--- title: "Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs The Espy Hostel: which hotel is better?" description: "Mantra Esplanade Cairns or The Espy Hostel in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns-vs-the-espy-hostel-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-03 --- # Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs The Espy Hostel Both are in Cairns, 180 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · ★★★★ · Cairns City ## [Mantra Esplanade Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 8.3 · Very good - **Location score:** 8.5 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1821408/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Cairns City ## [The Espy Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-espy-hostel-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 8.7 · Very good - **Location score:** 8.3 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2196851/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 1 category. Your priorities decide. 180 m apart. ### Choose Mantra Esplanade Cairns if you want - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 121 / 1) ### Choose The Espy Hostel if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 1 / 121) ### Why is Mantra Esplanade Cairns better than The Espy Hostel? 1. More guest reviews (823 vs 15), so the rating is more reliable (×55) 2. A larger hotel with more facilities (121 vs 1 rooms) (×121.0) ### Why is The Espy Hostel better than Mantra Esplanade Cairns? 1. Higher guest rating (8.7 vs 8.3) (+0.4) 2. A smaller, more intimate hotel (1 vs 121 rooms) (−120) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Mantra Esplanade Cairns | The Espy Hostel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.3 | 8.7 (+0.4) | | Location | 8.5 | 8.3 | | Facilities | 5.0 | – | | Spa & wellness | 3.0 | – | | Public transport | 9.5 (+0.8) | 8.7 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.3 | 8.4 (+0.1) | | Guest rating | 8.3 | 8.7 (+0.4) | | Number of reviews | 823 (+808) | 15 | | Google rating | – | 4.1/5 | | Google reviews | – | 189 | | Rank in Cairns | bottom 39% | top 45% (+16%) | | Location | | Location score | 8.5 | 8.3 | | Distance to Cairns City centre | 560 m | 540 m | | To public transport | 240 m (−150 m) | 390 m | | To the airport | 5.5 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | To the nearest food shop | 170 m | 110 m | | Shops within 500 m | 13 | 11 | | Sights within 1 km | 12 | 12 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | – | | Rooms | 121 | 1 | | Floors | 7 | – | | Newest building or renovation | 2000 | – | | Listed amenities | 14 (+3) | 11 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ | | Gym | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | – | | Meeting rooms | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | Balcony | ✓ | – | | In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Beachfront | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | LGBTQ+ friendly | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | ✓ | – | | 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. [Mantra Esplanade Cairns prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns/prices/) ## Location 180 m apart Mantra Esplanade Cairns: city centre: 2.0 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 240 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.5 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km. The Espy Hostel: city centre: 1.8 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 390 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.4 km, 150+ 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) ## Mantra Esplanade Cairns or The Espy Hostel: common questions ### Which is better, Mantra Esplanade Cairns or The Espy Hostel? They are evenly matched. Mantra Esplanade Cairns is stronger in public transport; The Espy Hostel is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Mantra Esplanade Cairns or The Espy Hostel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### How far apart are Mantra Esplanade Cairns and The Espy Hostel? The two hotels are 180 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs Oaks Cairns Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns-vs-oaks-cairns-hotel-cairns/) - [Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs Pacific Hotel Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns-vs-pacific-hotel-cairns-cairns/) - [Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs Crystalbrook Flynn](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/crystalbrook-flynn-cairns-vs-mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns/) - [Mantra Esplanade Cairns vs The Abbott - Boutique Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns-vs-the-abbott-boutique-hotel-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/mantra-esplanade-cairns-cairns-vs-the-espy-hostel-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/