Punthill Essendon

The location is great, but this was a disappointing two-night stay. The shower was dirty, there was hair on the sheets, and the room wasn’t made up after the first day. There weren’t even any coffee pods. It felt like I was staying in the Ibis. Never again.

The staff were all really nice, and the location is handy for trams, parks, a supermarket and restaurants. Our room was laid out well and quiet at the back of the building. The fit-out could be better. There wasn’t enough cutlery or crockery, and the main-room TV was small, with a wide bezel, and looked like it might be from around 2011. The bedroom TV was only 32cm, so I needed glasses to see it. The microwave caught fire. Staff tried to sort it out, including using an ozone machine for the smell, but the replacement microwave smelled smoky too. It’s a great idea to keep tea, coffee and towels in the gym, but they need refilling more often.

We came from Brisbane, Queensland, and stayed at Punthill Essendon from 24th to 29th September while I was competing in a bodybuilding show. We picked it because it was close to the venue, but the stay was very disappointing, and I wouldn’t come back. The room service setup was never explained. Nobody told us that there’s no room service on weekends and public holidays. We called reception repeatedly and got no answer. We ran out of toilet paper and towels, then went down ourselves and learned we had to collect them from the gym room whenever we needed them. That caused a lot of avoidable frustration. We’d also booked parking at $20 per day, but the hotel car park was full when we arrived. They said they’d refund one day, but offered no alternative, which was very inconvenient. The service and communication were poor, and not what I’d expect when travelling interstate for an important event.

We came with family and had a good time. It’s a warm, charming, cozy and spacious place, and the location is really convenient. SHEN and ALLISON were amazing. Thanks!