Melbourne Airport has six hotels worth knowing. One is joined to the terminals, four are a short walk away, and one is a few minutes' drive off the airport grounds. The right choice depends on your terminal, your flight time and what you want from the room.
The six at a glance
| Hotel | Getting to check-in | Room from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARKROYAL | Covered skybridges to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 | A$289 | Early flights |
| Holiday Inn | A short walk, or a shuttle the hotel says is free | A$202 | A mid-range stay |
| Novotel | About 4 minutes on foot to Terminals 3 and 4 | A$209 | A newer hotel by Terminal 4 |
| ibis Styles | About 4 minutes on foot to Terminals 3 and 4 | A$186 | The same walk for less |
| ibis Budget | About 5 minutes on foot to Terminal 1 | A$122 | The lowest price on foot |
| Mantra | A free shuttle on request | A$139 | Families and longer stays |
Prices are the lowest we found for two adults for one night. They are a spread, not a typical night.
PARKROYAL: for early flights
Two covered skybridges join PARKROYAL to the terminals, so there is nothing to book, nothing to wait for and no weather to plan around. It is usually the most expensive hotel here. For a flight before 7am it is usually worth it: you buy a later alarm and a morning with no moving parts. It has a pool and a 24-hour gym, and it sells day-use rooms for a long layover. It does not link to Terminal 4.
Holiday Inn: the all-rounder
A mid-range IHG hotel with a restaurant, 24-hour room service and a small 24-hour gym. The hotel says a free 24-hour shuttle serves the terminals, though some booking sites say a fee applies, so confirm before you rely on it. Walking is possible too. There is no pool, and rooms are described as slightly dated but functional. It usually costs less than PARKROYAL.
Novotel and ibis Styles: the newer pair
These two opened in July 2024 in the same building beside Terminal 4, and they share a pool, sauna, gym and restaurants. Novotel is the more premium brand, with 248 rooms. ibis Styles has 216 and costs less. Both are a short walk to Terminals 3 and 4, and further from Terminal 2. If you are flying Jetstar or Virgin Australia, they are an easy choice. If you are flying international, PARKROYAL is closer.
ibis Budget: the cheapest on foot
The lowest price among the hotels you can walk from. Rooms are small and basic, but the walk to Terminal 1 is short. It suits a domestic flight when you just need a bed.
Mantra: for families
Mantra is off the airport grounds, a few minutes by road, with a free shuttle on request. Its interconnecting family suites sleep four, and rooms are larger than the airport towers. The trade-off is that you depend on a shuttle you must request, so it is not the one for a dawn flight.
How to choose
- Flying before 7am from Terminal 1, 2 or 3: PARKROYAL.
- Flying before 7am from Terminal 4: Novotel or ibis Styles.
- A mid-morning flight and a lower price: Holiday Inn or ibis Styles.
- The lowest price you can walk from: ibis Budget.
- A family or a longer stay: Mantra.
For why it is worth staying at all, see our guide to staying at the airport before an early flight. For how to reach the airport, see getting to Melbourne Airport.
Before you book
- Check when your airline opens check-in and bag drop.
- If you plan to use a hotel shuttle, confirm when the first run leaves.
- Check the room type, because family room details are thin for several of these hotels.
- Check live rates for your dates. Ours are a spread, not a quote.