A QTie’s Guide to Melbourne: Michelle Bañares

In the bustling heart of Melbourne, QT Melbourne has become a home away from home for many travellers, including the vibrant and talented Michelle Bañares.

A familiar face, Michelle recently embarked on a delightful family staycation at QT Melbourne, immersing herself in the city’s charm and culture. We sat down with her to uncover her travel rituals, Melbourne must-dos, and top tips for aspiring content creators. This is your Melbourne guide, with Michelle Bañares.

Michelle, we always look forward to your visits at QT Melbourne! Can you share a favourite travel memory from one of your stays with us?

Right back at you QTies! We recently stayed at QT Melbourne as a cute family staycation during February and loved every minute of it. We dined and explored our hearts away in our beautiful city, which surprisingly enough, we don’t get to do as often as we’d like.

Are there any fun travel rituals or habits you swear by to make yourself feel at home when you’re on the road? How do you like to unwind and relax in your hotel room?

I travel back and forth between Melbourne and Sydney for work. When I do, the first thing to instantly feel at home (and may seem boring for some) is unpacking my luggage. I have a thing about living out of a suitcase, so putting my stuff away ALWAYS helps with this…. plus I love a tidy hotel room. My second ritual is immediately throwing on the hotel slippers (extra brownie points when they’re comfy). I swear I’m not the only one haha!

Can you share any of your go-to tips and tricks for packing when you travel?

I try to be an organised queen… I’ll always pack by outfit, per day. This is how I know what piece goes with what. All my makeup, skincare and camera gear are all separated into their own Cee Clear bags (a big packing life saver IMO).

What are your top 3 non-negotiables to do when in Melbourne?

My non-negotiables are:

• Grab a strawberry matcha at Tori’s in the city
• Vintage crawl Northside (including Goodbyes, Swop and Fuguwears)
• Book yourself at a cosy wine bar (Embla, City Wine Shop or Old Palm Liquor in Brunswick)

As one of our favourite content creators, we’d love to pick your brain on the top tips and tricks you have for anyone looking to get started in this space. Spill!

POST. YOUR. STUFF. and do it consistently. I’ve been in the industry for over 10+ years and am now finally working with clients and brands that I could only dream of.

And lastly, we loved having you as part of our Get A Room! campaign. If you could choose one thing to take home with you from a QT room, what would it be?

THE BED. I would kill for a comfy bed. I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it. You guys might need to spill what mattresses you’re using in the hotel rooms because they are something else…

Your Melbourne guide with Michelle Bañares. Ready to experience the magic of QT Melbourne for yourself? Book now.