Adina Serviced Apartments Canberra Dickson

The Aria Hotel is a modern property on a leafy residential road in north Canberra. The lobby soars three stories high, with stylish feather sculptures suspended from the ceiling. Crisp white and stainless steel decor creates a bright, airy feel that can seem a little sterile, particularly in the cafeteria area, with its black canteen-style tables. Colorful geometric rugs and flower displays add pops of color to a couple of comfortable seating areas. The hotel is popular with business travelers, but its stylish apartments also draw a spread of guests from young couples to family groups. Regardless, most are independent-minded guests, as the hotel has few features of its own (though those can be found at the neighboring sister property).

Aria Hotel is located in the north of Canberra in a quiet, largely residential neighborhood. There's not a lot in the immediate neighborhood, but it's a 15-minute walk, or a few minutes by car, to the Dickson precinct for top shopping and dining. The boutiques and stores of trendy Braddon are a five-minute drive away. Attractions in the city center, such as the Canberra Museum and downtown shops and restaurants, are also a five-minute drive from the hotel. Buses run down Northbourne Avenue, a five-minute walk away, to downtown, with a journey time of 15 minutes. It's a 10-minute drive across the lake to parliament and the National Gallery -- plus the popular Sunday markets at The Old Bus Depot. Buses also connect to the market from the same nearby stop, taking about 30 minutes. Budget 30 minutes to reach Canberra's airport by bus, or 10 minutes by car.

Aria Hotel is essentially an apartment hotel, though there are traditional rooms available. Decor is modern -- white walls and dark furniture are complemented by pops of red in the wall art, and black floral bed runners. Rooms all feature air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with Foxtel and movies on-demand, mini-fridges, electric kettles, irons, safes, balconies, and free Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, details like the iPod docks are outdated and lack modern hookups. Studio Rooms have an open-plan layout with sitting areas and kitchens with sinks, full refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, and washer/dryers. Apartments come in one- or two-bedroom configurations with separate living rooms -- and add dishwashers in the kitchens. The sleek bathrooms have glossy brown tiles and white accents, featuring large walk-in rainfall showers, Peter Morrissey products, and hairdryers. Spa Suites have additional jetted tubs and bathrobes. While the rooms are well-soundproofed against exterior noise, some guests have noted that interior noise does travel.

Aria Hotel has a lobby cafe that serves breakfast and drinks every morning, and after that there's just a vending machine on-site. Room service is available all day, though, with a separate late-night menu. There are two guest laptops in the lobby with a printer, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Other on-site amenities include free parking in the underground car park. Guests are given access to the facilities at a neighboring sister hotel, which includes a basic gym, outdoor pool, and restaurant that serves food throughout the day (including a buffet breakfast).