Week end in Melbourne
November 6, 2009
I am leaving Sydney for a week end to go to Melbourne. I hear quite often that Melbourne is a great place to live. It is hard to imagine how it could be better than Sydney, but people say it is! The only disadvantage they point out is the weather. I will not have any problem with it during my stay as the forecast for the week end is sun with 35 degrees.
I am flying on Friday night and flying back in Monday morning, so I can make the most of my stay in the town. I finally chose to stay in Melbourne, even though I hesitated to do a trip to the National Park nearby or to Phillip Island to watch penguins.
The flight with Tiger Airways was cheap.
I arrived around 23.30 at the airport, and went straight to the hotel in the city. Just by going through the town it was obvious the atmosphere was different from Sydney. The architecture stroke me first. Even if Sydney has very nice buildings (QVB - Queen Victoria Building), Melbourne architecture is very rich with Victorian buildings, churches and very design constructions all around. I loved the mix between the time periods. See you tomorrow Melbourne!
I am flying on Friday night and flying back in Monday morning, so I can make the most of my stay in the town. I finally chose to stay in Melbourne, even though I hesitated to do a trip to the National Park nearby or to Phillip Island to watch penguins.
The flight with Tiger Airways was cheap.
I arrived around 23.30 at the airport, and went straight to the hotel in the city. Just by going through the town it was obvious the atmosphere was different from Sydney. The architecture stroke me first. Even if Sydney has very nice buildings (QVB - Queen Victoria Building), Melbourne architecture is very rich with Victorian buildings, churches and very design constructions all around. I loved the mix between the time periods. See you tomorrow Melbourne!
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My first luxury hotel experience
First of all, I want to warn you that my review my be biased as I had never stayed in such a luxury hotel before. I still share my experience, even if I cannot make any comparison.
I usually go for the cheapest hotel I can find... but I had an opportunity to stay few nights in the Sofitel and... I loved it!
Staying there was a surprise, and I arrived as a backpacker whereas girls there were all dressed up for the race... Funny. I was amazed like a little girl by everything! If I enjoy the atmosphere in B&B or hostels, I know now that I also enjoy a lot luxury!
The hotel starts at the 35th floor of a building in the town center of Melbourne. My room was at the 45th floor. The view is stunning and hard to beat. There are photos of it on my travel blog.
The bathroom had 1 bath doing shower as well.
Bath, Body, Soap & Skincare products were from Roger&Gallet. French quality ^^
The thing I liked the most was the remote. From the bed with it, you can do anything you want : turn on/off the lights (or make it "relax" was my favourite), turn on the music or the TV (I doubt mine was working, or I never figured out how to make it work)...
I put only 3/5 for the service because someone from the staff knocked at my door and I never understood why (and it was not because of MY English). I know I could have put "Do not disturb", but I was actually waiting for some free chocolate!). I just mean that in a luxury hotel, I do not expect to be disturbed for no reason.
Otherwise, according to me and my no-experience of such standard for hotels, I enjoyed a lot my stay. The bar downstairs was surprisingly not so expensive, with a live band playing at night, very great. I did not try the restaurant at the 35th floor.
Maybe the only thing missing is a swimming pool!
I usually go for the cheapest hotel I can find... but I had an opportunity to stay few nights in the Sofitel and... I loved it!
Staying there was a surprise, and I arrived as a backpacker whereas girls there were all dressed up for the race... Funny. I was amazed like a little girl by everything! If I enjoy the atmosphere in B&B or hostels, I know now that I also enjoy a lot luxury!
The hotel starts at the 35th floor of a building in the town center of Melbourne. My room was at the 45th floor. The view is stunning and hard to beat. There are photos of it on my travel blog.
The bathroom had 1 bath doing shower as well.
Bath, Body, Soap & Skincare products were from Roger&Gallet. French quality ^^
The thing I liked the most was the remote. From the bed with it, you can do anything you want : turn on/off the lights (or make it "relax" was my favourite), turn on the music or the TV (I doubt mine was working, or I never figured out how to make it work)...
I put only 3/5 for the service because someone from the staff knocked at my door and I never understood why (and it was not because of MY English). I know I could have put "Do not disturb", but I was actually waiting for some free chocolate!). I just mean that in a luxury hotel, I do not expect to be disturbed for no reason.
Otherwise, according to me and my no-experience of such standard for hotels, I enjoyed a lot my stay. The bar downstairs was surprisingly not so expensive, with a live band playing at night, very great. I did not try the restaurant at the 35th floor.
Maybe the only thing missing is a swimming pool!
A small part of the room, from o…
One of the window, with the stun…
The 35th floor from the 45th floor.
