Rest Motels Naracoorte

We spent ages outside in the cold and dark because the access code wouldn’t open our assigned room, and nobody answered the reception line until we’d called five times. There was no apology or concern about the hassle. Since the car park and motel seemed empty, we tried the next door by chance. Our code had been set for that room, which was dirty, with towels on the floor, an unmade bed, and rubbish and food on the floor. Inside our actual room, the bed was uncomfortable and the space was small. There were water marks on the bathroom floor, spilled food left in the bedroom, and highway noise. A sign threatened a $500 charge if shower steam set off the smoke alarm, but the bathroom had no extraction fan.

I paid $130 and barely rested. Neighbours arrived drunk and shouting at 2:30 a.m., and with no manager on site, the place felt totally unsafe. I wouldn’t bring children here. I’ve paid less for much better places, and after this rough night I feel I should be compensated. Never again. Beware! There was no bottled drinking water. The towels were old and falling apart. The bed was awful, with a mattress that dipped in the middle, and the bright bar fridge light lit up the room until I fixed it. I got a text with the room code, but no service from a manager on site. There’s a bathroom sign telling you to keep the door shut while showering because steam may trigger the fire alarm, with a $500 fine if it does. There’s no extractor fan installed, though you can open a window. I took a photo of the ceiling. I didn’t appreciate the snarky sign.

It’s an unmanned place, so you get a code on your phone and check yourself in at the touchscreen room. There’s parking right outside, plus a BBQ and picnic area. For a night’s stop, it works well, and town is close if you want to get food. The room was clean and had a fridge, microwave, toaster, and kettle. The air con and heater handled a really cold night well. My only real gripe was that the bed was too soft.

Way too expensive for a room with bed bugs on the sheets, dirty water from the cold tap, and a TV that doesn’t work.