Arrow On Swanston Melbourne

Stayed here for a night when friends were in town. It's tucked away on the northern fringes of the city and is nearer to RMIT and Lygon Street than anything else. Then said, it's just a 10-15 minutes stroll before you hit the city centre so you may just get that little exercise you always wanted! And if you really want to work hard, you can always JUMP up and down the tram serving just in front of the apartment.

The apartment is extremely popular with Asians...very evident since all the reception staff are Asians. I actually went up the lift with 2 Chinese ladies from China, who addressed me immediately in Mandarin when I forgot to slot in my security card to press the floor button.

The layout of the rooms is peculiar. It almost appeared as though the building was an office in its previous life. The balcony of my apartment looked out into the building next door. Great views of fax machines and photocopiers.

The room was compact. The kitchenette came with a microwave oven, a kettle and complimentary coffee/tea. The TV could only face 1 direction to get reception. My bedroom was cosy. Very cell-like. All I could ever ask for really.

Unique Quality: At about A$160 a night for a 2 bedroom apartment, I guess the price was reasonable and perhaps it's greatest saving grace.

Plus there is a convenient store at ground level and there are a couple of Asian eateries just a few steps away.

Directions: Northern fringes of the city, near the City Bath.