Hilton South Wharf - Melbourne

[munitalP]

After spending too long in a private area of Crown yesterday that serves free drinks , Mrs munitalP and I decided the taxi ride home, then the return trip the next day to pick up my car was too much and we would just check into Crown.

After being declined due to no rooms available (even for a Gold card holder) we decided that if there was a room at the Hilton, we would stay there.

A phone call later, CPR (my heart stopped at the price) and a brisk walk in the cool Melbourne night (10pm approx) we arrived at South Wharf.

After waiting for an eternity, we were checked in and upgraded to an apartment on the top floor. We ordered some tooth brushes to be delivered to the room and went to the bar for a drink and some Tapas.

My thoughts as a first time guest at the Hilton South Wharf:

Room. 10/10
Styling. 10/10
Bed. 7/10
Pillows. 5/10
Heating. 6/10 (bit too hot for both of us)
$15 for a toothbrush. minus 68,725,467,542,763,836/10
Breakfast. 9/10
Drinks - Beer Good
Drinks - coughtail, FAIL (in fact Mrs munitalP didn't drink it)

All in all, I liked the hotel - possibly jaded report due to being upgraded to a FAB room!

munitalP

 

[munitalP]

A fem more pics

 

[munitalP]

Spare bedroom and bathroom

munitalP

 

[Homer]

I’ve stayed at this hotel twice. The first time we had the same room type as you have depicted here - a two-bedroom apartment on the top two floors of the hotel. I thought it was OK but the bathroom was tiny and the view from the bed in both rooms was of the wall/cupboard.

For the second stay I asked the hotel what they thought was their best room type and the guest relations manager recommended the one-bedroom relaxation suite in the corner positions. She met us at check-in and showed us the room to ensure we agreed and we did. Due to the layout you get the view right around the suite including in the bedroom and the bathroom is also about three times the size of the one in the two-bedroom apartment. The only weird thing is that the toilet is in the walk-in robe...

Anyway just wanted to add my tip to your post.

 

[anat0l]

I really like this hotel, so I am going to be biased.

I've had one experience staying in the Relaxation Suite. It was excellent, although hard to enjoy a suite (especially the size) as a single.

All my other experiences have been in Executive Level rooms (even my most recent stay where I booked a normal Guest room but stayed in an Executive Level room (but not a full upgrade, i.e. similar to a "book J but sat in F" style "upgrade")).

To address some of the points you marked down:

Bed. 7/10
Pillows. 5/10

For me I like a soft bed and soft pillows. Might not suit some others, plus when the bed is quite soft, those of us carrying a bit of extra weight might feel like we sink right into the bed (no jokes, please!). Still, better than some of the hard beds with very thin sheets / no duvets, for example in several IHG hotels (mostly Holiday Inns).

I do remember that the bed in the Relaxation Suite was a bit high. No problems here but short people may have to literally jump up on the bed.

Length may be an issue but this is more for tall people.

Pillows same deal, plus there are the usual half-dozen of them. Best bet is to pick one you like and if you want more just call reception.

Heating. 6/10 (bit too hot for both of us)

Which I find odd because climate control should be able to take care of that. Meh.

$15 for a toothbrush. minus 68,725,467,542,763,836/10

:shock: There is a toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash set in the mini-bar which I know prices out at $15. I needed a spare toothbrush last time I was in MEL (I was surviving on supplied toothbrushes/toothpastes on that trip); when I called reception, they told me of the set in the mini-bar but they also said they would deliver me a basic set with basic toothbrush and mini-tube of toothpaste from housekeeping (pretty much the same as a toothbrush/toothpaste set from the QF domestic lounges, with white plastic brush handle rather than clear plastic coloured and branded as Crabtree & Evelyn). Cost to me? $0.

 

[opusman]

What was wrong with the coughtail?

 

[munitalP]

What was wrong with the coughtail?

Ideal world...

½ shot (15ml) Kahlua
½ shot (15ml) Baileys
½ shot (15ml) Frangelico
½ shot (15ml) dark Crème de Caco (if you don’t have this, either omit it or add another 1/2 shot of Baileys)
½ cup (125 ml) milk
2-3 scoops ice cream
Chocolate sauce
Handful ice cubes (4 large ice cubes)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Hilton World

1/2 shot Kahlua maybe
1 shot Baileys at least
1/2 shot Frangelico possibly
milk

SHAKEN

Poured into martini glass - straw inserted - that was it

No grated choc on top, no choc swirl in glass, no ice cream etc....

Needless to say Mrs munitalP was disappointed. Needless to also say, we refused to pay for it.

 

[munitalP]

...
Pillows same deal, plus there are the usual half-dozen of them...



Which I find odd because climate control should be able to take care of that. Meh.


There is a toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash set in the mini-bar which I know prices out at $15. I needed a spare toothbrush last time I was in MEL (I was surviving on supplied toothbrushes/toothpastes on that trip); when I called reception, they told me of the set in the mini-bar but they also said they would deliver me a basic set with basic toothbrush and mini-tube of toothpaste from housekeeping (pretty much the same as a toothbrush/toothpaste set from the QF domestic lounges, with white plastic brush handle rather than clear plastic coloured and branded as Crabtree & Evelyn). Cost to me? $0.

Perhaps in my inebriated state I failed to notice "QP" type toothbrushes last night, but I was dead sober this morning and the supplied were $15 not $0. Maybe they didn't deliver them last night? Who knows.

The pillows in on the main bed, except the decoration square pillow, were about 15 kilometers wide and very soft. I just didn't like them, I prefer a firm pillow, no biggy though.

I down rated the bed because it had no sheet - duvet only which was fluffy puffy and nice, just with the over heated room, the duvet was either on or off, with no sheet, this exposes you.

The heating, I couldn't find a thermostat, the only thing resembling one was a "smart" device. Only the bedroom was too warm, the lounge was nice.

What does Meh mean?

munitalP

 

[samh004]

The pillows in on the main bed, except the decoration square pillow, were about 15 kilometers wide and very soft. I just didn't like them, I prefer a firm pillow, no biggy though.

But the plus to these is if you had a third guest who you didn’t want to share your bed with, they function almost exactly like a mattress when laid on the floor

What does Meh mean?

It’s one of those words that sounds like it’s spelt. And generally means an indifference to something.

Out of curiosity, how much does an apartment usually cost?

 

[serfty]

Having stayed at this property eight times over the last year, I can advise the thermostat is generally located one the wall near the Blind up/down control.

However, I have not been in a 2BR room as yet.

 

[david870mdg]

$15 toothbrushes???? :shock:

 

[anat0l]

I down rated the bed because it had no sheet - duvet only which was fluffy puffy and nice, just with the over heated room, the duvet was either on or off, with no sheet, this exposes you.

I think all Hiltons in Australia do it like this? Can't quite remember now, may need to pull out some old photos, but I know this does take getting used to / may be an annoyance.

 

[steptoe]

I think all Hiltons in Australia do it like this? Can't quite remember now, may need to pull out some old photos, but I know this does take getting used to / may be an annoyance.

In my recent experience Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne are all the same. Bottom sheet only and very thick duvet. As I find the duvet too warm even with the a/c as cold as possible I now request housekeeping to add a top sheet. They usually bring a lighter blanket as well.

 

[Flashback]

Just wanted to add I ate at the Tapa's bar when I was last in Melbourne, and thought the food was pretty good :mrgreen:

 

[sinophile888]

I thought that the Hilton has a pillow menu. I seem to recall ordering a rubber pillow last time I stayed there as I don't like soft feather pillows. As I am booked in for 6 nights at the end of the month, I would warmly welcome an upgrade to the two bedroomed suite. We did well with upgrades at the Beijing and Bangkok Hiltons, so here's hoping.

 

[straitman]

I thought that the Hilton has a pillow menu. I seem to recall ordering a rubber pillow last time I stayed there as I don't like soft feather pillows. As I am booked in for 6 nights at the end of the month, I would warmly welcome an upgrade to the two bedroomed suite. We did well with upgrades at the Beijing and Bangkok Hiltons, so here's hoping.

you should be able to select the pillow options from within your booking on the Hilton web site. Last night I made a booking at the hotel and have selected rubber pillows as a complimentary option.

 

[munitalP]

you should be able to select the pillow options from within your booking on the Hilton web site. Last night I made a booking at the hotel and have selected rubber pillows as a complimentary option.

@sam $570 according to the website 570.00 AUD 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT - BEST AVAILABLE RATE

At Straitman.... Transcript from last night...

"er hello, ir need a rum fir the night pess"
"how much?... no a room, not a rum, no im not drink, im drunk.. I thank you bitter talk to va wife.."
"no I didn't call you bitter.. er she is...."

As you can see from this accurate transcript, there is no way I was going to get a pillow option

I wish Crown didn't keep giving me free drinks... "


munitalP

 

[anat0l]

@sam $570 according to the website 570.00 AUD 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT - BEST AVAILABLE RATE

For one of the best rooms in the hotel at last minute with no discounts, I think you did pretty well!

Transcript from last night...

"er hello, ir need a rum fir the night pess"
"how much?... no a room, not a rum, no im not drink, im drunk.. I thank you bitter talk to va wife.."
"no I didn't call you bitter.. er she is...."

As you can see from this accurate transcript, there is no way I was going to get a pillow option

I wish Crown didn't keep giving me free drinks...

Yep - you definitely did pretty well!

So the caveat emptor of this review is that the author was drunk (whilst in the room, not whilst writing the review). :mrgreen:

Now I am at loss to understand why Crown couldn't comp or find you a room in any of their three accommodations....

 

[hollydavid69]

$15 toothbrushes???? :shock:

How much was the tooth paste :!:

 

[Aikicoops]

I’ve stayed at this hotel twice. The first time we had the same room type as you have depicted here - a two-bedroom apartment on the top two floors of the hotel. I thought it was OK but the bathroom was tiny and the view from the bed in both rooms was of the wall/cupboard.

For the second stay I asked the hotel what they thought was their best room type and the guest relations manager recommended the one-bedroom relaxation suite in the corner positions. She met us at check-in and showed us the room to ensure we agreed and we did. Due to the layout you get the view right around the suite including in the bedroom and the bathroom is also about three times the size of the one in the two-bedroom apartment. The only weird thing is that the toilet is in the walk-in robe...

Anyway just wanted to add my tip to your post.

I had a meeting in this hotel a few weeks back, my two KAM's stayed in the 2BR appartment, whislt I stayed in the suite as discribed above. This was as an upgrade and I have to agree this was fantastic.

I am trying to arrange this again for myself and wife next weekend.

I have stayed in a lot of hotels both in Australia and Europe and this is one damn fine hotel.

Truely a great hotel.

Coops