The Olsen Melbourne - Art Series

I have been staying at The Olsen for many years. COVID has not been that kind to the Olsen, which is showing signs of tiredness. The carpets are worn, the lift floors are not clean and some of the room furniture is peeling veneer. It has definitely lost some of the freshness and unique sparkle it had in previous years.

My check in was terrible - not informed re the services in the hotel, about the need to insert power card, had to ask for my free drink voucher. Asked re upgrade as I am a platinum member and was told that had occurred. Well if that room was an upgrade I would hate to see what a basic room was like. Carpet was badly rippled and not stretched, door to the bathroom had chips in the glass as did benchtops. Not what I would expect from this standard of hotel. I emailed my concerns on the day I arrived and had no contact from the management. Very poor. I have stayed at other Accor properties in Melbourne and this is my worst experience.

I’ve stayed at the Olsen a couple of times previously. On this occasion I’ve noticed how the attention to detail has diminished. Duvets x 2 on both beds Doty with numerous existing dirty stain all over them ( not in covers just between sheets. Only noticed after spending the night in them and the linen had moved. Poor bathroom lighting. Mould on bath sealant Shabby looking carpets. Leaking ceiling in bathroom not resolved. Dirty windows. Wait time of 40 mins for breakfast when not even busy. Food sat waiting on counter warmer ( toast) for 15 minutes while they prepared other breakfast meals from our group. The manager was very good when he came to inspect our bed linen and gave a 30% reduction in cost of stay. Great but that’s not why we booked a 5 star stay!! Unfortunately I will never book here again.

Super hotel, spacious and well appointed rooms and nothing to complain about at this venue at all. Staff all pleasant. Loved it and it was a nice change from staying in the city block. The refreshing part is the surroundings and all too frequently we can forget how good the Chapel St and Torah Rd area is.

Arrived at the hotel to find a limo and a rental truck taking up the entire driveway, and multiple cars waiting at traffic lights and to get into driveway - with no where to park I made my way to the carpark to be rudely told there was no parking and I'd have to come in to reception and then hung up on me when I tried to explain the entire area was full of cars and I just needed to know where alternative car parking was available. Recalled again to a different person and he was much more helpful and offered to come out to help me with my bags, after I explained I was severely time limited in that I needed to get ready for a black tie function and be out in 1/2 an hour... but once again with rental truck and limo in driveway and multiple cars lined up - it was far easier to just head to Como and carry my own bags. After an enormous wait for a lift to get up to the room and having to move around linen trolleys in the lift area - Arrived at the room to find it clean and not much more... Art Series Hotels had always had something special to them and now it's just frayed carpets and empty cupboards without even a bottle of water.