Mandurah Foreshore Motel

The motel is right in the centre of town, less than a minute from the foreshore, with restaurants, bars and shops all around. There’s a bus stop right outside that goes directly to the train station. We caught a train into Perth for the day, which was super easy. I’ve stayed at the Foreshore Motel many times, but this visit was my best yet. I booked a couple of nights for last weekend through Booking.com, and the improvements were obvious as soon as I entered reception. It had fresh paint and was ultra clean, and the woman at the desk gave me a wonderfully warm welcome. My room had a big makeover too, with fresh paint, new carpet, a sparkling clean bathroom and brand-new bedding. It looked completely different from when it felt old and tired. My friends in the room next door were just as happy, saying theirs looked and smelt brand new. The pool area also seemed refreshed. The upgrades are impressive, service was warm and welcoming, and I’ll definitely be back.

The room was basic but clean, and the staff were really friendly at check-in. We were close to the main street and waterfront. There was just one teaspoon for four of us. In the middle of the night, the heater started smelling like it was burning, so we turned it off and froze. I’m sure the staff would have been happy to help if they were still around when we found these problems, but sadly the front desk isn’t staffed in the evening or overnight.

Basic, no-frills rooms, but clean and comfortable. Check-in and checkout staff were friendly, and they let me leave my luggage there. Good location, no complaints.

For the price, the location is hard to beat. Mandurah Terrace is just a short walk away, with lots of restaurants, parks and events. It worked well enough for a night or two, sleeping in after a wander around. The bathroom was clean, which we appreciated, but the sink is tiny. You can maybe wash your hands without water ending up all over the floor. There’s enough room for a bigger one. The curtains also didn’t cover the whole window, so someone could see most of the room. We propped them in place with the ironing board to feel safer. The place could do with an upgrade to the furniture, especially the bed, chairs and fridge. We noticed the fridge leaking air, which could use more electricity, and the bed wasn’t in great shape, so it might not suit someone with a sensitive back. On the plus side, they provided free shampoo, conditioner, soap and coffee, plus a jug of water in the fridge, kettle, small microwave and TV.