--- title: "Crystalbrook Riley vs Mercure Cairns: which hotel is better?" description: "Crystalbrook Riley or Mercure Cairns in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/crystalbrook-riley-cairns-vs-mercure-cairns-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-24 --- # Crystalbrook Riley vs Mercure Cairns Both are in Cairns, 300 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · ★★★★★ · Cairns City ## [Crystalbrook Riley](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/crystalbrook-riley-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 9.1 · Excellent - **Location score:** 6.9 - **Score by category:** 3 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1330365/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · Cairns City ## [Mercure Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mercure-cairns-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.9 · Good - **Location score:** 7.9 - **Score by category:** 2 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1838735/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Crystalbrook Riley It leads in 3 of 5 categories. 300 m apart. ### Choose Crystalbrook Riley if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.1 / 7.9) - a spa and wellness - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 311 / 75) ### Choose Mercure Cairns if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep (118 / 49) - free parking - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 75 / 311) ### Why is Crystalbrook Riley better than Mercure Cairns? 1. Higher guest rating (9.1 vs 7.9) (+1.2) 2. Has a spa 3. Higher star rating (5★ vs 4★) (+1★) 4. More guest reviews (1,004 vs 337), so the rating is more reliable (×3.0) 5. 11 more listed amenities (25 vs 14) (+11) 6. Has a gym 7. Has 24-hour room service ### Why is Mercure Cairns better than Crystalbrook Riley? 1. 69 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+69) 2. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 87 vs 74) (+13) 3. Has free parking 4. A smaller, more intimate hotel (75 vs 311 rooms) (−236) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Crystalbrook Riley | Mercure Cairns | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.1 (+1.2) | 7.9 | | Location | 6.9 | 7.9 (+1.0) | | Facilities | 9.2 (+4.2) | 5.0 | | Spa & wellness | 8.0 (+6.5) | 1.5 | | Public transport | 6.1 | 7.2 (+1.1) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.1 (+1.2) | 7.9 | | Guest rating | 9.1 (+1.2) | 7.9 | | Number of reviews | 1,004 (+667) | 337 | | Google rating | – | 3.5/5 | | Google reviews | – | 355 | | Rank in Cairns | top 6% (+75%) | bottom 19% | | Location | | Location score | 6.9 | 7.9 (+1.0) | | Distance to Cairns City centre | 780 m | 480 m (−300 m) | | To public transport | 870 m | 680 m (−200 m) | | To the airport | 4.9 km | 5.1 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 49 | 118 (+69) | | To the nearest food shop | 400 m | 310 m | | Shops within 500 m | 3 | 4 | | Sights within 1 km | 10 | 12 (+2) | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★★ (+1★) | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 311 | 75 | | Floors | – | 3 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2023 | | Listed amenities | 25 (+11) | 14 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 11:00 (+1h) | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | – | | Restaurant | ✓ | – | | Bar | ✓ | ✓ | | 24-hour room service | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa | ✓ | – | | Hot tub | ✓ | – | | Massage | ✓ | – | | Gym | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Meeting rooms | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | Minibar | ✓ | ✓ | | In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | – | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | ✓ | – | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | ✓ | – | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Nightly price by month Crystalbrook RileyMercure Cairns - Mercure Cairns is cheaper in 12 of 12 months - Crystalbrook Riley: €223 a night on average · Mercure Cairns: €125 a night on average Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date. [Hotel prices in Cairns by month](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/cairns/prices/) Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 21 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book. [Crystalbrook Riley prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/crystalbrook-riley-cairns/prices/)[Mercure Cairns prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mercure-cairns-cairns/prices/) ## Location 300 m apart Crystalbrook Riley: city centre: 1.4 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 870 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 4.9 km, 49 places to eat within 500 m, 10 sights within 1 km. Mercure Cairns: city centre: 1.4 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 680 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.1 km, 118 places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Cairns [Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather) ## Crystalbrook Riley or Mercure Cairns: common questions ### Which is better, Crystalbrook Riley or Mercure Cairns? Crystalbrook Riley leads in 3 of 5 categories, including guest rating, facilities, spa & wellness. Mercure Cairns is stronger in location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Crystalbrook Riley or Mercure Cairns? Over the year Mercure Cairns costs about €125 a night on average against €223 at Crystalbrook Riley, and it is cheaper in 12 of the 12 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Mercure Cairns is closer: 480 m from the centre, against 780 m for Crystalbrook Riley. ### How far apart are Crystalbrook Riley and Mercure Cairns? The two hotels are 300 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Crystalbrook Riley vs Cairns Plaza Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-plaza-hotel-cairns-vs-crystalbrook-riley-cairns/) - [Crystalbrook Riley vs DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/crystalbrook-riley-cairns-vs-doubletree-by-hilton-cairns-cairns/) - [Crystalbrook Riley vs Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/crystalbrook-riley-cairns-vs-ramada-by-wyndham-cairns-city-centre-cairns/) - [Crystalbrook Riley vs Comfort Inn Cairns City](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/comfort-inn-cairns-city-cairns-vs-crystalbrook-riley-cairns/) - [Mercure Cairns vs Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mercure-cairns-cairns-vs-ramada-by-wyndham-cairns-city-centre-cairns/) - [Mercure Cairns vs Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mercure-cairns-cairns-vs-novotel-cairns-oasis-resort-cairns/) - [Mercure Cairns vs Koala Beach Resort Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/koala-beach-resort-cairns-cairns-vs-mercure-cairns-cairns/) - [Mercure Cairns vs Lake Central Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/lake-central-cairns-cairns-vs-mercure-cairns-cairns/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/crystalbrook-riley-cairns-vs-mercure-cairns-cairns/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/