Moonee Ponds Trip

It was an ok room but I think there are better options in and around Melbourne. I definitely wouldn't stay again. It is tidy, but run down. The room is clean enough, there is a tv, tea, coffee & a kettle provided with creamer & a small bar fridge. When I went to wash my hair, there was no shampoo in the refillable bottle they have on the shower wall - I had already wet my hair so I had to wash it with soap. I was left with a rat's nest. Then when I went to dry my hair, the hairdryer was only blowing cold air & in desperation, I just had to pull my hair back in a pony tail. There was no time to ask the staff to replenish or bring a replacement as I was in a rush to check out. Their gym facilities are woeful - it should not even be advertised that a gym exists here. The treadmill was broken (error message, turned it off and back on & it started running at 20 miles an hour and I nearly fell over and then it returned to error message). Turning it back off and on again yielded the same result. The exercise bike was also broken - with a constant beeping sound if you did decide you wanted to work out. I got to 6 minutes and decided my state of mind couldn't take it. You couldn't change any settings &you couldn't manipulate the seat height either. There was a step machine that I didn't even bother using &one other weights machine. The gym is on the top (10th) floor which is dark, dim and like a ghost town. Don't bother. I ended up going for a walk instead. The staff were pleasant.

A Lovely Setting, but the Overall Experience Fell Short We stayed at Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley for a weekend getaway and appreciated the peaceful setting. Our room was comfortable, with a balcony and separate living area, and the complimentary Wi-Fi and parking were welcome inclusions. Unfortunately, the dining experience did not meet our expectations. We attempted to have dinner at the estate, but the à la carte menu was limited to cheese and charcuterie boards and small snacks. The alternative was a set menu starting at $92 per person, which felt expensive given the limited choice. Lamb was the only meat option, with the remaining dishes centred on pasta or fish. Breakfast the following morning was also average and did not particularly stand out. We were also disappointed with the facilities. The gym was not clearly advertised, making it difficult to know what fitness facilities were available before our stay. In addition, the sauna was not working, which detracted from the overall resort experience. Better communication about available facilities and any maintenance issues would have helped us manage our expectations. For a property at this price point, we expected a more comprehensive experience, with better dining options, a more appealing breakfast and fully functioning facilities. While the accommodation itself was comfortable and the setting was lovely, these shortcomings detracted from our weekend and left us feeling that the overall experience did not quite