All you want when you stay in an airport hotel is clean, quiet, and hassle free. The Holiday Inn at the Melbourne Airport did exactly that.
Thanks to TripAdvisor, I knew to cut through the carpark and strolled in without having to wait for the minibus ($2 but it is so close it is faster to walk than it is for the bus!).
Check in was swift and no problem.
I really liked the way the hotel was set up - lots of rooms well away from the lifts. The rooms were refurbished yet small, but you aren't here for a holiday - you are here for a night. So it was perfectly functional for what I needed - my only comment on the room set up was there was nowhere to put my bags (one was very large being dive gear). I doubt two people with luggage would be overly comfortable here.
My room was so quiet!! I could see the planes land and take off but couldn't hear a thing.
I decided to eat in the hotel, as the choices were a bit limited in the area (fast food or airport), but the restaurant was packed and there were no spare seats in the bar, only a stool at the bar - so I plonked myself there and ordered a club sandwich - it was ridiculously large - could easily have shared it. I gave up trying to get the attention of the restaurant staff to reserve a seat for later and the girl at the bar was so disingenuous it became almost funny.
I didn't sleep well, more to do with me concerned about missing my flight than anything else.
Check out was likewise quick and without issue.
I didn't use the internet as I had my own.
The toiletries were excellent - this was my first Holiday Inn, and would stay again.

I liked my stay at the Holiday Inn. I like hotels that do a good solid job of what they say they will, even if they are a little dated (in this case, the carpets and the textured ceiling, plus the overall exterior give it away as a bit old). The hotel is about 7 mins walk from the terminal - very easy, or you can take a shuttle. The staff were very friendly and efficient at check-in, despite a load of people from a cancelled flight coming in. There was a good hairdryer, an iron, a selection of movies on the tv, a selection of food on the room service menu (looked a bit pricey, guess you could go to McDonalds across the road!). Very quiet despite being close to the airport and freeway. The bed felt a little tired, but it was still reasonably comfortable and I slept well. Pleasant shower (good pressure). Can't comment on value as my sister had won a night's stay as part of their current competition, but if you did need to stay at the airport, I think this is fine. I was by myself and walked through the carpark to the terminal both in the evening and morning - not a problem at all.

We arrived at this hotel at 3 o'clock in the morning after a long flight from the U K, the one problem I found was that I couldn't find the curtisy phone in the airport to phone for transport to the hotel, as it was it's only a short walk from the airport, not a good idea if you have kid's in tow.
Having said that we were checked in very quickly and as luck would have it was given a upgrade, so went to bed happy, the rooms were clean and tidy and rooms large with tea and coffee, also a well stocked fridge, although I find drinks and things in the room too expencive to use, I do wonder why hotels put in small bath's i the room, only good for bathing a baby, (if your young enogh to have one),there was plenty of shower gel's and soap so we didn't have to unpack to find some..
Breakfast in the morning was a buffitt breakast with plenty to eat and all the food was fresh, you could also ask for other things from the menu.
The hotel was near all the car hire places so it was easy to collect the hire car later in the day.
Check out was also quick, staff were very helpfull, so it made a enjoyable short stay at the hotel.

Our family had just completed several days of traveling between South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia and had stayed a number of hotels. Although all were clean, many were dated, noisy, and lacking some of the simplest, expected amenities. The Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport was a welcome reprieve. Our rooms on the 7th floor was impeccably quite. It's surprising how the simplest items such as having a hook on the bathroom door, accessible and plentiful power outlets, etc...can make a hotel stay more comfortable and welcoming. The staff was attentive, helpful and courteous. The food was fairly good and comparably priced. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.