Docklands Executive Apartments
We were really looking forward to a special family getaway in Melbourne with our two young twins, especially since we only get to travel once a year from our small country town—over five hours away. We booked what we thought was a beautiful two-bedroom apartment at Docklands Executive Apartments, expecting a comfortable stay with great views and modern amenities. Unfortunately, the reality was far from it. Upon arrival around 4 PM on April 28th, the front desk staff mentioned they’d noticed some dampness in the unit but weren’t sure where the leak was coming from. We shrugged it off, assuming it must be safe if they were renting it out. Later that evening, after the kids had a bath, the showerhead fell off and hit one of them on the head. Within minutes, we realized the carpet was soaked—water was clearly leaking from the bathtub. We immediately reported it to management, saying we wouldn’t use the tub again. But no one came to inspect or fix anything during our entire two-night stay. We spent our time walking barefoot on wet carpet, and the kids kept getting soggy socks because they couldn’t keep their shoes on inside. To make matters worse, the washing machine didn’t work at all, and the provided clothes rack was broken. We ended up having to take all our laundry to a laundromat down the street—another unexpected cost. On the second day, the twins found chewing gum, used balloons, empty drink bottles, chocolate wrappers, and flattened cardboard boxes under the bed in the second bedroom. We don’t allow such things in our home, and this raised serious hygiene concerns, especially during the pandemic. We did a deeper inspection and found the laundry sink filthy, the cupboard rusted, the linen closet unclean, and the kitchen chairs heavily stained. After paying nearly $300 per night for two nights, we felt completely let down. When checking out on April 30th, there was no one at the front desk. After several calls, we finally reached a staff member who offered to reimburse our laundromat fees. Our response? We weren’t asking for just that—we wanted a full refund because the experience was not enjoyable at all. If we had more flexibility financially, we would’ve chosen a different place. Sadly, we didn’t. The staff said she’d get her manager to call us—but never did. I sent a detailed email with photos and even a video showing the condition of the apartment. It’s disappointing to see such poor maintenance and lack of responsiveness. This kind of experience should never happen to any traveler. We hope the platform takes this feedback seriously so others don’t face the same frustration.
