Hilton Melbourne South Wharf review

I stayed at the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf due to a conference next door at the new Melbourne Convention Centre.
My My Way amenity is free internet, but at check in the staff asked if I would like an upgrade instead. Everyone on Flyertalk said how great the Executive Lounge is, but I would rather eat out on vacation so I kept the internet. A wired connection was like AU$29/day and wireless was about the same for 2 hours. We spent more on food, but had fun explorering the breakfast places around Melbourne like the Pancake Parlour and Sweetheart Cafe.

The room was interesting. It reminded me a bit of the Hilton Toronto Airport upon entering the room, but really the room was 1/2 bathroom, 1/2 bed. They did have king-sized pillows on the bed. One of my gripes with Hampton Inns is their lack of king-sized pillows on king beds.

The staff were all very courteous.  I wasn’t sure whether I was supposed to tip the bellman or not, but he left the baggage without much of an exit so I assume no tip was fine.  I only had bills at that time and didn’t think bringing up 3 bags warranted $50.

The minibar was stocked daily with goodies.  We found it was about as expensive to drink soda from the minibar as it was to buy from the vending machines in the convention centre so we just drank from the mini bar.

Room service had a very extensive menu at OK prices.  We ate breakfast for AU$33 which was less than we spent at restaurants for about the same food.  They kept messing up my order so I’m not sure exactly what it was supposed to come with.  The first time I got hash browns and toast but no spinach.  The second time I got just spinach but no hash browns or toast (well, they forgot my meal and I had to remind them).  Third time no hash browns and the lady forgot the toast at first but came right back with it.  If you get the Farm Fresh Eggs breakfast YMMV.

The business center is located on the same floor as the executive lounge.  I don’t stay at many FS Hiltons, but I was expecting a fee for the business center.  There was a fee to use the WIFI, but printing was free and general use of the computers was free.  I thought I could just pull up my boarding pass via e-mail, but realized I’d need to print from my room or buy more internet.  I printed from my room and retrieved my boarding pass without issue.

The hotel does not have a pool which disappointed me at first, but the weather wasn’t really great for a pool when I was there.  Also, who needs a pool when there are beaches?  The beach wasn’t close, but I’m sure it wasn’t too far either.