We stayed at City Centre Budget Hotel (CCBH) for three nights near the end of January 2014. I chose…read morethis hotel mainly because of its close proximity to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open. But being located in the central business district (CBD), the hotel is also near plenty of restaurants, cafes, the free city circle tram stop, and Federation Square.
ROOM --
$112 per night summer rate for a double bedroom with ensuite bathroom was a good deal. The room had a large, comfy, and clean queen-sized bed, a bedside stand, a wide flat screen TV, a glass table with two chairs, a fan, and a mini fridge. But everything was cramped, with little space for maneuvering. The bathroom floor was always wet because the shower didn't have a divider to separate it from the toilet. Water temperature varied a lot, often too cold.
AMENITIES --
For such a simple and basic hotel, there were still a lot of amenities offered. A hair dryer was available for a $10 refundable deposit. A DVD player with movie rentals was available for a $2 refundable deposit. There were two desktop computers with a printer for guests to use. Free wifi was available, but it was really slow. An upper level shared kitchen and rooftop garden were free to use as well. The reception also helped book day tours to Phillips Island or the Great Ocean Road.
LOCATION --
Located in CBD, the hotel is easy walking distance to Federation Square, Melbourne Park, and Flinders Station (all around 10-15 minutes). It's a little longer of a walk to Queen Victoria Market (close to 25 minutes). There's several bars and late night restaurants along Little Collins St and Meyers Place, so the noise of people disposing empty glass bottles at 2am and the recycling truck picking it up at 5am can be problematic if you're a light sleeper.
STAFF --
Reception was nice and friendly. Check in starts at 2pm and you're given the option of being charged in AUD or your home currency. Check out is 10am latest, and it was a quick process. Reception desk is only open from 7:30am to 7:30pm, so outside of those hours, you'll need to punch in a code at the main door or call the after hours phone number if locked out of your room.
Overall, our stay at CCBH was pleasant. I arrived knowing how cheap and rundown the place was going to be, but I was surprised at how nice (relative to the price paid) the hotel actually was. They also have rooms with shared bathroom facilities for slightly cheaper rates, so CCBH is actually a cross between a hotel and a hostel. I recommend bringing ear plugs and requesting a room that doesn't face the main streets. Also, the hotel doesn't have a lift, so you'll need to carry your luggage up either one or two flights of stairs.
