Doubletree Melbourne

[JMFK]

Yeah, but you get cookies, right

 

[Buzzard]

Maybe Hilton are taking over the Budget hotel chain

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Maybe Hilton are taking over the Budget hotel chain

It was always going to be time consuming and a big project to upgrade the rather awful citigate to doubletree standard.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It was always going to be time consuming and a big project to upgrade the rather awful citigate to doubletree standard.

OT, but I was chatting with the GM at H-CNS and he told me the new CNS DT is undergoing rolling upgrades, starting with restaurant, lobby etc.

Good news for long term guests, not so good for those planning stays in the near future.

 

[QF WP]

If the price is right, then I'd be staying there during the rolling upgrades. Free breakfast

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If the price is right, then I'd be staying there during the rolling upgrades. Free breakfast

If you mean DT CNS, then you may also like to hear the new night manager at the DT is Rinesh (I think that was his name), who was often on the front desk or helping out in the lounge at H-CNS. We've found him to be very helpful, informative, friendly and all round a knowledgably and likeable guy.

 

[QF WP]

No I meant DT Melbourne, as per Flippantflyers' MR above

If you mean DT CNS, then you may also like to hear the new night manager at the DT is Rinesh (I think that was his name), who was often on the front desk or helping out in the lounge at H-CNS. We've found him to be very helpful, informative, friendly and all round a knowledgably and likeable guy.

 

[boomy]

If the price is right, then I'd be staying there during the rolling upgrades. Free breakfast

It's at least $55 cheaper then HSW in Jan plus free parking. Enough to convince me to book. I hope status ensure an upgrade to room with window.

 

[QF WP]

My only trip this month will be a day trip, so not long enough to trial it

 

[Moopere]

So I decided to give it a try this week (Tuesday night). Paid $131 (a sale rate) and glad I didn't pay any more than that. Don't believe I received any meaningful Diamond upgrade (although room did have an external window most definitely not what anyone would call a view. Was next to the elevator which is the opposite of what I specify on my hhonors profile. Room was fine but nothing special -and certainly not even close to a patch on upgrade rooms I usually get at Hiltons.

Thanks for the update on this property.

I had a look at pricing about a month ago, before it opened. Looks like the rooms with a window are 'premium', at least they were charging a 10AU$ or slightly more fee for those rooms compared to the 'internal' no window rooms. Certainly aren't going to get any sort of meaningful view in that part of town though, but still, I guess if I had to choose and other things being more or less equal I'd go for the window room.

DT's are, after all, on a lower peg in the hilton family tree, I've been a bit spoiled by some outstanding DT's in Asia (where the Hiltons are generally _extremely_ good). Having said that, some other parts of asia have very ordinary DT's and I'm led to believe that USA DT's are pretty ordinary as well. Given the feedback I've seen on the existing DT's here in Australia it appears they are not building a threat to the existing Hilton branded hotels here.

Having a look now at the MEL DT website I find it quite misleading. A lot of the external pictures appear to be taken from a vantage point closer to the HSW rather than the flinders street location. Also didn't see any clear warning of ongoing construction work - this annoys me with any hotel that undergoes such things. I know its unavoidable, but it needs to be clearly stated when there is likely to be noise, or amenity that are not available (like restaurant or pool for example).

No restaurant yet (under construction) - breaky was free but very average. May be a lot better once the restaurant's done?

Front desk suggested they were looking at developing an executive lounge in the future (on the top floor) but wouldn't hold my breath especially as the restaurant looks a ways away.

For me, the addition of an exec lounge would at least put it in the running if the HSW was ridiculously priced.

In all, very fine for $131 but wouldn't pay much more than that unless everything else was substantially more expensive.

Agree. I'd not pay more than around this given the reports so far.

Random date later in DEC I see MEL DT at $151 for the lowest King bed AP, HSW is $220 for its version. With a decent (even if not guaranteed) chance of an exec upgrade and exec lounge as well as windows and decent space I'd be strongly inclined towards HSW in this race even given that I don't like the location of the HSW at all.

 

[JessicaTam]

The free parking is worth $20 at HSW.

Does anyone know where the parking is located?

 

[boomy]

The free parking is worth $20 at HSW.

That's because HSW is located out of town.
Parking in the CBD cost $16 per hour near my office which is located less then 5 minutes walk from DT.

 

[JessicaTam]

That's because HSW is located out of town.
Parking in the CBD cost $16 per hour near my office which is located less then 5 minutes walk from DT.

My point was that HSW charge $20 for parking, and the DT is free. Sorry if I didn't express it clearly.

 

[boomy]

My point was that HSW charge $20 for parking, and the DT is free. Sorry if I didn't express it clearly.

Ah sorry, I thought you meant only $20, which is very cheap btw compared to any other Aussie Hilton.

 

[Moopere]

On the home page for DT MEL it lists parking at AU$30/day self park ...

 

[Moopere]

Despite having a bit of a rant a few posts ago looks like I might be lining up for a stay here in a windowless room hahaha. Late Jan HSW is >400$ for a base room and DT MEL has P+P at $92+20K (=about 192$ value to me). Now tossing up if 60K points reward booking at HSW (approx value to me $300) is really worth shelling out for or do I go try the DT?

Recent reports of tardy upgrades at HSW coupled with what must surely be high occupancy given the asking price is leading me to think that an Exec upgrade, especially on a points stay would be pushing my luck.

 

[markis10]

On the home page for DT MEL it lists parking at AU$30/day self park ...

View attachment 38692

Still OK, the IC is $50 a day.

 

[JessicaTam]

On the home page for DT MEL it lists parking at AU$30/day self park ...

View attachment 38692

I thought I saw somewhere that there was no charge for parking. Maybe it depends on the room type booked.

Hmmm.

 

[boomy]

I thought I saw somewhere that there was no charge for parking. Maybe it depends on the room type booked.

Hmmm.

When I checked the DT T&Cs last month they clearly said complementary parking. I've uploaded a copy on post #49.

 

[boomy]

When I checked the DT T&Cs last month they clearly said complementary parking. I've uploaded a copy on post #49.

Looks like DT changed the T&Cs.
Before:

Now:

It's not such a good value anymore