Melbourne hotel $100-$150
 

I will be needing a hotel for 4 nights in Melb. next March. Around $150/night, preferably close to restaurants, shopping public transit. Single female (if that matters)Suggestions appreciated!

So long as you are not travelling during the Grand Prix when hotels will be full, I would be inclined to wait until about three weeks before you travel and find a good deal on www.wotif.com.au or www.lastminute.com.au which are sites which offer last minute deals at various hotels around town.

I don't think the dates for the 2008 Grand Prix have been finalised yet but generally it is held around the 8th March. Apart from the Grand Prix, March is not a holiday period and there should be good availability for hotels.

I have used www.wotif.com.au a number of times and have always been happy, but I always check out the hotels own websites, tripadvisors reviews etc as well to get a better idea of the quality of the hotel. Sometimes the hotel will offer you the same deal direct (in which case I do that) but other times I have been told they can't match the wotif price. Also when using a site like that, make sure you read cancellation policies carefully. Some allow cancellations, other don't - it is up to the individual hotel. Wotif normally has cancellation policies highlighted in red.

I agree with shandy.

I've used wotif.com quite a few times for Melbourne, and some of the other sites www.needitnow.com. Scroll through anyway to get an idea of what's available. I've certainly found plenty in your price and area specification. I usually look for studio apartments. Grand prix weekend - don't bother!

Not at all disagreeing with the wotif.com plan, but I tend to book ahead on the sometimes valid assumption that the good, cheap places will be filled several months in advance.

My wife and I will be in Melbourne for 7 nights over the month of February next year and I have just spent a couple of days researching guide books, tripadvisor, websites, etc. After sending out a half dozen e-mails I settled on Hotel Sofia.
http://www.hotelsophia.com/Home

They offered a standard ensuite double for $99 per night for two people, breakfast included. That was a discount rate for staying the 7 nights, but their normal rate is within your budget.

A close second was the Miami Hotel which offered a similar room for $89, but no breakfast.
http://www.themiami.com.au/index.aspx

We settled on Sophia because it was closer to Southern Cross station and the Circle Tram.

Disclaimer: I've never been to Australia or stayed in either place, so take the above for what it's worth, but I did just do a lot of research in the last few days.

Melbourne has very good public transport and is an easy city to walk around in. In addition to the city centre you could stay in one of the inner city suburbs such as Fitzroy or Carlton (Lygon st in Carlton is particularly good for food). Try Brunettis (just off Lygon st) for fabulous pastries!

A cheap but pleasant option in Fitzroy is The Nunnery it is a backpacker place but also has nice private rooms for about $110 AUD.

http://babs.com.au/nunnery/index.htm

Thanks for the help! It looks like I will be arriving on Sun. Mar. 9th and departing on Thurs. Mar. 13th. As far as I can see it doesn't directly fall in line with the Grand Prix (around 15th).

I'm a bit of a worry-wart so I'll probably try book a hotel a couple months in advance anyways.