Albany Central Apartments

Albany Central Apartments suits divers who would rather have an apartment than a bedroom with a kettle pushed into one corner. You get a private apartment in a building, with a separate entrance, seating area and dining table, so the evening can run at your pace: shower, food, television, then bed without having to perform the whole restaurant ritual.

Air conditioning and heating cover the less glamorous realities of travelling in Australia, while free WiFi keeps the practical side moving. The accommodation is also set up for families, with apartments sleeping between two and four guests. It is a straightforward base in Albany for a self-contained stay, particularly if you want room to spread out rather than another hotel corridor.

You are in Albany, Australia, in a central position that puts the town's useful bits within reach. The Albany Entertainment Centre is a short walk away, while Albany Waterfront Marina is about 0.7 miles from the apartments. This is an urban base rather than a beachfront address, so Middleton Beach takes about 2.5 miles on foot or 2.6 miles by car.

The surrounding map gives you more than a coastline and a car park. The National Anzac Centre is about 1.9 miles away, Eyre Park about 2.4 miles by car, and The Bird Sanctuary about 2.6 miles on foot. Torndirrup National Park is about 9 miles by car, making the apartments a practical starting point for seeing Albany beyond the harbour.

The key choice is how much apartment you want around you. For two people, either one-bedroom apartment keeps things compact and manageable; the superior one-bedroom apartment gives you more breathing room and can accommodate a third guest. Travelling with family or a small group, the two-bedroom apartment adds a second bathroom, which is the sort of detail that becomes important remarkably quickly when everyone is trying to leave at once.

Every apartment has the equipment for a proper stay rather than a token kitchenette: oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster and kettle. There is also a washing machine and tumble dryer, useful when saltwater, towels and ordinary travel clothes begin to form their own ecosystem. A dining area and seating space give you somewhere to eat or stretch out, while the flat-screen television, DVD and Blu-ray players, radio and free WiFi cover the quieter part of the evening.

Air conditioning helps you cool down when the day has been warm, and heating covers cooler nights. Each apartment has a private bathroom with shower, towels, toiletries and hairdryer. The apartments are non-smoking, with wardrobes, linen and an alarm clock included; the beds have also been singled out for their comfort, which is welcome when the alarm is set for an early start.

The useful restaurant here is the one inside your apartment. With an oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and dining table, you can make a proper meal rather than assembling dinner from whatever survived the journey in a plastic bag. The fridge is ready for cold drinks and breakfast supplies, and the washing machine means the cooking does not have to compete with a pile of damp kit and clothes for your attention.

You are not marooned with the stove, either. Lavender Cottage Tearooms is about 150 feet away, Frederick's Cafe about 600 feet away, and Venice Pizza Bar & Restaurant about 900 feet away. For a drink farther afield, Reeves on Campbell is about 1.3 miles away by car, while Wilson Brewing Company is about 4.4 miles away. The arrangement is simple: cook when you want control, walk out when you cannot face washing another pan.

The apartment gives you the luxury of deciding that the day's activity is over. Put your feet up in the seating area, use the dining table for a meal or a map, and let the air conditioning do its unglamorous but valuable work. There is no need to turn every spare hour into an organised programme; Albany Central Apartments works well when your idea of leisure is a shower, a comfortable chair and a television.

When you do want to go out, Albany supplies some solid alternatives to sitting indoors. The National Anzac Centre offers a cultural visit about 1.9 miles away, while The Bird Sanctuary and Eyre Park are both within roughly 2.5 miles by car. Lake Seppings is about 3 miles by car, and Torndirrup National Park lies about 9 miles away. Middleton Beach is the obvious coastal outing, reached in about five minutes by car.

Albany Regional Airport is about 6 miles away, with a drive of roughly 11 minutes. Free private parking is available on site, and you do not need to reserve a space. WiFi is free throughout the property, and private as well as express check-in and check-out are available.

Check-in starts from 14:00, and you need to tell the property your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is by 10:00. The minimum age for check-in is 18, and children of any age are welcome, although cots and extra beds are not available; choose the apartment according to the number of people who will actually sleep there.

Payment is by card rather than cash, and American Express is not accepted. A personal credit or debit card is required before arrival for the property's security procedure. Smoking, pets and parties are not permitted, and facilities are available for disabled guests.