The Aberdeen Motel

The Aberdeen Motel was clean, practical and easy to settle into, with a genuinely spacious room. That extra space made a bigger difference than I expected after a long day driving. It was well maintained and had small kitchen appliances that made the room more useful and comfortable. There were signs of wear around the property: holes in some hallway carpets, a few broken bench slats and a pool that could use some attention. None of that affected our comfort or sleep, and none was a deal breaker. It feels like a working motel that's been around a while, rather than a polished boutique stay. For this stop, it was perfectly fine and just what we were looking for. If you need a straightforward place to rest while passing through Dubbo, this did the job.

We stayed five nights and would happily come back. The location was amazing and all the staff were lovely. The huge pool was great to swim in, and there was a smart TV with Netflix, YouTube and more. The bed and pillows were super comfy. The blankets and covers weren't the softest, but we brought our own, so it didn't really affect our stay. I just wished there had been more utensils. There were only spoons and tiny plates and cups.

The rooms were modern, spacious and in very good condition. We asked to move to one with a bath and luckily one was available. It was convenient for us too, just 6-8 minutes from Dubbo Zoo. Our room was clean, had no bad smell, and came with a microwave, a decent-sized fridge and a comfortable bed. We booked two nights and left the room-cleaning sign outside, but the room wasn't serviced. They seemed understaffed, with reception not opening until 2pm, and it was hard to find anyone after check-in time.

On a 38° day, the aircon wasn't even on in our room. There were only six squares of toilet paper left on the roll and no spare, so I had to go to the front desk for more. We also waited 20-25 minutes in the lobby before anyone came to check us in. There's a mobile number and landline, but the receptionist left the mobile on the desk and sat out back, ignoring calls and the electronic bell. She apologized and said the bell was broken, but there was no sign to say so and no other way to contact anyone. She should take the mobile with her. She wasn't helping another guest, just sitting out back on her personal phone. When we'd had enough and went for a walk, we could see her through the window. Once she finally came out, she said she was glad we only needed a queen bed, because that “works best for the hotel”. Disgusting service. We won't be back.