Doubletree Melbourne

[QF WP]

Not a fan of that location but it's always good to have a choice of Hilton properties I suppose. Might help to keep the rates down.

Location isn't too bad, gives another option in Melbourne, will be handy if mattress running is required to keep my Hilton Gold, I might have to try it out in December.

My thoughts exactly. Pity it comes on 1 Dec, not in time for me to keep Diamond.

Mmmm ... cookies ...

I agree . After DT Alice Springs, I am really hanging out to try it.

 

[markis10]

My thoughts exactly. Pity it comes on 1 Dec, not in time for me to keep Diamond.


I agree . After DT Alice Springs, I am really hanging out to try it.

Your Diamond would be good through to March???

 

[QF WP]

Yes, but renewal is based on activity up to 31 Dec - thus my renewal is unlikely

 

[Moopere]

The thought of a lounge at this hotel brings mirth to any Melburnian! To answer your question seriously though; there is no lounge.
However the hotel can provide you with a unique room - A Twin Guest Room - Interior - with no windows!

Hmm. The current citigate hotel has no lounge or the new 'refreshed' DT will still have no lounge?

Reading the blurb on the DT melbourne website ("coming soon!") there appears to be any number of 'meeting rooms' 2-3 at least - with every hotel offering a bunch of these, and every second office building trying to hock off their spare space as 'meeting rooms' I'd have thought there would be more value in having a lounge.

The DT in BKK didn't have a lounge but I thought I'd wing it anyway - annoyed me so much in the end I doubt I'll go back there, will try the Hilton directly behind it. I guess there has to be a differentiation in the end, otherwise the DT just becomes another hilton with different livery Still, I fondly remember the last time I was at DT in KL - gave me a much greater Hilton feeling and service than the actual Hilton KL.

Anyway, having stared at the building for a while in google maps, I can now see the obvious, 'interior rooms' - of course, given the placement of the building and its neighbours this must be the case - interesting to note that the difference in price to another room that presumably has a (non opening) window is about $10. Also, looking up at the top of the building looks like 2 floors with what appears to be a pretty substantial balcony - these will presumably accommodate the "Flinders Street Station View" rooms ... or maybe they are a lounge/deck (or the aforementioned meeting rooms????).

Its a HH rating 6 hotel ... same as HotP, and early asking pricing appears to match that, its certainly not cheap. Given no lounge, limited room types and what this might mean for upgrades for status holders, and the price - though choice is always good, the other existing hiltons are probably more enticing to me.

 

[boomy]

Its a HH rating 6 hotel ... same as HotP, and early asking pricing appears to match that, its certainly not cheap. Given no lounge, limited room types and what this might mean for upgrades for status holders, and the price - though choice is always good, the other existing hiltons are probably more enticing to me.

They run $165 promo for a while but seems it's finished and prices for Dec are over $200 now, a bit too high for DT.

 

[blackcat20]

They run $165 promo for a while but seems it's finished and prices for Dec are over $200 now, a bit too high for DT.

And now more expensive than HSW for the night I was after.

 

[drross]

They run $165 promo for a while but seems it's finished and prices for Dec are over $200 now, a bit too high for DT.

Seems abit over priced at that rate.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And now more expensive than HSW for the night I was after.

Oh well........if people vote with their feet, they will most likely massage the prices a tad! Seems this new DT doesn't have a great deal going for it......from the posts here it's -
1. poorly positioned
2. overpriced
3. offering rooms without windows (just think, I prefer a balcony.....now a window is seen as a luxury)
4. probably not offering a lounge

Seems to me MEL has many other properties which trump this new offering.

 

[boomy]

Oh well........if people vote with their feet, they will most likely massage the prices a tad! Seems this new DT doesn't have a great deal going for it......from the posts here it's -
1. poorly positioned
2. overpriced

Why is it poorly positioned? I think it's about time Hilton offer a hotel located in CBD. I heard many complaints from work colleagues who wanted to stay with Hilton when visiting MEL but had to choose another brand because both properties are located in "dead" areas.
I believe the fact DT can charge a premium is mostly due the their attractive location.

3. offering rooms without windows (just think, I prefer a balcony.....now a window is seen as a luxury)
4. probably not offering a lounge

No windows at all is pretty bad but a balcony in the CBD is a luxury which is hard to get these days.
The absence of lounge is not necessary a deal breaker, Hilton Perth doesn't have one and still doing very well (judging by the inflated mid-week prices).

 

[straitman]

FWIW the Westin in Melbourne has rooms without windows.

 

[DC3]

Rooms without a window? They must be very inexpensive rooms. I can say that I have never stayed in a hotel room without a window, and would never willingly stay in such a room. Just my preference.

 

[boomy]

FWIW the Westin in Melbourne has rooms without windows.

Sofitel SYD has some as well, a bit larger then standard rooms IIRC.

 

[blackcat20]

Rooms without a window? They must be very inexpensive rooms. I can say that I have never stayed in a hotel room without a window, and would never willingly stay in such a room. Just my preference.

I've had rooms with internal windows...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Why is it poorly positioned?

As posted, my list was from what others have stated. Maybe further debate might ensue!

No windows at all is pretty bad but a balcony in the CBD is a luxury which is hard to get these days.
The absence of lounge is not necessary a deal breaker, Hilton Perth doesn't have one and still doing very well (judging by the inflated mid-week prices).

I've stayed at many MEL properties with a balcony, but that's not the real issue.......I'd outright refuse a room without so much as a window. I've stayed on many ships in "inside" cabins, but the big difference is that they're paying me.....not the other way around!

As for Hilton Parmelia? I refuse to stay there. An overpriced old hotel without a lounge. I'm at a loss to understand why anyone would bother when there are other better alternatives.

 

[boomy]

I've stayed at many MEL properties with a balcony

I must have been unlucky then. Most of the MEL CBD hotels I've stayed at (back when I lived in SYD) didn't have a balcony.

As for Hilton Parmelia? I refuse to stay there. An overpriced old hotel without a lounge. I'm at a loss to understand why anyone would bother when there are other better alternatives.

Old is not always bad. Hilton Perth has large rooms and offers better service then the much newer Hiltons in Sydney and Surfers.

 

[DC3]

However, the Parmelia would not be competing with any other Hilton, as it's the only one in Perth isn't it?

 

[QF WP]

As for Hilton Parmelia? I refuse to stay there. An overpriced old hotel without a lounge. I'm at a loss to understand why anyone would bother when there are other better alternatives.

Easy. As a regular since 2002, I get my preferred room, am known to a couple of the staff and it's across the road from my main clients in St Georges Terrace. Rates can sometimes be an issue, but as I am there generally 2 or 3 nights, the average price has always been reasonable.

Now the DT in MEL will be interesting - will the difference in price be worth the difference in position and room types

 

[JessicaTam]

I am looking forward to trying the new DT. I hope the price settles down a bit 'though.

 

[markis10]

DTs don't always go cheaper than a Hilton in the same city, it will always depend on the hotels yield management. KL and Darwin often see the DT dearer.

 

[drross]

DTs don't always go cheaper than a Hilton in the same city, it will always depend on the hotels yield management. KL and Darwin often see the DT dearer.

weird and sad at he same time. stayed in many DTs and Hiltons..would never consider a DT as 'worth' more than a Hilton. don't get me wrong- have really enjoyed all my DT stays but the 'feel' is not the same as a Hilton