Staying at Maria’s is so cozy, central to everything, and very safe! But most importantly it was Maria herself that made my first trip to Melbourne 10 times better than it would’ve been without her. Maria is so thoughtful, friendly, and full of information about the city she grew up in.
She almost immediately offered to pick me up from the train station really late at night. Invited me along to a tree planting volunteer event where I got to see a very different, wild part of Australia you don’t see in the city. Gave me tips for good vegetarian eats at the market and surrounding areas even though she is not one herself. Maria was always sending me things to do in the city and asking how my day went exploring. Being a traveler herself, Maria is a really interesting person to talk to, but will definitely give you space if needed. I found myself not only missing the city as I left, but Maria as well. This is a perfect place for women traveling alone!