Matador Motor Inn

The beds were genuinely comfortable, and the Matador Motel in Coffs Harbour was clean and well maintained. The decor isn’t especially stylish, but it’s a satisfactory place to sleep. Getting around can be physically demanding, especially for seniors in their eighties. There’s an upstairs level with no lift, so you have to carry all your luggage up the stairs yourself. The bathroom is tiny, and its inward-opening door takes up most of the usable space. An external barn door might fix the design issue, but as it is, getting around in there is a tight squeeze. Parking is another difficulty. There seem to be more rooms than parking spaces, and the available spaces are down a steep slope. Walking up and down is challenging, and the area is mostly open to rain and isn’t secured from people passing by, so it’s not very convenient or reassuring. It’s a fine, clean establishment, but the stairs, cramped bathroom and steep, exposed parking make it a tough choice for older guests who need more accessibility.

The good part is 24-hour check-in, which made arrival easy. I don’t know why more places don’t offer that. The rooms are large, clean and tidy, with a big indoor area that can easily fit two people. There’s a nearby shopping centre, and the swimming pool is more of a plus. It’s a decent place for a stop if you’re just driving through, though there isn’t much else to do in the area. The location is what brings it down. We paid 360 for the room over Christmas weekend, which seemed a bit steep, but I suppose everyone charges that much then. I don’t know what the usual price is.

The staff were so kind and welcoming, and the rooms were clean with enough space. There wasn’t a sink except for the small one in the bathroom, but it was perfect for a night on our way home from QLD.

It’s right beside the main road, so passing traffic makes it quite noisy. There’s not much soundproofing between the units either. We could hear the people next door talking on the phone and turning on the shower. No wonder they provided two packets of earplugs 🤔.