A home away from home @ Somerset Gordon Place, Melbourne

This is a cliched advertising line which almost all hotel ads use. But few live up to this promise. But at the Somerset Gordon Place which I stayed in Melbourne is truly an enjoyable abode to return to after a day's of adventure. It is actually part of the Ascott Group that is from Singapore and co-incidentally the CEO is also Fuchsia Lane's customer. :) But of course what I said is unbiased.

The apartment is a beautiful red brick old heritage building that is restored, right smack in the city centre. The train station is less than 5 mins walk. When I reached there at 12pm, the staff checked me in immediately despite the check in time was 2pm. That was a relief as I just had a weary midnight flight. And the studio apartment is clean and cosy with its own bathroom and kitchenette. The bed is full of plush pillows and warm sheets. Those that you see and you just want to sink in. I am especially impressed by the pillow menu which has different pillows for you to choose from a good firm support pillow to a down feather European pillow. The set up is just nice for one person like me who is travelling alone.

And the staff are so ever ready to help you. They are not impatient to explain to you how things work in the hotel, how to get around to a destination. Whatever they do not know, they will try their best to find out for you. They even post the letters for you and always greet you with a big warm smile! A particular staff I like to commend is the Australian Asian counter staff - Rochelle who is always so bubbly. She is like your friend in an unfamiliar land.

The only bad thing is there are no movie channels and you have to pay for internet usage which is either per hour or daily. Oh well, but that is something I can lived with. I will still go back the apartment again if I am back in Melbourne!