Mr & Mrs Smith

Chic, seductive and sophisticated, the Lyall Hotel and Spa is where Carrie from Sex and the City would stay in Melbourne if she were in town. Set in upscale shopping neighbourhood South Yarra, its classy cocktail of sleek rooms, sensual day spa and intimate champagne bar, mixed with handy retail therapy, is perfect for girls or guys seeking a stylish mini-break.

NEED TO KNOW

• Rooms 40, ranging from one- and two-bedroom Deluxe rooms to Grand and Platinum suites.
• Rates Double rooms from AUD 327, excluding tax at 10 per cent..
• More details Rates include newspaper and 24-hour gym use. Continental breakfast is AU$20; à la carte, AU$30, a credit card surcharge of 1.5% applies against all accepted credit cards.
• Facilities DVD, CD and book library, free WiFi throughout, spa, gym. In rooms: two flatscreen TVs, cable channels, CD/DVD players, iPod speakers on request, kitchen with fridge and washer-dryer, minibar, terrace.
• Check-out 11am, but flexible if available (from noon you’ll be charged 50 per cent of your room rate; after 5pm, for an extra night). Check-in, 2pm.
• Children Welcome: kids can stay for free if using existing bedding, or the hotel can supply baby cots or rollaway beds for AU$30 each. Babysitting can be arranged with a nanny for a minimum of three hours for AU$80, then AU$20 an hour. More...
• Eco-friendly For a glam, green touch, the hotel provides free push bikes for guests to use when out and about. Here's hoping you can balance all those store bags on the handle bars!
• Also Arm yourself with the Lyall's exclusive Shopping Privilege Card, which offers guests 10 per cent off at over 20 chic local stores, such as fashion boutique Assin and Shoes by Alberto Piazza.