We started driving up from Townsville to get away for a long weekend and somehow ended up as far as Cairns. It is nigh on impossible to get a good hotel rate without booking in advance but we struck lucky with "The Jack". We wanted a place in the city and got it at just $70 for a double room with en suite, tv and the usual. However, we were warned before before booking that the pub had a band that night and the stage was just a few metres from the accommodation which is predominantly young backpackers. We decided to have our evening meal at the Jack bistro but it was disappointing. I had the roast of the day in which some veg were cooked to mush and others were hard as nails. Hubby had steak, chips and salad and said it was "so so". Sleep proved impossible for me until about 4am due to a big banjo band followed by a disco of MOS anthems, but we had been warned. We had a couple of drinks at the bar earlier in the day and found the place to be quite convivial. Frankly, it was amazing to find a good room at a cheap rate at short notice on a Saturday. I think rates for backpackers/sharers are cheap as chips, and they also give you a plastic card giving you a cheap meal and a free drink. I would recommend this place if you find yourself in Cairns and need a place to stay, love loud music or have a pair of industrial-strength earplugs!