Accommodations in Melbourne, Australia?

[Michael Whitaker]

Any advice on accommodations in Melbourne would be appreciated. I'll be visiting from Feb 26 - Mar 3.

I'm thinking about a short-stay apartment... found one in St Kilda that looks attractive and a good value.

Considered Victoria Golf Club, but according to their website I can only book two nights as a "House Guest."

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Mike

[JLahrman]

Michael,

I stayed in Melbourne for about four months a few years ago, certainly not an expert on the area and there are Melbourne residents here who will no doubt be more useful.

But one thing that might help...is this a golf trip?  Melbourne traffic can be a real pain, so if you're going to be playing the Sandbelt or down on the Mornington Peninsula you'll probably want to stay close.  If you're there for another reason something in St. Kilda or closer to downtown...uh, CBD, might be better.

[Pete_Pittock]

I stayed in the Mentone area, which is much closer to the Sandbelt. Find a place close to the passenger rail system. for non-golf travel.

[Michael Whitaker]

It's all about golf! I read the article on Lloyd Cole's blog about his visit to Melbourne. He stayed in St Kilda and thought that was the was to go. I've found a short-stay apartment in St Kilda that is appealing, but I don't want to get myself boxed in by commuter traffic as I'll be traveling to the courses via taxi. We are primarily visting the Sandbelt courses.

By the way... here is the link to Lloyd's article: http://www.lloydcole.com/weblog/index.php?p=3002&c=1

[Mark Chaplin]

Michael - St Kilda is like you hip and trendy but too far from the Sandbelt especially if you go to StAB or National by taxi. As discussed last week Cheltenham and Brighton are near the sandbelt but on the train for a trip into town.

[Mike_Clayton]

Michael,

St Kilda isn't that far from the sandbelt - The National and St Andrews Beach are not the sandbelt and are an hour and 10 minutes away - and you are going against the traffic so don't worry about that.
If you can find apartments in Cheltenham, (Victoria, RM)Sandringham, Brighton, Mordialloc (Woodlands), Oakleigh (Metro,Commonwealth Yarra) Hampton or Black Rock (RM) try those suburbs but St Kilda would be more fun and you are much more likely to find apartments.
You could stay in the clubhouse at Peninsula G andC.C at Frankston. It is a terrific place to stay and much closer to the Mornington Peninsula. Probably it is 25 minutes from RM and 40 from The National.

I live 5 minutes from St Kilda so you may be able to scrounge a few rides with me if I am around.

[JLahrman]

Golf or no golf, don't miss the Mornington Peninsula.  It is spectacular.

[Bryan Izatt]

We were there last winter and stayed in St Kilda for 5 days.  We had a car, so that eased getting around.  St Kilda is a fun place.  We stayed at a B&B called Fountain Terrace that we liked.  Here is their web site if you're interested.

http://www.fountainterrace.com.au/

[Mike_Clayton]

Michael.

I just spoke to the manager,Peter Stackpole, at Victoria and he explained that you can stay there for that period of time.
I would e-mail the club, explain to them what you are doing and ask for a price. It is the perfect place to stay for a sandbelt trip and there is a train down the road that goes straight into the city.

[Andrew Bertram]

Michael

we recommend the following to visitors

http://www.carolineservicedapartments.com/Brighton.aspx

There is a station that runs to teh city or sandringham 5 minutes walk away.

It is 15 minutes from just about all of the sandbelt courses and Church street is an excellent strip with plenty of food options

[Jason Topp]

Michael:

I stayed at this place which was nice and in a terrific location - close to golf, St. Kilda nightlife, the water and downtown.

http://www.novotelstkilda.com.au/

If travelling without family I would have gone the Victoria route.

[Jeff_Brauer]

When I went my wife wanted a B and B and booked it through a national agency for such things. It was actually just a retired couple trying to make a few bucks.  I was actually against it, but resigned to traveling to the courses I wanted to play.  So I asked the couple when we got there where Royal Melbourne was and he opened his curtain to show me out the back yard!  We got a walking to the course room quite by happy accident.

[Michael Whitaker]

Michael:

I stayed at this place which was nice and in a terrific location - close to golf, St. Kilda nightlife, the water and downtown.

http://www.novotelstkilda.com.au/

If travelling without family I would have gone the Victoria route.

Jason - thanks for the suggestion but it's $345 per night!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David_Elvins]

there are Melbourne residents here who will no doubt be more useful.

Not sure about that.  We have never had to find accommodation in Melbourne. 

Having said that, if you can, as Mike says, stay a week in the clubhouse at Vic, I would say go for it. 

[David_Elvins]

Jason - thanks for the suggestion but it's $345 per night!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason was probably getting a 2:1 exchange rate when he was here.  No such luck now.  Your timing is a bit unfortunate.  

(You can get as low as $189 a night at wotif.com.)

[Mark_F]

You could try these:

http://www.easystay.com.au/  It's in St Kilda.  From about $110 per night.
http://www.amenah.com.au A Bed and Breakfast in Frankston, so quite a good location, also from $110 per night.
http://www.parkdalemotorinn.com.au In Mentone, close to KH.  About the same prices. 

Perhaps you might want to give this a try as a last resort:
http://www.davidelvinscouch.com.au

[David_Elvins]

Perhaps you might want to give this a try as a last resort:
http://www.davidelvinscouch.com.au

Last resort?  It was booked by a travelling golfer 6 months ago.  you gotta get in early if you want the prime real estate. 

[Mark_F]

Perhaps you might want to give this a try as a last resort:
http://www.davidelvinscouch.com.au

Last resort?  It was booked by a travelling golfer 6 months ago. 

I know.  That's why it is a last resort.

[David_Elvins]

I know.  That's why it is a last resort.

What happens on the golf trip stays on the golf trip?