suitable Melbourn CBD hotel for wife's birthday

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bigjobs

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hi all,

i am planning a weekend of shopping, drinking wine, visiting wineries, eating at nice restaurants for my wife's birthday in september. staying in Melbourne from the 13th of Sept to the 16th of Sept.

wife likes the boutique style of hotel. also open to other more traditional hotels.

i am not familiar with Melbourne so your assistance will be appreciated.

thanks in advance.
 
kyle said:
The big question is, what's the budget?

;) ...

just after what people think would be suitable. i am not familiar with Melbourne.

just chasing people's thoughts on this topic.
 
Two nice boutique hotels in Melbourne spring to mind - The Lindrum and The Adelphi. Lindrum is a bit olde-worlde, Adelphi is quite modern, but both are nice.
 
I would suggest the Crown Promenade. Nice big spacious rooms, not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either.

It's in the middle of everything, easy to city, public transport and of course Crown etc etc. Cheaper rates on weekdays.

I have had a few nights there for a special night out (I live in Melb) - that would be my suggestion.
 
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Re: suitable Melbourne CBD hotel for wife's birthday

Dare I suggest that you choose and book quickly. September is finals time and there will be some real (AFL) football being palyed in town that weeekend.

If there are interstate teams playing then getting a half decent hotel room will be expensive.

Does your wife have any particular interests she would like to experience whilst in MEL? That knowledge would aid us in choosing an establishment that meets her needs.
 
The Adelphi is very nice indeed, pretty good value too. It's located near some pretty good coffee places.

The Prince is an awesome hotel but St Kilda isn't really CBD. More like a 15-20 mins or so tramride away. A cool place to check out though. :)

Not exactly boutique, and therefore you might find it a bit impersonal - but the Westin is pretty good too. Contemporary style, very clean rooms with beds that are sooooo comfy, and superb service. Located on Collins St - near Paris End shopping for the wife (or perhaps you want to keep her a bit further away from these things? ;)). They treated me so well when I stayed overnight for my 21st. :)
 
My wife and I stayed at the Sebel in Collins Street about a month ago.

Nice place, loft apartment - big lounge & kitchenette downstairs, bedroom, bathroom (large, with spa) upstairs.

It's a really old bank building (from 1860's) in a quiet part of town (corner Collins & Queen Streets) easy access to shops, trams, bars, restaurants etc. Great staff, nice bar and brasserie.

I think it was about $300 a night on Wotif, but they have cheaper rooms at about $225-00.
 
The Windsor on Spring St opposite the parliament is a nice pub. A king size room goes for about $175 on a corporate rate or through wotif or lastminute.
 
sully said:
The Windsor on Spring St opposite the parliament is a nice pub. A king size room goes for about $175 on a corporate rate or through wotif or lastminute.
Don't forget to check out the restaurant at the Windsor too - One Eleven. :)
 
I would add my voice to the vote for The Westin Hotel. I haven't been there in about a year and while it used to be one of my favourite hotels in Melbourne I noticed on my last visit that things were looking a little "tired"; it is in need of a refresh, which may have happened since. But despite that the service levels are high, the rooms and bathrooms are large (I stayed in a corner studio room on my last visit) and it has all the usual 5-star hotel amenities.

I haven't stayed at Crown Promenade, the smaller and more "accessible" sibling of Crown Towers. Though I can vouch for Crown Towers as a very good hotel. You just have to contend with the types of customers who still think that a casino hotel is the epitome of style... ;)

I don't mind a good boutique hotel but having stayed at the Adelphi Hotel I don't think this is one I can confidently recommend. It is in a pretty good position down one of those cute laneways that Melbourne does so well, and not far from the aforementioned Westin Hotel, but the rooms when I last stayed a few years ago were too "funky" and at the point of being uncomfortable. But that's just my opinion. Also I have heard that noise levels at The Prince can be high given that there is a bar downstairs, though I have never stayed there.
 
Have just spent the 'romantic weekend' in Melbourne with husband so can give you right up to the minute suggestions.

We stayed at The Sebel on Collins St (same as Pacblue) - I booked a one bedroom suite package for $265 on line at Mirvac Hotels - added in the special requests that it was my birthday treat to stay (which it was!) and they upgraded up to the Loft Suite which was lovely - very spacious and like a Manhattan loft. The breakfast was an additional $10 ea on the room price and it was quite good but not the best we've had in Melbourne - Sofitel would take the hotel breakfast stakes or just head to The European restaurant in Spring St near Parliament House for a fabulous meal at any time of the day or night - wine list is sensational. Anyway, I digress.

If you are an out of towner, my suggestion is buy a daily tram ticket so you can zip around between Queen Vic Markets at one end and Crown precinct at the other. Cost is around $6 for hop on/hop off travel all day. Coins only on the ticket machine on the tram or if you are staying at the Sebel you can buy tix from reception - very handy! Some 24/7 shops also sell tram tix.

I would visit Queen Vic Markets on Saturday morning just to see the array of produce and goods - very vibey and great coffee/snacks in the food hall area. Make sure you buy a copy of The Big Issue from a street vendor.

Then back into town for a wander around the beautiful shops - you can start at Melbourne Central and work your way thru the covered lanes, arcades and department stores until you end up in the coffee precinct around Degraves St for more coffee and people watching in the moody covered laneways - sooo Melbourne !

Head up to the top of Bourke St for lunch at the kitchen table at Pelligrini's - a Melbourne institution ! Mamma will ask what kind of pasta you want then whip it up in front of you - try the fruit granitas followed by the best coffee in town (dont dare ask for decaf, soy etc - you'll get the dirtiest glare - its all Italiano here!).

Wander over to Collins Street to start from the top near Parliament House and head past the ritzy shops ending up at Dymocks below ground level store near the Novotel on the Swanston/Elizabeth St block. They have a large range pr books and sell the smartest paper files you'll ever see - designs old maps of Paris, postcards etc.

I would then head (on the tram from Swanston St) up to Melbourne Uni then alight and walk two short blocks to Lygon St Carlton. A little browse thru Readings Bookstore which is so comprehensive, a lemon tart from Brown's Bakery nearby then across the road to the Nova Cinema for an arthouse movie. Wine store King and Godfree on the same block - has many hard to find wines in stock - great for the wine lover.

Early evening by now so its either dinner in Carlton - go for the booking you made at Abla's lebanese or perhaps Nyonya Malaysian or Balzari for italian/medit. Otherwise tram it again back to the City and head for Southbank area - Tutto Bene, Scusa Mia both good as is Pure South - probably all need bookings on weekends.

Head back to the hotel where the chilled champers awaits !

Hope that's helpful - there are many other things to do - some of the Melbourne websites will prove helpful. Enjoy !!!

AngieP
 
For pure luxury, try out Crown Towers. Its not all about the rich and famous and I don't think there is a bad view from any room in the hotel. I stayed in the Standard room, which has a marble bathroom the size of most New York hotel rooms, a huge bed and a little sun box/day bed which sits external to the building- ie. a little glass box portruding from the building. This could be very romantic, and quite entertaining for the workers in the offices next door. ;) ;) ;) On arrival we got a box of choccies, the pool is fantastic, the gym is better than I have seen before and brekky is divine. (although I still think the Hilton in Sydney is better).

If you are after quiet hotel or something a little different though, this maybe isn't the best.

And I think you stand a reasonable chance of getting upgraded too. Every person I know who has stayed there has been upgraded to a one bedroom suite. I too got an upgrade, but upon reaching level 23, I wasn't keen on sharing the 1 bedroom suite equipped with a comfy king size bed with my male (and slightly hairy) colleague. :oops: A standard room is fine thankyou sir!

Have a great weekend mate!

Cheers,
littl_flier


EDIT: And who could forget the 42" Plasma TV for watching the footy on.
 
AngieP said:
Have just spent the 'romantic weekend' in Melbourne with husband so can give you right up to the minute suggestions.

Sofitel would take the hotel breakfast stakes or just head to The European restaurant in Spring St near Parliament House for a fabulous meal at any time of the day or night - wine list is sensational. Anyway, I digress.

I would visit Queen Vic Markets on Saturday morning just to see the array of produce and goods - very vibey and great coffee/snacks in the food hall area. Make sure you buy a copy of The Big Issue from a street vendor.

Head up to the top of Bourke St for lunch at the kitchen table at Pelligrini's - a Melbourne institution ! Mamma will ask what kind of pasta you want then whip it up in front of you - try the fruit granitas followed by the best coffee in town (dont dare ask for decaf, soy etc - you'll get the dirtiest glare - its all Italiano here!).

Wander over to Collins Street to start from the top near Parliament House and head past the ritzy shops ending up at Dymocks below ground level store near the Novotel on the Swanston/Elizabeth St block. They have a large range pr books and sell the smartest paper files you'll ever see - designs old maps of Paris, postcards etc.

AngieP

Well, you,ve just described some of my favourite Melbourne things, I live near the Vic Market, about 10 mins walk, and it's truely a wonder, I've been to many many countries and never seen one like it, just magnificent.

And Pellegrini's, I often drop in to have a watermelon Granita, and some great, simple home cooked pasta, and of course a great coffee.

And the European, not just for the wine list, love the food and atmosphere, and of course the Melbourne Supper Club next door for a great late night drink, although with a wine list like that it's hard not to walk out broke (maybe 100 different wines over $1000 a bottle, and some for much more).

I'm spending the next three months in Boston so will just have to find some like attractions.
 
Go the Sebel. I got married there last year. Great rooms, great service, location is fantastic. The Mirvac group are a professional outfit.
Lash out and get a loft room. Tram on Collins st takes you anywhere.
 
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