IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE: DOUBLETREE BY HILTON STAY

We love Melbourne, and it looks like we aren't the only ones - just days before our arrival it topped the list of world's most liveable cities. After spending our first few days in Melbourne's Docklands area catching up with family, we decided to move in closer and book a nights stay in the heart of the CBD to get a real feel for that big city life.

Our caffeine addiction drew us in and the city life kept us wanting to stay longer.

You can't go wrong with the Doubletree by Hilton due to its very convenient location just opposite the historic Flinders station, a walk from the Yarra River and a stones throw from just about every great cafe in the city.

Checking In: Doubletree by Hilton

I was pleasantly surprised to see a warm chocolate chip cookie placed into my hands made cold from the Melbourne's winter breeze. Usually my plastic credit card is handed back after filling in the check in forms, but this was just one of the many personal touches the staff do to ensure you have a memorable stay.

The lobby/restaurant is filled with hotel guests and local businessman which give you a friendly reminder that you have stepped into the Melbourne lifestyle with the iconic Flinders Station literally on your doorstep and cafes, bars and restaurants flowing through the block.

Arriving mid morning meant our room was not ready but a swift check in, a few more cookies for the road and we headed back out into the CBD to seek out a cafe for what was at least our second coffee so far that day.

I can't tell you enough that the location of this hotel is just too perfect.

The Room

The hotel was established in 2014 after the 180 room sized hotel underwent a full multi-million dollar refurbishment. Not even two years old, the new changes are gleaming with the new interior boasting modern facilities and decor.

Our room opened up to the Flinders street station with side-to-side wall sized windows. If available, ensure you book one of these rooms as you cannot help but keep the curtains open the entire night to watch the station from your room, that is if you can't get over the black-and-white bathroom behind you.

With ample room to place and unpack your luggage, the room is fit for business trips and those wanting to get away for a weekend.

Dining at Platform 270

Later that night we returned to be treated to a two course meal in the hotels Platform 270 restaurant. We did find vegetarian options to be quite lacking but the vege pasta dish available made us forget all about it. Our entree consisted of a tasty cauliflower couscous dish and to end our night, we enjoyed the monthly dessert speciality - bread and butter pudding and a glass of sparkling to match.

If you headed out that night and skipped dinner, make sure you at least treat yourself to breakfast the next morning. This buffet cross a-la-carte meant you could easily fill yourself up without needing to try two of the same dish. Pancakes on order topped with more of that barista coffee we have come to love left us with full bellies. They even have a DIY fruit blender for a takeaway shot of juice - a lovely touch we haven't seen before at a hotel breakfast restaurant.

What to See

> It's really all about the coffee in Melbourne, with so many places to recommend you need to look through our guide on where to grab a good coffee.

> If you are after views, head up the Eureka Skydeck for 360 degree views of the city.

> If the skydeck is not enough for you then why not catch a hot air balloon to truly see the city from the air?

> And finally, just go for a walk, see the city, go down the laneways and get engrossed in the culture.

Make sure you check out our top 10 things to do in Melbourne if planning an extended getaway.

Our Experience

If you are new around here you may not know that we daily vlog our travels abroad, so if you want our first hand experience of checking in, seeing the room and dining, check out our daily vlogs below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTjpz9nTCi0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wzxRtXJk8

Book a nights stay at the Doubletree by Hilton for AUD$320 per night.

Flying The Nest was welcomed as a guest of Doubltree by Hilton Melbourne, however as always, our opinions are our own.

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