Apartments @ Melbourne

For the price, I wasn't impressed. I arrived from interstate at 11.30am and was told there was no early check-in, so I had to come back at 2pm. Once in the room, there was no sink plug and the TV didn't work. I called three times before anyone came, and the air-con fan was very noisy. I was there for two nights, but the online price didn't include a towel change. My access card stopped working in the lift on day two, and another guest had to get me to my floor. At breakfast on the first day I asked for a teapot so I could make my own tea in a mug, since the cups were tiny and awkward for my man hands, but was told I could only get one by paying extra for an order. I also asked for an 11am checkout and was told they were too busy. Somehow it was possible for an extra $20. The entrance is up stairs. There is a stairlift for disabled access, but you have to contact reception first, which may be hard at busy times. Older guests could struggle with luggage on the stairs, and I didn't see a concierge. Honestly, disappointing.

The studio apartment was roomy and very clean, with a double-seat sofa, desk, two chairs, fridge-freezer, oven and cooktop. The lobby smelled really nice, and there's a cafe there too. We were right opposite W hotel, with a free tram just around the corner on Collins st. Southern cross station was about 10 minutes away.

The staff were friendly throughout. At breakfast they worked hard to keep things tidy and food and drinks topped up, and the front desk helped us order taxis and store our suitcases. One evening we got room service, and the food was nice. The apple pie was meant to come with ice cream, but arrived without it. When we asked, the gentleman politely sorted it out. Thank you for the service. Breakfast had the usual continental options, plus pastries, yoghurt, rice pudding and plenty of hot dishes. A chef would cook eggs however you liked. Downstairs, the spa was very warm and the pool was nice, with towels provided, though the windowless space felt a bit stuffy and claustrophobic. I had a really comfortable two-night stay at Oaks Melbourne on Market. The room was tidy when we arrived, with lots of useful amenities, including a hair-dryer, safe, ironing board and plenty of cupboard space. The beds were comfortable, and the bathroom had a shower and bath together, with plenty of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion. It's conveniently located near a tram stop, and I'd describe it as a lovely hotel.

The staff were great throughout our three-night stay as a couple with a teenager, and the beds were really comfortable. We also liked the pillow choices, full-size shower products, quiet but handy location, mocktail options, and good value. The cutlery was 9/10 autism-friendly. Our original two-bedroom apartment didn’t give us enough privacy, and it had some maintenance problems. The website photos didn’t show that the doors were glass. I spoke to reception the morning after our first night, and they quickly showed me other rooms before moving us into interconnecting studios, which suited us much better. Handles on those connecting doors would make them easier to open and close. Food ordering could be clearer. Two coffees and a juice from the lobby coffee station took over 20 minutes, and the breakfast combo system made it confusing to add plant-based milk for an extra 75c. At dinner, I ordered fries through in-room dining and got rice instead, though rice wasn’t even on the menu. The same dish is called CHIPS on page 3 and FRIES on page 4, which may have caused the mix-up. They kindly gave us $15 off the food. Elevator 1 was confusing too, since room cards only worked on one side, and we saw several people go back down to the lobby after swiping the wrong side.