Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport

We arrived around 1 AM from an international flight and weren't really looking for much more than a hot shower, a comfortable bed, and something very close to the airport. This ticked all our boxes. We booked months in advance, and because I knew we'd be coming in so late, I contacted them to see if we could get a late checkout (which they did complimentary) and if they could prearrange the shuttle to pick us up. We didn't have a phone that would operate in Melbourne, so we wanted to have the shuttle on standby since we wouldn't be able to call. They shot that down, so we figure we may be able to get the info desk to call them when we arrived. When we got there, the info desk was unstaffed. There was literally no one around except the burly guy with the beard that was out smoking a cigarette. Luckily, he was a doll and told us the hotel was just a 5 minute walk across the car park, so we schlepped our bags all the way there. It would've been nice to have had the 24-hour shuttle the hotel offers pick us up instead of having to lug everything there on foot after a 20 hour flight. While I understand that they don't want to send the shuttle at a certain time if we happen to get delayed in Customs or something, it seems like they could have done SOMETHING to arrange for pick-up. Having the late checkout was our only saving grace. We would have been absolutely worthless if we'd had to have gotten up earlier. Recommended, but if you have a late check-in, plan to walk.

Every part of this hotel is tired. The carpet is almost threadbare and is saggy in areas (both in the corridors and the room itself). The paintings were crocked because the hooks had fallen out of the wall. The room was noisy, tired and absolutely filthy. We did not need to see “evidence” of previous occupants in the toilet, for example. Food in the lobby bar was over cooked and overpriced and the tables were not clean. We were served with a dirty plate and when looking for staff to replace it, we were ignored. I cannot get my head around the good ratings this hotel has. We would have done better sleeping in the car park. This was the most expensive hotel we had this trip, and the most disappointing we have had for a very long time. It goes without saying we will not be back.

Bar meal and staff excellent. Shuttle bus excellent. Receptionist rude and uncaring .... our daughter had booked for us and the room was booked under her name (Expedia), but in notes clearly stated room was for her “elderly parents”, Jack and Lorna Stuckey. On two subsequent emails to the property, re their shuttle bus service and re the meals available, our daughter again stated this was for her Parents ... and these questions were answered expediently by the Hotel. However, on arrival, firstly the receptionist said we had no booking, but then conceded it was there but in our daughters name ... she then said that she could refuse us accommodation on security grounds etc etc ... we are both 85 years old!!! This was not good “hospitality” and we hope this is not how she treats everyone

Hotel was close to airport, I couldn’t find shuttle bus so made my way there in a taxi. I walked in with 2 large bags and 2 smaller bags and a number of staff stood at the door and didn’t offer to help. The reception staff also did not offer or assist with my bags, and I asked if I could have help to my room or a trolley fit the bags and she said okay but did nothing. Waited another few minutes and ended up just carrying the bags myself. I had been traveling for 39 hours and as this us an airport hotel assumed they would be used to people arriving with aloe if bags, The room was very very hot and stuffy and smelt musty. The bed was comfortable, but bathroom very dated. It was a very very expensive hotel for what was provided and the service. The shuttle bus in the morning was the only good thing, and the driver very helpful. I wouldn’t recommend and am very disappointed with what I paid for thus.

This hotel was pretty much perfect for our purpose. We flew into Melbourne for one night for an event on the north side of Melbourne. Being the end of January The Australian Open tennis was on at the time so accommodation in the CBD was very expensive. The Holiday Inn was great as it was only a 5-minute walk from the airport terminal so we didn't have to worry about transport to and from. The hotel has a McDonalds and BP service station across the road which was convenient for any supplies. We had lunch in the bar and the food was great. The McDonalds across the road goes drive-thru only after a certain time of night so was not an option when we got back from our event, but the hotel has 24-hour room service that came arrived more quickly than the suggested 20 to 30 minutes, it was probably more like 10 to 15. The only slight problem we found was that only Uber Black is currently available in the airport precinct, so travelling from the hotel is around 3 times more expensive than travelling back to the hotel.