| Melbourne info, please – reasonably priced accommodations near Sofitel Melbourne hotel on Collins St?

Melbourne info, please – reasonably priced accommodations near Sofitel Melbourne hotel on Collins St?

yankiwi asked:


I’ve been invited to a conference in Melbourne, which will be held at the Sofitel Melbourne, on the Paris end of Collins Street. Yikes, the cost of staying there is prohibitive! Can anyone please offer alternative places to stay within walking distance? If there is a bus or tram route that runs close by, I’m not adverse to staying farther from the conference venue to save a few hundred dollars.

I’m getting sticker shock, converting my NZ dollars to the AUS prices. I’m a student on a limited budget – however I don’t want to share a room in a backpackers or a youth hostel. I want my own, private room. Are there any modest hotel/motel rooms that comes with a refrigerator, tea/coffee facilities, and Internet connection?

It doesn’t have to be posh. It does have to be safe and clean. Breakfast included would be great, and a swimming pool a plus but not essential, since most of the time I will be in seminars.

I’m looking at spending 5 nights in Melbourne. I’ve read a lot of positive and negative reviews of several hotels in that area, so am not quite sure what to believe.

If anyone has any personal experience (good or bad) with specific places in Melbourne, I’d be grateful for your knowledge. It would be a huge help to know where to look–or at least which ones to avoid.

Most places require a credit card to hold the room, and some charge a fee for cancellations. I’d hate to book 5 nights, find out it’s a dive, then have to back out, pay a penalty, and then scrounge for another, decent place to stay.

Hoping someone will have some good suggestions on a reasonable place to book to get me through this conference.

Thanks in advance

=)
Regarding the online booking sites, um, yeah – some don’t have traveller reviews and others are totally mixed or outdated.

I can spend days (already have!) going thru reviews – that is kind of why I was for someone with personal experience to answer, thanks =)

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4 Responses to “Melbourne info, please – reasonably priced accommodations near Sofitel Melbourne hotel on Collins St?”

  1. capricorn dancer♥ on September 30th, 2009 5:38 am

    Here’s a link you will find useful.Melbourne is not as cheap as overseas visitors believe,but what you lose on the ferris wheel,you pick up on the round a bout.Meals in Melbourne are cheap,we have some of the best food in the world.Hope you enjoy your stay and get out to see some of our beautiful sites in my fair city.Try googling Melbourne for more help.
    If you need any more info,let me know,happy to help.♥

  2. Emily R on September 30th, 2009 3:08 pm

    Hey, i held a conference a few years ago at the Sofitel. The alternative accommodation venues we used were the Punt Hill Manhattan and the Pacific Apartments on Exhibition. Both were a bit cheaper than the Sofitel and obviously more apartment style. They’re not exactly budget but both are within walking distance to the Sofitel…

  3. Kaye B on October 3rd, 2009 11:21 pm

    I can’t help you with a recommendation, however I can recommend a couple of sites. You could try which generally has apartments and are usually reasonable priced (search for Melbourne City). The other alternative to try is wotif.com.au. You can usually get something cheaper than rack rate, but you can only book 2 weeks in advance.

  4. Helen T on October 6th, 2009 5:13 pm

    The Ibis in Thiery St is not bad. I’ve stayed there. Rooms not huge but when I stayed there a few years ago they were comfortable and clean. I don’t know that they have a pool (though they might) but you’re not far from the City Baths and I think some of the smaller hotels around often have an arrangement with the Baths.
    It’s also quite close to the Vic Market (the Queen Victoria Market). To get to the Sofitel, you’d take a tram down or walk down Swanston St to Collins Street and then walk or tram it up Collins St. Certainly had kettle / tea and coffee making in room. Not sure about internet. There’s a restaurant, though I’d recommend Jasper Kitchen just around the corner in Elizabeth St. (They do great breakfast and excellent coffee ) There’s also a Maccas next door to Jasper. (The Jasper hotel also has rooms but I’m not sure of the pricing in comparison to the Ibis. It certainly looks nice /modern)