Checked into the Hilton Melbourne today. Hotel is located in East Melbourne, directly opposite the MCG, so great for sports lovers. The hotel is maybe 30 years old ( i may be wrong) but is reburbished inside. The executive floors are on level 17 and 18.

When i checked in, I mentioned I was a gold and they checked with the manager in the back office and confirmed they could upgrade me to an exec floor room. I had the choice of Level 18 (smoking floor) or Level 17 (non-smoking floor). THe club room is on the smoking floor - level 18.

I was given my pass and ushered to my room. There was complimentary apples in the room, but nothing else. The bottled water was all pay.

The room is smaller than most hiltons i've found. The decor is clean and well kept. The bathroom is very small too and includes a tight bathtub.

There is a pull out desk for computer access, definitely not the nicest way to use ur laptop or do work on. I like the layout of the hilton brisbane and space there much more, and the rooms are typically cheaper too.

Had breakfast in the lounge, unfortunatley they do not serve any warm food. Choice of cereals, fruits, yoghurts, smoked salmon and hams, toasts, muffins and pastries. Juices, tea and coffee. I was kind of shocked to find they didn't have eggs, bacon, sausages, etc. Even the hilton brisbane has the eggs. I'd personally prefer to get a voucher to eat down in the buffet than upstairs, just basically for sheer variety.

Spent a wonderful day out in Bridge Road, Richmond which is where the shopping at factory outlets is, just took the tram outside the hotel, took literally about 10 mins to get there. Did some shopping and went to the city to get some lunch at one of my favourite japanese cafe/restaurants which i always go to in the city called 'Yoyogi' - great value meals about A$6.20 for yaki soba and A$7.90 with oyaku don with miso. Very nice!

Later in the day, i walked up the road (Elizabeth street) to franklin street and turned left and went to the Queen St Markets, beware they close around 4pm, so tyr and get there before then. There are some cheap internet cafes on elizabeth before franklin street.

I caught the tram back to the Melbourne Train terminal and then caught the crossover tram back to the hilton. A tram ticket costs A$2.60 for 2 hours in zone 1 which covers almost all of the main city and surrounds area. U do not buy it from the tram driver, u just jump in and then when ur ready, pay at the machine. The machine hours work by giving u the next 2 hours after the current hour. Example, 3:15, gives you until 6:00, 3:55 gives you until 6:00. You are required to enter your card into the green readers everytime u board the tram, people rarely do though. U can do a short trip tram ride for A$1.70. I dont think u can buy it on the trams but there is a full day tram ticket for A$5.20 or so which may be better value for some.

Got back to the hotel and chilled out for a while and then went up to the clubroom for evening canapes and wine. Had a wonderful glass of red. The evening canapes were good, though they didn't replinsh as they should have sadly - only got one satay stick and had to fill myself up on a few carbos. They had smoked salmon wraps, satay, sushi, sundried tomatoes, brie and near the tea and coffee, biscuits/cookies.

Came back and did some work for business the next day.

All in all, i'd rank the hilton melbourne a 6/10, and a 4/10 for value for money (considering it is A$220/night+ usually). I'm a hard marker!

Oh one nice thing, during the day a gentleman came by and offered me my gold amennity of a bottle of red wine. Very nice, thank you hilton. And the green apples are great and crunchy.