Park Hyatt Melbourne: what to expect

Breakfast area at the Park Hyatt Melbourne

If you look at the World of Hyatt app you’ll notice that this is one of the few times that a Park Hyatt is less expensive than a Grand Hyatt in a city. Having stayed at a few Park Hyatt properties around the world I can say this is one of the older-style properties and the price reflects that.

I suspect that this property will need to be renovated but in the meantime it is still a comfortable stay, on a quiet street, close to the largest sporting and event venue in the city.

I had been trying to find the right time to stay at this property. I go to Melbourne usually every year and enjoy both the Hyatt Centric Melbourne and Grand Hyatt Melbourne; for me it’s hard to change when I find something I like.

The reason I chose to finally stay here even though I love the other Hyatt’s in the city is because I was going to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for a concert, and I had seen that it was within walking distance. Seemed like the perfect chance to try out the facilities.

What’s Great About the Park Hyatt Melbourne

Location

The biggest sell of this property is the location to the large event precinct. Not having to call a cab or taxi amongst the 80,000+ eventgoers at the end of the night is a huge advantage. It’s also a close walk to the rest of the city. I was with my daughter, and we walked to a big garden area and even to a cafe to have a coffee with friends who live in the city.

Globalist gift

I enjoyed the sparkling water and chocolate gift. Sounds simple but if you know Melbourne you know that the quality of food here is second to none. It was nice to have a little snack and refreshment in the room waiting on arrival.

Suite at the Park Hyatt Melbourne

I was upgraded to a suite so there was a separate front room and bedroom. I have pretty much come to think of a suite as having two televisions. The hotel is from a certain period. When I think of the wood features I think of the show Frasier. Upon opening the hotel, I’m sure it would have been lauded for its excellent design but doesn’t feel quite right now. The wood paneling in the room and furniture could be updated. I didn’t care about those things on this stay. I was there to have a room to rest after the main event of going to a concert.

In terms of quality, it feels similar to the Park Hyatt Canberra (which is an interesting in-between branded version).

A few helpful tips before you stay at the Park Hyatt Melbourne

· Understand it’s an older property. Know that you’re visiting an older property so it might not match the aesthetic expectations that Park Hyatt is known for.

· Say hello to the hotel dog, Mr. Walker. We weren’t there long so we didn’t get a chance to see him, but his photo was on the keys.

· The bath amenities were Le Labo Bergamote 22. As most of the other hotels they’ve moved away from individual bottles (with the exception of an occasional body lotion or bar soap).

Is there room service at the Park Hyatt Melbourne?

Yes, there is room service at the Park Hyatt Melbourne and the food quality is excellent for room service. However, like many things in Australia it is wildly expensive for what it is. I happen to find a lot of joy ordering room service when I stay at a hotel, even if it’s just a plate of French fries so I splurge here.

An expensive but enjoyable in room dining luncheon with friends

Is there a Globalist breakfast at the Park Hyatt Melbourne?

You do get breakfast included with your stay at the Park Hyatt Melbourne if you’re a Globalist member. The service is buffet style and the servers will bring you coffee and beverages. It was very busy when we got there, and the dining area is one of the most unique that I’ve been in. It seems to be a series of stepped terraces rather than one large space. Maybe it was cutting edge when it was first built but it feels crowded and extremely dated. They do the best they can with it.

Points or pay?

Unless I’m staying at the airport hotel, I almost always opt to use points when I’m staying at a hotel in Australia simply because the prices are so much higher than in other regions in the world for what you get. This was no exception.

I mentioned before that I had visited because of a concert. It was a sellout and brought in many, many people from around the country and beyond. When the tickets went on sale it immediately made the prices of local hotels skyrocket, and I was lucky to snag a room on points at no extra cost to myself. I love being able to do that with Hyatt. For more regular (annual) events in the city like the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Australian Open tennis, or F1 races there is more likely a chance that you won’t be able to use points because they probably would be designated blackout dates. Since mine was a one-off it was free and clear of that.

Should I stay at the Park Hyatt Melbourne vs. Grand Hyatt Melbourne?

I still find the Grand Hyatt Melbourne to be much more central, but the Park Hyatt is a great spot if you want something quiet and if you’re going to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I know I’ve spent a lot of time talking about how out-of-date the property is, but I’m still glad that it’s an option in this vibrant and important city.