Hibiscus Lakeside Motel

The location was about the only good thing. The room smelled, the lamp base looked like it had been used as an ashtray, and the toilet seat was broken and badly stained. Something had been put over the wall, which was cracked and flaking off. The heavy construction was the worst part, and nobody mentioned it directly. It was buried in the legal section on booking.com. I would have preferred to be contacted and told about it. If I’d known, I would have stayed somewhere else. We didn’t feel cared for at all. I guess the money comes first.

The bathroom had a terrible smell, like there was no water seal on the sewer line. I’d booked two nights, but checked out at 6am after the first one. They still charged my company for both nights.

The area is beautiful, with a pizza club and pub nearby, and the motel is in a great spot. But when we arrived at 1pm, as we’d been told the rooms would be ready, the owner spoke rudely to us about an air-conditioning problem in our room. We didn’t get in until 4:30pm. The place needs friendly, happy staff who know what’s going on.

The woman on the phone was kind and thorough. She matched the price I’d seen on a popular booking site, explained how to collect the key, and made sure I got a confirmation text. I’d booked last minute because a big storm had knocked out electricity in our area, and it wasn’t expected back until the next day. One of my daughters was very sick, so I needed somewhere warm for the night. I’d found the Hibiscus on several sites, where it had good reviews and a low price, and called the motel to check it had power. When we arrived in the rain and dark with my two young daughters in the car, a woman was putting our key in the lock box. She confirmed my name and the room number, then handed me the envelope. The key was labelled 12, but I was booked into room 2, so it wouldn’t open the door. I called the after-hours number. The man who answered seemed to be off his head on something. I explained clearly that I’d been given the wrong key, but he kept asking, “So, what’s wrong?” We went back and forth like that three times before I hung up. A moment later an elderly man, definitely not the one I’d just spoken with, gave me the right key. It was about 9:30 at night before we got settled and turned on the heater. Half an hour later, two men started pounding on the door of the room next to us. Thankfully, it didn’t last long and they left. I barely slept because the heater sounded like a jackhammer each time it kicked in, but at least we were warm. In the morning, the woman at reception said she could hold the room if we needed another night. Thankfully, we didn’t. I’d only recommend this motel if you have no other options.