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Summary of reviewsCriterion Hotel Sale garners high praise from guests for its excellent central location, allowing easy access to the nearby shopping center, the Port of Sale and other town amenities. Its clean, well-maintained and modernly refurbished rooms blend old-world charm with contemporary comforts, contributing to a pleasant and cozy atmosphere. While the rooms may be on the smaller side, they are efficiently designed and equipped with amenities such as Netflix, which enhances the overall guest experience.
The hotel excels in dining, particularly for its dinner service at the on-site restaurant and bistro. Guests commend the beautifully prepared and generously portioned meals with family favorites like chicken parma and a diverse menu that earns accolades for quality and service despite premium prices. The blend of great food, delicious cocktails, a charmingly historic yet stylishly renovated setting and the friendly staff makes for a memorable dining experience.
The cleanliness of Criterion Hotel Sale is a standout feature with consistently positive feedback about the immaculate state of the rooms and bathrooms, as well as the restaurant. This high standard of cleanliness, combined with modern amenities, greatly enhances the quality of stay.
Staff at Criterion Hotel Sale are frequently highlighted for their friendliness, helpfulness and efficiency. The warm and accommodating service offered by both the reception and management contributes to a welcoming and pleasant environment for guests.
Families find the hotel particularly convenient with family room configurations and interconnecting double studios providing ample space and comfort. Onsite parking, including EV charging stations, adds to the convenience, especially for those traveling with children.
The beds receive mixed reviews with many guests finding them comfortable and praising the quality of pillows and king-sized options. However, some guests noted the firmness of the mattresses might not suit everyone's preference. Despite this, the overall comfort, cleanliness and quality of the accommodations consistently receive positive feedback.
On the downside, the lack of breakfast service is noted with guests recommending alternate nearby cafes such as The Redd Catt for excellent breakfast options. Nonetheless, the hotel's many strengths, especially its prime location, generally overshadow this minor inconvenience.
In summary, Criterion Hotel Sale is highly recommended for its strategic location, clean and comfortable rooms, excellent dining experiences, friendly staff and family-friendly amenities, making it a favored choice for visitors to the charming town of Sale. Show more
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Categories
Hotel with EV Charging Stations
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Accessible Hotel
Small Hotel
Room Types
Standard Double RoomThe double room offers air conditioning, a minibar, as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower and a hairdryer. This double room features a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Queen RoomThe double room offers air conditioning, a minibar, as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower and a hairdryer. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Queen RoomThe spacious double room features air conditioning, a minibar, as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. This double room has a coffee machine, a wardrobe, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
Deluxe Double Room with BathProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This double room features air conditioning, a minibar, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe King RoomThe double room features air conditioning, a minibar, as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. This double room has a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, flat-screen TV, as well as wine/champagne for guests. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.4
Very Good
Location
Situated in the heart of Sale, Criterion Hotel Sale offers an excellent location that is both convenient and easy to find. Guests consistently highlight its central position, making it close to everything in town including the nearby shopping center and the Port of Sale. The hotel’s proximity to the town center ensures that amenities and attractions are easily accessible on foot.
The hotel's rooms are clean, neat and modernly refurbished, providing a comfortable stay. Guests appreciate the blend of a charming old-world style with modern facilities, enhancing their overall experience. The onsite dining options receive positive feedback with many guests enjoying the great meals provided at the hotel's restaurant and bistro.
Ample parking is another noted benefit, including EV charging stations, which add to the convenience for travelers. The friendly and accommodating staff also contribute to the welcoming atmosphere of the hotel.
All in all, Criterion Hotel Sale is praised for its strategic location, cleanliness and the convenience it offers, making it a favored choice for visitors to this charming town.
Breakfast
The breakfast situation at Criterion Hotel Sale has been a notable point of discussion among guests. The hotel does not provide a breakfast service, which some visitors found disappointing. Additionally, options for brunch or Sunday morning meals in the vicinity are somewhat limited, as many nearby restaurants and cafes are closed on Sundays. Despite this, guests recommended The Redd Catt cafe, conveniently located around the corner, for its excellent food and coffee. For those willing to venture further, the Port of Melbourne arts centre was mentioned as offering an excellent breakfast. The hotel's prime location continues to be appreciated, even by those who did not have breakfast there.
Dinner
The Criterion Hotel Sale boasts a commendable dining experience, drawing guests with its appealing dinner options available downstairs. Reviews highlight beautifully prepared and presented meals, emphasizing the quality and generous portions offered at the on-site bistro. The staff consistently receive praise for their attentiveness and friendly service, adding to the overall pleasant atmosphere.
Guests rave about the food, describing it as fantastic, amazing and worth the wait. The combination of great food and delicious cocktails in the restaurant, coupled with efficient service, creates a memorable dining experience. Despite premium prices, the restaurant maintains a reputation for high-quality food and good value, particularly for family favorites like chicken parma and kids' meals.
The dining room atmosphere and stylishly renovated mid-1800s heritage building enhance the experience, keeping a charming balance between the hotel’s historic charm and modern comforts. Occasional criticisms note limited menu options and vegan choices that could be improved. However, overall, the Criterion Hotel Sale's restaurant is highly recommended for its evening meals, consistently earning high marks for excellence and enjoyment.
Rooms
The Criterion Hotel Sale offers a pleasant and comfortable stay in the heart of Sale. The rooms are consistently praised for their cleanliness and modern décor, making them a delightful retreat. Guests have highlighted the stylish furnishings, comfortable beds and well-presented interiors. Many found the rooms to be well-appointed and cozy, albeit on the smaller side, but perfectly suitable for short stays.
The spacious bathrooms, particularly those with double sinks and large walk-in showers, have received commendations, contributing to the overall modern feel of the hotel. Despite some rooms being small, they are designed efficiently and include necessary amenities like Netflix, which adds to the guest experience.
The hotel's central location is another major advantage, providing easy access to town amenities. The Criterion Hotel also benefits from quiet surroundings, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep. The on-site restaurant has been praised for its delicious meals and friendly, attentive staff, adding extra convenience and enjoyment to the stay.
Overall, the Criterion Hotel Sale is a well-maintained property offering a clean, comfortable and modern stay with the added benefit of a friendly and helpful staff, making it a great choice for visitors to Sale.
Beds
The Criterion Hotel Sale offers a mix of opinions about its bedding, but the consensus leans towards the positive. Guests frequently praised the beds for being comfortable with many specifically highlighting the king-sized beds as super comfortable and even blissful. The quality pillows and clean, well-maintained rooms also contributed to the overall sense of comfort.
Several reviews described the beds as firm, which could be a plus for those who prefer firmer mattresses. However, a few guests found the beds too hard or uncomfortable, suggesting that the level of firmness might not suit everyone's taste. The quality of the linen and the elegant room decor added to the positive experiences, enhancing the overall feel of a comfortable stay.
In addition to comfortable beds, the hotel rooms were noted for their cleanliness and the additional amenities, such as good air conditioning and a convenient on-site restaurant. Despite some mixed feedback regarding the firmness of the mattresses, the accommodation overall was seen as comfortable, offering good value for money and a restful night's sleep.
Cleanliness
Criterion Hotel Sale is often praised for its exceptional cleanliness and modern amenities. Guests frequently note that the rooms and bathrooms are extremely clean, well-kept and tidy. The combination of clean, comfortable rooms with modern fittings contributes greatly to a pleasant stay. Many reviews highlight the hotel's superb location, near the town center, which adds to its convenience. Despite occasional feedback about issues like poor water pressure or dusty areas, the overwhelmingly positive comments emphasize clean and stylish accommodations. The hotel's cleanliness extends to its restaurant, which also garners favorable mentions. Overall, Criterion Hotel Sale stands out for its consistently clean and well-maintained environment.
Staff
The Criterion Hotel Sale has garnered significant praise from guests for its exceptional staff. Throughout the entire complex, the staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful and efficient. Guests frequently commend the team for their kindness and accommodating attitude, highlighting their ability to create a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere.
From the bar to the reception, every member of the team is noted for their friendliness and professionalism. Specific mentions include the receptionist, who is particularly praised for being polite, helpful and providing clear instructions. The management also receives high marks for their customer service with the hotel's manager, Rex, being singled out for his excellent service skills.
Overall, the staff at the Criterion Hotel Sale stand out for their fabulous and attentive customer service, making the hotel feel inviting and ensuring guests have a comfortable stay.
Family
Criterion Hotel Sale is a suitable choice for families, offering features that cater to those traveling with children. The family rooms include two beds in separate rooms, making them convenient for managing younger children. There are also interconnecting family rooms and a double studio that are well-received by larger families. Guests appreciate the ample space provided to accommodate up to five people comfortably, allowing room to sleep and store personal items. The hotel's onsite parking is an added convenience and its location is well-placed for family trips to the East Gippsland area. While the hotel generally serves families well, it does lack comfortable seating. Additionally, the nearby cinema with its comfortable reclining chairs adds an unexpected bonus for outings with grandchildren.
No, Criterion Hotel Sale doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Criterion Hotel Sale.
No, Criterion Hotel Sale doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Criterion Hotel Sale.