Park Hyatt Melbourne REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Feb 26, 2013, 3:47 am
#346
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
I have stayed in both hotels. The Hilton South Wharf does have Yarra views BUT the location is really bad, near freeways. Nothing around it except a discount mall. I was delayed 20+mins while the bellboy went to fetch a cab from the main road. The HSF feels cold (personality wise) and lacks substance.
I prefer the PH. As for ACU, you could walk from the PH, definitely not from the HSW.
Email the PH about the tv as not all rooms have a spa.
Apr 27, 2013, 11:38 am
#347
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
May 16, 2013, 9:47 am
#348
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
Just had a nice stay here... here's a picture of our view.. that cathedral sure is huge! (This pic is from the 17th floor.)
May 17, 2013, 1:13 am
#353
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
To be fair, it is an exceptional breakfast. It's better than the GH that charges $22, I think!
May 17, 2013, 6:08 am
#354
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
What's puzzling (and sad) is that the PH Melbourne exceeds my expectations in almost every other way, except for this recent niggling issue.
May 17, 2013, 8:04 am
#355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
May 17, 2013, 9:46 am
#356
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
May 17, 2013, 4:28 pm
#357
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
I enjoyed a one night stay here about a month ago, my first time to MEL.
I was upgraded to an absolutely massive suite on the top floor with closets and bathroom that rivaled many homes. Doors just kept leading to more, down one hallway I found an entire kitchen with full sized refrigerator.
Service was cheerful, helpful and most excellent. Overall the property and room appeared a bit dated, but still quite nice. Even though it was a wonderful experience, the entire thing really felt like a nice Grand Hyatt versus a Park Hyatt. I get the feeling that in many of these tier two markets, Hyatt is branding Grand's as Park's. Another example: ORD. Whereas in tier one markets (TYO, SHA, PAR), the Park Hyatt's truly stand out as something special.
Things I really enjoyed:
- Service (front desk staff)
- Club lounge (rare for a PH, and more evidence that this was designed as a Grand Hyatt). Spread was excellent in the evenings and drink selection was great as was the service.
- Quiet (location is close to downtown but still quiet; lobby was always empty)
- Flexibility (with late check in and late check out exceeding even 4pm)
- Room service (at 4am) was quite good.
- Book through a Virtuoso agent and you will automatically receive a $100 (or $150, I can't quite recall) F&B credit plus an upgrade if available at check in, not to mention the free breakfast (see below).
Things that could be improved:
- Rooms are dated. Design is more like a Grand Hyatt - not very modern IMHO. Relatively newer properties scream Park Hyatt like in PVG and PEK.
- Breakfast buffet in the main restaurant (club only serving on weekends) was really quite poor with a lack of selections and terrible service. I literally had to walk back to the hostess stand to attract anyone's attention.
- There appeared to be no dedicated concierge, thus the front desk staff was overworked / overcommitted in playing both roles. They did, however, keep smiling and provided quite good service even when quite busy.
- Beware that at certain times during the day, not sure how many days a week, the church next door "practices" bells which play seemingly randomly for over an hour. Even the front desk staff was jokingly complaining to me about it. If, for example, you were trying to take a nap that afternoon, you could forget it.
I was upgraded to an absolutely massive suite on the top floor with closets and bathroom that rivaled many homes. Doors just kept leading to more, down one hallway I found an entire kitchen with full sized refrigerator.
Service was cheerful, helpful and most excellent. Overall the property and room appeared a bit dated, but still quite nice. Even though it was a wonderful experience, the entire thing really felt like a nice Grand Hyatt versus a Park Hyatt. I get the feeling that in many of these tier two markets, Hyatt is branding Grand's as Park's. Another example: ORD. Whereas in tier one markets (TYO, SHA, PAR), the Park Hyatt's truly stand out as something special.
Things I really enjoyed:
- Service (front desk staff)
- Club lounge (rare for a PH, and more evidence that this was designed as a Grand Hyatt). Spread was excellent in the evenings and drink selection was great as was the service.
- Quiet (location is close to downtown but still quiet; lobby was always empty)
- Flexibility (with late check in and late check out exceeding even 4pm)
- Room service (at 4am) was quite good.
- Book through a Virtuoso agent and you will automatically receive a $100 (or $150, I can't quite recall) F&B credit plus an upgrade if available at check in, not to mention the free breakfast (see below).
Things that could be improved:
- Rooms are dated. Design is more like a Grand Hyatt - not very modern IMHO. Relatively newer properties scream Park Hyatt like in PVG and PEK.
- Breakfast buffet in the main restaurant (club only serving on weekends) was really quite poor with a lack of selections and terrible service. I literally had to walk back to the hostess stand to attract anyone's attention.
- There appeared to be no dedicated concierge, thus the front desk staff was overworked / overcommitted in playing both roles. They did, however, keep smiling and provided quite good service even when quite busy.
- Beware that at certain times during the day, not sure how many days a week, the church next door "practices" bells which play seemingly randomly for over an hour. Even the front desk staff was jokingly complaining to me about it. If, for example, you were trying to take a nap that afternoon, you could forget it.
May 17, 2013, 4:52 pm
#358
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
I definitely think the Park Hyatt Chicago is a vastly superior property, and much more deserving of the Park name, then the PH Melbourne... I don't think of them as comparable in the least. No offense to PHM, it is a nice property, but I really love PHC.
May 17, 2013, 4:54 pm
#359
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
All that said, yeah, PHM is a "nice" property. I would have felt the same about it if it was branded as a Grand Hyatt. It's fine. Just fine.
In fact, the PHM reminds me of the GH BKK and the GH TPE. Solid properties. Actually, the GH BKK, IMHO, has service levels rivaling some of the international Park's, certainly better than the PHM, but not TYO...
May 17, 2013, 4:58 pm
#360
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
Totally respect your opinion, but I wasn't really wow'ed by PH Chicago. Then again, it all depends on where you are coming from. Have you been to the PH Shanghai, Beijing or Tokyo? I really love those properties, especially Shanghai. Paris stands out as well. IMHO, all trump the PH Chicago (and MEL) by a very, very long shot.
All that said, yeah, PHM is a "nice" property. I would have felt the same about it if it was branded as a Grand Hyatt. It's fine. Just fine.
In fact, the PHM reminds me of the GH BKK and the GH TPE. Solid properties. Actually, the GH BKK, IMHO, has service levels rivaling some of the international Park's, certainly better than the PHM, but not TYO...
All that said, yeah, PHM is a "nice" property. I would have felt the same about it if it was branded as a Grand Hyatt. It's fine. Just fine.
In fact, the PHM reminds me of the GH BKK and the GH TPE. Solid properties. Actually, the GH BKK, IMHO, has service levels rivaling some of the international Park's, certainly better than the PHM, but not TYO...