Belmont Motor Inn

Getting to the place by car was the only thing that worked well about its location. The rooms felt depressing, and the service was odd too. When I asked for soap, I got a nearly empty handwash bottle and was told to return it at checkout. The rooms had been reduced to about half their proper size, with cheap renovations seemingly aimed at fitting in more guests. The carpets were old and weather-beaten, and need replacing. The shower opens straight into the hallway connecting both rooms, and there was a strange pipe in our room. In the second room, which had two single beds, there wasn't room for luggage, so my two girls had to use a third bed in the living area to put theirs.

It's a slightly dated, comfortable motor inn in central Christchurch, within easy walking distance of the city centre. A busy road runs right beside it, so it isn't quiet. The price wasn't too high, and the decor and rooms were about what I'd expect for that cost.

Christchurch was almost fully booked for a music festival, so after Belmont Motor Inn couldn't find my reservation, I had to urgently find another hotel at a much higher rate. I'd booked through Agoda for Feb 19 and even reported my late arrival on the platform earlier that day. But when I got there late at night, the property was closed and they had no record of my booking. It caused a lot of hassle and extra expense on my trip.

The location was decent, but the rooms weren't as clean as they should've been and the place felt pretty old. Facilities seemed dated, and there wasn't a proper heating system. Some of the dishes were still grubby, too. Those things made it harder to feel comfortable. Hopefully they sort them out for future guests.