City Garden Melbourne

The room made it almost impossible to sleep. It was noisy, uncomfortable and poorly maintained, with no soundproofing. We could clearly hear people next door, noise from the hallway and even street conversations through the windows. A broken blind let in too much light, and the hard mattresses and thin pillows meant we couldn’t rest properly. There were hygiene problems too. Plates in the cupboard were visibly dirty. The bathroom extractor fan didn’t work, leaving heavy condensation, and dust covered the air-conditioning unit. That triggered an allergic reaction for my friend. The room fell far below an acceptable standard, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

I chose this hotel because it was relatively cheap and most reviews said it was clean. My experience was very different. Black mould covered the window frame, air conditioner, vents, bathroom ceiling and even the clothes hangers. The bathroom sink cabinet was warped from water damage, and the floor was badly scratched, dusty and had deep gashes I nearly tripped on. The cups weren’t properly cleaned when I went to make tea, and the chairs had large stains. After half an hour in the room, I couldn’t stop coughing, so I checked into another hotel.

This hotel seems underrated, or poorly reviewed. Sure, it can be a little noisy, but you’re right in the middle of the city and all the activity. The room was really clean and had everything I needed. There’s a 24/7 reception, and the furniture and design don’t have to look like it’s 2030. Great location, clean rooms and kind staff.

The pictures looked nothing like the room, which felt like false advertising. Once I got back and took a closer look, it was obvious how bad the condition was: black mould covered the room, there was rust everywhere, the window was smashed, and grime was all over the place, even on the stovetop where I was expected to cook. A spider came out of the bed too. I have a weak immune system, so the mould could have made me really sick. I asked for a refund and was offered another room. After seeing that room, I didn’t want to spend two days in another one when they hadn’t cleaned the first. They refused to return even part of my money because I’d already checked in. How could I know the rooms were so disgusting or that they’d keep my money if I didn’t check in first? They also refused when booking.com asked for a refund. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, don’t come here.