Punthill Little Bourke

We booked four nights and, although booking through Expedia saved hundreds compared with the hotel’s direct rate, I wonder if that’s why we got one of the bad rooms. It was meant to be a one-bedroom apartment, but the bedroom was sectioned off from the rest of the room by a sliding door, so it felt more like a studio. There was no balcony, which was a big reason we’d chosen this place since we were living and working there during the week. The room was very dark with no incoming light. The mattress was lopsided and really only suited one person in the middle, so my partner slept on the couch. The desk and lounge were comfortable enough to work from, and the couch was comfortable too, though the TV was small. There was a kitchenette. The internet was down during our stay. Technicians were working on it, but I had to rely on mobile data to get my work done. Housekeeping checked in each day to see what we needed, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The location was excellent, at the end of China town and near exhibition Street theatres, with lots of good food around. We ate at the Paramount Foodcourt a few times, and found nice cafes for breaky and coffee, plus Indian and Indonesian food. The room needs a major makeover, urgently. The bed was really uncomfortable and needs replacing, as does the carpet. If I’d known there was no balcony, I probably wouldn’t have booked. The staff and location were great, but the room let the stay down. Maybe booking direct would have meant a different, nicer room, though I know that’s just a guess. For us it was an ok stay, about 2.8 stars out of 5, mostly because of the dark room and lopsided bed.

I booked by phone, but nobody mentioned before confirming the reservation that carpet repairs were underway. When we arrived, the hallway carpet had been taken up, leaving a sticky, dirty floor. Large industrial fans were set up along the corridor, and they were so loud that it was hard to rest. We asked the staff what could be done, but they said there were no other rooms and no alternative solution. We were expected to put up with the disruption, even though it hadn’t been disclosed beforehand. The tap in the room also sent out a very strong flow of water that was difficult to control, making it uncomfortable and impractical to use normally. It was a very disappointing stay. The noise, lack of transparency about the repairs and absence of a meaningful solution were well below acceptable service. I wouldn’t return or recommend staying here while the work is going on.

We’d booked a two-bedroom apartment more than a month ahead for a family weekend with the adults. The hotel called the day before to check we were coming, although I’d already confirmed online. On the day, they called again to ask when we’d arrive. I gave an estimated time and was told all was fine. Then, when we were about forty minutes away, they called to say no two-bedroom apartment was available and they’d put us in separate rooms on the same floor. At check-in we found out I was on level one and my family members were on level 6. I wasn’t happy, and I won’t stay here again.

Been coming back for almost 6 years, fortnightly. Most rooms have a washing machine that can do a quick 30 min cycle, then you can put things in the dryer while you’re having a bath. It’s an absolute boon. Customer service is generally easy on the eye compared with the rest of the city, and the human resourcing is exceptional.