What makes one motel better than the others?
The thing that I’ve found in all my travels around Australia is that motels are not just motels. They vary widely from one to the next and have very different levels of features and service. Where I have found that motels differ the most is:
· The quality of the bedding
· Access to WIFI
· In room dining and on-site restaurants
The quality of the bedding
I have stayed in three motels in the past 2 weeks. And each one varied wildly from the other when it came to the quality of the bedding and the night’s sleep I was able to get.
What I’ve found is that motel mattresses are rarely ever of a good quality. Though some are more firm than others. When you’re looking at a motel to book and a good night’s sleep is important to you, then check the reviews on Google and TripAdvisor to make sure that you’re getting what you need.
For example, I ignored the ratings on TripAdvisor for the motel that I stayed in last night in Cairns,. I won’t name it, but I will say that the mattress was way too soft to be supportive enough for a good night’s sleep. That really changed the way my day went today. Next time I’ll read the reviews!
Access to WIFI
This is vital when you’re on the road for work. In fact, I’ve found that this is one of the things that motels do quite well. As they are generally smaller than hotels, they are not sharing an internet connection with quite as many people, so they are able to share their WIFI with a smaller group, who then get a bigger share each of the bandwidth.
I also noticed that where a lot of hotels will charge for WIFI access, motels just include as part of your stay.
Now I work on the road a lot, so good internet is good business for me. And if you’re travelling with kids, they’ll appreciate the access to Youtube as well!
In-Room Dining and On-Site Restaurant
I am one who enjoys a hot breakfast when I’m travelling, so I always appreciate a good in-room breaky in a motel. These days, however, this is becoming quite rare as motels close their kitchens due to COVID-19. But for those operations, it’s a bonus when I find it.
Make sure you check with the motel before you travel that they have this service. Otherwise, you may have to travel a bit further in town to find a place to grab breakfast that doesn’t have Mc in front of the name of its meals.
How do you choose a better motel?
By doing your research and reading the reviews, you’ll have a better with less nasty surprises — and you’ll be a better night’s sleep.
