This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are based on our own experiences and on primary sources, whether or not a link is involved.
Language: English | 日本語
In September 2017, our family of four (our son, 4, and our daughter, 1) stayed 5 nights at Pullman Cairns International. We booked directly on Accor’s official website, on a plan with breakfast included.
This stay review is based on our September 2017 experience. The booking-site prices were checked on October 10, 2026, for set dates and a set number of guests.
What we liked about this hotel
Above all, the location. We could walk to the free lagoon pool and BBQs on the Esplanade, to the marina where boats leave for Green Island, and to the night market and the supermarket.
At the breakfast buffet, we could mash fruit to make fresh juice. That was fun, and we looked forward to it every morning. The cot and stroller were free to borrow.
| When we stayed | September 2017 (5 nights) |
|---|---|
| Guests | 2 adults, son (4), daughter (1) (1 room) |
| Room | City Mountain View Twin (2 double beds, balcony with city and mountain views) |
| Plan | Breakfast included (WINTER OFFER) + early check-in (from 10:00) |
| Price | A$1,230 for 5 nights (including A$60 for early check-in). Shown in yen on the booking screen as JPY 106,348. Paid at the hotel |
| Booked through | Accor’s official website |
Check availability and prices at Pullman Cairns International
In October 2026, we compared prices on 4 booking sites for 5 dates, with the same room and the same number of guests, and there was almost no difference in price. All 4 sites showed nearly the same amount (differences of JPY 8–12, and about JPY 600–650 only on December 29 at year-end; all under 1%). See the booking-site price comparison (table)
*Contains affiliate links
Pullman Cairns International with Kids: Our 5-Night Stay Review
We flew to Cairns on Jetstar’s direct flight from Narita. We landed at 4:50 in the early morning, and our flight home left at 12:00. The full itinerary and costs of the trip are in our Cairns family trip report.
Pullman Cairns Reviews: What We Liked and What Bothered Us
- Location: the Esplanade, the marina, the night market and the supermarket are close, and the casino is right across the street
- Breakfast: the kids and I got hooked on mashing fruit to make fresh juice
- Gear for kids: the cot and stroller were free
- Replies to requests: I emailed my requests in English on the day I booked, and every one got a reply within a few hours
Over 5 nights, nothing in particular bothered us.
A hotel locals love too
Many groups of dressed-up older local women came to the hotel. It felt like a place loved by locals as well as by travelers.
Pullman Cairns Location for Families: The Esplanade, the Marina and the Casino Across the Street
The location is why I’d recommend this hotel to families with small kids. I think it had the best location in Cairns.
| Place | What we used it for |
|---|---|
| The Esplanade | Free lagoon pool and BBQ grills. It was close to the hotel, so going there was easy |
| Harbor (marina) | We took the boat to Green Island. The evening before, we walked to the counter at the harbor and booked the boat |
| Night market and supermarket | Both are close |
| Casino (The Reef Hotel Casino) | Right across from the hotel. In 2017, we saw crocodiles and koalas at the zoo on top of it |
Accor’s official page also says the marina is 200 m away, a 5-minute walk (Accor official). The next time we go to Cairns, I think we’ll choose the Pullman again for this location.
The zoo on top of the casino has closed
The zoo on top of the casino building was Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome. It closed in October 2023 (notice on the official website).
The current hours for the Esplanade lagoon pool and BBQ grills are in our Cairns family trip report.
Pullman Cairns Accommodation and Rooms: City Mountain View Twin, Cot, Amenities and Wi-Fi
We stayed in a City Mountain View Twin. It has 2 double beds, which the four of us used: 2 adults and kids aged 4 and 1. It has a balcony with views of the city and the mountains.
Cot, Stroller and Microwave: We Asked by Email on the Day We Booked
I booked in August 2017 and emailed our requests to the hotel in English that same day.
| What we asked for | The hotel’s reply |
|---|---|
| Cot (crib) | Can be provided free of charge |
| Stroller | Free to borrow. A note was added to our booking |
| Microwave | Hotel policy doesn’t allow microwaves in rooms. Bring anything you want heated to the restaurant, and the kitchen will heat it |
Going out with the borrowed stroller
We also took the borrowed stroller to Green Island.
Our 4-year-old son fell out of bed
Our 4-year-old son moves around a lot in his sleep, and one night he fell out of bed. A parent was sleeping right next to him, and we still didn’t notice. I wish we had asked the hotel whether they had bed rails, or put him between the wall and a parent. After that, he slept between the wall and a parent every night.
Amenities and Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi, Bring Your Own Toothbrushes
The bathroom in our 2017 room had a bathtub. There was a kettle on the room’s counter.
For Wi-Fi, we rented one overseas Wi-Fi router in Japan and brought it with us (JPY 5,733 for 7 days).
I checked the amenities and Wi-Fi for the current room type (Superior City / Mountain View Twin) on the hotel’s official website (checked October 2026).
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Free (Free WiFi). How to connect is in the in-house guide given at check-in |
| Bath products | Bath products and amenity set, bathrobes, hair dryer and makeup mirror |
| Drinks | Nespresso coffee machine, tea and coffee set, minibar, small fridge |
| Other | In-room safe, iron and ironing board, blackout curtains, balcony, TV |
| Room size | 2 double beds, 40 m², up to 4 guests |
| Bathtub | In this room type, the rooms with bathtubs are on Level 3 (official: “Bathtubs are available on level 3.”) |
Toothbrushes aren’t in the official list of amenities. On the page of Accor, the hotel’s operator, 2 reviews posted in September 2026 also said there were no toothbrushes. To be safe, bring toothbrushes, including ones for the kids.
If you want to give small kids a bath, ask the hotel after booking whether you can have a Level 3 room with a bathtub.
Pullman Cairns Breakfast Buffet and Pool: Mash Fruit for Fresh Juice
Pullman Cairns Breakfast Buffet
Breakfast was amazing. Mashing fruit to make fresh juice was fun, and the kids and I got completely absorbed in it.
The other dishes were also very tasty, and breakfast was something we looked forward to every morning.
I don’t have photos of the juice-making or of each dish. The juice corner was there in 2017, and I don’t know whether it still is.
Pullman Cairns Pool
On day 3, we played in the hotel pool.
On the day we flew home, I took both kids to this pool while my wife packed. We let them play to their hearts’ content early in the morning, then headed to the airport. The pool had tired them out, so the kids slept well on the flight home. If you’re traveling with small kids, I think a swim on the morning you fly home is worth doing.
The hotel’s official website mentions a renovation of the 3rd-floor pool deck (hotel official). These photos are from 2017, before the renovation.
Pullman Cairns Early Check-In, Check-In Time and Check-Out Time: Our Early-Morning Arrival (A$60)
Our 2017 booking confirmation listed check-in from 14:00 and check-out by 11:00.
Because we were arriving early in the morning, we had added early check-in (A$60) to our booking, so we could get into the room from 10:00.
From landing to getting into our room
- 4:50
Landed at Cairns Airport on JQ26 - Taxi to the hotel
As I remember, we got there around 7:00 - Waited in the lobby and walked around the area
Also spent a little time at Cairns Central - 10:00
Early check-in
The airport is small, and we found a taxi right away.
Current check-in time and flight arrival times
Accor’s current page lists check-in from 15:00 (Accor official, checked October 2026).
JQ26 still arrives early in the morning. For October 2026–March 2027, the schedule lists some dates with a 4:35 arrival (Cairns Airport flight schedules).
Before booking, check with the hotel whether you can add early check-in and how much it costs.
Where Is Pullman Cairns Cheapest to Book? Booking-Site Prices Compared
Results of comparing 4 booking sites
- With the same room and the same number of guests, there was almost no difference in price across booking sites. The 4 sites (including two Japanese sites) showed nearly the same prices: differences of JPY 8–12, and about JPY 600–650 only on December 29 at year-end (all under 1%). The slightly lower price on all 5 dates was on Trip.com
- Check how many people breakfast covers, the free-cancellation deadline and any extra charges for kids separately from the displayed price
Things to watch for when choosing a booking site are covered in Is Agoda legit? and Is Expedia safe? (in Japanese).
I checked the prices on 4 sites between 9:30 and 9:55 on October 10, 2026, with the same dates and number of guests.
Prices change daily, so check the booking screen before you book.
| Guests | 2 adults, 2 children (12 and 10), 1 room |
|---|---|
| Nights | 2 nights (the dates checked are in the tables below) |
| Room | Rejuvenated Superior Room Twin, City Mountain View (2 double beds). For 3/27/2027 only, the Classic Twin Harbour View (2 double beds) was used |
| Price | Total for 2 nights (Japanese yen). Expedia and Trip.com show prices “including taxes and service fees.” Prices shown without logging in. These are the prices displayed (in yen) on the Japanese version of the page; currency and amounts may differ on the English site |
Breakfast guests and cancellation terms
We couldn’t confirm that the number of guests breakfast covers and the cancellation deadline are the same across the 4 sites. Compare the displayed price and the booking conditions separately.
Displayed prices, room only
※ The 12/29/2026 Trip.com price is for a free-cancellation plan (free until 12/28 23:00). The other 3 sites were non-refundable, so the cancellation terms differ.
Displayed prices, breakfast included
On Trip.com, the 12-year-old was counted as an adult. The screen showed “3 adults, 1 child (10 years old).” On the Japanese page, the room name was shown in Japanese as a City Superior Mountain View Twin Room.
Booking Pullman Cairns: How to Choose a Booking Site and Plan
On most dates the difference was around JPY 10, and the 4 sites were nearly the same price. Rather than the difference, I recommend choosing by the free-cancellation deadline and how many guests breakfast covers. The slightly lower price was on Trip.com.
If you have a booking site you usually use, it’s fine to check the conditions there.
Booking-site prices for other Cairns hotels (Hilton, Shangri-La, Rydges) are compared in Cairns hotel booking site comparison (in Japanese).
How to decide on a plan
Your plans might change
Look at the free-cancellation plans. The free period differs by site.
You’re also considering non-refundable
Check the refund and change conditions.
How breakfast and cancellation terms change the price
On Trip.com, for 12/8/2026, room only and non-refundable was JPY 76,604. Breakfast included with free cancellation was JPY 103,268, a difference of about JPY 27,000 for 2 nights.
These two plans differ in both breakfast and cancellation terms. Don’t treat the difference as simply the cost of breakfast. Decide based on how firm your plans are and how you’ll handle meals.
Check prices at Pullman Cairns International
Comparing the same room and the same number of guests on 10/10/2026, there was almost no difference in price across booking sites (all differences under 1%). Prices change daily.
*Contains affiliate links
Pullman Cairns Kids Stay Free: Conditions for Children Under 12
Pullman Cairns Kids Sharing Existing Beds: Up to What Age? Ages 11 and Under Were Free
According to our 2017 booking confirmation, up to 2 children under 12 could stay and eat breakfast for free. To qualify, the children had to stay in the same room as their parents and eat breakfast together with the family.
Under the policy, children used the existing beds, and a cot or an extra bed could also be used if there was room.
Our kids were 4 and 1, so both stayed and ate breakfast for free. There was no extra charge for the kids, and the total for 5 nights was A$1,230.
12-year-olds don’t qualify for free stays
The policy I saw on Rakuten Travel (a Japanese booking site) in October 2026 also limited free stays to up to 2 children under 12. The condition is that children who stay in the same room as their parents and use the existing beds get their stay and breakfast for free.
It said that 12-year-olds don’t qualify, and the hotel may charge an extra fee.
The hotel’s official Early Bird is a plan you book at least 90 days before check-in.
One of its perks is that kids aged 11 and under stay free when using the existing beds. Breakfast is free for up to 1 child per adult who has a paid breakfast with them (hotel official, checked October 2026).
Before You Book Pullman Cairns: Non-Refundable vs. Free Cancellation, and Extra Charges for 12-Year-Olds
The Free-Cancellation Deadline Differs by Booking Site
Even with the same “free cancellation,” how long it stays free differed by site. For the breakfast-included plan with check-in on 12/8/2026, it was as follows.
| Booking site | What the screen showed |
|---|---|
| Trip.com | Free cancellation until 12/7 23:00 |
| Expedia | Full refund for cancellations before 12/7 |
If you can’t settle your plans until the last minute, check both the date and the time of the free-cancellation deadline.
Rakuten Travel (Japan) Non-Refundable Room-Only Plan: No Changes, and 12-Year-Olds May Cost Extra
Rakuten Travel (a Japanese booking site) also had a separate room-only plan that isn’t in the tables above. It was for 2 nights from 12/8/2026, with the same number of guests.
Conditions of that plan
- Room: Superior City Mountain View Twin (non-refundable)
- No refunds. Dates and room can’t be changed either (to change them, you have to cancel and rebook)
- Kids stay free only if under 12. If an extra charge applies for a 12-year-old, it isn’t included in the displayed price and is paid at the hotel
- The booking screen said “Additional charges may apply”
This plan was on a Japanese booking site, so it isn’t in the price tables above. Check that the whole family can stay under the plan’s conditions, and check the total including any extra charges.
Breakfast Included: Check How Many Guests It Covers on the Booking Screen
Trip.com showed breakfast “for 4 guests.” On Expedia, the screen for adding breakfast didn’t make clear whether the kids were included.
Check on the booking screen that breakfast is included for the whole family.
If you find a lower price after booking
Some companies offer a “best price guarantee” that pays you the difference (Best price guarantees compared across 9 booking sites (in Japanese)).
Pullman Cairns Is a Great Pick for Families with Kids
Pullman Cairns International had the best location. Even with small kids, you can walk to the pool, the waterfront, the marina and the shops. Cairns is a place we want to go back to.
- The Esplanade, the marina, the night market and the supermarket are close, and the casino is right across the street
- At the breakfast buffet, you could mash fruit to make fresh juice (2017)
- We borrowed a cot and a stroller for free
- If you arrive early in the morning, adding early check-in to your booking lets you rest in your room
- Prices on the 4 booking sites were almost the same (checked 10/10/2026; differences under 1%)
- Before choosing a non-refundable plan, check the no-refund and no-change terms and the conditions for 12-year-olds
The whole 5-night trip is covered in our Cairns family trip report: Jetstar with a baby and 5 nights at the Pullman.
For more on traveling abroad with a baby, see Guam with kids (in Japanese).
Check availability and prices at Pullman Cairns International
Check availability and current prices on the booking site you usually use
*Contains affiliate links
Our Cairns family trip articles
- Cairns family trip report: Jetstar with a baby and 5 nights at the Pullman
- Jetstar to Cairns flight review: round trip with a baby in a bassinet (in Japanese)
- Green Island with kids: a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
- Kuranda tour with kids: the railway and Skyrail with a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old