The Langham, Melbourne — Hotel in Melbourne

What utter disappointment. One issue after the next.

This weekend was organized for my birthday, and we were all looking forward to a relaxing weekend away. Four of us stayed at the Langham in two separate rooms. We booked the rooms together at the same time, and requested then be next to each other early on.

When we arrived, they informed us that they wouldn’t be unable to accommodate our request (okay, no problems), but then made us wait about 30 minutes to check in because there were several issues with their system; although we explained we had lunch plans. The way the issues were dealt with were unprofessional. The staff were blaming other staff before us and exclaiming that other staff shouldn’t be doing so and so. After that ordeal, the gentleman that was checking us in messed up the payment/ credit card details and switched them with the other booked room. They weren’t able to fix the issue and just told us that we needed to pay for each others rooms at check out to remedy the situation.

When we first entered the room, the remote for the TV wasn’t working (dead batteries), and the cordless phone was broken. Both needed to be replaced. The room itself was okay. The taps and shower heads are old and the waster flow from the taps are messy; the water goes everywhere. There was a used nail file left on our carpet that we noticed during our stay. But otherwise it was okay.

At night the room was freezing. The duvet was very thin; barely suitable for autumn, let alone winter. There were no spare blankets in the room. The guest I shared the room with was a pregnant woman, and I was barely able to get the staff to find a blanket for her, let alone myself. They told us that they were fully booked and had run out of blankets!?! It’s a five star hotel with no blankets!?! I was freezing that first night, so I turned up the heater and it made my pregnant friend ill. A blanket could have avoided this situation!

The second night I also asked for a blanket, and they didn’t have any left. Again, the whole freezing situation. I had to use the bath robe as a blanket to try to avoid turning the heater up too high.

We decided to order in room dining the second night. The pregnant woman requested some small alterations to her burger (due to pregnancy), and requested the other burger remain unchanged. But it was more convenient for them to do both burgers the same. I sent it back. When they returned with my order, the burger was cold. It was revolting. I had to call and make a new order. In room dining service was very disappointing.

At checkout they wanted to charge me for the burger I didn’t eat; and it took them a while to clear it up.

When they returned the room deposit, they didn’t send it back to two separate cards (the ones used to pay the deposit). Again, they messed up and sent both deposits to the one card. It was mistake after mistake.

Their breakfasts were nice. Not as good as I remember them being years ago, but they were decent. That was probably the best thing about the stay.

Very disappointing overall experience from the Langham. Expected much better service. I’d recommend considering alternative accommodation for the price.

I must be fair and mention that we were offered complimentary drinks as an apology for some of the inconveniences caused by their numerous errors. But unfortunately the negatives of the overall experience overshadow any of the positives.

Below: thin ‘duvet’ (similar equivalence to a few flat sheets sewn together). Can see through the duvet in the sunlight. And...

At the end of our stay, Langham Hotel is grand old beautiful established hotel. Overall beside the old fixtures that needed upgrade and update mentioned in my previous review, written during my stay, it was a comfortable and relaxing hotel. The biggest setback, which the senior management may not know, was their Housekeeping Department. During our 4 days stay, I noticed our room and the 16-floor corridor were not vacuum at all cos the same small pieces of paper, tissue and dirt were still in its place throughout. On our first full day, we came back after 3 pm, the room was made but unfortunately the coffee and toiletries like shower gel and shampoo were not replenished. On our 2nd full day, we came back around 3.30 pm, noticed complimentary water bottle appeared on the bedside tables. Something new or totally missed out before??? On our last full day, we went out at 9.30 am and came back around 2.30 pm, room was not made up yet. Being a Sunday, they must be busy but noticed only 1 housekeeper trolley along the corridor when on weekdays there were at least 2-3 trolleys with housekeepers moving around. We loitered around the hotel to pass the time and came back at 2.55 pm, still not done and saw the housekeeper. She saw us and decided to do our room next since we asked. The room was eventually ready at 3.45 pm. No fault of the housekeeper as we could see that she was under pressured and totally stressed. The situation prevailed either totally under-staffed and poor staff planning for the day or both. The failure of housekeeping floor management to plan, supervise and check the whole situation which unfortunately reflect on the good brand and image of the Langham establishment. If the senior management look into this department with a view to rectify and improve then it will be a Grand establishment for their guests to fully enjoy their time.

REVISITED IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2023 Langham Hotel is still a grand old beautiful establishment and so is their Housekeeping Department. Not a single improvement from our last visit!!! Room was not replenished yet again for the full 6 days stay and had to call up for replenishment every day. To establish how bad the Housekeeping Department is being managed, please view the photos taken on our first day in the hotel room. We had to change room cos the dirt was stuck around the toilet bowl. Soon after I received a text message from the hotel on their hotel-guests messaging system. It wished that I have a 'Memorable' stay in The Langham Hotel!!!! Sure had!!! Upon reaching home, I received an email from Langham Hotel with a revised bill attached. A charge was put on my credit card for the use of the mini bar. I have never consumed anything from any mini bar in any hotels I stayed cos of the expensive prices. I wrote back immediately and received a response that it was wrongly charged into my room!!! For an old established hotel to have such an error meant front desk staff are incompetent in their duty. The mini bar charges were already in my credit card account but my refund for this stay was nowhere to be found!!! I have emailed to enquire and the new policy 'Silence is Golden'. This served as a warning for those who wants to experience The Langham Hotel. It is a nice hotel with a convenient location but do not stress over their housekeeping. When checking out, check your bill statement and check your credit card account when...

Fading Grandeur at The Langham

The Langham once stood as a beacon of elegance, a name that evoked luxury and old-world charm. Stepping into its grand lobby, you can almost hear echoes of a time when service was impeccable and attention to detail was paramount. Sadly, those days are long gone.

The hotel still retains traces of its former glory - ornate chandeliers, sweeping staircases, and gilded mirrors - but they are dulled by neglect. The carpets are worn, the furniture tired, and the once-pristine façade now shows clear signs of decay. It’s as if the owners are squeezing every last drop from what remains, reluctant - or perhaps, unable - to reinvest in the legacy they inherited. The cost-cutting measures are glaring from stained linens and discoloured gold fittings in the bathrooms, to low quality food served in the Club Lounge and the absence of once-thoughtful amenities.

Nowhere is this decline more evident than in the service. The art of true hospitality seems to have been lost, with experienced staff having departed and their replacements inadequately trained. The new staff, though well-meaning, appear uncertain and ill-prepared, leading to inattentive and slow service, forgotten requests, and a lack of the refined touch that once set The Langham apart.

We stayed in The Residence Suite, which, despite some beautiful touches including Kerrie Hess’ artwork, was ultimately lacklustre. While the furnishings hinted at past grandeur, the overall atmosphere felt uninspiring and tired. The suite lacked any real sense of luxury, with furniture that was a mismatched collection of outdated pieces they seem reluctant to part with and new, provincial-style additions that clashed awkwardly. The kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms were equally tired, with worn fixtures and a museum-worthy clothes dryer that looks to have been there since the 1970s. To make matters worse, the view was nothing short of terrible - an especially frustrating flaw given the hotel’s prime location on Southbank with breathtaking views of Melbourne over the Yarra River. Instead we were treated to a dreary, uninspiring sight that did nothing to elevate the experience.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the stark contrast between expectation and reality. The only place The Langham seems to be spending money is on photography—so expertly staged and retouched that the difference between the photos and the actual experience feels borderline illegal. What looked like a luxurious retreat in the promotional images turned out to be a tired, uninspired space clinging to past prestige. For a suite of its name and price point, it failed to impress.

It’s a shame to see such a storied establishment reduced to this state. With proper investment in both its people and its property, The Langham could reclaim its place among the greats. But as it stands, it’s little more than a grand name clinging to memories, rather than...