Alto Hotel on Bourke: Why pick this cheap Melbourne apartment hotel?

The Alto Hotel on Bourke offers relatively cheap Melbourne apartment hotel accommodation within a short walk of Southern Cross Station. It’s one of Melbourne CBD’s secret bargains.

The Alto Hotel on Bourke can be counted as a handy discovery. Australia Travel Questions is a side project for travel journalist David Whitley, who regularly researches city guides for major publications in Australia and the UK. He came across the Alto Hotel on Bourke while researching a Melbourne guide for the Sunday Times Travel Magazine.

To skip the blather and just book the Alto Hotel on Bourke, come on over here…

Alto Hotel on Bourke: Budget accommodation?

Trade secret time: When travel journalists are researching such city guides, they are looking to fill various categories. They’re usually looking for one stand-out luxury hotel, one budget hotel and a few in-between that offer something different.

The Alto Hotel on Bourke ended up going into the guide as it is a relatively cheap apartment hotel. It’s not quite at the budget end of the scale, but hits that sweet spot that many travellers are looking for of being affordable but of solid quality.

👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇

Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.

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Cheap Melbourne apartment hotel review

This cheap Melbourne apartment hotel, however, has a few quirks to it. First of all, it’s in a 19^th century building, giving a heritage flourish. This is not matched in the décor of the apartments, by the way – they go for a contemporary look.

There are also admirable green commitments. The Alto Hotel on Bourke is certified carbon neutral, toiletries are biodegradable and plastic bottles have been ditched in favour of refillable dispensers. There’s even a rooftop beehive, where honey is collected.

Other quirks include a somewhat tucked-away lounge with an espresso and cappuccino machine, bowls of sweets and fruit and massage chairs.

How to do Melbourne IN STYLE

If there’s a special occasion while you’re in Melbourne, consider splashing out on these memory-making experiences…

An indulgent Yarra Valley food and wine tour – with lunch at Yering Station.
A sunrise hot air balloon flight across the city – followed by a champagne breakfast.
See the city by helicopter.
A private Great Ocean Road tour – with an early start to beat the crowds.
Tandem skydive from 14,000ft – and land on the beach.

Where is Alto Hotel on Bourke?

The Alto Hotel on Bourke is, as the name suggests, on Bourke Street. It is towards the western end of Melbourne CBD between King Street and Spencer Street. It is a short walk from Spencer Street Station, which is obviously very handy if you need to catch an early morning train the next day.

Alto Hotel on Bourke rates

As with all Melbourne apartment hotels, rates at the Alto Hotel on Bourke vary significantly with demand. But if you advance book, most of the year, you’ll find rooms costing from around $189.

Bookings can be made online.

Other Melbourne aparthotel options include the Brady Apartment Hotel on Flinders Street, the Harbour Escape Apartments in the Docklands and the Adina Apartment Hotel.

14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne

Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.