Melbourne Knox Central Apartment Hotel

We needed somewhere safe at very short notice after activating our fire plan, as we live in a rural area. Alejandro at the front desk was incredibly kind, helpful, and understanding about our situation. He made everything easy and checked we had what we needed. I can't thank him enough for making a stressful stay feel manageable. The accommodation was spacious and clean, and the kids loved the pool. The shopping centre was close, so it was easy to get what we needed.

The room was clean, but the smell was awful. It was like a curry that had been sitting for 12 days, and it filled not just our room but the whole floor. Maybe it's because some people live there, but I can't say. Parking also needs to be arranged ahead of time. Otherwise, you have to find a spot and hope your car is still there when you check out, which could be a bigger problem out in the suburbs. I'm glad I don't have a reason to come back.

The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. We also liked the warm, quiet indoor pool, and the location made getting to Knox Central Shops and its restaurants easy. Driving to the Dandenongs the next day was simple too. Finding reception was a challenge, though. It's at a busy intersection, and without signs drivers could get confused in a dangerous way. The carpark was confusing as well. We had to get out on three levels to work out which spots were for hotel guests. Reception hadn't read or answered our Sunday messages, including two requests to fix the TV, so we couldn't watch movies during the night we had planned to stay in.

The anniversary getaway ended up being spoiled by the apartment's condition, and I believe a refund is warranted. The furniture was in poor shape: the couch was torn and so uncomfortable it couldn't be used, leaving my husband and me sitting on dining chairs. The TV was also too small for the lounge. There was a strong smell throughout that stayed even after we opened the windows and doors and ran the air conditioning. On arrival, rubbish was scattered around the bedroom and lounge, and the kitchen surfaces were sticky and visibly dirty. This was far below an acceptable standard and left us deeply disappointed.