I was attending the tennis tournament so it was a peak time in Melbourne (and peak hotel rates). Having an apartment with laundry and kitchen facilities was a great convenience. If you are on the Chapel St. side of the hotel (especially a lower floor) don't expect to have the sliding door open much as noise will be an issue (with the doors and windows closed the rooms are quiet enough).

You can walk to the tennis grounds and the football stadium complex in less than half an hour or walk five minutes to the nearby train station and you are there in one stop (allow about 15 minutes in case you need to wait for a train), taxis are prevalent as well, especially at night. The trams/trolleys will make more stops and take a little longer and you have to change trams to get to the athletic facilities. The transportation around the City is great and you can buy a weekly pass for about $30 US that can be used on trams, trains and buses (I believe, did not take a bus). I spent a day just checking out different locations around the City via trams and trains.

The neighborhood is great and the walk along the Yarra River is really pretty. There are usually crew teams on the river, and joggers along the foot paths. The Botanical Gardens are a few blocks over from the hotel and the park is filled with joggers. There is a grocery across the street from the hotel and a large high school next door (makes for a pretty view if you are on that side of the hotel). If you are in the market for a Ferrari, there is a dealer just steps away) Anyway, great location, great City, go there.

Back to the hotel, the staff was always friendly and helpful. This is not a particularly large hotel and the front desk closes at 11pm. Not a problem, your key gets you entry after hours. There is a small fitness room on the top floor and you have to check out a key and return it to the front desk after each use (since not everyone returns the key promptly, the front desk person usually had to come up and open it for me, which they were happy to do).

Wireless internet is available at an extra charge, which is always disappointing (especially during peak times when you are already paying top dollar). There is no restaurant on site but there is a very nice one just one building over in a larger hotel...breakfast was excellent.

I initially sought to stay in the Central Business District (CBD), but after walking around that area and where this hotel/apt is (in So. Yarra), I prefer So. Yarra. You have restaurants and shopping but it is a little less crowded and has a little more of a neighborhood feel as opposed to the more urban feeling CBD.

All in all, the hotel was just what I was looking for and if you can get for a good rate, go for it.

We stayed a week in an 'executive' one-bedroom apartment. It was very good - nice bed, which could be separated from the living room (although that made it seem a bit cramped, so we didn't), and good bathroom, living room and kitchen. The balcony would have been nice, but there was (is - probably for the next 9 months) a major building project underway just across the street, so too noisy to use the balcony during the day (and at night, there's a sports centre nearby which can also be pretty noisy!). But a very good location; a Woolworth's already open in the new building opposite (for those from the UK, this is not the 'Woolies' you remember, but a superb large supermarket!) where we bought good food and wine for dining in the apartment, but also restaurants, cafes, bars just a short walk away (the Italian trattoria 'Caffe e Cuccina' is great, and pretty authentic), and trams right outside. Oh, and loads of fashion shops. Excellent if you want to be in the South Yarra or Prahran areas (Prahran market also excellent for food), and trams on Toorak Road will take you to Botanic Gardens and downtown, etc. But Federation Square ain't what it's cracked up to be!

I stayed here for 6 nights. Not only was an (unpaid) request for an early check-in honoured but I was upgraded to a larger apartment than I'd booked for the duration of my stay. The apartments are comfortable and spacious, the location was convenient for my trip and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Stayed in a 2 room apartment for 3 nights. Very conveniently located along Chapel Street with a Woolsworth right opposite. Chapel Street is a very pleasant place. Near enough to Melbourne CBD (15mins via tram) & yet away from the City. Facilities are standard of all service apartments. Decor is modern and fresh. The indoor spa pool on the top floor was a hit with my boys.

One bummer, the ac. Had trouble getting the right temperture. The cooling function did not work. It became to warm & stuffy & we had to switch it off to have a comfortable night's sleep.