Castle Motel

We stayed one night while passing through in June 2025. The window had been left open without us realising, so it was very cold, and the TV reception kept dropping out. When we arrived, they also asked for a credit card pre-approval for possible damage, which I found unheard of these days. Getting ready for bed was awful. We found chocolate bits over an area about 15cm in diameter on the bed cover, then discovered the top sheet was soiled and looked slept in, with hair on it. The office was locked, so it was too late to contact anyone. We had to sleep in our clothes on top of the top sheet. There is no excuse for not changing linen between guests. I submitted a review on booking.com but forgot to post this one here at the time. As an accommodation owner with a 9.4 rating, I know what clean looks like. If the sheets weren't changed, you can guess the rest. I'm amazed people rate this motel above 3/5. Ignore the standard response to reviews, they just try to justify themselves. Don't stay here.

It's about a 10 minute walk to town, with Woolies across the road, and there's plenty of parking. The staff were pleasant and very helpful with a late check-in. The place was very clean, with a bright interior, windows that open for fresh air, comfy beds, and a big bathroom with a strong hot shower.

Shocking service. I booked three weeks ahead, confirmed by phone twice, and had email confirmation. At 5:32pm they called, but I missed it while driving. I pulled into their driveway at 5:35 to check in and was told there was no room because the toilet was broken. Why hadn't they told us after the previous guests checked out, especially when check-in is at 2:00? They said they'd given another room to someone who arrived earlier. They offered a motel 40 minutes away, even though we had dinner booked in Castlemaine for 6:45pm, and wouldn't pay for taxi transport. I'm sure a local plumber could have come out.

The room was musty, the shower cubicle had mould, and the split-system filters were caked in dust. Paint was peeling off the ceiling, and there was a green medicine capsule behind the bedside table. The bed was uncomfortable and the amenities were substandard for a Queen deluxe room. The manager was patronising, condescending and argumentative, with poor people and management skills. Motel standards were not up to the required standard.