DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne - Flinders Street

I paid over $1,000 to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Melbourne, but it was a disappointing experience. Check-in at 2pm on Sunday was delayed due to an absent, seemingly half-asleep receptionist. The first room had a poorly positioned TV with no swivel arm. After switching rooms, I found dated carpet and furniture, a paper-thin doona, and uncomfortably hard pillows. The Chromecast setup was a hassle, unlike better hotels with instant access. I was also wrongly charged for a breakfast I didn’t have. Despite a clean room and hot water, the central Flinders St location felt grotty. This hotel fell far short of expectations for the price.

Don't let the brand name 'DoubleTree' fool you into thinking you are in for a budget ride because you don't have an Executive Lounge. This stay was memorable, not only for me as a Diamond member but for my whole family. The Hilton DoubleTree Flinders Street Melbourne is my main choice of accommodation in Melbourne. The hotel under the guidance of General Manager, Oliver Schwartz SJS, focuses on providing comfortable accommodation with a signature warm welcome, including their famous chocolate chip cookie at check-in. Thoughtfully designed rooms feature warm lighting, soft linens, and everything you need to relax in total comfort. Their dedicated team including Cilla, Hannah, Christian and Catie, bring heartfelt hospitality to life, turning every interaction into a moment to remember. We enjoyed the extra space with a room on Level 13 giving us breathtaking views if the city including the MCG, Yarra River and beyond. This was a birthday celebration in the in-house Platform 270 restaurant which can cater anything from an intimate cocktail party or birthday celebration, with my favourite dish Char-grilled Yarra Valley organic chicken with roasted kipfler potato and a side dish, steamed broccolini with roasted almonds. Don't have to tell you much about the buffet breakfast, 10/10 for that and no lunch needed after that buffet breakfast topped off the an excellent cappuccino. Conference rooms are available on Level 1 as well as a fully equipment gym with views across the iconic Flinders Street station. This hotel has immediate proximity to a spot of retail indulgence with a 10 minute walk to luxury fashion boutiques, restaurants, and Federation Square. Don't pass up this little gem, I guarantee you'll be back again and again. Gary Turner

Highs - All the staff that I interacted with were very friendly, kind and helpful. My room was nice, clean and met my basic needs. Cons - room was right beside housekeeping storage and housekeeping very loud during day. Breakfast buffet was meh, food was cold.

This was a really nice hotel. My room was spacious and had an incredibly comfortable bed (I’m particular and the bed was very good). My room faced out to see Flinders Street station. I was worried it would be noisy but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. The amenities in the room were good and the layout worked well so it felt like there was even more space. The staff were very helpful and kind and of course, the cookies were perfection as always.

Firstly I have to say all the staff we encountered were fantastic. However, the bed (which is arguably the reason you book a hotel) was terrible. The sheets barely fit and came undone to the point where I woke up one morning on the mattress topper. The pillows were not supportive at all and the quilt didn’t even cover 1/2 the bed. I’ve stayed at several hotels in the past year and so believe me when I say I wouldn’t stay here again.