Set back above the beach at Shanklin is the Melbourne Ardenlea Hotel next to the ... more
beautiful wooded 'Chine' Valley and thatched old Village Inside the hotel you will find a warm friendly atmosphere of a well run family hotel The beach below consists of ...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: Central, cheap, free 'breakfast' Disadvantages: Tatty, grubby, impolite staff, very busy at all times
Though I don't like to believe it, some things in life simply are too good to be true. I booked to stay for 3 nights in Melbourne and my criteria were:
· cheap
· my own room (a backpacker hostel was ok, but a dorm room was not)
· centrally located
· preferably with breakfast included
With these things in mind, I surfed the net until I came across the Hotel Bakpak. It had its own website, which I always prefer, and looked reasonable. What's more, STA Travel were offering me a single room there, including breakfast, for a mere $70 for the entire duration of my stay. This is equivalent to 30 GBP, or a mere 10 GBP per night. That's probably the point I should have known something was up, but I didn't want to know, so went ahead and booked.
**- Getting There -**
About 6 weeks later I arrived in Melbourne. The Hotel offers ...
Advantages: The Most Liveable City in the World Disadvantages: A long way away from practically everywhere else!
all the Art Deco treasures to prove it. Things went spectacularly wrong in the 50's and 60's and the area degenerated into a haunt for vice in all the usual forms. It's still a little rough around the edges in places, especially at night, with tranny streetwalkers & the odd junkie begging for change, but all the run-down mansions and apartments have been lovingly restored & the yuppies are well & truly ensconced. St.Kilda's also home to Luna Park, another relic of the decadent 20's, an antique amusement park with an entrance underneath a massive, gaping mouth. The Esplanade hotel, a Victorian monolith opposite the beach, is a Melbourne institution. There's no better place to be on a Sunday afternoon than on the front porch at the Espy, drink in hand, waiting for the sunset. It's also a brilliant live venue, mainly alternative and scene acts ...
Advantages: Friendly Hostel, clean and cheap Disadvantages: Can get noisy
The Melbourne International Backpackers
The Melbourne International Backpackers is in a great location for the CBD. Located on Elizabeth and Franklin Street, the nearest station is Melbourne Central just 5 mins away and Flinders Street station is only (15 mins away).
Rooms:
Hostel dorm rooms are available from 4 ? 10 bed, these are all priced the same, the winter prices are $24 a night or $143 for a week. You will need to give a refundable $20 deposit for your key card.
All rooms are bunk bed style with free linen and blankets, all rooms have a full length mirror and lockers.
Social Areas:
This hostel has a large kitchen which was part of the appeal for me, clean and tidy with enough pots and pans for everyone. You can get a cutlery box from reception; you just have to make a $20 deposit which you will receive back ...
