I recently watched a video by a Filipino blogger about Melbourne, detailing the coolest hangouts in the city and its surroundings. One of the places mentioned was St. Kilda, a hip seaside neighborhood just outside the Melbourne CBD. I did further research, and I thus decided that I want to spend a few days there. Topping the list accommodations is Novotel Melbourne St. Kilda, and since I’m a fan of the Accorhotels brands, I decided to stay there.
Novotel Melbourne St. Kilda is located right smack in the middle of the city’s hip seaside neighborhood. Right in front of it is the beach’s esplanade where locals like to jog, bike, and stroll, and where a Sunday market happens. Also within the vicinity are Palais Theatre, the iconic carnival Luna Park, and the renowned Acland Street, which is lined with cool restaurants, shops, and watering holes. By the way, the hotel is technically in the suburbs of Melbourne—as St. Kilda is a city itself—but it’s so near from the CBD that it doesn’t feel like it’s outside Melbourne already.
In terms of accessibility, the hotel sits just in front of the Esplanade tram stop that connects St. Kilda to the Melbourne CBD in about 20 minutes, while SkyBus offers direct transfers from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to the hotel and vice versa in about 45 minutes or so.
From the airport, I took the SkyBus directly to the hotel. I was handed a key as soon a room was available, and I was assigned an Executive Room, which had a sweeping view of the sea and was more spacious than the lower room types.
The room didn’t have the newer modular Novotel design, yet it was more spacious than the usual Novotel room. I actually liked its simplicity and how well-maintained it was.
As expected of a four-star hotel, the room was appointed with what any leisure or business traveler would need, foremost of which was the king bed, which was comfortable. The bathroom, which had a tub, was spotlessly clean.
I had breakfast at Esplanade Diner, the hotel’s all-day restaurant with a view. The spread was continental, and it had more variety than I expected.
In terms of facilities, the hotel boasts of a fitness center, as well as a small swimming pool and a kids’ corner.
NOVOTEL MELBOURNE ST. KILDA
The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9525 5522
Email: H1506@accor.com
Website: www.novotelstkilda.com.au
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
