I'm from Central Queensland and my husband and I are planning on travelling south for the Aust Open next year with my grandmother.

I'd like some recommendations for a hotel in the city, close to a tramline that goes to Melbourne Park and either 2-bedroom or a triple room. Can anyone help me??

We stayed in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment at the Stamford Plaza in Lt Collins Street for the past 2 years. It is a bit exxy, but very good.

Prior to that we stayed, also in a 2 bedroom apartment, I think Pacific on Exhibition. Not as good, but much cheaper.

Both these places are easy walking distance to the tennis centre - all down hill (I presume you are talking about Australian Open Tennis?) It's straight down the hill, across the railway line and sort of around a corner and there you are. Or there's a walk of a couple of hundred metres to ?Spencer Street, where we could pick up the tram (if we were feeling lazy). Coming home, we usually got the tram up the hill - it's a lot further after 1 - 2am, when you've been there all day.

Rremember, some of those matches finish very late (and we were there for some of them!) Bay day 3 you look like a zombie!

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. We've been 3 years in a row, now.

The trams run along Flinders St. to the tennis. The Rendezvous Hotel is a good one on Flinders as is The Lindrum. Near Spencer and at a tram stop are The Medina Apartments. There is a tram stop right at Vodaphone Arena. Melbourne Park is very easy to get to.

Margo,(Excuse me Gilbey, just have to ask this) ...

Were you there for the 4am epic?
I was supposed to be there that night, but the day before was offered tickets for the Finals so went then instead & gave mine to a couple of colleagues.

You'll love it Gilbeys ... it's a great buzz

Hello thegilbeys

I would second the tip for Rondezevous Hotel - the tram stop is almost at the front door, or it's an easy walk to the tennis centre from there. We often walked back in the evening, and arrived at the hotel before friends who had waited for transport.

We didn't have the expensive breakfasts in the hotel - just around the corner (when heading towards Flinders St Station) there's a little cafe that opens early and has an extensive breakfast menu for very reasonable prices.

We also purchased lunches from either Coles MiniMart across the road, or Subway nearby . . . much cheaper and nicer than the food available inside the tennis centre.

My other tip would be to take a comfortable cushion to sit on; the seats in the main arena are just plain hard - especially when you consider how long you are going to be sitting there! That's why you see so many people standing up during the breaks! Those in the know had picnic cushions that had a carry handle stitched into the side seam. I don't know where you buy them, but they were just perfect for carrying and sitting.

Happy travels, Di

One more thing - the Rendezvous Hotel has accommodation packages that include tickets for the tennis as well. Di

Bokhara

We were there for the start...but had been there all day, after a very late night (Roddick vs Kohlschreiber) before.

I'm sad to say that I drooped around 1.30am, and we decided to go back to the hotel (as it was my partner's big-0 birthday as well), have several drinks and watch the rest from there. Embarrassingly, I dozed off about 2.30am. - but got up next morning and watched the replay before we started out again!

Second the comment that the food in the tennis centre is bloody awful. We shopped on our first day in Melbourne, and took sandwiches, fruit and water with us each day.

On the night Bokhara asked about, when the afternoon session didn't finish until 9pm, we decided we didn't have time to go back to town, and would get something there. Big mistake. Almost impossible to find anything edible, let alone good.