Melbourne - Australia 2004 - page 537

Another option to consider is the well-placed Oakford on Lygon , on
Lygon Street ( & 03/8341 4777 ), about a 10-minute walk from the city center.
The rooms here have no kitchen but offer great value and I highly recommend
them.
24 Little Bourke St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 1800/818 237 in Australia, or 03/9663 2888. Fax 03/9639
1537. www.oakford.com. 82 apts. A$105-A$115 studio (US$68-US$75); A$125 (US$81) 1-bedroom apt;
A$211-A$145 (US$137-US$155) 2-bedroom apt; A$226-A$325 (US$147-US$211) split-level 3-bedroom
apt. Extra person A$22 (US$14). Ask about weekend packages, corporate rates, and long-term stays. AE, DC,
MC, V. Parking A$10-A$20 (US$6.50-US$13). Amenities: Restaurant; small heated outdoor pool; exercise
room; Jacuzzi; sauna; business center; limited room service; dry-cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C,
TV w/pay movies, dataport, kitchen, minibar, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Ramada Melbourne Opened in 2003, this compact four-star hotel
opposite Flinders Street Railway Station offers light and comfortable rooms at a
good price. It's quiet and pleasantly welcoming and is a short walk to the main
shopping streets. It's also a stroll away from the new Federation Square, the
Crown Casino Entertainment Complex, and the Southbank district. You can get
some wonderful packages here, including a weekend special for A$145 (US$94)
per night with breakfast.
270 Flinders St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 1300/726 232 in Australia, or 03/9654 6888. Fax [phone].
www.ramadamelbourne.com.au. 179 units. A$340 (US$221) standard room; A$350 (US$227) with water
views. Additional person A$45 (US$29). Ask about packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking A$20 (US$13).
Amenities: Restaurant; bar; business center; 24-hour room service; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV
w/pay movies, high-speed Internet, safe, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
INEXPENSIVE
Hotel Y All rooms at the Y are sparsely furnished and not overly large, and as
such do not represent such great value. The most expensive doubles and triples
have been refurbished recently and have a TV, a refrigerator, and air-condition-
ing. The one-bedroom apartment has a queen-size bed with en-suite bathroom,
and the lounge has a double pullout bed and a small kitchenette. A cafe on the
premises serves breakfast, lunch, and light snacks. The Y welcomes both women
and men. The hotel is situated right near the Queen Victoria Market and is a
short tram ride down Elizabeth Street or a 10-minute walk from the city center.
YWCA Melbourne, 489 Elizabeth St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 03/9329 5188. Fax [phone]. www.
ywca.net. 60 units. A$98-A$120 (US$64-US$78) double; A$109-A$131 (US$71-US$85) triple; A$185
(US$120) apt (for 2 people). Additional person A$17 (US$11). AE, DC, MC, V. No parking. Amenities: Cafe;
access to health club; tour desk; car-rental desk; coin-op laundry; kitchen; TV room. In room:A/C (more expen-
sive rooms only), phone, TV (more expensive rooms only), fridge, coffeemakers.
Kingsgate Hotel Only a 10-minute walk from the city, this hotel, an interest-
ing place, feels like a basic B&B, though a total refurbishment—“to attract airline
staff ”—gave it a better look. From the outside, it resembles a terrace building, but
inside it's a maze of corridors and rooms. The staff is very friendly. The least-
expensive “economy” rooms are for backpackers only. They're dark and have two
single beds and a hand basin; there's barely enough room to swing a backpack.
Pricier “executive” rooms, however, are light, spacious, and have double beds (or
two twins) as well as en-suite bathrooms. A cooked breakfast costs A$7 (US$4.50)
extra. The 15 or so deluxe quad rooms have double beds and two singles.
131 King St., Melbourne, VIC 3000. & 1300/73 41 71 in Australia, or 03/9629 417. Fax [phone]. www.
kingsgatehotel.com.au. 225 units, 104 with bathroom. A$69-A$99 (US$23-US$64) double; A$89-A$119
(US$58-US$77) triple; A$139 (US$90) deluxe quad. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking A$7 (US$4.55) a day at Crown
Casino, a 5-min. walk away. Amenities: Tour desk; executive-level rooms. In room: TV.

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