Mercure Melbourne Albert Park

The bathroom could use an update, as it’s a bit dated. Aside from that, I had a very comfortable, spacious room in an excellent location. I was on a little solo staycation, and the woman who checked me in was fantastic. She made me feel welcome and offered to arrange things for me. She deserves a raise.

What makes Pullman & Mercure Albert Park feel like home is the people. Staff remember me from visit to visit and go out of their way to make each stay warm and memorable. Rhett and Richard in concierge have looked after guests wholeheartedly since my first stay in 2022. Manmohan on the front office team and the relatively new Sarang are wonderful additions too. They really shape the hotel’s hospitality. I lived here for nine months in 2023, and when I visit Melbourne now, I keep choosing it even if it means travelling 7 km to where I need to be. It has a lively feel, with events often happening and young sports teams staying there. The building isn’t brand new, but the spacious rooms and public areas have an understated, old-world sense of wealth and room to breathe. The gym, pool, and sauna are excellent. Windows Restaurant has a wide breakfast selection, including meats, vegetables, and cereals. I’m picky about breakfast, and this one is easily on par with the best Accor hotels. It’s one of my preferred hotels in Australia, alongside Novotel Olympic Park, and one of the few places where I genuinely feel at home.

The room change didn’t resolve the problem. I’d specifically asked for an upgrade to the Pullman and clearly asked whether I was being moved there or simply to another Mercure room. I was moved to a different room within the Mercure, which left me feeling the staff hadn’t been honest or transparent. They also promised a bottle of wine as compensation, but it never arrived. The room I first entered was filthy and poorly maintained. The carpet was dirty and worn, there was hair on the bathroom walls, the shampoo dispenser didn’t work, and the conditioner nozzle was broken. The food was poor, service was extremely disappointing, and staff seemed disorganised and incompetent. They made repeated promises and didn’t follow through. The whole hotel experience was horrible from start to finish, one of the filthiest I’ve had.

The breakfast buffet was excellent, with lots of tasty choices, freshly cooked eggs, and good barista-made coffee. The staff were kind and friendly, and the hotel has good facilities. I enjoyed the room, booked as a Privilege Room 1 King Bed Lake View, though the timing wasn’t ideal. After a big event at Albert Park, temporary fences with black seats stood between the park and the main road. I could see a little of the lake, but mostly trees, the lakeside facility building, and busy traffic. The hotel is just in front of Albert Park and easy to reach from the CBD. The nearest tram stop is three minutes away, and the ride to the CBD takes about 20 minutes. St. Kilda Beach is about a 10-minute ride away. There’s a gym and swimming pool, with the pool at 1.4 metres deep, a good size for water exercise. The spa pool beside it was nice for relaxing, and there’s a sauna in the changing room. It’s a pleasant escape from the CBD crowds while still being close enough, and you can see Melbourne’s skyline in the distance. I enjoyed my stay.