Byer Fountain Motor Inn, Holbrook

I wouldn't recommend this place or stay again. The restaurant wasn't available, and I wouldn't have booked had I known, since Holbrook is small and I wasn't sure there'd be many food options. There turned out to be very few. The motel feels run down and past its best, though I suppose it's just about okay for somewhere to rest on a journey. I hope the strong deodoriser smell doesn't set off my allergies. The room had paint spots on the floor by the bathroom, worn towels, a shower I wasn't comfortable using, and a hard bed. The sheets were okay, but the pillows weren't, so I was glad I'd brought my own. There were odd cushions on the bed, no USB charging points, and the Wi-Fi kept dropping out. Thank goodness it was only one night. You get what you pay for, I guess.

The location just off the Hume Highway was handy, but the room was very small. The bathroom was so cramped that its sink was out in the main room, and there were no opening windows or much airflow, so we had to rely on the aircon. Smoke from people smoking outside next door came through a vent into our room. That seemed like their lack of consideration rather than the managers' fault.

A clean, quiet older motel, and a good-value place to stay overnight. Holbrook used to be a highway town and is just off the freeway, with a couple of pubs serving good meals. The motel looks better than its rather shabby sign suggests.

Getting in was straightforward. The manager was easy to reach, and collecting the key after hours was simple. The room itself was another matter: I found beetles in the bed and bugs around, plus what looked like a crushed roach on the couch. The toilet and shower were cleaner than the rest of the room, but a Christmas beetle fell out when we turned on the tap. People in nearby rooms were yelling very loudly at 6am. Still, it was fine enough for one night's sleep.