If you do a Google search for hotels in Melbourne's CBD, you will come across literally dozens of potential accommodation hits, ranging from $25 a night hostels to $250 a night five-star establishments.
With so many options, it can sometimes be difficult to narrow it down to the best choice for your needs.
City Edge On Elizabeth is located on A'Beckett St, just off Elizabeth St in Melbourne's CBD
Do you want to stay in close proximity to a certain place? Do you have a budget for how much you want to spend on your stay? Are there hotel features (such as a gym or a special service) that are a must, to make your visit a worthwhile experience? Are you travelling with a large group or going solo, and do any of these places suit your number requirements?
While accommodation choices are obviously subject to availability and personal preference, there are some places that stand out for their conveniences and centrality. One such place is City Edge on Elizabeth- a serviced apartment hotel that features 63 rooms and is located on A'Beckett Street (just off Elizabeth Street), within Melbourne's CBD.
The bedroom area of the Studio Apartment is aesthetically pleasing
If you are travelling solo, as I was on this occasion, then a studio apartment will provide the perfect accommodation for your stay. An adequate size for one to two people, the room is compact and self-contained, with everything that you could possibly need for a short stopover or longer-term visit to the city.
The kitchenette has everything that you need for an extended stay, including a pull-out drawer dishwasher under the microwave
Featuring a fresh and modern grey and white décor- with splashes of red in the cushions, armchair and kitchen splashback to offset the colour scheme- the apartment is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The bathroom is just off the main entrance, with a modern square basin and sliding mirror cupboard, which contains the usual hotel paraphernalia such as hairdryer and free toiletries. Due to space constraints, there is no bath (only a shower), but this is relatively wide and spacious. The apartment itself is quite compact, with a double bed (which may be a tad short for anyone over 6-foot tall) and kitchenette laid out next to one another, a single armchair in the corner and a flat screen television bracketed to the wall opposite the bed. Notably, for a room that features a kitchenette, there are no table or chairs to eat at, so visitors will have to make do with eating while seated on the bed or in the armchair. At the end of the room is a sliding door which opens up onto a very small triangular-shaped balcony that looks out onto A'Beckett Street.
The bathroom is compact and neat
Free Wi-Fi is included when you stay at City Edge on Elizabeth- you can get the password from reception staff when you check in- although I found it patchy at best. It was actually much easier for me to log onto the RMIT University free Wi-Fi (which must have an impressive range because I was at least a block away from the closest campus).
A view of busy Elizabeth St from the balcony
Besides sporadic internet access, the only other issue I really had with my stay was the noise (although that is to be expected in an inner-city apartment). Anyone looking for a quiet night will be disappointed, with the ringing of tram bells, honking of impatient motorists, and blaring music of a nearby nightclub all competing. Unfortunately, the room windows/sliding doors are not double-glazed, so there is no noise-reduction, and short of asking for a room that doesn't face the street (or wearing earplugs), I'm not sure there is anything you can really do about it.
That said, this is a well-priced and convenient hotel to stay at if you are visiting Melbourne and would like to be in a central location. With compact and very self-sufficient rooms, the hotel is just a short walk away from Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, RMIT University, the State Library and the public transport network (trams run along Elizabeth St, just near the building), meaning that everything you need is within reach. For the price and the location, you can't really go wrong.
