Pathfinder Motel

The place feels badly managed and run down. We were overcharged for an upgrade we didn’t want, and the manager was rude and arrogant. At checkout she wouldn’t acknowledge me, and I had to be forceful to get a response. It might have been nice in its day, but there were people living there with mental health issues who screamed and called out constantly, and a strong smell of marijuana overnight. There was an old, tagged-up, smashed car in the car park. It’s mostly a residence for homeless and downtrodden people now, from what I could see. There is no restaurant, despite the advertising. It’s set up but hasn’t operated for a long time, so the advert is misleading. The rooms aren’t serviced. The busy road and trams right outside made for a noisy night. Inside, the TV and fridge didn’t work properly, the window was broken, and the curtains and blankets were stained, ripped and dusty. The pillows were awful, so bring your own. There was no iron or face washer, and no in-room information like WiFi codes or local tips.

There wasn’t enough milk for a cup of tea, and there was mold on the bathroom ceiling.

I’d prepaid for the room and asked about checking in late, but they never got back to me. They also didn’t answer calls after 7pm, so I couldn’t arrange check-in.

The room furniture was so uncomfortable, and the walls were peeling. It just didn’t seem maintained. Features were very basic: a bar fridge, TV, beds, shower and chairs. The TV had no digital channels tuned in, and there were no energy-saving bulbs or water-saving shower head.