How Axel worksAxel's lowest rate seen for Arrow on Swanston: $74 a night all in, Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2026. Seen Oct 13.
3-star hotel · 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne
ATM · Shopping on site · Air conditioning · Elevator/lift · Smoke-free property · Heating · Security guard · Ticket assistance · Washing machine · Express check-in/check-out · Television in lobby · Terrace
Hotels in MelbourneA budget serviced-apartment hotel on the Carlton edge of Melbourne’s CBD
6.3/10
Convenient apartment-style accommodation, but room condition and cleaning are too inconsistent for an easy recommendation.
Arrow on Swanston is a budget serviced-apartment hotel whose strongest asset is its location: trams outside, with Queen Victoria Market, universities and Lygon Street nearby. It’s a workable base if you prioritise convenience and basic self-catering over polish. Recent Expedia and Trip.com guests often praise helpful staff, comfortable beds and value; the hotel also advertises an outdoor pool, gym and sauna.
The catch is consistency. Recent reviews across several sites repeatedly describe worn furnishings, uneven cleaning, maintenance problems and noise, alongside satisfied stays. Apartment sizes and layouts vary, and some Tripadvisor guests report allocation to an older adjoining building. The hotel confirms housekeeping every three days, excluding weekends and public holidays. We’d skip it for light sleepers or anyone expecting reliably well-kept rooms and daily service.
Axel's opinion, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews, scored for what the hotel is. Sources: Hotel website · Tripadvisor · Expedia · Booking.com · Trip.com. Reviewed Oct 10, 2026.
$114 a night with Axel; Expedia listed $113 a night for these dates when seen.
1 Bedroom Apartment · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Nov 6 to Nov 8, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 8
Sign up free to book this rate$179 a night with Axel; Expedia listed $154 a night for these dates when seen.
2 Bedrooms Deluxe Triple Apartment (full double bed, single bed and sofa) (queen size bed) · refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Nov 13 to Nov 15, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 13
Sign up free to book this rate$74 a night with Axel; Expedia listed $73 a night for these dates when seen.
Standard Studio · refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 13
Sign up free to book this rate$139 a night with Axel; Expedia listed $136 a night for these dates when seen.
1 Bedroom Deluxe Apartment · refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Dec 11 to Dec 13, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 13
Sign up free to book this rate$705 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
Double Apartment (full double bed) · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Nov 26 to Nov 28, 2026 · 2 nights · 1 adult · Seen Oct 9
Sign up free to book this rate$109 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Dec 8 to Dec 26, 2026 · 18 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 12
Sign up free to book this rate$108 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Dec 9 to Dec 25, 2026 · 16 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 12
Sign up free to book this rate$111 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Dec 10 to Dec 26, 2026 · 16 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 12
Sign up free to book this rate$126 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
1 Bedroom Deluxe Triple Apartment · non-refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Dec 10 to Jan 8, 2027 · 29 nights · 3 adults · Seen Oct 8
Sign up free to book this rate$95 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
Standard Studio · refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Jan 8 to Jan 10, 2027 · 2 nights · 2 adults · Seen Oct 13
Sign up free to book this rate$74 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates.
Standard Double Studio (full double bed) · refundable
Per night, all in, as a free account pays itRate for Jan 12 to Jan 13, 2027 · 1 night · 2 adults · Seen Oct 13
Sign up free to book this rateSign up for free with just your phone number to book a stay at Arrow on Swanston, or to check it for your own dates.
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Axel's lowest rate seen for Arrow on Swanston: $74 a night all in, Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2026. Seen Oct 13.
Axel is a travel agent that books hotels at private rates you will not find on the public booking sites. It is free to use: sign up with your phone number and an email address. This page lists every stay Axel has priced for Arrow on Swanston in Melbourne in the last 7 days, each beside the public rate seen for the same dates. Sign up free to book one, or sign up free to check Arrow on Swanston for your own dates.
Convenient apartment-style accommodation, but room condition and cleaning are too inconsistent for an easy recommendation. A budget serviced-apartment hotel on the Carlton edge of Melbourne’s CBD, scored for what it is.
Arrow on Swanston is a budget serviced-apartment hotel whose strongest asset is its location: trams outside, with Queen Victoria Market, universities and Lygon Street nearby. It’s a workable base if you prioritise convenience and basic self-catering over polish. Recent Expedia and Trip.com guests often praise helpful staff, comfortable beds and value; the hotel also advertises an outdoor pool, gym and sauna.
The catch is consistency. Recent reviews across several sites repeatedly describe worn furnishings, uneven cleaning, maintenance problems and noise, alongside satisfied stays. Apartment sizes and layouts vary, and some Tripadvisor guests report allocation to an older adjoining building. The hotel confirms housekeeping every three days, excluding weekends and public holidays. We’d skip it for light sleepers or anyone expecting reliably well-kept rooms and daily service.
Best for: budget-conscious city visitors; university visitors; travelers wanting basic self-catering
Watch out for: uneven room condition and cleanliness; street, bin-collection and neighboring-room noise; limited housekeeping and variable apartment layouts
Location: Handy for Carlton and the northern CBD, with a tram stop outside.
Rooms: Practical apartment-style layouts, but size, kitchen equipment and upkeep vary; confirm your exact category.
Cleanliness: Many guests report clean rooms, but recurring complaints about carpets, bedding and bathrooms weaken confidence.
Service: Friendly, helpful staff receive frequent praise; problem handling and communication are less consistent.
Amenities: The hotel lists an outdoor lap pool, gym, sauna, café and self-service laundry.
Fees and surprises: Refundable security bond and paid, limited parking; housekeeping every three days, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Axel's opinion of Arrow on Swanston, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews. Sources: Hotel website · Tripadvisor · Expedia · Booking.com · Trip.com. Reviewed Oct 10, 2026.
Every stay Axel priced for Arrow on Swanston within the last 7 days. Each rate is per night: the total for the stay shown, as a free account pays it, including any fee the hotel collects at check-in, divided by its nights, beside the public rate seen for the same dates and party, also per night. These are examples, not live inventory: sign up free and Axel checks live rooms and rates for those dates.
| Stay | Axel rate | Public rate | Difference | Seen | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 to Nov 8, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults | $114 a night · non-refundable · 1 Bedroom Apartment | $113 a night on Expedia | Seen Oct 8 | Sign up free to book | |
| Nov 13 to Nov 15, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults | $179 a night · refundable · 2 Bedrooms Deluxe Triple Apartment (full double bed, single bed and sofa) (queen size bed) | $154 a night on Expedia | Seen Oct 13 | Sign up free to book | |
| Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults | $74 a night · refundable · Standard Studio | $73 a night on Expedia | Seen Oct 13 | Sign up free to book | |
| Dec 11 to Dec 13, 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adults | $139 a night · refundable · 1 Bedroom Deluxe Apartment | $136 a night on Expedia | Seen Oct 13 | Sign up free to book | |
| Nov 26 to Nov 28, 2026 · 2 nights · 1 adult | $705 a night · non-refundable · Double Apartment (full double bed) | not seen | Seen Oct 9 | Sign up free to book | |
| Dec 8 to Dec 26, 2026 · 18 nights · 2 adults | $109 a night · non-refundable · 1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) | not seen | Seen Oct 12 | Sign up free to book | |
| Dec 9 to Dec 25, 2026 · 16 nights · 2 adults | $108 a night · non-refundable · 1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) | not seen | Seen Oct 12 | Sign up free to book | |
| Dec 10 to Dec 26, 2026 · 16 nights · 2 adults | $111 a night · non-refundable · 1 Bedroom Deluxe Double Apartment (full double bed and sofa) (bed type is subject to availability) | not seen | Seen Oct 12 | Sign up free to book | |
| Dec 10 to Jan 8, 2027 · 29 nights · 3 adults | $126 a night · non-refundable · 1 Bedroom Deluxe Triple Apartment | not seen | Seen Oct 8 | Sign up free to book | |
| Jan 8 to Jan 10, 2027 · 2 nights · 2 adults | $95 a night · refundable · Standard Studio | not seen | Seen Oct 13 | Sign up free to book | |
| Jan 12 to Jan 13, 2027 · 1 night · 2 adults | $74 a night · refundable · Standard Double Studio (full double bed) | not seen | Seen Oct 13 | Sign up free to book |
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