Wyndham Hotel Melbourne

As this 2014-opened hotel shares its building with residential apartments, guests and residents use separate entrances. Interiors are contemporary throughout, outfitted in sleek surfaces and trendy accents -- think walls with parquet wood or brown leathers in the lobby, and a stylish library lounge with white-leather sofas, bright-yellow planters and books filling segmented shelving, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural daylight. There are no restaurant or bar on-site, but in-room kitchenettes are handy. A rooftop pool with city views is a pleasant spot to hang, though many guests spend their days sightseeing the city. 

The hotel's location is best described as "central, but not too central". While within Melbourne CBD, positioning opposite the Supreme Court of Victoria is less bustling than busier streets to the east, although the hotel is one block from Little Bourke Street's cafes and restaurants. The open-air Bourke Street Mall is 10 minutes away on foot, and Chinatown is five minutes farther. Free trams stop virtually outside the property, and run to Etihad Stadium, Victoria Markets, and the Docklands, while other trams running to MCG cricket ground and Crown Melbourne casino complex. A Woolworths supermarket is a four-minute walk away. The drop-off point for Skybus airport shuttles, Southern Cross Station, is a 10-minute walk awau. Melbourine Tullamarine International Airport is a 24-minute drive, or 40 minutes by public transport.

Contemporary Studios and up to Four-Bedroom Apartments are stylishly outfitted in mostly neutral tones, with pops of blue. Expect carpeted floors, dark-wood furniture, leather headboards with diagonal paneling, geometric-print bed runners, and large, attractive framed photos. Some add chrome hanging lights, modern navy armchairs with patterned throw pillows, and coral-shaped silver dishes. The overall look is attractive, but some bedrooms are small and lack windows or AC units -- though both are present in the living areas. Standard comforts include sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, mirrored wardrobes with safes, ironing facilities, and pool towels, plus glossy kitchenettes with ovens, stoves, fridges, dishwashers, and utensils. Apartments have larger, full kitchens. Furnished balconies offer city views in some units, but scenic vistas aren't guaranteed. Bathrooms have walk-in showers, hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Room Wi-Fi requires a fee.

Apartment-style hotels often mean limited features, although good additions here set the property apart from its competitors. The outdoor pool isn't the largest, but it's fine for lap swimming, and positioning on the 23rd floor affords skyline views. Wood decking around it is well-maintained, as are loungers and limited dining furnitures A barbecue area here is popular in the summer. The fitness center is spacious, equipped with modern LifeFitness cardio and resistance equipment, exercise balls, and multiple TV screens. There are no bar or restaurant on-site, but the library lounge offers a space to relax. There are seating nooks in hallways, as well as two dedicated meeting rooms. Paid, private parking is available off-site, though nearby. Pets are not permitted. Wi-Fi is only free in common areas.