Sharodon Sands Motel

The room was clean and the staff were friendly, but the owners were never on site and there was no 24/7 attendant as advertised. The beachfront claim is incorrect, too: it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to the beach, though close to a mini putt course. Our bed was broken and impossible to sleep on, and they offered only 10% off ($30) for a room with no usable bed. The place was extremely worn down and needed new flooring and updating. There was inappropriate writing on the bathroom wall. The shower curtain was barely tied to the bar instead of being on rings, and the shower head sprayed everywhere except on your head. It’s definitely a cheap place to stay, but you get what you pay for.

We booked for a month but didn't spend even one night there. The rooms were disgusting and stank, with cockroaches, bed bugs, and drugs and drug users all around. The TV didn't work and the cupboards wouldn't open. For your health and safety, don't stay here.

We planned on staying three nights, but after one we left. The room reeked of cigarettes even though the motel manager said it was non-smoking, and we found ants and spiders in several spots, including the bed. While I was away, other guests made sexist, suggestive remarks to my girlfriend. They were also shooting squirrels and birds with a slingshot. We felt miserable and uncomfortable the whole time. I wouldn't recommend staying there.

The location was the only good part. I paid $300 cash for two weekend nights, but getting checked in was a mess. A man smoking outside yelled to ask if we had a reservation, then told us to wait in the office. After no one showed up, I called the number on the door and got no answer. About 15 minutes later, a young man finally checked us in and took us to room #11. At first the room seemed okay. It was in the middle of a heatwave, so I turned on the AC, but it blasted at full strength and wouldn't respond to the temperature or speed controls. The filter warning was on, and when I removed it, it was clogged and the grill was filthy. I showed the person who checked us in, but he said it worked and to give it time. I worried it could freeze up and drip above our heads. They couldn't control it, and since temperatures were well into the 30s, we couldn't leave it off overnight. He said he'd bring extra blankets. We were also promised a new TV remote, but the television had nothing hooked up to it, no cable or satellite, and neither the remote nor blankets ever arrived. An hour later I spoke with the property manager, an older woman, who came to look at the AC. She apologized about the filter and said they'd upgrade it after we left. She explained that guests had been stealing the cable or Android boxes, which was why the TV didn't work. We tried not to let it spoil our beach trip, though bad weather would have left us bored. The furniture was in rough shape. The table chairs wobbled, and the table tilted whenever you lifted your arm, almost knocking things off. The headboard wasn't attached and kept falling toward the bed unless we pushed the bed back. The sheets looked dirty, the futon was propped against the wall and uncomfortable, and screws stuck out of the outdoor chairs, risking damage to clothes or skin. I bought firewood at Walmart on Saturday because the motel charged $25 for a few logs and $35 for propane that you'd only use up if you barbecued all day. The oven was so dirty it seemed like a fire risk, so takeout was our only option. The microwave didn't work either. There was no smoke detector, which I understand is a fire violation because every room needs a working one. My wife has a prosthetic leg, and after the beach we washed it and left it out to dry. From inside, we saw staff coming over one by one to inspect it. That felt disrespectful; if they were curious, they could have politely asked us about it. We were also worried about its safety because it's very expensive. I lost all respect for the place and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I raised these issues with the owner, who wasn't onsite and seemed to live at another motel they own. They said they'd look into it but offered no compensation or feedback about how they'd fix anything. I've worked in motels and as an apartment and condominium superintendent, and if I owned this place I'd be embarrassed and take the complaints seriously. I'd strongly suggest reading reviews of both locations before booking, since they also own TerraWoods resort and cottage in Muskoka.