five minutes with no further updates, I started to feel very anxious.
At that point, I met a couple from Hong Kong who were experiencing the same issue—the taxi they had pre-booked also did not arrive.
I then called the after-hours reception number provided by the hotel. The staff member was very helpful and advised me to contact 13CABS directly to make a new booking.
When I called 13CABS, the operator made a new booking for me and sent another SMS confirmation. However, after waiting for quite a while, there was still no taxi. I asked the Hong Kong couple, and they told me their taxi was supposedly on the way.
About five minutes later, a taxi finally stopped at the drop-off area. The couple checked with the driver—it was not their booked taxi. I then asked the driver, and it was not booked under my name either. However, the driver explained that he was waiting in the airport queue and had received a call from head office instructing him to pick up passengers from Mantra Hobart Airport and take them to Hobart Airport.
In the end, both the Hong Kong couple and I shared that taxi. The driver charged me AUD 21 and charged the couple AUD 21 as well.
In conclusion, staying here is risky if you have an early morning flight, even though the hotel is close to the airport. You may encounter serious issues arranging transportation in the early hours and risk missing your flight.
That morning, while I was waiting at the drop-off area, I also saw a man walking from the hotel toward the airport, pulling his suitcase. Unfortunately, it was raining at the time, and the weather was cold, making the situation even worse.
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