Motel 6 Sault Ste. Marie, ON

This was my first stop driving from Toronto to Alberta with my dog. The room was clean and the staff were nice, and I have no service complaints. There wasn’t an elevator, which was tricky with a dog and lots of stuff even though we were only on the second floor. I’m still giving it five stars because it’s pet-friendly and the room was clean.

The rooms were very good, and I’d still recommend visiting again, but the management needs more staff and every room should have the reception number. In the evening, the person at reception was often nowhere to be seen, leaving us and other customers waiting. The entrance door said to ring the bell after 8 or 9 p.m., but even before then we had to ring from outside because the hotel was closed, despite check-in being available late. There was no reception number on the room phone, so we had to find one through Google. Tea, coffee, and the microwave were kept at the front of the hotel, though they should be available in each room.

This was my second stay at a Motel 6 franchise, and both experiences have been great. Motel 6 Sault Ste. Marie was better than most standard motels, with a clean, comfortable room that worked well for a quick stop. Breakfast isn’t included, so if you just need a cozy, budget-friendly place for the night and don’t mind that, it’s a solid choice.

The main drawback is the bathroom setup for anyone with mobility or knee trouble. There are no grab bars by the tub or toilet, and the toilet seat was only 14 inches from the floor. As a tall person with bad knees or a disability, getting on and off it could be difficult. I had to brace myself on the nearby sink, and using the toilet was a bit of a challenge. Otherwise, the room was clean and spacious. It was relatively quiet and dark at night despite the busy road nearby. The heater and AC were easy to adjust and quiet when running. The bathroom was clean, there are good restaurants and fast food nearby, and a city transit bus stop is right in front of the motel. I had a little trouble getting the TV to work, but staff helped me select the right input.