Runaway Bay Motor Inn

The room felt like an apartment, with a small fridge, microwave, dining area and couch. The bed was one of the most comfortable I've slept on. We arrived late, called reception, and they had our key ready; there were plenty of parking spaces right across from our designated room. We picked this place for the convenience: local shops are within walking distance and Harbour Town is a short drive away. After driving from Bundaberg for the Laneway festival, it worked out as an easy place to stay for the price. I'd come back.

Worst stay ever. We paid for three nights, but on the second day the managers tried to put us out in the middle of the day and turned off our electricity. The manager and his wife walked straight into the room and accused us of leaving a mess while we were lying down resting. They only stopped when they checked the booking and saw we'd paid for another night. The managers were nasty, the rooms old-fashioned, the TVs didn't work, and the shower screen was broken. It felt unsafe too, with the room door just a couple of steps from the stairs. A horrible experience, would never recommend it to my worst enemy.

The deposit they took at check-in took far too long to come back. When I called, the motel said they'd process the refund manually and it would reach my account the next day. There were also few basic amenities in the room. I was unsure whether my friend would join me on day two and told the motel that, but they still charged me an extra $50 at check-in, even though their email said an additional guest cost $30. My friend didn't come, and they didn't refund the money. On top of that, the day after my wife booked, she got a scam message referring to the motel booking. It looked very fishy.

The value was poor for the price. The reception felt hot and muggy as soon as I walked in, and while others checking in were offered milk for tea or coffee, I wasn't. We only got one key. In the room, there was no control board for the air conditioning, and it never felt cool enough. Some random air vent or vacuum would suddenly start loudly for 10+ minutes every day, with no warning. It startled us, and guests should be told about it, especially if they're napping, on a call, or have a sleeping baby. During our three-day stay, there was no room service for fresh towels or amenities. We had one tiny bathroom bin bag and no spare, while the kitchen's plastic shopping bag didn't even fit its bin. There was no spare bedding or dishcloth, just one old tea towel, plus a rusty utensil and the oldest looking jug I've seen. The bed throws and general style looked dated. A shopping bag with half-full milk and mouldy bread was left by the room next door for two days, and birds kept pulling food out of it. The TV couldn't Chromecast, run YouTube, or do anything else. The pool still had Christmas decorations nearly four months into the new year, which felt slack. Fifteen minutes before our scheduled departure, someone knocked and told us to make sure the room was clean, including wiping the benches, or we'd be charged a $200 service fee. I was speechless. I panicked when I couldn't find a cloth, spray, or spare bin bags, and apologized that I couldn't wash the few dishes by hand. The manager, owner, whoever it was, seemed bland, unfriendly, and clearly interested in profit without spending on upgrades or decent staffing. He also tried charging the weekend rate, even though the official website advertised a lower price, which left me unsure and confused about the advertised rate. I'm not one to complain, but I hope management considers this feedback. The place has potential, and this might save people from overspending on below-average accommodation, in my opinion.