During our stay in Perth, we chose to stay in the city centre, close to the train station and within walking distance to the main attractions. As you’ll see in the post Things to do in Perth, this area didn’t seem like the most family-friendly place to live. However, as a tourist, it turned out to be very convenient, with easy access to public transport, including the free buses that run throughout the city.
Below, I’ll give you more details about the hotels we stayed in, the Alex Hotel and the Pensione Hotel Perth, as well as two other more upmarket options that seemed like great choices if you’re not on a budget!
We arrived in Perth on a Saturday night, and our first hotel, the Alex Hotel, was right next to a lively street full of bars, nightclubs, and even some less family-friendly venues. 😊 We were a bit shocked at first, as even though it wasn’t too late, the area was already buzzing with a lots of drunk people and noise!
Despite being so close to the nightlife, we had no problems with noise, and overall I really enjoyed our stay at the hotel.
Our room was one of the smaller ones, but it was comfortable enough for the three of us. The hotel also had a communal kitchen where guests could store food in the fridge, make tea or coffee, and enjoy complimentary fresh water and fruit. This kitchen was also used as a breakfast area in the mornings.
Great Location & Nearby Attractions
Alex Hotel is located in Northbridge, just a 5 minute walk from the train station, which was super convenient for catching the train to Fremantle. It’s also right next to the Boola Bardip Museum, which I highly recommend you visit (you can read more about it in the post Things to do in Perth).
A Nice Surprise: Free Breakfast!
One morning we had breakfast in the hotel, and another morning we ate out. From what I’ve noticed, it’s not common for hotels in Perth to include breakfast in the room rate, and if it’s available, it’s usually charged separately. Northbridge has a lot of great cafés, so there are plenty of breakfast options nearby (check out my recommendations in the post Where to eat in Perth).
One funny thing we noticed about Australians is that they seem to love a good freebie! I’m not sure if this is always the case or if we just got lucky as we were travelling over Christmas, but we did get a few unexpected perks, one of which was a free breakfast at the hotel!
Final Thoughts
I can highly recommend the Alex Hotel to anyone visiting Perth. As you can see from the photos, it’s a super modern and stylish hotel.
One thing to note: there are some homeless people near the hotel entrance, but unfortunately, this is a common sight throughout central Perth. However, we never felt unsafe at any point during our stay.
The Pensione Hotel Perth is located in the Central Business District (CBD), a very central area, just a 6 minute walk from the train station.
We arrived on 1st January, and my first impression was that the area felt rather deserted, probably because it was a public holiday and, even more so, New Year’s Day. We even asked the hotel reception if it was safe to walk around in the late afternoon/evening, and they reassured us that it was. They mentioned that there were plenty of policemen around and although there were some “interesting characters” in the streets, they wouldn’t do us any harm.
Safety & First Impressions
Their reassurances turned out to be true! There were a lot of police in the area, and we did notice a significant number of homeless people in the centre of Perth, but at no time did we feel unsafe.
Hotel Facilities & Comfort
The hotel itself is nice and well maintained, and it also has a small car park, which we needed to use. However, the main downside of our stay was the noise at night. I don’t know if we were just unlucky, but we could hear a lot of doors slamming and people chatting in the corridors, which made it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. 😩
Was It worth It?
Honestly, it was probably one of the best prices we could find for a central hotel, but in hindsight, I would have preferred to pay more for a quieter night’s sleep, especially as we only stayed for one night.
That said, I don’t think this is always the case, as the hotel has very good reviews overall. Perhaps we were just unlucky to have a particularly noisy neighbour. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind taking the risk, the Pensione Hotel Perth could still be a good option to consider.
The QT Perth hotel is located just a few metres away from the Pensione Hotel, and from the outside, it looks really impressive! It’s definitely a great choice for those wanting to stay in the heart of Perth without budget constraints, as it’s a five-star hotel offering high-end comfort and style.
Situated on Elizabeth Quay, this hotel offers stunning views over the Swan River. The area is conveniently close to the ferry terminal, where you can hop on a river cruise or catch a boat to the famous Rottnest Island.
Don’t miss out on the best breakfast spots, check out my post on Where to eat in Perth.
