Melbourne hotel recommendations

[VPS]

Hi - I have to be in Melbourne for a meeting and have a couple of days to spare and decided I want to spoil myself at a nice hotel.

Tossing up between Hotel Windsor, the Langham, Sofitel on Collins or Hotel Lindrum.

Any pros and cons for these or any recommendations

 

[vetrade]

Hi - I have to be in Melbourne for a meeting and have a couple of days to spare and decided I want to spoil myself at a nice hotel.

Tossing up between Hotel Windsor, the Langham, Sofitel on Collins or Hotel Lindrum.

Any pros and cons for these or any recommendations

The Windsor has seen far better days - old & terrible - stayed there for a wedding and never again!
The Lindrum is in an average location on Flinders Street but I haven't stayed there so can't comment on the hotel itself
Langham (on the Yarra River) and Sofitel on Collins are both good - have stayed at both and had no negatives.
Over the past couple of years we have only stayed at either the Grand Hyatt in Collins St or the Park Hyatt up near the Fitzroy Gardens (which is our fave in recent times). Very easy walk to the top end of Collins & Bourke Streets but not directly in the heavy traffic areas. plus I always enjoy walking around the gardens.
If you'd like to be on the precinct on the southern side of the Yarra around the Casino (lots of good eateries but book in advance for the main ones), Crown Towers, Crown Metropol and Crown Promenade are all modern and very nice (we have personal experience of all 3)

 

[VPS]

Thanks - will take that into consideration. I had always wanted to stay at the Windsor and disappointed that it's old and tired.

 

[vetrade]

Thanks - will take that into consideration. I had always wanted to stay at the Windsor and disappointed that it's old and tired.

Floors are so creaky you feel like you'd fall through them and plumbing is awful too - plus the carpets are badly worn. Windsor has been in limbo and nothing done to it because there's been many years of arguments between the state government and the owners about their redevelopment plans

 

[ric_melb]

I would also avoid the Windsor, old and in limbo as vetrade says. Plus rooms vary tremendously.
Lindrum is low rise boutique; think you could do better.
My pick would be Sofitel. Rooms start on the 36th floor so you get good views. Recently stayed there with lounge access and it was excellent. Only downside is shower over bath.
Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt are as vetrade says.
I like the Langham but its not quite as convenient as the Sofitel or Grand Hyatt.

 

[kearvaigskewer]

Luxury Escapes are running an offer for the Pan Pacific at the moment. The location isn't as good as some of the other places mentioned but the hotel itself is very nice.

 

[somebol]

agree with what others are saying about windsor.

we stayed there in june on a LE deal. Rooms were very old and tired, bad plumbing.
Did not provide any bottles of water.

However they do have a great bar.

 

[RooFlyer]

I had a very good stay at the Sofitel recently. Lounge is very good.

 

[carls888]

Out of your list I would stay at the Langham or the Sofitel. I love the location of the Sofitel, but i am not a Southbank fan. The Westin is nice too or the Hyatts. Looking forward to when the Mandarin Oriental opens up...in many years...but at least it's being built.
Definitely avoid the Windsor.

 

[JackMiles]

Just to add my voice to the general consensus...
Has been a few years since staying in the Sofitel, but liked it. One minor quibble was the window arrangement, with three (or more on a corner room) narrow windows, each with (from memory) both rolling blinds and folding 'shutters' meaning lots of stuff to open/close/raise/lower at the start and end of each day.
Grand Hyatt a great choice all round.
Park Hyatt is usually the winner for me - huge rooms and can get Virtuoso rates with handy inclusions.

 

[VPS]

I had a very good stay at the Sofitel recently. Lounge is very good.

Sadly I wouldn't have lounge access

 

[VPS]

Just to add my voice to the general consensus...
Has been a few years since staying in the Sofitel, but liked it. One minor quibble was the window arrangement, with three (or more on a corner room) narrow windows, each with (from memory) both rolling blinds and folding 'shutters' meaning lots of stuff to open/close/raise/lower at the start and end of each day.
Grand Hyatt a great choice all round.
Park Hyatt is usually the winner for me - huge rooms and can get Virtuoso rates with handy inclusions.

Thanks for the info - any hints on how do I get the Virtuoso rates?

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the info - any hints on how do I get the Virtuoso rates?

I get mine through my Travel Agent - but you can get them 'casually', I think, via a custom agent - see Virtuoso Travel Advisers

The V rate will usually - not always - be higher than rate you could get for the same room, so need to check the value of the inclusions carefully. Sometimes I'm miles in front after the inclusions such as airport transfers, $$ dining credit, guaranteed room upgrade, generous late checkout ... but sometimes I can't use them, so I don't do 'Virtoso'.

 

[pauly7]

Hi - I have to be in Melbourne for a meeting and have a couple of days to spare and decided I want to spoil myself at a nice hotel.

Tossing up between Hotel Windsor, the Langham, Sofitel on Collins or Hotel Lindrum.

Any pros and cons for these or any recommendations

QT is great and near all the trendy eateries... if you stay at the Langham/Crown good hotels but closer to all the ‘same old’ / tourist trap restaurants on Southbank . Nothing wrong with those restaurants just a bit old school!

 

[rock86]

Thanks for the info - any hints on how do I get the Virtuoso rates?

I like both the Grand Hyatt and Sofitel, haven't yet stayed at the Park Hyatt (on the list for next time).

If you are looking at staying at one of the Hyatt properties, I'd recommend using a travel agent that has access to Hyatt Prive.

 

[VPS]

Luxury Escapes are running an offer for the Pan Pacific at the moment. The location isn't as good as some of the other places mentioned but the hotel itself is very nice.

Thanks I checked that out and sadly it is booked out for when I want it

 

[kermatu]

The Windsor was old and tired more than 10 years ago in my two stays (once when flown to Melbourne for a job interview and then for work as a junior Fed Govt employee - Govt accomodation should tell all.

I am a fan of the Sofitel but lounge access is essential in my view. Also very few rooms have walk-in showers so if that’s a consideration or preference it isn’t the best choice. The views are good but diminishing through recent nearby construction.

With the demise of the Hilton South Wharf I will probably try the Hyatt’s next but have not to date so can’t help you.

 

[Dr Bob]

When are you staying? The Sofitel has some great rates in early September at around $215 a night through Accor Plus. I've scored a club room for 2 nights at around $275 a night & I'll get an upgrade.

 

[JackMiles]

Thanks for the info - any hints on how do I get the Virtuoso rates?

Yep - what RooFlyer said (including weighing up the benefits) but also what Rock86 said; I checked my most recent PH booking and in fact it was a Prive rate, not a Virtuoso rate (but the inclusions are basically the same).

 

[VPS]

When are you staying? The Sofitel has some great rates in early September at around $215 a night through Accor Plus. I've scored a club room for 2 nights at around $275 a night & I'll get an upgrade.

4th to 6th September

I really dislike showers over the bath too