I waited 23years & 3 months almost, to visit this icon however if you like great air conditioning and modern decor the Sheraton Mirage is showing her age. Insect infestation in planter boxes did not allow us to open windows to cool down a very hot room due to the inefficiencies of air conditioning.
Sleeping in a five star resort with a wet towel on your chest under the ceiling fan is not my idea of 5 star. Restaurants are expensive and smorgasbord noisy and commercial rather than delivering a feeling of luxury. Even when it rained the rooms were hot!

This is a property that is absolutely in need of a re-furb. However it is still clean, very comfortable and with excellent service.

Rooms are spacious and surrounded by eight large saltwater lagoons which is just wonderful given that the presence of marine stingers prevent you going in the sea for almost half the year. The water in the lagoon is warm and clean and even though the resort was pretty full, you dont have people all over you when swimming. The hotel fronts Four Mile Beach so when the stingers arent around, you have a lovely beach at which to swim.

Service is excellent with all staff encountered unfailingly helpful, very professional and polite. It is also one of the few Starwood Hotels in this country that actually provide the benefits to guest who have elite status in the SPG Program. I was upgraded, offered my Platinum benefits, even though I was partially using points for my stay. Thank you.

Food is very good with an excellent breakfast and although due to the crowded holiday period, the breakfast area was a bit akin to feeding time at the zoo, the food and service was very good. Room service was also prompt and decent quality.

Bed was very good and comfy with a choice of excellent pillows. My bathroom had a spa and the room had a faily spacious blacony complete with table and chairs overlooking a lagoon. I love the celing fans in the rooms as it means you can kill the aircon at night and just sleep with the fan.

I came for peace, quiet and a rest -- I was so happy & content here, I extended my stay for two days and will be back later this year.

We spent 7 nights over New Year at the Sheraton and after reading previous reviews, expected the hotel to be dated. What we actually found was a spotless, vast hotel with huge public spaces. The lagoon pools were second to none, clean, warm and never crowded. Service from the pool bar was always fine for us but we did not order food. Our room was a superior lagoon king and again, whilst a little dated was well kept, spotless and huge. The bed rivalled any we have previously slept in for comfort, the shower was the most powerful we have had in a hotel and the docking station was a bonus. Air con powerful and all other room facilities indicative of a good hotel.
Breakfast was plentiful with fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order and great pastries etc.
As seasoned travellers and travel industry employees, in our opinion, the main let down is the calibre of the guests who stay here. Lots of kids (understandable as over the holidays) but many lack any parental control - Mum and Dad boozing at the swim up pool bar as soon as it opens, hollering to their kids on the other side of the pool to behave themselves etc... Drinking cocktails and eating burgers whilst in the pool is frankly vile. Seems that the adults can't wait to get tanked up with booze.
The hotel staff go to great lengths to provide a good level of service - we never had any issues as asked for things politely and recognised that they were under the pump due to being full over New Year.
Port Douglas was fantastic - the choice of restaurants was amazing and there was a great buzz about the town. We rented a car as the hotel website clearly provided details of distances so we knew it would be a little far to walk.
Overall, a fantastic stay but perhaps this is also due to us looking for the good instead of things that are not quite right with the place. Thoroughly recommended for a great Port Douglas break!

Troubles from the start, wanted to cancel our reservation due to unforeseen circumstances but no one could help us. Time for a make over and update, this hotel seems to be stuck in the 80's. Golf course was in very poor condition. Quite expensive compared to surrounding hotels and resorts. The lagoons were the delightful part of our stay as we managed to get a sunbed each. The hotel staff were friendly however we won't be revisiting this resort :-(