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I have bad news for you, there is no such thing as a cheap hotel in Port Douglas, it’s an expensive place, but in this post, we’ll run you through some of the best cheaper hotels in the Douglas Shire and fill you in on where to find some great deals on budget stays. We’ll also give you some “outside the box” accommodation options.
As local residents we’re very aware of how expensive Australia and Port Douglas are. We stay in these hotels outselves, and foot the bill. We don’t recommend Airbnb for Port Douglas, those that we have used have been massively over-priced, you could stay in a hotel (with kitchen or basic coking facilities) for the same money. And let’s just not talk about those cleaning fees!
If there is a good budget hotel or other accommodation available in Port Douglas, our aim is to share it with you on this page. We also have a post on visiting Port Douglas on a Budget, this gives you some ideas on cheaper and free “things to do”.
We’ve done our best to make this detailed guide to costs of staying in Port Douglas in “budget” accommodation. Prices and facilities do change. You need to double-check everything before booking.
The Hostels or “Backpackers”
In Australia, hostels are often called “backpackers and Port Douglas has 2, on and near Macrossan St (The main street in Port Douglas.) Unfortunately, not even these are cheap on a global scale.
There’s very little difference in cost between the two, $33 Au ($21.50 US) vx $34 per night for 1 adult in a 10-person mixed dorm.
Global Backpackers. Has dormitories only, female and mixed. Check them out here on Boooking.com.
Port Douglas Backpackers is on Macrossan Street. A Queen Studio for a couple, with private bathroom is $140 ($91 Us approx) at the time we checked. Check them out here. This is pretty much the cheapest place for a couple to stay in Port.
Dougie’s Backpacker Resort is still open but due to close in a couple of years. It’s a nice place with a pool and bar a short-medium walk from the beach, marina, and Macrossan St.
Cheap Hotels
Birch Resort Port Douglas has the cheapest room for two that we could find at $149 Au for a King Room for 2 people. Birch Resort is a bit of a walk out of town. To me, these rooms look very nice, modern, and smart. Take a look at Birch Resort Here.
The next cheapest is Port Douglas Motel at $165 for 2, Coral Beach Lodge at $166 for 2 and The Lazy Lizard Motel or Motor Inn, at $169. Of these, the Lazy Lizard has the best reviews (and wins awards for its good value accommodation) followed by Port Douglas Motel. Port Douglas Motel has a slightly better location, closer to Macrossan Street.
Queen rooms at the Port Douglas Motel have a kitchenette, there are also triples, these do not.
The Lazy Lizard has apartments for up to 4 people and they are equipped with kitchenettes. These will save you money! The Lazy Lizard has to be our most affordable choice for families. View The Lazy Lizard’s rooms and prices here on Booking.com.
For a larger family (3 kids) Coral Beach Lodge can accommodate you. This one is the furthest out of the main town and furthest from Four Mile Beach. See room options at Coral Beach Lodge, Port Douglas, here.
These 3 budget hotels have pools and are close enough to the beach.
For comparison, one night for two people at The Sheraton will cost you $500+. (If you’re tempted to spend more, take a look at The Sheraton Here.)
Cheapest Resort Hotels
The cheapest resort hotel is usually Oaks Resort, on Port Douglas Road. It’s a nice resort with a lovely pool and decent food. You could stay here as a couple from just over $200 per night. The apartments at Oaks Port Douglas Resort can accommodate a family, costs for 4 people are in the $400- $500 per night range. This hotel is very popular with families and it’s a solid choice. The location isn’t perfect, but there are shuttle buses and electric scooters. You could walk to Macrossan St, The Beach, or The Wildlife Habitat, but it’s a good walk. Take a look at Oaks Here.
Costs of Camping
You could, in winter, pick up a camper van or mobile home of some sort for your time in Queensland. We don’t recommend you do this in summer unless your van has good air conditioning. Powered sites will add to your costs, of course. An unpowered site may cost you around $45 per night, a powered site pay be $55 per night, as a rough guide.
While free camping in Port Douglas is banned, some people do it. You’ll see vans parked along the Port Douglas Esplanade most mornings. There are free washrooms and BBQ facilities behind the beach and at Rex Smeal Park.
The costs of hiring a van varies, but a basic van can cost just $100 per day for 2 people. If you don’t use paid campsites, this will save you money. There are official “free” campsites or rest stops near Port Douglas or you could try camping on privately owned land through Hip Camp.
Other Accommodation Options For a Cheap Stay in Port Douglas
Look into Couch Surfing, there is a membership fee now, which is a shame. We used to host Couch Surfers in Port Douglas. Also consider services like Working Traveller, Wwoofing, or WorkAway where work is exchanged for board. Make sure your Australian visa allows you to work!
