PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport

The atmosphere and setup are great, and the service was outstanding. Teagen even learned how to make my bloody mary, which was a nice touch. The location is a bonus too. The hotel feels dated, though, and the rooms, pool and restaurant area could use some care. The buffet didn’t justify its price, so I’d rather eat at a restaurant.

Comfortable, clean, spacious rooms right near the terminals make this a great choice for a short airport stay. The only snag was the bath: there was no plug, no one picked up when I called, and reception couldn’t provide one when I went down. We were fine with using the shower, but other guests may not be as easygoing.

We had a fantastic stay with friends last week. Everything was clean, including the bathroom, which smelled fresh, and the shower by the pool. Kyle from housekeeping was especially friendly and accommodating, and helped us during our stay.

The room was comfortable, the beds were great, the gym was excellent for a hotel, and the staff were lovely. I barely slept, though. A very loud guest woke me in the middle of the night, and when I went to ask for quiet, there were several police officers and a hotel staff member in the corridor. I wish they’d handled it somewhere farther from the rooms. I booked for the airport access and came a day early to get a full night’s sleep before a 06:30 flight and important business meetings. Instead, I’m just as tired as if I’d driven through the night, and out of pocket for the room. Room service took 20 minutes to answer and another 45 for the food to arrive, so order early if you want to eat. Also, the shower body wash bottle was empty. At nearly $300 a night, I’d expect that to be checked between guests.