Melbourne's Hidden Gem: Flinders St's Chic Aura Apartments!
Flinders St's Chic Aura Apartments: Melbourne's Hidden Gem? Let's Dive In! (Brace Yourself, It's a Ride!)
Okay, okay, so I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Melbourne, and I'm still buzzing. And, naturally, I have to spill the tea on the place I crashed – Flinders St's Chic Aura Apartments. They call it a "hidden gem," and honestly, after sifting through all the travel brochures and glossy websites, I'm here to tell you… it kinda is. But, as always, let's be real. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, right? Let's break it down, shall we? (Grab a coffee, this is gonna be a long one!)
First Impressions: Location, Location, Location! (And the Elevator…or Lack Thereof?)
Right off the bat, the location is killer. Smack-dab in the heart of Flinders Street, practically spitting distance from Flinders Street Station (which, if you're a tourist like me, is everything). You're talking walking distance to Federation Square, the laneways, the river…it's a dream. Accessibility: They do have an elevator, which is a massive win for those of us who aren't exactly marathon runners (or, you know, hauling luggage!). Wheelchair accessible: I didn't personally need this, but from what I saw, the common areas seemed pretty good. Definitely worth double-checking with them directly about the specific apartment access, just to be sure.
Internet: Wi-Fi Woes (and Wins!)
Okay, let's get this out of the way: Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free] is a huge plus. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! They actually deliver, which is a miracle in itself. And it's fast. I'm talking streaming Netflix without buffering, Zoom calls that didn't cut out mid-sentence…bliss! I even managed to sneak in some work. Internet access – LAN wasn't something I used, but it's there if you're old-school or need a super secure connection.
Rooms & Amenities: Chic Aura, Indeed! (But…Where's the Extra Pillow?)
The apartments themselves are stylish. Seriously. Think minimalist chic, with a touch of… well, aura. Clean lines, big windows, comfy beds (extra long, thank goodness!). Available in all rooms: Air conditioning (essential in Melbourne!), Air conditioning in public area, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains (crucial for beating jet lag!), Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. The Room decorations were tasteful, not too much, not too little.
But, and here's the tiny gripe: the lack of an extra pillow! I need extra pillows. I’m a pillow hog. It’s a thing. I had to call down and ask. They sorted it out quickly, but it's the little things, right?
Dining & Drinking: Options Galore (But No Michelin Stars, Folks!)
Okay, food. This is where it gets interesting. Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant. The apartments don't have their own restaurant, but they're surrounded by options. Literally surrounded. You've got everything from greasy spoons to fancy restaurants. Room service [24-hour] is a lifesaver after a long day of sightseeing. I may or may not have ordered pizza at 2 AM. No judgment!
Things To Do & Ways To Relax: Spa Dreams (and a Gym That’s…Compact)
Things to do: Well, you're in Melbourne! Explore the laneways, see a show, visit the museums…the list is endless. Ways to relax: This is where it gets a bit…mixed. Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]. They do have a fitness center, which is great, but let's be honest, it's more of a "fitness nook." Tiny. Don't expect to do a full-blown workout. They also have a spa, but I didn't get a chance to try it.
I did take a peak at the pool. Pool with view. It looked pretty inviting, especially after a long day of walking. The Swimming pool [outdoor] is small but well-maintained.
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Safe and Sound (Especially Nowadays)
Okay, this is a big one. Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. I felt safe. They were definitely on top of the COVID protocols. Hand sanitizer everywhere, staff wearing masks, and the rooms were spotless. That’s huge. CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center. They've got all the basics covered. The concierge was super helpful with recommendations. Daily housekeeping kept the place spick and span. Contactless check-in/out was a breeze. Luggage storage made it easy to explore on my last day.
For the Kids: Babysitting Service (and a Little More)
For the kids: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal. I didn't have kids with me, but I saw families there. They seemed well-catered for, with babysitting service, and kids meal.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy!
Getting around: Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking. The location is so central that you can walk pretty much everywhere. But if you need it, they have a taxi service.
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Okay, here's the deal. Flinders St's Chic Aura Apartments are a solid choice. Are they perfect? No. But they
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously color-coded travel itinerary. This is… me in Melbourne, hopefully not ending up in a jail cell. Specifically, Aura on Flinders Serviced Apartments. Let's see if I survive.
Day 1: Arrival & Melbourne Mayhem (aka, Jet Lag's Bitch)
- Time: 6:00 AM (ish) - Landing at Tullamarine Airport. "Oh, just a quick 24-hour flight," they said. Lies. All lies. My soul is currently a crumpled sock at the bottom of a suitcase.
- Activity: Taxi to Aura on Flinders. Praying the driver doesn't think I'm a serial killer, because I'm pretty sure I look like one. Hair a mess, eyes bloodshot, and a desperate need for a shower.
- Quirk: The taxi driver, bless his heart, asked if I wanted a "quick tour of the city" on the way. My brain short-circuited. "Is… is that a thing?" I mumbled. He just chuckled. Welcome to Melbourne.
- Emotion: Pure, unadulterated exhaustion. And a faint whiff of fear.
- Mess: Check-in. Hopefully. I'm running on pure caffeine and the fumes of airplane peanuts at this point.
- 10:00 AM: FINALLY in the apartment. Okay, this is decent. Nice view, surprisingly clean (whew!). Now, to combat the jet lag. I swear, I'm going to sleep for a week.
- 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Nap attempt #1. Failed. Brain screams, "IT'S DAYTIME! WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?!" Decided to give in, and watch some TV. I found some cooking show. The chef was making a soufflé. Soufflé? At this hour? My brain is still not functioning correctly.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Stumble out to find food. Found a decent cafe nearby. Ordered an avocado toast (basic, I know, but I needed something familiar). The coffee? Divine. Melbourne, you're already redeeming yourself.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Walk around Flinders Lane. OMG, the street art! I'm not even an art person, but it's so vibrant, so raw…it's overwhelming in the best way. I spent 20 minutes just staring at a mural of a giant, colorful cat. Seriously, I need a nap.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at a tiny, hipster-looking pizza place. The pizza was…okay. The staff, however, were so incredibly cool and friendly, it made up for the mediocre pizza.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Nap attempt #2. Success! Slept like a log. Woke up at 10:00 PM feeling somewhat like a human.
- 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM: Decided to explore the apartment. Found a mini-bar. Contemplated the ethics of drinking a bottle of wine at this hour. Gave in. No regrets.
- 11:00 PM - Bedtime: Passed out.
Day 2: Coffee, Culture, and Cognitive Dissonance
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. Feeling… surprisingly good! Jet lag is a fickle beast.
- 9:00 AM: Found a coffee shop recommended by the hotel. The coffee here is an art form. Seriously. They actually care about the foam.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Okay, I'm not going to pretend I understood everything, but the sheer scale of the place is impressive. The modern art section made me question everything I thought I knew about, well, anything. I did, however, fall madly in love with a painting of a dog.
- Quirk: Saw a woman in a full-on sequined jumpsuit at the NGV. Just walking around. No special event, no fanfare. Just…sequins. Melbourne is weird, and I love it.
- Emotion: A mix of awe and utter bewilderment.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch at a cafe near the NGV. More avocado toast. Don't judge me.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Federation Square. Crowded, touristy, but still cool. The architecture is bonkers. I wandered around, trying to figure out what the heck it was supposed to be.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Walked along the Yarra River. Saw a busker playing the didgeridoo. It was unexpectedly beautiful.
- Mess: Lost my way for 30 minutes. Ended up in a random alleyway. Found a cool little bookstore. Bought a book. Still lost.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant in Chinatown. The food was amazing. The atmosphere? Even better. Felt like I was transported to another world.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Back at the apartment. Debriefing with a bottle of wine. Thinking about the sequined jumpsuit woman. Still confused.
- 10:00 PM - Bedtime: More sleep. Finally.
Day 3: Drowning in Chocolate and a Floundering Food Tour
- 9:00 AM: Coffee. Need it. Desperately.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Chocolate tour. Yes, you heard that right. A chocolate tour. I'm not proud of how much chocolate I consumed. The details are… hazy. All I remember is that I died and went to heaven.
- Quirk: Tried a chocolate-covered chili. My mouth is still on fire. Worth it.
- Emotion: Pure, unadulterated bliss. Followed by a sugar crash.
- 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM: A "food tour". The problem? I was still full of chocolate. I tried, I really did. But the dumplings, the spring rolls, the…everything…I just couldn't. I felt like a failure.
- Mess: Accidentally spilled coffee on my shirt. Now I smell like a combination of coffee and chocolate. It's a weird smell.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Walked it off. Or tried to. Ended up at a park, watching a game of cricket. I have no idea what's going on, but the people are having fun.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Back at the apartment. Contemplating the meaning of life. And chocolate.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Decided to try cooking. Failed miserably. Ended up ordering takeaway.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Netflix and wine. My spirit animal is a sloth.
Day 4: Farewell, Melbourne (For Now)
- 8:00 AM: One last coffee. Sob.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Packing. Trying to figure out how to fit all the stuff I bought. (Mostly chocolate.)
- 11:00 AM: Check-out. Sad.
- 12:00 PM: Taxi to the airport.
- Emotion: Melancholy. And a promise to return.
- Quirk: The taxi driver was playing AC/DC. He saw me off with a "See ya, mate!".
- Final Thoughts: Melbourne, you're a wild, wonderful, and slightly confusing place. I loved it. I’ll be back. And I'm bringing my chocolate-loving friends.
And that, my friends, is a wrap. This itinerary might not be perfect, but it's mine. And it's real. And that's what matters. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.
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Flinders St's Chic Aura Apartments: The Truth (and the Mess!)
So, are these apartments actually "chic"? Or is it just marketing BS?
Okay, real talk. "Chic" is a dangerous word. It conjures up images of effortlessly cool people sipping espressos while simultaneously knowing *everything* about art history. And, let's be honest, I'm usually in my pajamas eating cereal at 3 PM. BUT… these apartments? They're… *trying* to be chic, and sometimes, they actually pull it off. The exposed brick in the living room? Gorgeous. The way the sunlight floods in in the morning? Magical. The tiny, slightly-too-modern-for-the-building light fixtures? Questionable, but I'll give 'em a pass.
The real test? My friend Sarah, who’s basically a human Pinterest board, visited. She actually *gasp*ed when she saw the balcony. That's a win in my book. So, yes, there's a definite attempt at chicness, and for the most part, it works. Just don't expect to be instantly transformed into a French film star. Although… a girl can dream, right?
Is the location actually "hidden gem" material? Or just a fancy way of saying "hard to find"?
Alright, this is where things get interesting. "Hidden gem" is a bit of a stretch, honestly. It's not *secret*, exactly. It's right there, smack-dab in the middle of Flinders Street! But the building itself? Kinda tucked away. It's like, you have to *know* it's there. And that feeling of discovery? That's the gem part.
The best part? Being so close to everything. Fed Square is practically your backyard. You can stumble out of the apartment at 2 AM after a gig and be home in five minutes. (Admittedly, this is also a *danger*, because late-night pizza is a serious temptation.) The *worst* part? The noise. Flinders Street is always alive. The trams, the buses, the occasional drunk yelling… it's a symphony of urban chaos. You learn to tune it out, eventually, or you invest in some serious earplugs. I’m still working on it.
What's the deal with the views? Do you get a killer panorama, or are you staring at a brick wall?
Okay, the views… this is a gamble. It depends entirely on which apartment you snag. Some face the street and get those glorious city vistas. Others… well, let's just say you might be getting a close-up of the building next door. I, personally, lucked out. My balcony overlooks a cute little laneway, and I can see the top of the Flinders Street Station clock tower. It’s… *chef’s kiss*… when the sun hits it just right.
My friend Mark? He got the brick wall. Bless his heart. He tries to be optimistic, saying it's "rustic" and "gives a sense of privacy." I just feel bad for the guy. So, before you sign that lease, demand a view. Seriously. Don't end up like Mark.
Are the apartments noisy? How much noise are we talking?
Oh, the noise. Let's dive deep into this, shall we? It's Melbourne. It's Flinders Street. It's *always* going to be noisy. The trams are the most consistent offenders. They screech and clang and sometimes sound like they're trying to break into your apartment. Then there's the traffic, which never seems to stop. And on weekends? Forget about it. You've got buskers, revellers, and the occasional impromptu street party.
I tried everything: double-glazed windows (meh), earplugs (better, but still heard the *thump-thump* of bass from the club downstairs), white noise machine (surprisingly effective, but felt like I was living in a spa). Honestly? You either learn to live with it, or you move to the quiet suburbs. I'm still here. So, yeah, it's noisy. Embrace the chaos. Or, you know, move to the quiet suburbs. I can't tell you what to do!
What's the vibe of the building? Are the neighbors friendly, or are they all secretly judging you?
The vibe? It's… mixed. There are the young professionals, the creatives, the occasional eccentric artist. It’s Melbourne, baby! I've had some lovely chats with my neighbors in the elevator (mostly about the weather, let's be real). I’ve also caught a few side-eyes when I've stumbled out in my pajamas to grab a coffee. (Judge away, people, judge away!)
Honestly, it's a pretty anonymous kind of building. People keep to themselves, which is fine by me. I'm not looking for a sitcom-style community. But there's a sense of shared experience, a knowing nod when you see someone else struggling with their groceries in the wind. It's Melbourne. We're all in this together, even if we're pretending not to be.
Is it worth the price tag? Because let's be real, inner-city living ain't cheap.
Okay, the money. This is the big one. Are these apartments expensive? Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. You're paying for the location, the "chic" factor, and the privilege of being able to walk to everything. Is it worth it? That's a deeply personal question, and it depends on your priorities.
For me? I love being able to ditch the car and walk everywhere. I love being steps away from amazing restaurants and bars. I love the energy of the city. But the rent… sometimes I look at my bank account and want to cry. But then I remember the view from my balcony, and the convenience of living where I do, and I take a deep breath. It's a trade-off. A very expensive trade-off. But, for now, I'm willing to pay it. Ask me again when the next rent increase hits, though. We'll see how I'm feeling then.
What's the deal with the management? Are they responsive, or are you doomed to live with a leaky faucet forever?
Okay, the management. This is where things get… complicated. On the one hand, they’re generally pretty good. They respond to maintenance requests, eventually. I had a leaky faucet, and it took about a week for them to fix it. That’s not ideal, but at least they *did* fix it.
On the other hand… the communication could be better. Sometimes, you feel like you're talking to a brick wall. And the lease renewal process? Let’s just say it wasn’t the most streamlined experience. So, yeah,Coastal Inns
