Long Overnight Transit at Melbourne Airport

[SYD]

Left field carpark option. Hire a car and sleep in it!

 

[dk4]

10pm might also be too late to have the person check you in at the Ibis Budget...

I think they use an automated self-serve check in after-hours, so no need for an employee to be present to let arriving guests in?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yep, they use a modern lock box system.
Saw the apparatus on their door, but haven't personally used it.
Its the cheapest hotel that is walkable, and does not need a taxi/uber.
There are some hotels on Mickleham Road, but Trip Advisor says a lot of them are not the best, (bugs/insects in room/mould/etc), but cheaper than those at Tullamarine Airport precinct.
===
I believe that now adays, its all the cold cement floors at Tullamarine, no more carpets.
Any chairs on the arr ground floor, near on the inside, where the Skybus pickup, its all tiles, any seats would have been taken up by people on it.
If they (still) don't turf people out, any chairs will be taken up by late evening.
===
Summing up, take the Holiday Inn, book via QFF/VFF's hotel provider and earn QFF/VFF points, or IHG one, and then transfer to QFF/VFF.
From the Holiday Inn, they might have their shuttle, or if you want, you can go walking the way around via McDonalds, or via the fenced in carpark outer fence (circle), start out the back of the Parkroyal and around the fence line.
If you take a taxi, then at 5am, you have to contend with (what if a taxi does not come), if you decide to stay on Mickelham Road, or Airport West, or the uber not coming.
For a 7.15am dep, I would not stray too far from the airport precinct itself, later in the day dep for overseas, I would say go into the city via Skybus.

 

[clifford]

Left field carpark option. Hire a car and sleep in it!

I've done that before now at OOL.... Unfortunately I'm unable to drive at the moment.

Well, I already had the car (a large SUV), and there was an 8-hour delay with the flight.

 

[clifford]

I think they use an automated self-serve check in after-hours, so no need for an employee to be present to let arriving guests in?

I just don't think I'd be spending $150+ for the Ibis Budget (it's pretty budget). I know that hotels around MEL are pretty expensive, but under the circumstances I'd pay a bit more.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Their (Ibis Budget Melbourne Airport) is now $205 on their website.
One good thing, is that they don't take a hold (pre authorisation).
Parkroyal takes $100 card or $50 cash (dayrate).
Holiday Inn probably takes $100 too.

 

[clifford]

Well, I've done a bit more work on this and have managed to get an earlier VA flight to MEL, scheduled to arrive at 8 pm.

So what I'm now planning to do is take the Skybus into the city and stay at the IBIS Styles Kingsgate, and take the 4 am bus back to Tulla. Hopefully that will give me sufficient time, but there's always Uber and taxis to fall back on.

It would appear a cost-effective option, as I've made a fully refundable, pay-later reservation through Agoda for $86 (with $8 cashback), and the busfare is $30 return. We'll see how it goes...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, I've done a bit more work on this and have managed to get an earlier VA flight to MEL, scheduled to arrive at 8 pm.

So what I'm now planning to do is take the Skybus into the city and stay at the IBIS Styles Kingsgate, and take the 4 am bus back to Tulla. Hopefully that will give me sufficient time, but there's always Uber and taxis to fall back on.

It would appear a cost-effective option, as I've made a fully refundable, pay-later reservation through Agoda for $86 (with $8 cashback), and the busfare is $30 return. We'll see how it goes...

The 4am skybus will get you comfortably to MEL by 430. You could leave as late as 5 and still be in good time for your flight, allowing for any delays on the Tulla.

 

[serfty]

Left field carpark option. Hire a car and sleep in it!

I have done this at HNL, arrived 10pm AA before 9am QF to SYD next morning. USD29 + 3 in parking.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Walking around that part of MEL at 4am.
Eek...
For what you will pay with Skybus, and considering you have to get the Myki or have the dare to walk, and then back again to the airport, I would "seriously" have taken the Ibis Budget Tulla, bad as some would say, its like a prison cell, but after seeing all the things happening in the CBD (Mel), I would avoid that part of Mel city that early.
If you were to stay at the Indigo, the former Holiday Inn Melbourne, then yes, that one is very close to Southern X.
But that Ibis Styles Kingsgate, though double glazed now, is quite far from Southern X, but closer to Flinders St, though you would need to meet every drunk "friend" on the way to Southern X and then at Southern X, out in the city, on the way to the airport.
(((Too many what would happen, mate...!/?))).
Best of luck, and hope you make it to come and tell us the walk from that Ibis to Southern X at 3.30am/3.45am.
===
Though/thought:
Read: TripAdvisor, Ibis Styles Kingsgate:
"Awful, would not recommend, mice everywhere"
236 terrible, 136 excellent, as to ratings.
===
I have stayed there once, a lot of nigh clubs around there, but in my case, I didn't see any mice.

 

[Mattg]

Though/thought:
Read: TripAdvisor, Ibis Styles Kingsgate:
"Awful, would not recommend, mice everywhere"
236 terrible, 136 excellent, as to ratings.
===
I have stayed there once, a lot of nigh clubs around there, but in my case, I didn't see any mice.

I stayed there two weeks ago. Was nothing special but not terrible. I thought it was good value for money, given the price.

 

[clifford]

Walking around that part of MEL at 4am.
Eek...

I've walked through some pretty dodgy places at 4 am before, without any problems (stepping over the odd drunk in the process).

For example, Sydney, Los Angeles Union Station, New York subway, London Kings Cross, Manchester Victoria, Blackpool (One of the most deprived places in the UK - I lived there for 20 years), Cairo, Athens (Xarchia), Jakarta, Hong Kong, Geylang (Singapore), Bangkok, Istanbul, Bombay, etc, etc. Catching early flights unfortunately requires this from time to time.

So I'm not worried about walking through Melbourne at that time of the morning (I have lived in Melbourne) and obviously I try to be aware of my surroundings. But you never know.

 

[DC3]

Ah. Not your first rodeo then.

Take care.

 

[clifford]

Ah. Not your first rodeo then.

Take care.

And I didn't even mention Sao Paulo and Santiago de Chile. Now they can be bad boys.

I got some good tips on how to avoid potentially unpleasant situations from the local consulate/embassy staff when visiting these posts as a Foreign Affairs officer.

 

[clifford]

But that Ibis Styles Kingsgate, though double glazed now, is quite far from Southern X, but closer to Flinders St,

I think you might have got your hotels mixed up, as Google Maps tells me that the Ibis Styles is 300M from Southern Cross, while Flinders St is 1.2Km.

 

[DC3]

I think you might have got your hotels mixed up, as Google Maps tells me that the Ibis Styles is 300M from Southern Cross, while Flinders St is 1.2Km.

My money is on The Pooch

 

[clifford]

My money is on The Pooch

Fair enough, but obviously you haven't looked at a map.

I guess that's the way of the world, but I'll rely on facts.

 

[DC3]

Obviously? Someone needs a hug.

 

[DC3]

Walking around that part of MEL at 4am.
Eek...
For what you will pay with Skybus, and considering you have to get the Myki or have the dare to walk, and then back again to the airport, I would "seriously" have taken the Ibis Budget Tulla,

You certainly know which dog boxes to avoid, Poochie.

 

[elanshin]

I've stayed at ibis styles Kingsgate, hotel itself is ok, some rooms are very newly renovated (a usb c high powered charging port in my room). Otherwise generally clean and pretty much an ibis.

Lots of late night activity in the area from clubs to korean food. Generally not too loud on the street itself. I consider it decent money for value if you're looking for a cheap place to stay.