The Holiday and Travel Magazine: Grand Hotel Melbourne

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Grand Hotel Melbourne - the grandest hotel in Melbourne!

When in Melbourne to attend a recent Expo I was fortunate to stay at the historic Grand Hotel Melbourne. The hotel is part of Accor’s exclusive MGallery label. It was the first hotel in Australia to be a part of this worldwide boutique collection of intimate and exceptional hotels.

The six storey hotel is housed in one of Melbourne's most treasured heritage buildings. It was originally the Head Office of Victorina Railways and was built in the Victorian period in the Renaissance Revival style. Building commenced in 1887 and it opened in 1893. The building has been restored to its former elegance for its present day use as a four and a half star deluxe boutique apartment-style hotel. It now combines historic charm with modern 21st-century technology and facilities.

The reception staff were very welcoming and made my check-in and departure very easy. The hotel lobby has an adjoining cosy library with comfy seating which is a good area to meet with friends. On the other side of the library is the RAB Lounge Restaurant & Bar. I noticed people relaxing on their return to the hotel from their Melborne activities. Some were reading newspapers, some chating, and some playing chess.

The Grand Hotel Melbourne offers a choice of studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments. I enjoyed my stay in a spacious self-contained one bedroom split-level loft apartment.

On the lower level were the modern kitchen, lounge and dining areas. The kitchen was fully equiped with toaster, kettle, dishwasher, microwave, oven, stove, full-size refrigerator, crockery and cutlery. A coffee machine was an added bonus. The lounge had comfortable seating, CD and DVD player, stereo system, phone, and flat screen television. In-house movies and complimentary access to a DVD library were available. For work purposes there was a writing desk, lamp and office chair.

On the upper level was a bathroom and bedroom. The bedroom had a decadently comfortable pillowtop Grand Bed, premium bedding of Egyptian cotton linens and comfy pillows. They all combined together to provide a good night’s sleep. There was a LCD TV in the bedroom to catch the early morning news when I woke up. I enjoyed my morning shower and evening bath and the bathrobe, slippers and designer Appelles Apothecary toiletries that were provided.

My Grand Hotel Melbourne apartment was very quite with no outside noise coming in, due to the double glazed window, heavy curtains and thick walls.

I enjoyed using the leisure centre in the hotel garden coutyard. This consisted of an indoor heated pool, gym, spa and sauna. I noticed BBQs that were available for guests use.

The stylish RAB Lounge Restaurant & Bar offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast I enjoyed my juice, tea and 'Simply Grand' option of my choice of scambled eggs, bacon, gourmet sausages, roasted tomato, mushrooms, and hash brown. I could have chosen other healthy breakfast options such as fresh seasonal fruit and berries, Greek yoghurt, toasts, cereals, pancakes or omelettes.

The Grand Hotel Melbourne is conveniently located on Spencer Street between Flinders and Collins Streets. I found this an ideal location close to where I needed to go. The Southern Cross Station, where I caught the shuttle bus to Melbourne Airport, and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where I attended the AIME Expo, were just a short walk away from the Grand Hotel. I noticed that it is close to many of Melbourne’s attractions, including Crown Casino, Etihad Stadium, Docklands, Melbourne Aquarium, DFO South Wharf and Southbank. There is a tram stop outside the hotel, which makes access to other parts of Melbourne just a tram ride away.

This was the first time I had the pleasure of staying at the palatial Grand Hotel Melbourne. I can now see why other business and leisure travellers choose to stay at the impressive Grand Hotel Melbourne.