Brunswick Tower Hotel

The room was relatively clean, but it felt very old and tired. When I tried the air conditioner, the whole room smelled like a toilet, so I had to switch it off as a heater. I opened the windows and doors to clear the smell, then found a broken electric heater in the cupboard and had to use that to keep warm.

My sleep was badly affected by the noise. The hotel is right on the main road and next to a tram station, and my room was right beside the road, so I could hear cars and trams at night. I asked to move to the twin room I'd originally booked, which might have been further from the road, but the manager refused and said they were fully booked for the next few days. Keep the location in mind: being close to a train and tram station is handy, but the road noise can really ruin a trip. I barely slept and felt tired and irritable most of the time. I had booked the room for me and a friend for a three day Melbourne visit from Sydney, but my friend couldn't come. At the hotel they 'upgraded' me to a room with a Queen sized bed. The room itself was decent sized, with an ensuite bathroom and AC, and service was okay. Overall, a mixed experience.

For a budget stay it was pretty good. The room was nothing special, but clean and had the basic amenities. What you're really getting is the location, with loads of great food nearby and the tram and train to the city close by.

The room was visibly damaged and very unclean, and the property looked nothing like the photos or description online. It was uncomfortable enough that my children refused to stay, and another guest was leaving at the same time. We told reception straight away and had to arrange somewhere else to stay. Even though we didn't stay there, they still charged one night of our three night booking. Travelling with children, including one with medical needs, was already stressful. Based on what happened, I wouldn't recommend this property, especially for families.