Melbourne Studio Apartments Hotel @ 138 Elgin Carlton

The staff were friendly, but the beds need new mattresses or thick toppers because you can feel the springs, and the pillows were extremely thin. The couch was lumpy and uncomfortable too. There's no parking at the accommodation, and if you want coffee, one sachet each of coffee and sugar plus 200 ml of milk costs $5. Don't expect a sleep-in either: tradespeople were grinding and throwing building materials from 6am.

The staff were amazing and really made the place. They deserve a massive pay rise! The rooms could use a few upgrades, like smart TVs, and less cluttered decor would leave more space. Still, for the price and location, I'd stay again. 🥰

There's a lot nearby: Woolies is a three minute walk, Fitzroy is about 15 minutes on foot or five by bus, and trams connect you to the city. Buses and trams are close, Parkville station is around 15 minutes walking or 10 by bus or tram, and cafes and food spots in artsy Carlton are all around the hotel. The room was larger than expected for the price, could fit three, and had a kitchenette, a big mirror and good hot water. It was probably the cleanest hotel I've visited in this price range, with fluffy towels and a throw, and super friendly staff. The only downsides were 10am checkout and construction next door starting at 7. I'll be back.

I felt unsafe staying there alone overnight after a male staff member made inappropriate comments, so I left a few hours after checking in. I phoned the owner Frank, who said it was “my opinion”. They refused to refund an unauthorised cancellation fee added after I checked out early, just hours after arrival. The response below essentially confirms this. The owner's replies to low reviews give you a sense of the professionalism, or lack of it.