Budget Hotels
City Centre Budget Hotel
Did I have you at free Wi-Fi? Because Wi-Fi is free, and that’s all that matters. First world problems, for real.
The best thing about this hotel, as the name ‘City Centre’ suggests, is that it’s really smack bang in the middle of Melbourne city. Situated in the eastern tip of Melbourne CBD, it’s a 2-minute walk from Parliament Station, and 10 minutes to Chinatown.
The hotel also offers a communal guest laundry which is almost a necessity when travelling with kids and shared kitchen facilities for those times when you need to whip up baby food or simply heat up some milk.
Room Types: Family, Single, Double or Twin
Near: Parliament House, The Old Treasure Building
Amenities: Kettle, Heating, TV, Fan
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: Family rooms from $145 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
Space Hotel
A modern budget hotel in Melbourne for parents who are still young at heart (*cough* me *cough), or simply wish to delight in reminiscing on their wild backpacking days. Featuring a rooftop terrace with breathtaking views of the city skyline, private cinema, and fully equipped gym – there’s no better place to introduce your younglin’s to the hostel life and prepare them for solo travels in the future.
Space Hotel offers family rooms accommodating up to 4 adults, with a private bathroom, heating, air conditioning, and a TV to keep the whole family occupied at night.
Room Types: Family, Single, Double/Twin or Dorms
Near: State Library Victoria, Melbourne Central Station
Amenities: Heating, Air Conditioning, TV, Hairdryer, iPhone Dock
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: Family rooms from $179 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
Urban Central
If entertainment for the family is what you’re after, then entertainment is what you’ll get here. Well, around here anyway.
Hop onto the other side of the road where you’ll find the Crown Casino Complex, and experience all the non-gambling fun it has to offer. Like, for real. It’s not just for gamblers. Within the complex, you’ll find cinemas, restaurants, cafés, and.. *drum rolls* Playtime! The coolest arcade, suitable for all ages, in Australia. There’s even a bowling alley and laser tag.
Will the kids have fun? Um. Hell, yeah! Even adults will have a ball.
Room Types: Family, Double or Dorms
Near: Crown Casino Complex, Southbank River Walk
Amenities: Heating, Air Conditioning, TV, Kettle
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: Family rooms from $155 AUD per night
Airbnb Apartments
New York Style Apartment
A 4-minute walk from Southern Cross Station, this spacious 2-bedroom apartment is exactly what any family needs for a comfortable and pleasant stay in Melbourne.
This Melbourne family apartment accommodates up to 4 guests, with unlimited free Wi-Fi, a washing machine and dryer, air conditioning, heating, and a fully equipped kitchen for the nights when you want to save a little dosh and cook a meal in the comfort of home.
Here’s the chicken dinner winner – as part of the facilities accessible to residents of the apartment, you also get access to the pool, gym and sauna. Can I get a “hell, yeah!”? No, too much? Okay. Let’s just stick with silent celebrations.
Room Type: 2-bedroom apartment
Near: Southern Cross Station
Amenities: Washing machine & dryer, air conditioning, heating, TV, gym, pool
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: From $135 AUD per night (check latest prices)
Sign up to Airbnb via my special link and receive $55 AUD credit towards your booking.
2-Bedroom Central Modern Apartment
The location of this Melbourne family apartment is everything – it’s literally cosied up to Melbourne Central Station, QV and Emporium. This is where it’s all happenin’, guys. This is the pulsating heart of the Melbourne CBD. This is where the queen bee’s at.
Of course, Wi-Fi is included, along with laundry facilities, a fully equipped kitchen and guest access to the 53rd floor Sky Lounge, BBQ, sauna, swimming pool, and spa.
Room Type: 2-bedroom apartment
Near: Melbourne Central Station
Amenities: Washing machine, air conditioning, heating, TV, pool, spa, sauna
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: From $149 AUD per night (check latest prices)
Sign up to Airbnb via my special link and receive $55 AUD credit towards your booking.
Nest-Luxe Apartment
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that 80sqm of apartment space in the middle of Melbourne city is hard to come by like Chris Hemsworth shirtless serving you breakfast in bed (Okay, that is likely impossible), but this apartment defies the odds of small space inner city living. I can promise you that. Just not Chris Hemsworth.
Big family? No problems. This apartment sleeps up to 9 people. Like, yeah. There’s beds everywhere.
Room Type: 2-bedroom apartment
Near: Southern Cross Station
Amenities: Washing machine, dryer, air conditioning, TV, heating, gym, pool
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: From $106 AUD per night (check latest prices)
Sign up to Airbnb via my special link and receive $55 AUD credit towards your booking.
Boutique Hotels
Ovolo Laneways
Alright, guys. Are you ready for this? Be prepared to be mind blown.
Two words: Free minibar. Say, what!?
You read right. Are you sold? Because, I certainly was. The winner for the best family accommodation in Melbourne has got to be the one place that lets you and the kids raid the minibar for free, and… that’s not all. Each room comes equipped with an Apple TV for all your kids’ streaming needs and, without a doubt, high speed Internet connection.
Like, for real. If you’ve got the budget, stop clicking on other options for family hotels in Melbourne and lock this baby in.
Room Types: Studio, 1-Bedroom Suite, 2-Bedroom Suite, Terrace Suite
Near: Parliament House, Chinatown, Carlton Gardens
Amenities: TV, Kettle, DVD Player, Air Conditioning, Heating
Baby Cot: Available upon request
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: Studios from $200 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
The Jazz Corner Hotel
Is the funk and vibe of jazz music your jam? Then make this your temporary abode while you’re residing in the hip city of Melbourne.
Choose between a stylish and funked up Studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom apartment, each featuring a private balcony and breathtaking views of the city skyline or peaceful greenery of the Flagstaff Gardens.
Room Types: Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom
Near: Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market
Amenities: TV, Iron, Washing Machine, Dryer, Air Conditioning, Heating, Fully Equipped Kitchen
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: Studios from $130.50 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
QT Melbourne
Looking to stay somewhere completely unique for a whole new experience? This is it, peeps.
Funny elevator voices, an incredibly designed interior, bathroom decor that is out of this world and the rooftop bar combine to make this 5-star boutique hotel a stay to remember for the rest of your life. If you’re looking for a one of a kind luxury family hotel in Melbourne, then look no further.
Room Types: King & Twin Bed Rooms
Near: Regent Theatre, Chinatown, Melbourne Town Hall
Amenities: TV, Air conditioning, Kettle, Heating, Gym
Baby Cot: Available upon request
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: From $248.50 AUD per night
Luxury Hotels
Crown Towers
To the shot callers, ballers – put ya hands up! Welcome to Vegas downunder. We only have one casino in Melbourne, but this is the casino of all casinos in Australia.
Now don’t get put off by the term ‘casino’, my fellow family travellers. The Crown Casino complex is an entertainment district where you’ll find cinemas, restaurants, cafés, swimming pools, shopping retailers and other forms of kid-friendly entertainment. You don’t have to come here to gamble, just come here to live it up, soak in the buzz and be entertained.
Room Types: Twin, King, Studio, Executive Suite, Premier Suite
Near: Southbank Promenade, Federation Square, Flinders St Station
Amenities: TV, Air Conditioning, Heating, Video Games, Swimming Pool, Gym
Baby Cot: Not available
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: From $304.20 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
For families who wish to be smack bang in the centre of Melbourne’s shopping, dining and theatre district – it doesn’t get much better than the Grand Hyatt. Comprising of luxurious guest rooms with picturesque views over the Yarra River or the city skyline, this 5-star hotel boasts top notch facilities, including a 24/7 City Club Health & Fitness Centre free to use for hotel guests, an indoor swimming pool, Grand Club Lounge, and more.
Apart from the luxuries the Grand Hyatt provides, you’ve also got Melbourne’s best eateries right in close proximity – Chin Chin, Bowery to Williamsburg, Izakaya Den, and Cumulus Inc, to name a few.
Room Types: Standard King/Twin, King Suite, Diplomatic Suite
Near: Regent Theatre, Federation Square
Amenities: Babysitting services (extra cost), Air Conditioning, Heating, TV, Swimming Pool, Gym, Spa & Wellness Centre (extra cost), Sauna, Tennis Court
Baby Cot: Available upon request
Wi-Fi: Yes (free)
Price: From $305 AUD per night
Check the latest prices | Read guest reviews
Quay West Suites Melbourne
The perfect 5-star family accommodation in Melbourne – Quay West Suites offers ultimate luxury in a homey environment with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and a furnished balcony providing panoramic views over the Yarra River and Southbank Promenade.
Located in the heart of Southbank Promenade, you’ve got the Eureka Skydeck, SeaLife Melbourne Aquarium and the Melbourne Arts Precinct literally a stone’s throw away.
Room Types: Studio, 1/2/3-Bedroom Suites
Near: Flinders St Station, Melbourne Arts Centre
Amenities: Babysitting Services (extra cost), TV, Fully Equipped Kitchen, Daily Maid Service, Air Conditioning, Heating, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Gym, Sauna
Wi-Fi: Yes
Price: Studios from $228.60 AUD per night
Alternative Accommodation
Aussie House Sitters
Yes, if you and your family are capable of watering plants and feeding pets in exchange for free accommodation – this is your gig. You read right. Free accommodation.
Now don’t get your knickers in a bunch because in order for this to work, you have to lower your expectations. Expect that you’ll most likely be based in suburbia, which means that you would have to commute or drive (if the owner is nice enough to lend you a car) ,but the pay-off is that you save on accommodation – meaning, more money to spend on everything else.
House sitting for families is not always easy to come by, but if you look hard enough, and perhaps even talk to the owners, you might just land yourself a gig.
How does it work? Simply register at Aussie House Sitters (Australia’s largest pet and house sitting site) for a few dollars a month to connect with individuals who need house sitting services. Easy peasy.
WWOOFing
Despite what it sounds like, this actually has nothing to do with dogs. Well, unless your host owns a dog. WWOOFing stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms connecting volunteers to organic farms and growers around the world. In exchange for volunteering services, WWOOF hosts provide food, accommodation and education on organic lifestyles and farming.
If you’re one of those families doing the ‘Big Lap’, travelling through Australia slowly in a caravan, or just simply travelling long term to explore this great big country, then you might want to consider volunteering at organic farms in exchange for free accommodation, if you want to switch it up from the caravan life.
And, yes. You can totally WWOOF with your fambam. Take a look at this family who done diddit.
If this sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience to you, take a look at WWOOF in Australia for current opportunities.
HelpX
AKA Help Exchange, basically your one stop shop for all types of volunteering work – farmstays, homestays, ranches, and even sailing boats who are seeking short-term volunteers to help them with tasks in exchange for free accommodation and meals.
The work can range from a couple hours per day right up to 6 hours, depending on the task or project the hosts requires help with. An old workmate of ours stayed with a HelpX host while travelling through Europe and received accomodation in exchange for helping a host paint his fence for a couple hours of the day.
If you’re after a completely different cultural experience for your family, and perhaps even learn a new skill, and truly connect with other locals – then, this is something worth considering.
Browse over 1000 hosts in Victoria who need help with a task today.
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