AUSTRALIA 108 Hotel Apartment

The location was a real plus. The building sits a little off the Riverwalk along the Yarra, so it's quiet, but restaurants and activities are still easy to reach. I stayed five days during the Australia Open at CLIX Australia 108. I paid extra for a high floor and got an amazing view from the 66th, facing Melbourne Park, where I could see the Open. The apartment had a full kitchen, more room than a typical hotel room, and its own washer and dryer. For the price, I thought it was good value, even though I had been hoping for a different kind of stay. This is better understood as an AirBnB rental than a hotel. Housekeeping isn't daily or available on request, and the unit is serviced only for stays of 10+ days. I had to change the sheets myself, though they provided clean ones. The pool and hot tub are for residents, not the “hotel” guests. I wanted the hotel setup with room service or housekeeping, fresh towels, made beds and coffee and tea replenished, so I may not have read the listing closely enough. If you're happy to be more self-sufficient, the apartment has a lot going for it. The place was clean, but there were several scuffs on the walls and floor, a few stains on the white/beige bedroom carpet, and one part of the bathroom sink needed more scrubbing. The furniture was fine, though I think spending a little more on it could make the units more comfortable. I needed a late check-in, and the staff's office down the street is only open from 9a-5p. Even so, they made sure they reached me while I was on my way and that I could get the keys for both the apartment and building. Their WhatsApp number is available around the clock. It was hot after travelling from Brisbane, and they kindly turned the AC on before I arrived. When I asked for help by WhatsApp, the replies were quick, courteous and kind.

The view was the highlight of our first room, but its broken latch caused a loud whistling noise, so we had to move. Gayan kindly upgraded us to a larger room on a higher floor. The customer service was amazing, and the view there was just as nice.

The room was spacious and had a pretty good view. The shower was comfortable, with good water temperature, and I could connect to YouTube or Netflix myself. The room seemed worth the price, and the counter staff weren't bad. Before arriving, I read online complaints from people who said their deposits weren't returned, or that they were charged extra after checkout even though they'd put their rubbish in the bin. That made me really anxious. I filmed the whole room when I arrived and again before leaving in case I needed to show I hadn't damaged anything. I felt under pressure about every corner of the room right up until I left, and even filmed myself using the washing machine because I didn't trust the hotel. I couldn't work out how to start the washing machine on my first night and thought it might be broken. The front desk staff said it wasn't their business when I went down for help. I emailed the hotel and never got a reply. We eventually figured out how to turn it on, but the response made the hotel seem careless and dismissive. I hope my deposit is returned as the front desk promised. I really don't want to have to ask CAV. for help.

I really enjoyed my stay in this apartment. There was a small issue with my first room, but friendly Gayan listened and moved me to an upgraded room. They made an effort to make my stay as good as they could :)