Melbourne - Australia 2004 - page 535

Hotel Sofitel I guarantee you'll like this beautiful luxury hotel, located
in the best area of Collins Street, just a short walk from the major shopping and
business area. The hotel features a glass-topped atrium that allows natural light
to flood in. Rooms are large and very pleasant, with high-quality furniture, two
TVs, and a large bathroom with a tub/shower combination. More expensive
rooms have two walls of tall windows and magnificent views over the city. The
service is very impressive.
25 Collins St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 1300/65 65 65 in Australia, 800/221-4542 in the U.S. and Canada,
0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or 03/9653 0000. Fax [phone]. www.sofitel.com. 363 units. A$274
double (US$178); A$374-A$1,700 (US$243-US$1,105) suite. Extra person A$44 (US$29). 1 child under 12
stays free in parent's room. Ask about weekend rates and packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking A$26 (US$17).
Amenities: 2 restaurants; bar; exercise room; Jacuzzi; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; business center;
shopping arcade; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking
rooms. In room: A/C, TV/VCR, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
The Windsor The Windsor is Australia's only surviving authentic “grand”
hotel. It opened in 1883, literally as “The Grand,” and was restored to its orig-
inal condition by Oberoi Hotels International. This charmingly upper-crust
establishment oozes sophistication and has hosted such notable guests as Lauren
Bacall, Muhammad Ali, and Omar Sharif. The lobby is luxuriously carpeted,
and the staff friendly and efficient. Standard rooms are comfortable, with high
ceilings and tasteful furnishings. Each has a good-size bathroom. Deluxe rooms
are twice as big, and many have striking views of Parliament House and the Mel-
bourne Cathedral across the way. Suites are huge and furnished with antiques.
Guests can choose from among 10 types of pillows, including an aromatherapy
version filled with rose petals and herbs. The Windsor is a member of both
Leading Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
The Grand Ballroom, with ornate ceilings, leather furniture, gorgeous
carpets, and plenty of gold leaf, is a most impressive place to eat; it's open to
nonguests for a buffet lunch Fridays at noon.
103 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 1800/033 100 in Australia, or 03/9633 6000. Fax [phone].
www.thewindsor.com.au. 180 units. A$500 (US$325) superior double; A$580 (US$377) deluxe double;
A$650-A$2400 (US$393-US$1,560) suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking A$20 (US$13). Amenities: Restaurant;
2 bars; health club; concierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning
service. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
EXPENSIVE
Adelphi It may be worth staying in this designer boutique hotel, a minute's
walk from the city center, just for the experience of taking a dip in its top-floor
25m (82-ft.) lap pool, which juts out from the end of the building and hangs
over the city streets below. The pool has a glass bottom, so you can watch pedes-
trians below as you float upside down. The rooms are similarly modernist, with
colorful leather seating and lots of burnished metal. Within the hotel is Ezard,
a particularly well-regarded restaurant offering Modern Australian fare at its
best. You might find some of the staff to be quite self-important, though, so just
smile and humor them.
187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 03/9650 7555, or 1800/800 177 in Australia. Fax [phone].
www.adelphi.com.au. 34 units (most with shower only). A$305 (US$198) standard double; A$340 (US$221)
deluxe double; A$570 (US$370) executive suite. Rates include breakfast. Extra person A$65 (US$42). AE, DC,
MC, V. Parking A$14 (US$9.10). Amenities: Restaurant; cafe/bar; heated outdoor pool; exercise room; sauna;
bike rental; concierge; tour desk; business center; babysitting; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms;
executive rooms. In room: A/C, TV, dataport, DVD/CD, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.