Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton By IHG

Stayed overnight on our way overseas. This is our second stay as previously booked a 4 hour room stay on a previous OS trip whilst in transit. We shall return. Easy commute to airport 5 minute walk to checkin. Staff were fabulous in all areas.Breakfast had great variety. Shower,towels, lovely and clean, plus KS bed so comfortable. Carpets a little tired but given the popularity of this hotel it’s no wonder. We shall return.

May 22; forced stopover by Virgin Aus; Park Royal Tulla Virgin Aus delayed my flight to Launceston, Tas, so I stayed at Park Royal, Tullamarine, Melbourne. I had stayed there preCovid and my Tarmac View was as expected. Paid extra for a Tarmac View: >$300 AUD total 2 weeks prior, when the Virgin Rot started. Room 654 doesn’t have a Tarmac View; no matter how you argue it. When I checked in, tired with an arthritis flare thanks to Virgin Aus (that’s another story of cancellations and terrible customer service), I checked to see if my room did have a Tarmac View and I got no reply. That was a worry. Too tired to follow it up then. I called reception when I got to my room; it was dark, but the only tarmac I could see was between a break in adjacent airport building. I could not see a touchdown, at all. Airport Side isn’t Tarmac View. Young woman at reception let out the biggest sigh I have ever heard from someone in her position, in this type of situation. Her first words were combative: I was now tired, sore and furious and didn’t want to scream and shout or argue. So with a little sarcasm I said “OK. Thank you. Bye.” and hung up. I thought the hospitality industry was happy we could travel again. So: don’t believe Tarmac View means anything on the 6th floor at Park Royal Tullamarine; and don’t expect any decent assistance if you are not satisfied. Would need a v good reason to stay there again, as I rate customer service v highly. The room itself seemed, just, OK. Convenient, but be careful and don’t be critical, or else.

By staying here you are funding, aiding and abetted an organization that willingly participated in incarcerating refugees and creating human misery, that alone makes them not an appropriate place for any decent person to stay. Their website does not acknowledge this and the hotel continues to market itself as family friendly, this is an absolute scam. That said, the place is unmaintained and grotty.