hotel review Archives - Salty Sweet Journeys

Hotel Reviews September 4, 2024

Brisbane Hotel with a view: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Review

If you are looking for a Brisbane hotel with a view, Meriton Suites is the place to go! Meriton Adelaide Suites is located in one of the tallest towers in the city offering comfortable serviced apartment accommodation. The standout? Staying on a high floor for the most incredible 360-degree views over Brisbane and the Brisbane River!

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

A Brisbane Hotel with a view: Things to love about Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

Incredible, uninterrupted views over the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge
Fantastic location a few minutes from the river and only 15 minutes walk from the city centre
Comfortable and Spacious Apartments fitted with everything you need!

Views of the Brisbane Story Bridge from Howard Smith Wharves

To check out Prices and Availability For Meriton Suites Adelaide Street in Brisbane, click HERE

Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Overview

Brisbane hotel view a view: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street — View over the Brisbane River and Story Bridge from the Altitude Apartment

Opened in 2012, the towering 243 mt, 74 floors skyscraper that is the Meriton Suites Adelaide Street is one of the tallest towers in all of Brisbane, and was at one point, the tallest building in Brisbane!

Part residential and part serviced apartments, the building can’t be missed! It has enviable views of the nearby Story Bridge (and is one of the only 5 bridges IN THE WORLD that you can climb!).

Check prices for the Story Bridge Climb HERE

Meriton Adelaide Suites is located near Fortitude Valley, which luckily is not an area filled with skyscrapers. That gives this building the advantage of having uninterrupted views over the city, river and beyond.

The comfortable apartments are fitted with everything you need. Read on below to find out more about Meriton Suites Adelaide Street and why this hotel is one with the best views in Brisbane!

Rooms: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Review

The Meriton has several apartments on offer, these vary by different number of bedrooms and on which floor the apartments are.

Bedroom in Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

Studio Luxury Suites: Studio-style accommodation for 2 people on the lower floors (2-4)
1 Bedroom Luxury Suites: Self Self-contained apartment accommodation for 2 people on the lower floors, up to level 42.
2 Bedroom Luxury Suites: Self Self-contained apartment accommodation with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for 4 people from level 6 up to level 58.
2 Bedroom Altitude Suites: To have a guaranteed, amazing hotel room with a view in Brisbane, the Altitude apartments are on high floors from level 63 up to level 74. Self Contained Apartment accommodation with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for 4 people.
3 Bedroom Altitude Suites: This is the largest apartment type measuring at just over 100 SQM. This popular apartment type is perfect for wedding parties and for checking out the amazing views of the New Year fireworks over the city. Apartments are located on the top floors from levels 64 to 74.

2 Bedroom Altitude Suite Review: The Best hotel views over Brisbane!

On our trip to Brisbane, we stayed in a 2-bedroom Altitude suite that was located on level 69. First entering the room all you see is the view!

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the whole lounge and bedrooms and have the most epic views over the river. On a clear day, at sunset or nighttime, the views are incredible!

Lounge Room at Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Altitude Suite, one of the best Brisbane hotels for a view! — Lounge Room in the Altitude Suite

To check out Prices and Availability For Meriton Suites Adelaide Street in Brisbane, click HERE

The rooms are extremely comfortable and suit perfectly for long stays too. The bedrooms are spacious with plenty of storage. In the 2-bedroom apartments, you will find a full-sized kitchen, 3 A/C units (in each bedroom and the open plan lounge) and 3 large flat-screen TVs with in-built Chrome Cast for easy streaming.

Room Amenities – Kitchen / Dining

The Altitude Apartment was well fitted with everything we needed including a full kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, full-size fridge/freezer.

In the kitchen, you can also find an espresso machine with pods, a kettle and a toaster.

A small laundry cupboard had a washer and separate dryer too.

Laundry Cupboard Meriton Suites Adelaide Street — Laundry Cupboard in the Altitude Suite

A 4 seater, round marble top table in the main dining table.

Dining Area Meriton Suites Adelaide Street — Dining Area

Amenities such as dishwashing tablets & washing detergent are replenished every 3rd day or weekly depending on the rate purchased.

Room Amenities – Bedrooms

In the bedrooms, King-size beds are provided in the 2 bedrooms. At the time of booking, you can also request to have these set up as single beds or 1 king and 2 singles.

The rooms are of generous size with blackout curtains and full-size wardrobes. There was A LOT of storage space with hanging space as well as shelves and drawers. Perfect for longer stays!

Bedroom view by night Altitude Suites — Views from the Altitude Suite Bedroom, level 69

A safe is provided in the master bedroom as well as a laundry service slip (provided by the property at an additional cost).

Safe and Wardrobe in the Altitude Suite — Safe & Wardrobe

A/C Unit in each of the bedrooms for cooling/heating.

A flat-screen TV fitted with Chrome Cast is provided in each of the bedrooms making it super convenient for easy streaming!

Room Amenities – Lounge Room

As you enter the Altitude Suite the lounge room has a small 2 seater couch, and 2 armchairs facing the sweeping views from the high floor.

A flat-screen TV fitted with StayCast (Chrome Cast) is provided for convenient streaming. Large desk/workstation as you enter the lounge too. A/C for heating and cooling.

Unlimited WIFI is provided during the stay.

Workspace Altitude Suite at Meriton Adelaide Street — Workstation in the apartment

Room Amenities – Bathrooms

The Altitude Apartment has 2 bathrooms. One central bathroom with vanity, toilet & shower, and the second bathroom is an ensuite – with a bath and separate shower. Hairdryer & Kevin Murphy Toiletries provided.

Bathroom with shower in the Altitude Suite — Central Bathroom with Shower in the Altitude Suite

The bathrooms are spacious, but I did find them a bit dated eg. the vanities had some cracks in the porcelain and the showers were not as sparkling as a new hotel.

Hotel Facilities: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

In addition to 24-hour reception/guest services, Meriton Adelaide Suites also has parking and fitness facilities located on level 5. These are open from 5 am to 10 pm, every day.

Lobby Lounge Meriton Adelaide Street — Lobby – Meriton Adelaide Street

Car Parking at Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

If driving into Meriton Suites, convenient onsite undercover car parking is available at the property. Note that this is limited and subject to availability, with the rate per night at 40 AUD. Entry is via Arch Lane, located at the rear of the property.

Swimming Pool, Hot Tub & Sauna

On level 5, guests and residents can access the fitness facilities.

The pool area is very spacious, with some bench space to sit and store belongings. Towels are NOT provided so you must bring your own. The pool is heated all year round, and the depth is 1.2 metres on the deepest end.

A large in-ground hot tub is also in the same area as the pool.

Hot Tub & Pool Area at Meriton Adelaide Suites – Image courtesy of Expedia

Unfortunately the the time of our stay the Sauna was not operational. We enquired with reception and they explained it was a long-term issue. I was a bit disappointed that this was not advised at the time of booking, as we chose the hotel based on the facilities too!

Pool at Meriton Adelaide Street — Pool Area

Gymnasium

Large gymnasium with workout equipment and weights.

Family Friendly Facilities

Children are welcome at the hotel and the kids were given activity packs at check-in too which was a nice touch. If travelling to Meriton for a special occasion for a birthday, it’s worth mentioning too! The room was set up with balloons, bubbles and a card as we arrived.

The pool was very enjoyable for them and there were lots of other children using it too, especially during the weekend.

Cots can be arranged in advance for a cost of 10 AUD per night and include a baby amenities pack.

Location of Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

Hotel entrance at Meriton — Hotel Entrance from Adelaide Street

The Meriton Suites Adelaide is located at 485 Adelaide Street in Brisbane.

A Foodworks to buy essential items is also located on the ground floor of the building which was very handy as we arrived late on the first day! A larger supermarket (Woolworths Spring Hill) is located just a 5-minute walk away too.

We found the Meriton to be in a very good location as you can reach the river and city centre very easily on foot. To reach South Bank, it is a longer walk so we generally opted to take an Uber or the ferry!

Brisbane River Boardwalk (restaurants/dining) – 5 minutes walk
Queen Street Mall (main shopping district) – 15 minutes walk
Riverside Ferry Terminal (to board the free CityHopper Ferry to South Bank) – 10 minutes walk
Howard Smith Wharves (for dining with incredible views of the Story Bridge) – 5-minute walk
Roma Street Parklands (amazing gardens!) – 25-minute walk
South Bank (dining/entertainment precinct) – 35 minutes walk

Final Thoughts – Meriton Adelaide Street

Although the building and some of the facilities do show that they are 10 years old, we overall had a good stay at Meriton. The location was great for us as we ventured out for walks every day and the ferry access at Riverside was so handy. Would I stay again? Yes. The views from the 69th floor were unlike anywhere I have ever stayed before!

BOOK Meriton Suites Adelaide Street

Hope you enjoyed reading this Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Review, of the the best Brisbane Hotels with a view!

To check out Prices and Availability For Meriton Suites Adelaide Street in Brisbane, click HERE

Still looking for Brisbane Hotels?

Still looking for a hotel? Check out all the hotels in Brisbane HERE!

Want to read more?

You can read more on my posts about Brisbane coming soon!

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Hotel Reviews June 22, 2024

Dorsett Melbourne Review

This newly opened cozy boutique hotel in Melbourne is the perfect place for a staycation in the city to be enjoyed by everyone. Kids will enjoy the FREE arcade games room and amazing pool, and couples will love the cool interior, trendy rooms and bar! This is my Dorsett Melbourne Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

Dorsett Car — At the Entrance of the Hotel

Things to love about Dorsett Melbourne

State of the art fitness facilities like a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room
Central city location in Melbourne, only an easy walk to restaurants and the main shopping district
FREE Arcade Games in the lobby! Try your luck at winning the Dorsett Teddies on the claw skill tester or have a game of old school pinball

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Dorsett Melbourne Entry — Hotel Entrance

Rooms – Dorsett Melbourne Review

Room types at the Dorsett Melbourne

Rooms at the Dorsett Melbourne cater for everyone! There are 316 rooms and they range from Standard Dorsett rooms up to Suites. Rooms with Balcony, Accessible rooms and Pet Friendly Rooms are also available.

Lift Lobby Dorsett Melbourne — Lift Lobby

Dorsett King or Twin Room (27 sqm)
Deluxe King or Twin Room (30 sqm)
Deluxe Room with Balcony (35 sqm)
Accessible Room (42 sqm) – fully accessible with roll in shower
Dog Friendly Room with Balcony (35 sqm) – 1 king bed and up to 1 pet (up to 20 kg)
Executive Rooms (from 29 sqm) and Suites – with access to the Club Lounge

Deluxe Twin room

We stayed in a Deluxe Twin Room, which is set up with 2 double beds.

The room felt pretty spacious, the beds were plush and comfortable! The room is modern with Melbourne artwork. A small table with one chair are in the room too.

Storage wise there is just some hanging space and a small luggage compartment, not much cupboard space, making this hotel more suitable for shorter stays (1-2 nights).

High speed wi-fi and a 50 inch TV with Chromecast is super handy to stream all your favourite shows!

A pod espresso machine is also provided in the room with capsules. A small safe is located under one of the bedside tables and a small bar fridge (empty) is in the room too.

The stylish bathroom is compact, but is fitted with a large walk in rain shower. There is no bathtub in the room, this is only available in some of the larger suites.

Bathroom and shower Dorsett Melbourne — Bathroom & shower

Celebrating special occasions at Dorsett Melbourne

The Hotel was so accommodating when we mentioned that we were staying to celebrate a birthday. When we arrived, the room had an amazing set up with helium balloons, a card signed by all the front desk staff, treats and a hotel teddy. It was a wonderful surprise!

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Birthday set up Dorsett Melbourne — Birthday set up

Environmentally conscious initiatives at Dorsett Melbourne

Environmentally conscious with reduced use of paper with a QR compendium — Keycard and QR compendium

The hotel the Compendium is accessible via QR code. There are NO plastic water bottles provided in the room, and no toiletries bottles, only soap dispensers.

Hotel Facilities – Dorsett Melbourne Review

Pool & Fitness centre

One of the highlights of the hotel is the amazing indoor pool and spa. Plenty of pool towels, loungers and chairs are available to chill. During peak times (mid morning or afternoon) it can although get quite busy.

A unisex Steam Room and Sauna are also next to the pool.

On the upper level above the pool there is also a large gymnasium.

FREE Arcade Games Room

A drawcard for us coming to the hotel was the games room. Although not that big, it really was more than enough to keep the kids busy for ages!

Free Arcade Games at Dorsett Melbourne — Games Arcade

Located in the lobby next to the reception desks, the arcade room included a PacMan machine, 2 Pinball machines and a claw game to win the fluffy hotel teddies.

Teddys to be won at the claw skill tester at Dorsett Melbourne — Dorsett Teddies

Parking at Dorsett Melbourne

The hotel has only limited parking so they offer a Valet Service where they will park the car for you overnight at 65 AUD per night. It’s a fantastic service and it was so easy to have the car ready for checkout the next morning!

Reception

Friendly and helpful staff was also a standout at the hotel! Self checkout kiosks are also available for speedy checkout.

Bar & Dining

Jin Bar is the Dorsett Melbourne Bar, located on the ground floor as you enter the hotel to the left. The bar is gorgeous, with velvet interiors and comfy chairs. The hotel serves up cocktails, mocktails as well as food that can be enjoyed there too. Happy Hour also runs with discounted drinks 5-7pm from Sunday to Thursdays.

In Room Dining is also available and can be ordered from the QR code in your room.

View from Dining room balcony — Balcony at Port Bistro

Breakfast Buffet at Dorsett Melbourne

Entry to dining area — Entrance to the Port Bistro

Who does not love a good buffet breakfast?? It was indeed worth having as part of the room for our stay!

Breakfast at the Dorsett Melbourne is served at the Port Bistro on level 2. The dining room is spacious, airy and has a beautiful wrap around balcony that looks over the surrounding buildings.

continental buffett — Continental Buffet

The cold buffet included, mixed Danishes, croissants, toast and bread assortment. A variety of yogurts, fruit and condiments, honey, jam and toppings.

The hot buffet included sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, baked beans, as well as mini dim sum, and congee with lots of toppings.

What I loved about the breakfast also is that at the table there is a QR code to scan where you can order via to choose a serve of eggs your way (included in the breakfast price). That included poached, scrambled, sunny side or made-to-order Omelettes with added options like ham, onion, mushrooms etc.

Drinks and Coffee station — Breakfast Drinks and Coffee Machine

For drinks, there is a section with Juice dispensers (3) as well as a modern coffee machine for coffee. Barista made coffee can be ordered from the coffee counter at an at additional charge.

Breakfast can be added prior to check in for 25 AUD per person instead of 39 AUD per person! Free breakfast for kids under 5 years old and at a reduced rate 5 to 12 yrs (15 AUD).

Family Friendly Facilities at Dorsett Melbourne

This hotel ticks all the boxes in term of being a relaxed, family friendly environment. Free arcade games, pool, buffet breakfast and a kid friendly bar are always a winner with families!

During Australian school Holiday Periods, a variety of family friendly activities are run like kids treats buffet, free choc tops and movie screenings. Check with the hotel directly for all the details!

Location of Dorsett Melbourne

Melbourne Southbank Area — Melbourne – Southbank

Located on Little Lonsdale Street, it’s only a 5 min walk from Southern Cross train station and a 15 minutes walk from Melbourne Central and the main shopping district in Melbourne.

BOOK Dorsett Melbourne

Hope you enjoyed reading this Dorsett Melbourne Review.

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Still looking for Melbourne Hotels?

Still looking for a hotel? Check out all the hotels in Melbourne on Expedia HERE.

You can also read Check out my other review on Melbourne Marriott Docklands HERE.

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Hotel Reviews February 8, 2024

Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review

Whether it’s for a couples weekend or a family staycation, the 5-star Melbourne Marriott Docklands is a sleek city abode located in the heart of the shopping district of Docklands, only a short tram ride from the heart of the city. With a stunning rooftop infinity pool, modern dining and 2 great bars, this is my Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

What you are going to love about Melbourne Marriott Docklands

The heated resort-inspired infinity rooftop pool with striking city views
Spacious and immaculate rooms with competitive packaged rates that can include parking, breakfast at 1pm checkout!
The great location in Docklands with lots of entertainment, restaurants and shopping at your doorstep

To Check out prices and availability of the Melbourne Marriott Docklands, click HERE

Melbourne marriott docklands exterior — Exterior of Melbourne Marriott Docklands

Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review: Rooms and Amenities Summary

The Hotels has the following:

189 rooms, including M-Club Rooms
A heated rooftop swimming pool and Hot tub
Sauna & state of the art Gym with live coach equipment
Onsite high end Modern-Australian restaurant
2 stylish bars, one in the lobby and one beside the rooftop pool
An exclusive M Club Executive Lounge with it’s own bar, restaurant, meeting spaces & private terrace

Dining & Breakfast at Melbourne Marriott Docklands

Dining – Archer’s Restaurant

The restaurant at the Melbourne Marriott Docklands is Archer’s restaurant. A Modern-Australian restaurant where the vaulted ceilings have been designed to resemble the bridges and train stations of Melbourne.

Open for dinner Tue to Sat 6 pm to 10 pm. Breakfast is served here also, see below for full description.

Archer's Restaurant in Melbourne Marriott Docklands — Archer’s Restaurant

Rooftop Bar – Sunset House

Located next to the rooftop pool on level 15, Sunset House is a trendy bar that gets amazing sunset views over the city and the bay to enjoy a cold drink or a cocktail. If you prefer to stay by the pool, you can order from the comfort of your lounge chair by the infinity pool – and the drinks are delivered directly to you!

Open Fri – Sat 3 pm to 10 pm

Poolside drinks by the pool — Drinks by the Rooftop Pool

Lobby Bar – Ada’s

Contemporary lobby bar located at the entrance of the hotel, serving cocktails and drinks.

Open daily 10.30 am to 9.00 pm

Ada's Lobby bar at Melbourne Marriott Docklands — Ada’s Lobby Bar

Members Lounge – M Club Executive Lounge

Located on level 8, this is one of Marriott’s first M Club lounge in Australia. The lounge can be accessed ONLY if you have booked a M Club room or are a Bonvoy Marriott Member of Tier Platinum or higher. Anyone with access is welcome, this space is also geared towards corporate guests as a place to work, relax and recharge. Think of it as a luxurious airline lounge!

If you have access to the lounge (which sadly, I did not) – you get the VIP treatment. Private VIP check in and checkout, concierge service and there is daily breakfast, evening canapes and drinks included. There are also meeting spaces that can be reserved free of charge for up to 2 hours, as well as access to a private terrace and library.

Open 24/7

To Check out prices and availability of the Melbourne Marriott Docklands, click HERE

Breakfast at Melbourne Marriott Docklands

The breakfast at Marriott Docklands was amazing and is served at Archer’s Restaurant on the ground floor.

Breakfast is available till 11am on weekends (up to 10am midweek) which is a bonus too!

The breakfast included a very generous cold continental buffet, as well and the standard hot buffet items. More details below for this Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review:

Cold Continental Buffett Selection

Breakfast continental selection — Continental Buffett Selection

Assorted cheeses, green salad, cold meats, individual pots of chia pudding, chocolate mousse and bircher muesli.

Baked items included sliced bread, fresh loaves, mini danishes, croissants, muffins, and banana bread as well as hot waffles and pancakes. Fresh and syrup fruit, and an assortment of cereal and jams.

Hot Buffet Selection

Scrambled and sunny side-up eggs as well as bacon, sausages, sauteed mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, baked beans and hash browns.

To Check out prices and availability of the Melbourne Marriott Docklands, click HERE

Drinks Selection

A selection of juices and a Nespresso coffee machine with pods (various varieties) for self service included in the breakfast price, as well as the option to purchase St. Ali barista made coffees for an extra charge.

Pool and Fitness Facilities and Melbourne Marriott Docklands

Swimming Pool

The stunning curved rooftop pool is without a doubt the big drawcard for this hotel. It’s one of the best rooftop pools in Melbourne!

The 28-metre infinity pool on the 15th floor is heated to a comfortable 28 degrees. A hot tub is also to the left of the pool. Plenty of seating is available as well as sunken lounges in the water. Towels and sunscreen (provided in an automated sunscreen dispenser) are available for guests also.

If after some food or drinks, table service with convenient ordering via the QR code on the tables just makes it feel like a resort stay! The views are stunning over part of the city and of the bay, especially at sunset.

The pool is open every day from 6 am to 9 pm. During the week they open the pool to the public too (entry fee) and as it’s quite popular with families as well, they also have the pool reserved for adults only swimming from 7 to 9 pm.

Gym and Sauna

A large gym that is open 24/7 and on the same floor as the swimming pool. There is plenty of ultra-modern Technogym Excite Live machinery (with an inbuilt live coach) and as a bonus, amazing views over the city from the gym too.

The sauna is also on the same floor – the only thing that is worth noting though is that it is separated for males and females and located within the changing rooms.

Rooms at Melbourne Marriott Docklands

The Melbourne Marriott Docklands has a total of 189 rooms of the following categories:

Deluxe Rooms
Superior Rooms
Premium Rooms
M-Club Rooms

All the room types have the bedding option of 1 King or 2 Double Bed configurations.

We booked a Deluxe Room and received a complimentary upgrade to a Superior Room – pictured below.

Rooms at Marriott Docklands Melbourne — Superior King Room

The room felt very spacious (30 sqf), with a king bed and sitting area to the side of the bed.

Amenities included a bar fridge (unstocked), a Nespresso machine with pods and complementary water bottles. Ordering for room service can be done via the QR code (available 24 hours).

The 32 Inch smart TV on the rooms are super easy to use and fitted with HDMI and Chromecast for easy streaming. The full compendium of the hotel can be viewed on the TV also.

Large wardrobe in the room with a Safe, robe & slippers also provided.

The bathroom has the mirror that also doubles as a window and can be opened onto the bedroom.

Large rain shower and stocked with plenty of amenities like a grooming shave kit and dental kit.

Bathroom at Marriott Docklands Melbourne

Family Stays at Melbourne Marriott Docklands

This hotel caters not only for couples, friends and corporate guests – but also very much for families! The shallow end of the pool is popular with children and the spacious rooms allow for an additional rollaway or cot/crib. Many of the rooms have packages available to also include breakfast inclusions for 2 adults and children (under 12).

https://www.high-endrolex.com/5

With many family friendly attractions located within Docklands, this hotel is a great option for families looking for a comfortable city escape.

Melbourne Marriott Docklands Location

Melbourne Marriott Docklands is located in Docklands – a inner city suburb of Melbourne, located just 2 kilometres from the central business district of the city. You can easily reach Docklands from the city by car (10 minutes) or by tram (15 minutes). It’s also an easy 25-30 minutes walk from Southern Cross station if arriving by train.

A short ride by tram to reach the centre of the city in Melbourne — Short Tram Ride from the Centre of Melbourne

Getting to Melbourne Marriott Docklands from Melbourne Airport

By car/taxi from Melbourne airport you can reach Docklands in around 25 minutes or with the Skybus from the airport into Southern Cross station it’s around 40 minutes.

Attractions nearby Melbourne Marriott Docklands

Located just outside the hotel only a few minutes walk away at the District Docklands:

Shopping complex
ArtVo: 3D Gallery experience
Archie Brothers: Arcade Games and Bar
O’Brien Icehouse Ice Skating Ring
Marvel stadium for live concerts and sport events
Hoyts Cinemas

District Docklands Shopping Mall Located just outside the hotel

Popular restaurants nearby Melbourne Marriott Docklands

A variety of restaurants from fine dining to casual eateries. Some of my favourite in the area are:

Krabby’s Crab Boil (seafood)
Seoul Garden (Korean BBQ)
Berth (Mediterranean)

Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review – Final thoughts

Review of the Marriott Docklands Melbourne

What I loved about Melbourne Marriott Docklands

Without doubt the stunning pool on the rooftop. On a sunny day and at sunset you can get some amazing views and the table service made it feel like a resort rather than a city hotel and that was a great surprise.

The service and attentiveness of staff was top level. Special touches like having automated sunscreen dispensers across the floors and the staff arranging an upgrade and an anniversary gift in our room was just wonderful. Would recommend this hotel 100%.

Anniversary Gift Marriott Docklands — Anniversary Gift Provided in Room

What I didn’t like so much about Melbourne Marriott Docklands

It was hard to fault this place. The only thing that was a slight inconvenience was the parking not being located onsite (it’s in the shopping complex outside the hotel, District Docklands on level 3). There is although an area at the front of the hotel for temporary parking while you drop off luggage and check in/check out.

BOOK Melbourne Marriott Docklands

I hope you enjoyed reading my Melbourne Marriott Docklands Review!

To Check out prices and availability of the Melbourne Marriott Docklands, click HERE

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Asia November 5, 2023

Village Hotel Sentosa Review

On a recent family trip to Singapore we stayed on Sentosa island at the Village Hotel Sentosa, a stunning family friendly resort complex, located right next to Resorts World Sentosa and all it’s attractions. Worth the long flight? Absolutely! This is my Village Hotel Sentosa Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

What you are going to love about Village Hotel Sentosa

The amazing 4 pools and gardens at the pool deck. Heaps of space and a real relaxed vibe.
Perfect for families with young children. Clever room design with interconnecting rooms and shallow pools.
In a great location in Sentosa. Close to the beach, as well as to Resorts World attractions and a short monorail ride into Singapore to connect with the Metro (MRT) .

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

pool at village sentosa — Adventure Pool at Village Sentosa

Where is Village Hotel Sentosa

Village Hotel Sentosa is located on the island of Sentosa, a man made island just off the coast of the south of Singapore. Within a short walk from the hotel you can reach the beach, as well as the many attractions within Resorts World Sentosa like Universal Studios & S.E.A Aquarium.

universal studios, located in nearby resort world sentosa — Universal Studios in Singapore is located just a short walk away

The closest monorail station is 5 minutes away, Imbiah station, which can take you directly into VivoCity shopping centre in Singapore. From there you can take the Metro (MRT – HarbourFront) into anywhere you need to get to in Singapore!

Getting to Village Hotel Sentosa from Singapore Changi Airport

Taxi / Grab

The easiest and quickest way to reach Sentosa is with a taxi from Changi Airport. The trip is around 20 minutes and it costs around 25-35 SGD depending on the time of day. Taxis are available at the airport, and if travelling with children, they can travel on the parents lap on the back seat.

Ridesharing company Grab (think Uber for South East Asia) also widely operates in Singapore and can be more cost efficient than taxis.

If travelling with young children, you must book a Grab Family. Grab Family generally has car seats and boosters installed for young children.

Entry charge when arriving in Sentosa

If arriving by taxi and visiting Sentosa for the day, an Entry Fee to the island is added to the taxi fare.

If you are staying on Sentosa, you will just need to show your accommodation confirmation letter or QR code provided by the accommodation to enter Sentosa and you/the taxi driver won’t be required to pay the Entry Fee.

The fee is between $2-$6 SGD to enter the island, depending on time of day that you enter.

You can read more on this on my other post coming soon about Getting Around in Sentosa.

Facilities & Rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa

children's pool at village sentosa at dusk — Pool at dusk

Village Hotel Sentosa is a large resort complex with onsite restaurant, a stunning pool deck on the 3rd floor with 4 pools, including it’s own lazy river, swim up bar and gym.

Dining

Dining Options – within the hotel

Native Kitchen, Ground Floor, open 7am-11am, 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm

This is where breakfast for Village Hotel Sentosa is served. We did not have breakfast included in our room price so I cannot comment on the food.

It is although a buffet style breakfast serving Western and Asian dishes. It’s also open for lunch and dinner with an extensive a-la-carte menu.

native kitchen, the main restaurant at village sentosa — Native Kitchen, on the ground floor

Supply Depot, Ground Floor, open 8am to 6pm

Located at reception and is available for snacks and light refreshments.

supply depot to stock up on snacks at the lobby — Supply Depot opposite reception

Poor Bar, Pool Deck, Level 3, Open 12pm to 5pm

Located by the Pamukkale pool on the Pool Deck, you can get drinks, cocktails, Pizzas and light snacks.

Dining Options – At Mess Hall complex, located directly across from the Hotel

The gorgeous white colonial building was once a Military outpost, now hosts stylish restaurants and a convenience store. It’s located right across Village Hotel Sentosa, as well as being very easily accessible from nearby Hotels The Barracks & the Outpost Hotel.

mess hall, across the road from native kitchen — Mess Hall, located across the road from Village Sentosa, opposite Native Kitchen

7/11 Convenience Store: Proved to be extremely convenient to pick up some snacks for the room and ice creams when it got too hot. Located just outside reception on the ground floor.
Le Faubourg: French Dining
MIYOSHI by Fat Cow: Japanese Fine Dining
Royal Taj: Indian Dining

Want to explore other dining options in Sentosa? Check out my other post coming soon on Where to Eat in Sentosa.

Swimming Pools

The Pool Deck on level 3 is the jewel in the crown of this resort. Lush greenery and coy ponds surround the pool deck and there is plenty of space to have a lounge or curl up on the many round pods to read a book. All the pools are located on Level 3 via lift or escalator from reception. From Level 3 you can get a great view over the sea.

area to relax on level 3 near the pool deck — Relaxing pods in the Pool Deck Area on level 3

Adventure Pool: the largest pool in the centre of the resort with a shallow end and terraced higher end.

Adventure pool at village sentosa — Adventure Pool

Pamukkale Pool: A stunning infinity pool that looks over the sea, with terraced shallow pools to resemble Pamukkale in Turkey. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views over the water (and the monorail depot, the highlight for the kids!)

the terraced Pamukkale Pool at village sentosa — Pamukkale Pool

Children Play Pool: shallow and with 2 small water slides and water sprays, this pool is a real hit with the little ones.

Lazy River: so refreshing and surrounded by lush greenery and mangroves. You can grab one of the bright yellow pool floats from the resort and be carried along the river for a float.

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

Other Facilities

Gym: located on level 3 on the pool deck. Well equipped with modern equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, bench press and weights. Open 8am to 10pm.
Complementary Resort shuttle to Beach Station & VivoCity running every half hour from 8am to 21.30pm
Tour desk
24 hour reception

Reception at Village Sentosa — 24 hour reception at Village Sentosa

Rooms at Village Sentosa

This hotel is a large complex with 606 guestrooms. The resort is largely catered to families with lots of rooms set up as interconnecting family rooms.

Room types

There are just 3 room types at the resort. Deluxe Rooms (for 2 people), Family Rooms and Deluxe Family Rooms (both family room types are 2 rooms interconnecting). Deluxe family rooms are slightly larger than the family rooms and have a bathtub in one of the rooms. We stayed in a standard Family room.

Family Rooms

Many of the rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa are Family Rooms. The Family Rooms are essentially 2 rooms interconnecting with 2 doors, which you can keep open or closed for privacy.

Family room at village sentosa — Family room with open interconnecting doors

Each room has it’s own 49 inch TV, bathroom, shower and storage. There is also a safe to store valuables. The bed configuration can be set up as 2 doubles or one double and 2 singles.

We opted for 2 doubles and had a bedrail on one side of the kids bed (3 and 5 yrs old).

Room amenities

The rooms are compact, of minimalistic design and with neutral colours. There are large windows facing either the pool, island or sea. The windows have curtains and some great blackout blinds which made it easy for the kids to get to sleep.

Luggage Storage, tiny robes for the kids and amenities in the rooms

The rooms are very well designed with smart use of space, but keep in mind, they are very compact. There is no wardrobe, just a shelf to store a suitcase and a few drawers and hangers to store belongings.

A kettle, mugs, glasses and a jug for ice/water in the room as well an a small fridge (provided empty).

Luggage storage in the rooms — Luggage storage and small fridge upon room entry

No tea or coffee is provided in the room. Instead, on each floor, there is a vending machine for snacks and drinks, as well as a communal Tea / Coffee station.

tea/cofee station and vending machine area — Vending Machine and Ice Machine at each lift

Here, you can take what you need for your room and there is also a water / ice machine, which proved to be extremely handy to fill up water bottles with ice on our way out for the day or in the evening to have a cold drink.

They have the same set up at every lift and floor and everything was always well stocked.

filtered water tap — Communal Coffee and Tea Station

Rooms are serviced daily and we found it to be very good with the rooms thoroughly cleaned each day.

In Room Dining is available across day and night and the menu can be seen on the hotel TV.

Bathroom

A clever feature in these rooms is that instead of plastic water bottles, each room is fittet with a Hyflux filtered water tap so it was great to refill our own water bottles. The water in Singapore is perfectly safe to drink anyway but this was a nice extra touch!

Filtered water tap next to the tap in each room — Hyflux Filtered Water Tap

The wash basin is located at the hallway, next to the luggage storage as you enter the room. The rain shower & Japanese Toto Washlet are in a separate cubicle.

Family Friendly facilities at Village Resort Sentosa

Despite being a hotel that is very geared around families – there is no kids club at this resort. That said, the hotel is very comfortable for families travelling. These are some of the family friendly facilities at Village Hotel Sentosa:

Shallow end of the Adventure Pool, at 0.50 cm

Convenient interconnecting room layouts, which was hard to find for a similar price point in Sentosa. While researching we found that most of the other larger resorts in Sentosa offered family rooms with all the beds in the one room, one bathroom and one tv, rather than in interconnecting but separate rooms.
Blackout blinds in the rooms
Bed rails and cots available upon request for smaller babies and infants (up to 9 kg only)
We found that the Swimming Pools were fantastic for kids, especially young ones. The Children’s Play Pool and part of the Adventure Pool are very shallow, between 30-50 cm.
The restaurant Native Kitchen has plenty of high-chairs, as well as a kids menu

Family Movie Nights at Village Hotel Sentosa

Family Movie Nights on Friday and Saturday nights by the Adventure Pool was a highlight and a great family activity organized by the hotel. They set up bean bags and provide you with mosquito patches and overall had a really great atmosphere.

At our time of stay there were no other kids activities running so it would be best to contact the hotel ahead of time as some activities may only run seasonally during the holidays.

What is nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Attractions nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Village Resort Sentosa is conveniently located a short walk away from Resort World Sentosa (10 minute walk or 1 stop on the Sentosa Express Monorail). At Resorts World Sentosa you can find Universal Studios, S.E.A Aquarium as well as many eateries, shopping outlets and the Casino.

You can read more on my posts about Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with Toddlers HERE!

cable car over adventure cove waterpark — Cable Car over Adventure Cove Waterpark

There is so much more to the above though and so many attractions to suit all ages. Some popular ones include Adventure Cove Waterpark, Madame Tussauds as well as go karting at Hyperdrive, Indoor Skydiving at Ifly, ziplining at Mega Adventure Park and the night show at Wings of Time.

For a lazy day by the beach, walk at the back of the hotel to reach Palawan beach and stroll along to cross over the Big Bridge. There are many beach clubs along the beach to relax and have something to eat too.

Catching the Singapore Cable Car across Sentosa and at the top of Mt Faber across to Singapore is also a must do attractions and a great way to see the island from a high viewpoint.

VivoCity Shopping Mall is a huge shopping centre (the largest is Singapore) only 2 stops away on the monorail. From there you can catch the MRT (metro) into anywhere in Singapore.

Hotels nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Sharing the same complex and pool as Village Hotel Sentosa (and part of the same hotel chain) is the Outpost Hotel. This hotel is more geared for couples / friends and has its own stunning Adults only Sky Pool and Bar with cool beats playing throughout the evening, called 1- Altitude Coast.

You can check out prices for the Outpost Hotel HERE.

The Outpost Hotel Sentosa – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

The Barracks Hotel Sentosa: Luxury, heritage rooms located next door and can be seen from Mess hall across the road.

You can check out prices for the Barracks Hotel HERE.

The Barracks Hotel – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

Village Hotel Sentosa Review – Final thoughts

All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at Village Resort Sentosa! Would I come again to Village Hotel Sentosa? Absolutely YES! Would I recommend it for families? YES.

I highlighted the things that I loved about the Hotel and some things that I didn’t love so much about our stay below.

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

What I loved about Village Resort Sentosa

The standout feature for this resort is without a doubt the Pool Area. It is the most impressive pool set up that I have ever seen in a hotel. I loved that there were so many areas that you can go to, always sunbeds, you can move across to the 4 pools and they are all so different.
The design with immaculate gardens, coy ponds to the side and greenery that is on top over the roofs of the pool too, make this the highlight of the stay.

the green roof above the pool deck at village sentosa — The greenery overtaking the roof of the Pool Deck on Level 3

Location we found to be really great. It was so easy to get around in Sentosa or into Singapore with the the Sentosa Express Monorail directly into Vivocity Shopping Centre and from there hop on the MRT.

What I didn’t like so much about Village Resort Sentosa

The main thing that we found a bit challenging during the stay was the size of the rooms. The rooms are quite compact and as we stayed just over a week – we had quite a bit of luggage and the lack of storage just meant we had things lying around everywhere.

We also had quite a bit of laundry to do (always the case with young kids) and there was little or no space to dry it. There was a laundry service at the hotel but it was quite pricey (charged per item) so we did not use it and arranged our own washing.

I think perhaps the room set up for this hotel is more geared towards guests staying for a short stay, rather than longer stays hence the smaller rooms.

Want to read Read More on How to Save Money when Travelling to Singapore? Article coming soon.

BOOK Village Hotel Sentosa

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

Want to read more about Singapore?

Check out my other articles about Singapore like Free things to Do in Singapore with Kids & Popular and Unique Dishes to Try at Hawker Centres.

Note: This post is NOT sponsored and is my honest and personal opinion only.

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Travel Tips August 13, 2023

This is the ONE thing you want to see in a bad hotel review

Reviews are everywhere. For where you eat, shop, ride and of course stay! They are essential to check out the real deal on a hotel before you book. We look at why you should read reviews, what to look for and the ONE thing you want to see in a bad hotel review to make sure your stay is fuss free with no hidden surprises.

guest reviews are often rates out of 5 or 10 — Image by Alexander from Pixabay

Why should you check reviews?

A place might look fantastic on the pictures, look new and clean, but you turn up and the accommodation is dirty, the area is a awful and the staff is rude. It’s happened to me and I’m sure it’s happened to many of you too.

That’s why hotel reviews are so valuable. They can give you real insights from travellers that have tried and tested a place before you go and stay. It’s as close as you can get from a recommendation from a friend!

guest reviews are important to understand how the accommodation is before you check in — Image by ming dai from Pixabay

Since sites like Tripadvisor.com and online travel agents plugged in reviews directly on booking sites, reviews are everywhere! But where do you start without having to read hundreds of them? Read on for some tips! And to find out what is the ONE thing you want to see in a bad review.

What do you look for in a hotel review?

Look for reviews that are thorough, factual and to the point. You want to mainly read reviews that focus on the highlights of the location, the cleanliness, amenities & how the staff deals with the guests. Always filter reviews by the most recent. By reading the first 10-20 reviews, this is where you will see patterns and if there have been recent management changes.

If there are photos that guests have left, check these out too! Compare them to the images loaded by the accommodation provider itself and see if they are indeed realistic of what the rooms and spaces looks like.

How many good reviews is enough?

Look for the overall percentage of positive reviews and average score for each review. If the highest score is 5 for example, you would be generally looking for the majority of the reviews with a score of 4 and above for a good standard. Filter by recent reviews to check whether they are consistently good. It doesn’t matter if a place is budget or luxury. Cleanliness & friendly customer service are extremely important to make it a comfortable stay, no matter what is your budget!

good customer service is important to get positive reviews — Image by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pixabay

New Accommodation or Hotels recently opened

Even if a hotel is new & recently opened and they don’t have many reviews – what is there to read is a good indication on how the accommodation is doing so far.

In hotels for example, dealing with reviews is generally the responsibility of a particular person. Especially once a new place has opened, getting good reviews is an important strategy to ensure return customers and to bring in new ones!

new accommodation providers should also focus on getting positive reviews — Image by Tom from Pixabay

If there are mainly bad reviews when a place has just opened, even though the place might be brand new, it’s not a good sign! It might mean that the management has still not worked out all their processes and things are getting missed such as cleanliness standards & staff training.

Negative reviews and the ONE thing you want to see in a bad hotel review

Why people leave negative reviews

It’s extremely difficult to find a hotel that has no negative reviews. Peoples expectations are different. Staff change. All it takes is for someone to have an off day and they will leave a bad review.

Something extremely small might have caused a guest a huge bother (I’ve read all sorts) or, in more malicious cases, people also leave reviews out of spite when they don’t get their way.

leaving bad reviews online is common practise and are an opportunity for accommodation providers to improve their service — Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Sometimes, people also just like to write a negative review as it’s just easier to complain online rather than in person. Once the guests have left, there is very little that the hotel/accommodation provider can do to redeem themself. Read on to find out what is the one thing that you want to see in a bad review.

What to look for in a negative review

Bad reviews are not a bad thing though. In most cases if they are genuine – they are excellent opportunities for management of a hotel or accommodation providers to gain very valuable feedback in what can be improved and what can be done to make future guests stays seamless.

cleanliness at a hotel or accommodation provider is an important basic that helps with getting positive reviews — Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

My advice is, take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. Look for consistent issues that are reoccurring across multiple bad reviews – if they are mentioned several times then perhaps it is an actual issue. A once off negative review on something that has not been mentioned by other reviews recently, or a highly emotionally charged review is unlikely something to be wary about.

The one thing that you want to see in a bad review is this though: A management response!

The one thing that you want to see in a bad review: The ideal management response

What you are looking for is a genuine, professional response where management shows:

That they APOLOGIZE! They are sorry about the issue that has been brough to their attention
What actions have been taken to solve the issue/s
Management might also advise guests to contact them directly, so that the issue can be rectified offline
Thank guests for leaving the review and writing that they wish to see them again!

A management response is SO important! It not only shows that the management cares about the guests but also that they are open to feedback to improve things moving forward. So even if there are some bad reviews, if you see responses by the management that is a great sign!

hotel room photos left by guests are a great way to see if the room actually looks as described

On the other hand, not seeing a response to a bad review, or unprofessional responses by management, just shows that there is little care in what guests think. Issues raised are taken personally or totally dismissed rather that as an opportunity to improve the guest experience for next time.

Hope you are now equipped with some useful information for the next stay that you book!

Book

I hope you enjoyed this article! You can read more about handy hotel tips in my other post: 5 Mistakes to avoid when booking accommodation

Want to read reviews from thousand of accommodation providers? Check out Tripadvisor.com

Looking for some great hotel deals? Check out Expedia or Booking.com.

To compare and book flights head over to Skyscanner.

Want to read more about helpful travel tips? Check out more of my posts!

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