Name: The Cubana Ballina
Address: 329 River Street, Ballina Central, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, Ballina, Ballina Shire Council, AU
Price range: $104–$138 per night
Rating: 8.9

What guests think

Reviews of The Cubana Ballina highlight very clean, recently refurbished rooms with cheerful retro decor, friendly staff, comfortable beds, powerful showers, and handy extras like a pool, BBQ, communal kitchen and laundry, on-site coffee van, and generally convenient location.

Several guests noted some traffic noise or thin walls, and a few mentioned small bathrooms or fluctuating shower temperatures. Parking can feel tight and some fridges lack a freezer; the pool area is popular, though a couple of comments mentioned cleanliness or access timing. Overall, expect a clean, colorful, good-value motel stay with practical facilities.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Pool and BBQ area, communal kitchen and laundry are appreciated, and the on-site coffee van adds convenience. Parking is available but can feel tight, and a few comments mention pool cleanliness or opening times.

Related guest reviews

10

Mareike

Nov 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We really enjoyed our stay. The room was spacious and comfortable with all needed amenities. We could even use laundry, drier and a great kitchen. Our stay was too short to use the pool, but it looked nice as well. The receptionist took his time to also give us some recommendations in the area and was super nice as well! Would definitiv book again if I'm in the area!

10

Lalith

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice clean room. Tap water is not good. Swimming pool need to be clean. Good value for money

8

Olivia

Jan 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great place to stay, pool gate wasn't opened at 7:30am as stated so a bit disappointing we didn't get to use the pool services.

10

Lisa

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A seamless stay at The Cubana Ballina. A very quick overnight, but we really loved the Palm Springs vibe! Peonie was so friendly on check in and as we were later then thought on checking in, she had gone and turned the lights on in the room for us. Room was delightful and well appointed. Very modern and fun. Room was far enough away from the road, that we weren’t bothered by noise. Our only bummer was we didn’t have more time to hang out and enjoy the facilities. Communal area of kitchen and lounge was a perfect size and well equipped to head up to Woolies and grab some eggs to cook breakfast. Next time, we’re passing through we would definitely re book the Cubana 🌟 Thank you. The Walters Family.

10

Michelle

Nov 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Absolutely beautiful place very comfortable and cute like beach feel rooms. Has everything you need . A communal kitchen places to store your food laundry room with washer and dryer. Garden will chairs loungers pool .

10

Kerry

Jan 28, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, well managed, excellent staff and customer service. Has great facilities with a community kitchen, laundry and barbecue area for longer stays. The room is fresh and brightly decked out with good appliances and everything you would need. There’s even bikes to hire with great bike paths around the beautiful beaches. It’s a gem of a place!

10

Susan

Jan 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, thoughtfully set up place. Staff were just lovely, so helpful. A great little coffee caravan for breakfast, right onsite near the pool.

10

Kerry

Mar 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had an overnight stay at the Cubana Ballina. This place was immaculate & you could tell that whomever was looking after it took pride in the appearance. Rooms were very clean and tidy and bed was comfy as. Had a lovely swim in the pool and after purchasing some fresh prawns down the road at the Seafood market we cooked them on the bbq and ate them on the picnic table area. Was A

10

Pamela

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great room, nice retro vibe, very clean and great pool area. Grassed area with Barbecue and landscaping really nice and tropical.

10

Mark

Jan 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Stayed for 3 nights in a family room. Clean, comfortable and conveniently located accommodation base to explore the Ballina region. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was large, modern and clean. The caravan out the front serving barrista coffee and bacon and egg rolls was a welcome bonus - definitely recommend!

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is a standout, with rooms and grounds frequently described as spotless and well maintained. A couple of isolated issues were noted (leftover rubbish once and a pest sighting).

Related guest reviews

4

Wolfgang

Jan 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Property presentation is nice. The place is located directly on the road with incoming traffic to Ballina. Not sound proofed, therefore extremely loud. Also had several large cockroaches wandering into the room from underneath the door.

10

Belinda

Dec 1, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The Cubana was perfect for what we needed for a weekend of sport trials in Ballina. Very clean, refreshed and comfortable rooms. Cleaned daily with lovely linen

10

Heather

Jan 13, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Property has been fully renovated.Fun colourful decor,everything fresh,new and clean .Great outdoor area in garden and around the pool topped off by a quaint little coffee van selling terrific coffee each morning just outside the motel.Helpful staff, excellent value.

10

Evelin

Nov 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a great stay. Lots of room, super clean. Staff were very helpful. Love the cheery colours. Highly recommended

10

Lindy

Nov 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Spacious room, so clean , modern bathroom

10

Sarah

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

One of the cleanest properties I’ve ever stayed in the cleaners here do an exceptional job. The communal kitchen and laundry is a great asset to this place only negative I would have is the knives were very blunt. Overall I was extremely happy with this place :)

10

Lisa

Dec 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean room, and fast work fixing bedside lamp. Helpful staff with good local recommendations

6

Jaryd

Feb 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Some rubbish left in room from previous guest. Overall typical of an old hotel with a bit of effort to modernise it

10

Pio

Feb 27, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Super clean

10

manuela

Sep 29, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

We had a great stay at The Cubana. The rooms were extremely clean and well maintained and the shower was AMAZING! The staff were so helpful and courteous. Nothing was a bother and they sorted out an issue we had immediately (thank you Jinesh!!) We enjoyed walking into town too, so we could enjoy a drink without having to worry. I would definitely recommend staying here.

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Rooms

Refurbished rooms feature cheerful retro styling, comfortable beds, and strong showers; many find them spacious and well equipped. Some guests mention road or neighbor noise, small bathrooms, or temperamental showers, and a few note fridges without freezers.

Related guest reviews

10

Abel

Nov 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, Large room , great shower pressure, comfortable bed.

10

Tyler Jane

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

As far as motels go, this place is FABULOUS! The designer-owner has thought of everything. The hairdryer, kettle, toaster, pillow, everything, was really high quality. She's a smart lady. I'm a fan. Thanks to Jack, Cindy and Sharn, it's a great stay.

10

Naomi

Jul 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Spacious, well-equipped family room. Great shower, excellent towels. Friendly, helpful staff with a great list of local dining options including dietary requirements. Traffic noise was a bit loud from fast road, but it didn't disturb my sleep. Beds were large and comfortable. Good wifi and plenty of parking.

6

Lisa

Nov 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This motel doesn’t match the website description. I was expecting a lively, fun, retro experience but there was no coffee van and the place was dead. I tried to book online but it wasn’t working. I rang the number and got an OS call centre. He told me it was booked out. I looked again and was able to book a family room despite being only two people. The bathroom was tiny and the shower leaked onto the floor. Would definitely be challenging with kids. It was a reasonable motel overall but absolutely did not live up to expectations.

8

Malcolm

May 13, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Renovated rooms have been styled nicely and functional. Beds are very comfortable and everything you need like bowls, plates and cultery supplied. Great for an overnight stay. Only thing is the electronic door lock can be fussy to open.

10

Lindy

Nov 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Spacious room, so clean , modern bathroom

10

Tony

Dec 18, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Updated units, nice shower and comfortable bed. Large bathroom and unit size was good. Would be good if the fridge had a small freezer.

6

Norman

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Shower kept going very hot then stone cold.

8

Penny

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Fresh decor, clean room, friendly reception. Walls aren’t very sound proof though, can hear neighbours talking.

8

Richard

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, very friendly staff and helpful. A little noisy due to its proximity to the main road in to Ballina, but it wouldn’t stop me from staying again.

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Service

Staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful and responsive, from efficient check-in to quick problem resolution and local tips. One or two reports mention less warm interactions or booking issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Margaret

Jul 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff couldn’t be more helpful and friendly

8

Bailey

Jul 16, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The place was good, shopping centre was so close to go and get clothes, one of the staff was a bit grumpy but overall it was good

8

Fiona

Feb 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very smooth after hours check in. Lovely room - wonderful decor. Good shower. Good amenities. Very helpful service when I locked myself out in the morning.

10

Maisie

Oct 17, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly and professional staff, spotless room

10

Lisa

Dec 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean room, and fast work fixing bedside lamp. Helpful staff with good local recommendations

10

Jackie

Dec 23, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved the place. The revamp looks recent, but apparently it is 4 years old. A credit to the staff, for keeping it that way. Comfortable bed, great sound proofing, didn't even hear my friends, talking outside my room when I was in bed. Friendly courteous staff, not a problem to extend checkout time due to attending a funeral. Would not hesitate to recommend to anyone needing to stay in Ballina. Thankyou for everything.

10

Wayne

Sep 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Its recently renovated and in pristine condition. Presents well and in good position. I was able to walk for dinner options. It was quiet and staff were very welcoming

10

Davina

Feb 17, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved the atmosphere and convenience as we booked whilst on the road. Easy to access and staff were lovely too.

10

manuela

Sep 29, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

We had a great stay at The Cubana. The rooms were extremely clean and well maintained and the shower was AMAZING! The staff were so helpful and courteous. Nothing was a bother and they sorted out an issue we had immediately (thank you Jinesh!!) We enjoyed walking into town too, so we could enjoy a drink without having to worry. I would definitely recommend staying here.

8

Tracey

Nov 8, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Room was clean and tidy and the staff couldn’t do enough for us. We enjoyed ourselves and would stay again, thanks

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Location

Convenient for drivers and within walking distance of shops and dining for many. Being on a main road brings some traffic noise, though rooms set back can be quieter.

Related guest reviews

10

frank

Apr 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a good place to stay in Ballina with easy access to shopping.

10

Ed

Jan 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A great location for a pit stop on our way to the Gold Coast. Ballina was fairly quiet , however there was lots of place to eat near by and walkable from the motel. We loved the retro decor and fairly spacious rooms. The bathrooms were a little cosy, but very adequate. We all enjoyed the pool and loungers also. I’d definitely recommend it

8

Angela

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean, comfortable and easy to find. Great location; within walking distance to various dining options.

8

Alexandra

Apr 6, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved the Cubana! It's like they watched Motel Makeover when designing it, which is great. Rooms are basic but well renovated. A mirror and some coat hooks in the room would be great. Property is super cute, staff are friendly, short walk to the RSL or other dining options. Loved our stay! A tad noisy from cars but to be expected in a motel. Had a great stay.

10

Natasha

Aug 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We loved staying here for our little weekend getaway from Brisbane! Basic facilities as described when booking which suited us well, great location, lovely staff. Beds comfortable, room clean. We loved the bathroom products, they smelled fantastic. We hope to be back again :)

8

NICHOLAS

Mar 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean and well located

10

collin

Oct 6, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This place has such an amazing vibe and a wonderfully relaxed tropical feel. We absolutely love it! It's a shame it's not within walking distance of the town centre, but it's just a quick 4-minute drive or a pleasant 22-minute walk away.

8

Rolf

Jan 9, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location and friendly staff. The carpark can be a little tight depending upon the type of car / truck you have and height can be an issue.

8

Sarah

Jul 13, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It was quiet in the complex, with some road noise but didn’t notice if during the night. Friendly staff and clean room. Easy walk to the main part of town and RSL for dinner.

8

Richard

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, very friendly staff and helpful. A little noisy due to its proximity to the main road in to Ballina, but it wouldn’t stop me from staying again.

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Dining

An on-site coffee van/food truck offers good coffee and simple breakfast bites; other meals are off-site nearby. Hours can be limited.

Related guest reviews

8

Deborah

Nov 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely 1950s motel feel to this property. Location is a little away from the main shops but walkable, and permanent coffee van for coffee and limited breakfast

8

Leigh

Mar 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Recently updated. The morning food van for coffee and breakfast a great idea.

10

Kendall

Mar 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The Cubana was a great stay! It has been maintained in great condition, clean, the bed is extremely comfortable and the coffee cart is a fantastic little touch for a morning coffee and bite to eat.

8

Mark

Jul 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in staff was friendly and helpful. Room was nice and clean and large in area, bed was comfy. Only concern was shower was either really hot or cold was hard to get it to maintain a nice temperature. Coffee van outside but closes earlier than I expected, apparently sells coffee and toasties. Food is further down the road only a short drive. Plenty of car parks at hotel.

10

Wendy

Oct 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

A convenient location with helpful friendly staff! The property was Retro themed and extremely well appointed!! Very clean and comfortable with pool and bbq facilities available!! A quirky coffee cat open early in the morning was an extra plus!!! Great stay!!!😃

10

Susan

Jan 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, thoughtfully set up place. Staff were just lovely, so helpful. A great little coffee caravan for breakfast, right onsite near the pool.

10

Kerry

Mar 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had an overnight stay at the Cubana Ballina. This place was immaculate & you could tell that whomever was looking after it took pride in the appearance. Rooms were very clean and tidy and bed was comfy as. Had a lovely swim in the pool and after purchasing some fresh prawns down the road at the Seafood market we cooked them on the bbq and ate them on the picnic table area. Was A

10

Rhonda

Oct 22, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great accommodation, so quirky, loved the location and the coffee caravan out the front for a quick and easy breakfast was fantastic. Reception cold have been more welcoming, I often get the feeling I am on the outer because I booked through hotels.com.

10

Mark

Jan 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Stayed for 3 nights in a family room. Clean, comfortable and conveniently located accommodation base to explore the Ballina region. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was large, modern and clean. The caravan out the front serving barrista coffee and bacon and egg rolls was a welcome bonus - definitely recommend!

8

Nathan

Nov 30, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice clean motel, friendly staff and great little coffee van.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$112
February	$105
March	$103
April	$109
May	$114
June	$113
July	$107
August	$106
September	$95
October	$98
November	$99
December	$195

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $112	2 $127	3 $122
4 $112	5 $112	6 $110	7 $108	8 $113	9 $125	10 $122
11 $113	12 $108	13 $113	14 $112	15 $116	16 $122	17 $128
18 $108	19 $108	20 $113	21 $110	22 $106	23 $138	24 $119
25 $122	26 $122	27 $122	28 $106	29 $112	30 $125	31 $130

The Cubana Ballina

Prices for The Cubana Ballina

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Guest reviews of The Cubana Ballina

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23 $113	24 $113	25 $111	26 $118
27 $106	28 $104	29 $108	30 $107