Spending a night in a hotel in your hometown is an interesting concept. You get a quiet escape without the stress of travel and the convenience of knowing where things are. I would have gone past the Medina Hotel in Adelaide's city centre hundreds of times, but like a true local I would notice if it was missing, but never gave this beautiful old building a second look.
Located on the corner of Flinder's Street and King William Street, The Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury is, as the name suggests, the former treasury building. Upon entering the hotel you are instantly transported to a quiet retreat, and the city is left behind.
For this review I had my family with me which consists of my husband, 18 month old son and I, which allowed me to get a good perspective on the facilities and to see if this was a suitable place for mothers and their children to stay.
The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and I was impressed that they insisted on carrying our bags to our room for us as it is sometimes a special touch that is overlooked.
If you have your car with you there is secure, off-site parking for an extra fee and it is about 3 minutes walk from the Medina. Guests can park in front of the hotel for up to 15 minutes while you check in and unload your bags.
One of my favourite parts of the hotel is the lounge (pictured), a spacious waiting area in soft browns and beige with a few animal print accessories.
There is an easily accessible lift which is essential when you have a pusher, and although it was a bit of a maze getting to our room it is impossible to get lost as the directions are very clear.
The manager of the hotel, Hamish, was kind enough to give me a tour of the building and even the most basic room is fully functional. Each room is essentially an apartment, with a full sized fridge, oven, washing machine, dryer, toaster, kettle, cutlery, plates, pots and pans – even a kitchen sink. There is also a microwave which can be a blessing when you need to heat up bottles.
As part of the tour I got to take a peek in the State Cabinet conference room. This is a stand out in the hotel and is so original you almost feel like you are back in the 1930s when the treasury was originally built. Honestly, I would sit through even the most boring meeting to spend more time exploring this beautiful room.
When is a basement not a basement? When it's in the old Treasury building. Part of the old Adelaide underground tunnels are still in tact beneath the hotel and while it is mostly now filled in, there are parts guests can walk through to experience a little bit of history. This area is also used for cocktail parties so if you want something different for your next event you should definitely get in contact with the staff at Medina.
Along the passageways to the rooms are large framed photographs of “ye olde Adelaide”, and how the Treasury and streets looked over time, and it's all these historic touches that makes the Medina Grand Treasury so unique.
The guest apartments all have similar décor, lovely classic colours that are gentle on your eyes and which compliment the gloriously high ceilings and huge windows. There are touches of personality including prints on the walls, making it feel more welcoming than clinical.
If you have a toddler on the run, there are parts of the room which stand out as “danger” zones such as the glass table, television sets and lamps, but of course, the only place truly baby proof for your child is your own home.
The bed in our room was a massive king size, and freshly made with crisp white sheets and blankets. We were in a premier king apartment and to give you an idea of size, I would say a single person could easily live there comfortably long term. There are big mirrored wardrobes and a nice sized bathroom with a bath / shower in one.
They still have those old chunky televisions and you have access to analogue channels but no digital channels such as GO and 7 Two. Each room comes with Foxtel and a movie will set you back around $15.00.
I required a cot and a high chair and called reception. They were very happy to assist and someone brought the items up very quickly. These extras are available for a very reasonable $5.00 surcharge each.
Like most people we avoided the mini bar, the prices were very high but because of the way the apartment is structured you can have your own food and not be tempted to spend $6.00 on a pack of Pringles.
Other facilities in the hotel include an indoor pool (pictured), which is a decent size for swimming laps, and a spa. We had this all to ourselves, and it felt very private and secluded. The sauna received rave reviews from my husband, although it took a while to heat up (probably due to the fact it was the middle of winter) once it was at optimal temperate he thoroughly enjoyed it.
There is also a small gym set up, at Medina many of the guests stay on business for the full working week, so this is a fantastic addition you wouldn't normally see in accommodation such as this.
As mentioned, there are all the appliances you need to cook your own food, which is good if you want a night in or are on a budget. There is an award winning restaurant which will give you room service or you can go downstairs to eat. When visiting on a Friday or Saturday night it is best if you book a table if you decide to dine out. For those looking for something a little simpler, you also have the choice to order from a local pasta / pizza restaurant who will deliver to your room.
Due to the fact we had a baby with us, we decided to take a walk down Gouger Street and ate at a lovely little Greek restaurant called the Greek Mezze which I would also recommend. We followed this by gelati, probably not the smartest idea in the freezing weather, but delicious all the same.
Back in our room we decided to put our son to sleep and watch movies in bed, the view from our window was the outside courtyard and bar / restaurant. The courtyard (pictured) would be amazing in summer, with a big fountain in the middle and a television screen set up.
For single people or those who like a bit of nightlife the bar was buzzing, the only downside to this was the noise was quite clear from our room. Everything became quiet around midnight so overall not too much of an inconvenience.
The checkout time is 10am, which is fairly standard, and all guests receive a complimentary newspaper outside their door. There is also a small carton of milk stored in your fridge for coffee and tea which you are free to use. For breakfast you can visit the restaurant, or have them deliver to your room.
We enjoyed our stay at the Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury and would recommend it for travelers. For Adelaide residents, make sure you take a closer look at the building next time you are in the city!
Rooms are priced from $175 - $350 per night.
To find more information about the hotel: Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury
Or visit Medina's Facebook page made especially for mums, it is a place for women to connect online with giveaways and information: Medina MumSpace
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