This hotel doubles as a student accommodation, and as a University of Melbourne student, it's been my home in Melbourne for a long time. When I returned to Melbourne later, I chose to stay here again. I absolutely love it… Melbourne is truly an amazing and incredibly livable city, and this hotel is fantastic!
The front desk staff are all incredibly patient, kind, warm, and thoughtful – truly wonderful people. Talking to them feels so refreshing. They try their best to accommodate room requests during check-in; some rooms face the street, while others are quieter and face inwards. You can hear activity in the hallways, so it’s much better to stay away from the elevators. The soundproofing between units is excellent; I lived here for half a year and never heard a peep from my neighbors.
The location is superb!!! The tram stop is right outside, which is incredibly convenient. Lincoln Square is just next door, perfect for fresh air, watching pigeons and seagulls, and enjoying the treehouse and fountain – very chill. Ordering takeout is also easy with many options nearby. There are also small restaurants and cozy bars in the vicinity.
I really like the Thai place diagonally across the street, I think it’s called Ohsc; I find their food quite good. On weekdays, a noodle dish for lunch is only $15, and adding a Thai milk tea makes for a perfectly satisfying meal. I also enjoy ordering takeout from 'Weishang Hunan' and 'Yixiangren'. Oh, and 'Dodee Thai' at Melbourne Central is also delicious.
There are many Asian supermarkets nearby: an Asian convenience store to your left and an Ezymart to your right, with 'Asian Daddy' just a three-minute walk away. Larger supermarkets like Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Big W, and Kmart are about a 10-minute walk or three to four tram stops away at Melbourne Central. In short, everything is very convenient! The roads are mostly flat too, with no hills to climb, so it’s very relaxing and comfortable!
Many famous attractions are within walking distance: the University of Melbourne, Carlton Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Central, State Library Victoria, Chinatown, Flinders Street Station, the Yarra River, and the NGV art gallery, among others. I can’t even remember all of them, but you can basically get to most places. I often go for walks. Or taking the tram right outside is also very convenient! It’s also very close to the train station! Melbourne is truly a beautiful and livable city, my eternal utopian 'white moonlight'.
Moreover, this hotel is on Swanston Street, which is a very safe street. You might encounter homeless people in the city center or on Elizabeth Street, but I haven't seen any outside here. It feels like many residents are students, and it's quite safe at night. Since this hotel is also student accommodation, many University of Melbourne students live here, which I find very secure. You need to use your key card to access the elevators, and also to enter the hotel main entrance at night.
The rooms are decent, though a bit small. The air conditioning sometimes doesn’t work well and you might need to inform the front desk to adjust it. There’s a small fridge and a hairdryer. Overall, the hygiene is good, but the duvet cover… it's not a cover that fully encloses the duvet, I'm not sure how it's arranged. If this bothers you, it's best to bring a disposable sleeping bag or something similar. For this price point, it's really good! I wholeheartedly recommend it!
As for common areas, there's a kitchen on the ground floor with a microwave, oven, fridge, gas stove, and a large dining table. If I order takeout and can’t finish it, I’ll reheat it in the microwave for the next meal. The washing machines are charged for student accommodation residents – I think it's $5 to wash and $5 to dry? I’m not sure if hotel guests are charged. Overall, the entire apartment hotel is very cozy. I have a deep affection for this place; it’s my lifelong love affair with Australia!
Original TextTranslation provided by AI
