Discover Best Melbourne Accommodation 5 Star In Lively, Cosmopolitan Vacation City

There are some excellent five star hotels in the heart of Melbourne, the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital of the Australian state of Victoria. This brief Melbourne accommodation 5 star article reviews three of these hotels: the Langham and the Crown Towers in Southbank, and the Windsor in the Central Business District (CBD). All three are well situated to make them good choices for visitors aiming to explore and experience the culture of this famous Australian city.

Melbourne is both the capital and the largest city (population 4 million) in Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia. It is known as an important business and commercial centre, but also as an important location for culture, the arts and for sports. World class events in horse racing (Melbourne Cup), tennis (Australian Open) and formula one (Australian Grand Prix) are held annually in Melbourne, and Melbourne Cricket Ground will most summers play host for some of Australia's home Test and One Day cricket internationals.

Australia's TV and film industries were both founded in the state of Victoria (the first ever feature film was actually made here), and that movie legacy is celebrated by ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) which is in Federation Square in the city centre. Admission to the main displays at ACMI is free, and the exhibits include historic film posters and publicity shots from around the world, as well as from Australia cinema and TV.

Much of the growth of Melbourne to its present day prominence occurred because of the discovery of gold in the state. In the Victorian era Australia was the largest gold producer in the world, and became one of the largest and most important cities in the British Empire. During that era of prosperity the Grand Hotel was built in central Melbourne (now the Hotel Windsor), and its guests included all the politicians, businessmen and celebrities of the day. (In fact the Australian constitution was drafted here in 1898)

The Windsor was opened in 1883, and is older than many of the most famous names in the hotel world (Ritz, Savoy, Waldorf-Astoria). After a period of decline, and the threat of demolition, it was saved by the intervention of the state government, who were determined to preserve this piece of Australia's history. The hotel is now the only independent grand hotel in Australia.

After being saved from demolition, a comprehensive renewal and renovation plan for the Windsor was implemented, and the WIndsor has now been restored to her former state of grandeur and opulence. Guests at the Windsor can dine in splendid surroundings in the Parisian grand salon style dining hall, or drink in the historic Cricketers Bar. The Cricketers was often the scene of Australian team celebrations after Test match victories at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground, and it still holds a unique collection of cricketing memorabilia from the last 100 years of state and Test match cricket.

Just over the river from the city centre is the Southbank District, and on Southbank Promenade one can find another elegant and luxurious hotel, the Langham Melbourne Hotel. The Langham's restaurant, the Melba, aims to provide a diverse and interesting menu, using fresh ingredients from the state of Victoria, and freshly caught fish from the Tasman Sea.

Also on Southbank Promenade is the Crown Casino & Entertainment Complex. Crown Towers (five stars) is one of the three hotels in this modern complex. The Crown Towers' 482 luxury bedrooms and suites are located across 43 floors, and rooms have views over the city, and over the Yarra River, and Port Philip Bay. Crown Towers, and the rest of the complex, offer a whole host of restaurants ranging in style from classic French to modern Australian. Besides the casino, the Crown complex also has many shops, bars, clubs and a cinema complex. Shops include top designer stores such as Versace and Prada.