The Highlights
1. The location of this hotel is second to none. Right outside the door, you’ll find endless food options from quick bites to diverse international cuisines, plus plenty of cafés, bars, and public transport. Having the SkyBus stop to the airport just around the corner was convenient.
2. Every team member I met was friendly, approachable, and genuinely eager to help. They are well-trained and motivated to provide excellent service.
3. The room itself was spacious and modern. Both the daytime city views and night lights from the window were wonderful, and the furnishings felt new and well-maintained.
4. Guests have access to some excellent facilities, including a gym, a library, and a full wellness area. The indoor pool is comfortably heated even on a chilly Melbourne evening, and it comes with a sauna and bubble spa, which makes the stay feel more like a resort.
What Could Be Improved
1. The room setup felt unusual. I booked a one-bedroom suite, but was placed in a two-bedroom apartment with the master bedroom locked off. I completely understand that I only paid for one room, but it felt a little strange knowing there was a part of “my” room I couldn’t access. Personally, I would have preferred a proper one-bedroom layout with full access.
2. The bedroom I was 'allowed' to stay in also didn’t have its own air conditioning. It relied on the living room’s unit to keep cool, while the locked-off master had its system. This design made things a bit uncomfortable at times, especially overnight.
3. The sofa had an unpleasant, urine-like odour, which made us reluctant to rest in the lounge.
4. The main door lock was rusty and stiff, making it frustrating to open and close.
5. There was no landline phone in the room to contact reception, so the only option was to head downstairs. A couple of times, even during office hours, the reception was unattended (likely because one staff member was juggling multiple tasks). It could be so inconvenient to have a more extended stay.
6. While the pool facilities were lovely, they were often crowded. The common facilities are shared with residents of the building as well as hotel guests, but this detracted from the relaxing vibe.
Would I stay here again? Yes, probably. Mainly because of the unbeatable location, the great facilities, and the friendly staff. But I do think the hotel needs to address the details so that it can align with what they claimed as 'luxury'.