Staying at the Crown Towers, Perth

The swimming pool at Crown Towers, seen from the 13th floor. Photo / Alex Robertson

Alex Robertson stays at the Crown Towers, Perth.

Getting there: If you're coming from the airport, you'll need a transfer of some sort. We had a 20-minute coach trip. From the centre of Perth, it's 10 minutes on the train to the Burnswood stop (third stop from the city centre). Then you have a 15-minute walk through a carpark and the casino complex to the hotel — or you could take the shuttle bus if it's running.

Check-in experience: My room was pre-booked but they still took a A$200 deposit for incidentals.

Room: Very generous space. Queen-sized bed, marble-topped table, chaise longue in front of floor-to-ceiling window, giant TV, mini bar, coffee machine and a beautiful bathroom with twin sinks, rain shower, toilet room and a slipper bath. The lights dim with switches, or you can use the tablet controller that operates the air-conditioning, lights and the curtains. There's lots of fun to be had opening and closing those drapes!

What's in the neighbourhood: You're only a 10-minute cab ride from the centre of town, or a combined 25-minute journey by train. In the immediate vicinity is the casino and high-end shopping. The hotel overlooks the Murray River to the Gloucester Park race track, the Waca and the Optus Stadium.

Food and drink: There's a Nespresso-style coffee machine in the room and a very well-stocked mini bar. The hotel has room service and a buffet breakfast, which I can highly recommend.

The view: My window looked directly on to a huge, white, corrugated iron roof, which reflected the very bright Perth sunshine very well. Beyond the roof are apartment blocks.

The best views are from the Crystal Club on the 15th floor, which has sweeping views across the Murray River to the city beyond: get there for sunset.

What's so good about this place: You could stay here for a few days and mooch around the pools, hit the gym, bars and nightclubs and even the casino. All are in the one complex. It's also not that far from the centre of town and those great sporting stadia.

Travelling to and from the airport is a breeze.

Contact: crownperth.com.au

Perfect for: Your stopover before you catch the new Qantas non-stop direct flight from Perth to London, and even on the way back. It's great to break a journey, so why not do it in a place you can really relax.