Stan was extremely welcoming and helpful. We asked him to pick us up and drop us back at the airport. He helped by washing and drying clothes. He helped with getting an idea where everything is in the city. There is a good tram service at the end of the road. We started the days with a big breakfast. The room was comfortable and unusual with two pianos . The WIFI was slow. Like staying with a friend and Stan was generous with his time.

I Was initially looking for some place to be between the Airport and the city for a quick and easy transit, So Looking on Google I checked out the 4 or 5 places on the highway between the two, then Glendalough B&B caught my eye as this would be the first night in Australia for my wife, and I wanted it to be something special.. Was it ever.

What can I say that hasn't already been said by Brod and Pete (other reviews) before me, The stylised rooms, each with its own theme, the object d'art from around the world, the classy and arcane lighting, chimneys, structure of the house and the Jungle you practially need to cut your way through to get to the house. WOW. I could not have been happier, and my wife was impressed enough that we will stay with stan every time we come back to Oz.

Having seen his wonderful place and Stan's delightful demeanor, I quickly booked a return for my friends to stay when they came in from Russia. It is a great looking house and a nice neighbourhood, close to the zoo and trams and the city. Even lost at midnight I managed to navigate my way by familiar landmarks to find his place again.

Stan's B&B was a perfect way for my wife and friends to experience their first day in Australia. Its more than just a B&B for me now, Its a new home away from home.

We booked a 5 night city break as first time visitors to Melbourne, and had the typical concerns about our choice of B & B. Would the shared bathroom bother us, would the location be noisy or inconvenient, would we have to fit in with some eccentric host's strange ways? In every case, and I am not listing all our reservations here, we need not have worried. This is a wonderful, eclectic and intriguing place to stay and we cant say enough kind words about Stan.
He collected us from the Airport for A$37 and gave us the guided tour to the house, about 20 minutes away. It is in a quiet and select block of streets, no traffic noise, or planes overhead or train noises in the distance. The house itself could be in an old British Colony with its jungly garden, unique paneled interior, fabulous collection of artifacts, spacious rooms and high plastered ceilings. Well of course it is in an old British Colony....
We stayed in the music room with its grand piano. The bed was the most comfortable that we have ever slept in which is saying something. All rooms had their own great character.
There is simply no need to use a car if you are just visiting the city as we did. Stan showed us where to buy our zone 1 day travel cards, at the little shop by the tram stop, and we chose a five day card which should be validated on the first journey every day. Stan offered to buy back any unused days which is just one example of how he helped us get the most out of our stay. We rather enjoyed the trams, fast frequent and easy to use. Stan seemed to know just when one was coming.
Stan helped us with choices of places to eat, places to visit, things to do, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Melbourne and its transport systems. He was constantly inviting us into the kitchen for drinks and nibbles, and even gave up part of his New Year's Eve to ferry us back to the Airport. Timing of breakfast and early coffees was entirely focused on each guest's needs. It didn't seem to matter that we were up and away by 7.00am or hanging around chatting at 10.30
Oh...and that large power shower was pretty good too.
We couldn't consider staying anywhere else when revisiting Melbourne

Despite having lived in Melbourne for two years and having made numerous trips to the Garden City over even more, I had never heard of the Glendalough nor the tiny suburb north of the CBD area (that's downtown for my American readers) where it is situated.

The way in which I discovered this B&B gem was a mixture of circumstance and luck. I say luck in the sense I am fortunate enough to be part of a community like TripAdvisor where people can share their reviews of places they have stayed. On my last visit to Melbourne I had been placed in a quandary. The in-laws were flying in from Scotland and it was their first visit to my favourite Australian city. Normally being a creature of habit ensures whenever I stay somewhere, and I find it to my liking, I am a customer for life. This goes for restaurants, pubs, etc.

But I digress. My usual accommodation option in the eastern suburbs, whilst situated in a drab concrete landscape of warehouses, had faithfully satisfied my needs in the past. Sadly, it has fallen victim to the dreaded "under new management" logo and, by all accounts, new didn't appear to be better or even similar. This prompted my search for new alternatives.

It was paramount that a top quality place to stay was located and the anxiety of having to do so was compounded by the fact my partner and her parents would be included in the equation.

In hindsight, I needn't have worried an ounce.

The weight of reviews by seasoned TripAdvisors and the current ranking of the Glendalough B&B are testament to the welcoming nature and meticulous care provided by it's host - Stan. The interior of the large house is pure eye candy and beautifully maintained within the period. I seem to remember Stan mentioning either the late 1800's or early 1900's as the timeframe (I can't remember) but I'm sure he'll be able to convey more information. The man is a mine of information when it comes to restaurants and the best ways of getting around the city. I do, of course, know Melbourne quite well but I'd venture to say few know it like Stan. Whatever cuisine you favour, Stan has it covered in his directory and can point you in the direction of great food. Being the culinary Capital of Australia, this is one of the delights of Melbourne to be savoured and indulged in. We choose a nearby option (The Laurel Hotel in Ascot Vale) and were very impressed by the tasty fare offered by this unassuming pub.

As mentioned by others, the tram network is indispensable and service frequent. I followed Stan's advice and alleviated myself of the hassle of the expense and hassle of city parking lots. There is absolutely no need to use anything but the tram to get around in Melbourne and the stop is minutes away.

You can always notice the calibre of someone who knows the hospitality business. Stan is attentive to your needs and being the seasoned world wanderer he is, he knows what people expect. I enjoyed swapping tales of our respective journeys around the globe. I heard him speak several foreign languages answering the phone whilst we were there - the hallmark of a true traveller.

For the price ($AUD95 for a double) this cannot be bettered at anywhere else I've stayed in Melbourne. These days with things becoming progressively more expensive it becomes equally so to find value for your dollar. Not only is the price very reasonable but the smiles are free and hospitality genuine. The house is spotlessly clean, the breakfast provided (within the room rate) is one of the best continental styles around - plenty of fresh fruit, wholemeal bread, etc. Even though I was outnumbered by tea drinkers, Stan ensued I was never outgunned by providing piping hot coffee direct out of the percolator for me each morning of our 3 day sojourn there. I cannot abide by instant coffee and evidently neither can he!

For the true Melbourne experience, a stay at the Glendalough B&B is not only highly recommended but rather mandatory. The entire package is geared to relaxation and comfort you rarely find these days. Thank you again Stan and Tony. You are a credit to the B&B profession.