5-Star Hotels in Victoria, Australia

I booked two hotels on the Southbank of the Yarra River this time. First, let's talk about Crown Towers, which is located further west. My initial impression was luxury. It's connected to a casino and surrounded by high-end luxury stores. The lobby is incredibly grand. My second impression was how friendly it is towards Chinese guests; the elevator buttons have both Chinese and English descriptions, and there were many festive elements for Chinese New Year. The room faced the Yarra River, offering a nice view, and there were various restaurants downstairs, making dining convenient. Walking west from the hotel, away from the bustling Flinders Street Station, and experiencing the quiet, less crowded Yarra River after an evening rain, I truly understood why Melbourne has repeatedly been named the world's most livable city. It was a refreshing and comforting feeling, making me exclaim, 'Life can be so wonderful!' If you have plenty of time, you absolutely must spend a night by the Yarra River. I recommend booking a hotel on the west side. The location might be slightly less central, but it offers a great opportunity to experience the Yarra River away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Like the Crown Towers in Sydney, the one in Melbourne is also bustling and showy. This doesn't quite align with the typically understated and tranquil vibe of luxury hotels, but perhaps that's also why it offers such good value for money. The pool was crowded in the evening, but deserted in the morning, making for a refreshing swim. Additionally, it's very close to DFO South Wharf (Melbourne's largest outlet mall). We didn't know this at the time and ended up taking a taxi there from our hotel near Melbourne University later on. If we had known, it would have been much easier to just walk over from here.

The location is excellent, very close to Southern Cross Station, which makes airport transfers and train travel super convenient. Coincidentally, April was the free public transport month in Victoria, so I took advantage of that. The room size was just right, with plenty of counter space and drawers for storage, making for a very comfortable stay.

We had a great stay at Balgownie. Staff were always friendly and helpful. Room was beautiful and spacious. We enjoyed the food and definitely recommend eating dinner here and wine tasting during your stay.

I stayed here for three nights in Melbourne. There's a tram stop right outside (though it was closed for roadworks, sadly). It's also super close to the SkyBus drop-off point from the airport to the city, only a six or seven-minute walk, so it was really convenient – I just bought a round-trip ticket. There are also lots of familiar eateries nearby, like Pepper Lunch (so good, why did it close in Beijing?!) and Gong Cha (so happy to find Gong Cha overseas!). The room was quite spacious, and the view was nice too. The bathtub was a bit long for me, and there's a separate walk-in closet with a vanity table.

The hotel overall is quite good, but the elevators get really busy when tour groups check in. There's a convenience store downstairs which is handy for buying water. The surrounding area is pretty average, so it's best to take a taxi to get around. In Australia, you have to ask for toothbrushes and slippers, which is a bit of a hassle. All in all, it's not bad, though the bed is definitely on the small side.

The hotel staff were welcoming and ready to help. The hotel ammenities and location itself were perfect, from the pool there was a magnificent view of the sunset overlooking the city buildings. The charging ports in the room were practically placed, the beds were comfy, and the bathroom was modernly designed and spacious. The overall atmosphere of the hotel was calm, inviting, clean and modern, making its shared spaces comfortable to relax. Its convenient location allowed access to ”The District” on Docklands with a range of restaurants and shops alongside public transport. We really enjoyed our stay and definitely would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a comfortable, modern and enjoyable stay in Melbourne.

The hotel is quite large with many rooms. Its location is good, about a 5-minute walk to the tram's free zone, and there's a convenience store right opposite, which is very handy. Standard check-in is at 3 PM, but you can pay for early check-in.

This hotel is elegantly designed with a touch of classic charm. It's centrally located with great transport links, and all the main attractions (State Library, Royal Arcade, Hosier Lane, Queen Victoria Market, Yarra River, train station, etc.) are within walking distance. Public transport to other sights is also right on your doorstep. There are tons of dining options nearby. The hotel's breakfast offers a wide variety and is delicious, and the staff are very welcoming.

location is perfect, right infront of the free tram zone, the room was clean. sadly when we arrived early in morning, there's no one in the receptionist desk and have to wait until someone out from the building so we can entered the building. and cannot ask for early checkin. otherwise the hotel is perfect. nice stay anyway.

Centrally located, within walking distance to major attractions, right next to Chinatown with plenty of delicious food options. Plus, the hotel provides slippers and toothbrushes.