Review: Quality Apartments Melbourne Central was affordable comfort

Quality Apartments Melbourne Central – Introduction

After confirming my flights, my next hurdle was finding accommodation on points while at the Australian Open (AO). I looked into Marriott and Hilton for accommodation and could not find a location within walking distance from the Australian Open grounds. However, in my search, I found a hidden sweet spot about a 20-25-minute walk away.

Quality Apartments Melbourne Central

Choice Hotels is not discussed much in the Points and Miles community, dominated by Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt redemptions. However, they have recently taken steps forward to gain a bigger footprint in the global hotel landscape by acquiring Radisson Hotels. Choice Hotels have points sales throughout the year, usually with a 30-50% bonus. One deal that comes around the summer is the “Daily Getaways” summer deals through the US Travel Association, offering 50-55% off Choice points where it’s possible to buy points at approximately 0.5 USD cents per point (or approximately 0.67 cents CAD).

While I generally do not buy points, I find Choice Hotels to have a good return on value. The only problem with Choice is that a points stay can only be booked 100 calendar days before your stay, so you need to book quickly if you are booking through peak season once the 100-day window opens.

I also booked the Double Tree By Hilton Hotel Melbourne as a backup plan in case I could not confirm the Quality Apartments Melbourne Central booking when the 100-day window opened.

For 84,000 Choice points (~ CAD 563 in purchased points), I booked a 2-bedroom apartment with a walk-on rooftop terrace for eight nights. Due to the Australian Open demand, the hotel’s average cash rate was $400 AUD.

Location and Check-in

After over 24 hours of travel from YYZ, I took an Uber from Melbourne Internal Airport (MEL) to the hotel, a half-hour drive from the airport. The ride cost me AUD 53. Location-wise, this hotel was terrific. It was right on the corner of Little Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street and a stone’s throw from Chinatown.

The check-in process is specific at this hotel, and it was a first for me not to have a 24-hour reception desk. The reception desk closes at 9:00 p.m., and I landed well afterward. The hotel provided me with an email with the after-hours check-in procedure, including the code for opening the main door. Once inside, I followed the instructions to get my room key from a secure lock box. Ideally, I would have liked to have had a 24-hour reception desk when I arrived, but that was not meant to be.

Quality Apartments Melbourne Central – 2-bedroom apartment

I opted for a 2-bedroom apartment with a walk-on rooftop patio at an average cost of 10,500 Choice Points a night. Smaller rooms had the same redemption value, so I opted for the bigger room. The apartment photos on their website were in line with my room.

My room had three floors. The main floor had a living room with a flat-screen TV and couch, a kitchen with a microwave, dishwasher, stove, full fridge, sink, pots and pans, plates, a toaster, kettle, and wine and drinking glasses. There was a small table near the kitchen where you could eat. I was pleasantly surprised with my welcome amenity: a bottle of Australian cabernet merlot, two bottles of water, a bag of chips, and mini Kit Kats. Not bad for a 3-star hotel.

Main floor – Living room

Main floor – kitchen

Welcome Amenities

Taking a flight of stairs, you get to the two bedrooms. One has a double bed with a closet. The shared bathroom has a shower and tub. The second bedroom has a single bed (though no closet space) but a spare mattress, so the room could technically sleep two people. Next to this bedroom is another staircase that leads to the rooftop terrace, which has a beautiful skyline view of Melbourne with four Muskoka chairs and a table.

Stairs to second floor

Second floor – Double Bed Room

Second bedroom – twin bed, with access to terrace

Second floor – shared bathroom

My first night on the fifth floor was quiet, and the bed was very comfortable. However, when I returned from a late-night tennis match, there was an ambulance siren in the middle of the night. Earplugs might be necessary if you stay at this hotel and are not a sound sleeper. In downtown Melbourne, you will experience the “sounds of the city at night.”

Food and Amenities (or lack thereof)

There is no complimentary breakfast, though the hotel sells “to-go bags” for AUD 10, which a staff member told me is not worth it as you can get significant food steps away from the hotel. There is no gym or pool, but there is a laundry service if you need it. I chose the hotel because of its location to attend the Australian Open, as I used it as a place to sleep.

The staff at the reception desk was more than helpful and friendly. If you needed fresh towels, directions, or recommendations, they were happy to help. However, the reception desk is open only from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you need a code to enter the building.

Quality Apartments Melbourne Central – Takeaway

Location-wise, this hotel was terrific. You are right in the heart of downtown Melbourne, with plenty of options for souvenirs, convenience/grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and other essentials within walking distance. Melbourne Central Station is also a 5-minute walk away, convenient for sightseeing day trips within Melbourne.

Overall, I would give this 3-star hotel a 7/10. The room was spacious, especially on the first floor, which had a kitchen and a living room. The bedrooms are small, and more closet space would have been nice. The free WiFi was a bit slow. While I had no issues during my stay, a 24-hour reception would have been excellent, though there is a 24-hour number you can call. The staff were terrific! This is a 3-star hotel, with no breakfast included. If you are more accustomed to upscale accommodation, this hotel is NOT for you.

Have you ever taken a chance and stayed at a hotel you felt was much better than the reviews you read? Please comment below.