I've just returned from an extended weekend away in which I needed accommodation and as per the post I wrote a few days ago it didn't need to be fancy or expensive accommodation, just serviceable, reasonably comfortable and clean. You can take a look at that post here if you would like.
In it you'll read how my accommodation didn't live up to expectations, even the low expectation I had, considering the low nightly-rate of the motel I chose.
When we book accommodation we use a mixture of booking sites and directly with the accommodation-operator depending on where and what we are booking.
We've had Bed & Breakfast accommodation, hotels, motels, private apartments and villas, trains, camp sites in the wilderness and just about everything in-between.
I've been using booking.com for a while now, booked all our accommodation in the last two years through their site actually, and only had two issues: One in Shaftsbury, UK and last weekend in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Again, the link above will take you to that post if you're keen. (Image above is my place, not the motel I stayed in)
The good thing about booking.com is that one can read reviews from others who have stayed in a location you may be considering and whilst some of those reviews are not that helpful I have found most of them to be of great assistance. This is why I always leave a review in each place I stay when booking through that site.
I left a review for the motel I stayed at over the weekend which is below.
I always try to be constructive with my reviews, leaving information that others may use to determine the suitability of the accommodation for themselves, and to not be too hurtful to the establishment. Having said that...I'm not sure if my review of the most recent accommodation, the motel in Mount Gambier, fit's that constructive mould. You can see for yourself if you like as I have cut and pasted the review from the booking.com website as below.
Too harsh? Yeah I guess maybe in hindsight I could have tempered it somewhat however I was concerned that the description on the booking site wasn't that close to the reality of the motel. I'm not a huge fan of false and misleading claims and advertising - We have a law against it in fact, called the Trade Practices Act, which this motel would fall under of course.
My last line refers to bringing my swag next time and staying in the forest with the bears and snakes - An environment I would have probably felt more comfortable in. The motel was completely inadequate and I'm really surprised they are permitted to operate with rooms in that condition. I mean, why supply tea and coffee-making facilities but no cutlery to stir the coffee? Yes, I really did use my comb to stir my coffee however would probably have been better off heading to McDonalds for the dish-water-swill they call coffee - Probably would have been better.
It's my fault I stayed at that motel; Completely my fault, as I selected and booked it. You know what? I didn't read the reviews either...Big mistake. Am I being too harsh on it? For a three-night stay $240 is very cheap after all...Maybe I'm being too harsh...But then how difficult would it be to fix the exhaust fan in the bathroom, clean out the shower-head, deodorise the carpet, provide a teaspoon for coffee-stirring...The little things. I think these things could make a big difference, but they've been neglected, certainly in my room, and I have no reason to believe the other rooms would be any different. Plus, observe the do not disturb sign people! It's not that difficult...See the sign - Don't go in. Easy.
Anyway, out of all the accommodation I have booked I don't think having two duds is a bad record really. The bed & breakfast in the UK wasn't really a dud either to be honest - We just didn't like the attitude of the husband of the owner for a couple of reasons and decided to leave and go elsewhere. On that occasion I paid in full for two nights ($480 UK pounds) but only stayed one, leaving prior to the breakfast service - Which looked bloody awesome. That's probably an indication of how annoyed I was - Leaving prior to breakfast and all.
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I wonder, do any of you leave reviews like this? I know google has a review-option for just about any business and whilst most of it is just people having a whine about something that didn't go their way, much of it is constructive. I'm one who will leave a great review if it's deserved, will tip big [tipping is not done in Australia, but I do anyway at times] or write to the manager or owner with great feedback. With poor feedback I either leave a review as above, or never go back. I guess that's the easiest option.
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