Pampas Motel

We paid $91 AUD, the cheapest option we found in Port Augusta on booking.com, so we knew not to expect a five star stay. The motel had a few minor drawbacks: the TV remote didn’t work, the bathroom was shared, and there’s a train line right beside it. Still, some of the one star reviews seemed unfair to me. We didn’t find bed bugs, the showers were reasonably clean, and the staff were friendly. They also suggested some good places to eat. I’d recommend staying here as long as you go in expecting what that price gets you.

We barely slept, partly because the bed felt springy and there was a lot of noise. The blackout blinds did a great job, but lights from the aircon and TV still shone into the room, which makes you wonder why have blackout blinds at all? The room itself was a good size for the price, and the aircon worked well. There was a microwave and even a shower seat for disabled or elderly guests. The cleanliness was awful. I had bedbugs, the sheets and blankets weren’t clean, and the shower floor was still sticky. Staff were mostly fine, though the girl was very unfriendly and seemed uncaring, without being directly rude. Could be worse, but I won’t stay again.

The room was comfortable and good, which was the one positive part of our stay. The customer service, though, was extremely disappointing. We’d confirmed the price with the receptionist over the phone before booking, but after a long, tiring journey, they argued about it and changed their position. It felt humiliating after we’d relied on what we were told. The staff seemed unaware of the earlier conversation and made no effort to sort things out politely. Their manner was rude and unhelpful, and the whole thing felt unprofessional. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone expecting honesty, respect, and basic professionalism.

The rooms were clean, the staff were friendly, and we had a pleasant stay. But after booking online and arriving with our reservation, we were told the room we’d booked was already occupied because of a technical problem with the booking system. Since no cheaper rooms were left, we had to pay another $20 for a different one. It was already late and we didn’t want an argument, so we accepted it. Still, when you have a confirmed booking, you shouldn’t be charged extra for a technical fault on their side.