We will be coming to Australia in April for our son's wedding near the Gold Coast! We will then travel to Melbourne to stay for a week before returning to the U.S. Our son and his new wife will be with us and I want to find a nice place to stay. I would like advice on either the Marriott,Hilton or Grand Hyatt as far as location,accomadations or any information that would help us make a decision. Any other hotel ideas would also help. Thanks,Jan

Please check out the crown Casino hotel in Melbourne&gt;We stayed there in January and it was near town centre,alongside the river with lovely cafes and we booked a spa room(they might all have spas) and the room was wonderful./there are also lots of restaurants cafes movie theatres and shopping all in the casino complex.They also have a website.<BR>enjoy,

You may also want to consider the Sheraton on Southbank which is a new development on the bank of the Yarra river - lots of places to eat etc. It is also within a short walking distance of Melbourne's live theatre complex and some of our city gardens. You can also walk across the pedestrian bridge to the CBD for shopping etc. <BR>Crown Hotel and Casino are in the same area but not quite as convenient.<BR>Whilst in Melbourne, you can use the free city circle tram - look out for brown vintage trams.<BR>You can check out what's on in Melbourne on www.melbournecitysearch.com.au<BR>Hope this is of help.

I would not recommend the Hilton - it's a bit away from the city and quite old. The Grand Hyatt is well located and nice. It is also worth looking at the Hyatt on the Park - very new and lovely. I don't know of the marriott - where is it?

Thank you all for your help!! The Marriot is located at Corner Exhibition and Lonsdale St. and was formerly the Rockmans Regency Hotel. Also, as I have been doing more research I was wondering about the Westin and the Novotel Melbourne on Collins. I need to make a descision soon so any information would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much, Jan

The Novotel is situated above a shopping arcade in the centre of the city. The Westin is a new hotel (opened last year I think). Both are very central. I stayed at the Marriott (Regency) some years ago - again it is in the centre of the city. The Hilton is across a park from the CBD and a ten minute walk to everything. The Hyatt is about 15 years old - centrally located.<BR>If I was coming to Melbourne as a tourist (instead of living here), I would choose a hotel along the river - the Crown or Sheraton.

My preference (and I live in Melb) would be 1. The Westin (very new and great) , 2. marriott, 3. Park Hyatt. The Crown is a bit removed from the centre of the city and the rooms at the Sheraton are on the small side. However the Sheraton is a better location than the Crown.

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