Citigate Albert Park, Melbourne

We arrived at 8.00 a.m. and were kept waiting in the café until 11.30 a.m. for our room. Requested rollaway not in room. After at least three requests, the bed arrived – at 11.00 p.m! Room window did not close properly. The room was stuffy – aircon control was useless. In the three night stay, the sheets were never changed. Wall panelling was loose, exposing telephone cabling behind it. The paper litter noticed on the floor in the toilets next to the café was still there when we checked out three days later. The bases of the tables in the café were dirty, dusty and covered in pastry crumbs. The housekeeping staff and concierge however, were most helpful, even encouraging us to write this review. This hotel was advertised to us as 4 ½ star. It was far from that! No ice machine, no guest laundry. Our booking was made AND paid for in early August and we were left thinking that we had been ‘bumped’ to an inferior room due to the influx of guests arriving for the AFL Grand Final. Four adults stuffed into this very average hotel room. And, to top it off, we were charged $50.00 for late check-out! We didn’t pay, for all of the above reasons, and will not be using OR recommending your hotel to anyone – ever!! P.S. On checkout, we learned that our room was scheduled to be closed for maintenance the next day. What does that tell you about its condition????

1. Parking is confusing. We eventually parked in the forecourt all night, because we could not find the valet parking. 2. The bed and furnishings were very comfortable. 3. The staff were universally friendly, polite and courteous. Check-in and check-out were quick and efficient. 4. With no guidance, it took some while to determine the workings of the TV system. Only when we reached behind for the antenna connection did we find the reception box with its separate IR sensor. Even having established the channel selection, the sound quality was so poor it was not possible to listen while in bed � even if the picture had been good enough to see from there. 5. The room was almost untenable. Facing west, the airconditioning is utterly inadequate for even the weak sun it had received on Friday 5 January. We arrived in the room at around 8.00 pm: after an hour and a half with the airconditioning on, we were sweating profusely despite having done nothing more strenuous than reading. 25+ degrees with no air circulation is unacceptable. To exacerbate the discontent, the fan promised by your maintenance staff on the first evening did not materialise, and we had to attend the Reception desk the next night to obtain one. Frankly, we were prepared to pack and walk out had the second night had been as uncomfortable as the first. 6. The food was nothing to write home about. We found the soup watery; my �medium-well� sirloin was tough; and �brewed tea� does not mean a pot of luke-warm water with a tea bag. 7. Room make-up was disappointing. We were not apparently entitled to a second ration of milk for a second day�s stay, and we had to obtain a second breakfast menu from the reception desk. We were particularly unimpressed by the remnants of the previous occupant�s soap in the shower soap dish, complete with the remnants of their short black hair. 8. Calling this room a �suite� is deceptive, as that term implies more than one functional space. The room is nothing more (albeit larger) than a standard hotel room with ensuite bathroom. 9. Having been thoroughly dispirited by these aspects, we are led to remark on the poor condition of the furniture (the dining table was badly scratched and looked second-rate); the paintwork (spots on cable ducting and power points are a mark of a shoddy renovation); and the refrigerator (with the freezer door hanging off, and rancid butter on the door shelves). In summary, we felt defrauded. We gave the management the opportunity to address these issues, but we have heard nothing. I take it from that they really don't care: once they've screwed your money out of you, anything else is your problem.

My father and I visited Melbourne for a medical examination. We stayed only one night but found the Carlton Crest exceptional! The service was top class and the restaurant fabulous. Thank you Carlton Crest for making our stay a very much enjoyable experience.

Overpriced for the level of serviced we recieved. Room was very standard and we had a corner suite...Staff seemed very un motivated to do anything

The location is ok but the building inside and outside it does look very old. The security is very poor no security guard in the front door even in the carpark.