Comfort Inn Main Lead

What People are saying

Disgusting, should be closed down

Eddie C on 19/11/2017 02:21

Important: please note that this review is not some form of petty “oh I didn’t get an upgrade” moan to justify a bad review. My reviews are 100% honest and experienced, if you want to verify this yourself please feel free to read my other reviews.

I booked a room at this hotel based on reasonable reviews and the fact it rates as a 3.5 star venue. When I arrived there was a loud party clearly visible and audible from room 2 which didn’t turn out to be a problem because the room I was given was room 20. Ample parking provided for all rooms.

Check in was relatively simple, although it was clear that the receptionist was uneasy about the party going on across the way. I believe she was actually the hotel manager and this is discussed later on.

As soon as I walked in the room door I had a bad feeling about the property. I know you get what you pay for but even for approximately £120 (almost $200 AUD) for two nights I expected better than this. I’ve booked cheaper and had excellent facilities and cleanliness.

This room has the look of a run down 1980’s (maybe even 70’s) motel and as I started to walk around I only had an enhanced bad feeling about this.

I refused to remove my shoes, and wore slippers in the bathroom. Not that the floors looked particularly dirty but the bad feeling had me uncomfortable. Anyway I thought the bed at least looked reasonable so after such a long drive from Adelaide I went to get some shopping and returned a while later.

As I returned I attempted to connect my mobile to WiFi, which didn’t work. There was a locked WiFi and an unsecured one. The password in the guest book (which going by other information such as how to use the non-existent room phone for example) did not work for the locked WiFi and the unsecured WiFi didn’t work either.

The furniture is basically ‘old school’ and I felt uneasy about the bathroom too (it reminded me somehow of a prison bathroom) In addition the bathroom walls contained holes and the lights full of dead flies.

The only pleasant thing about this room in fact was the bed. It looked tidy with clean sheets (I see from other reviews that this isn’t always the case!)

Being tired from the long drive I decided to fall sleep on the bed. Several hours went by and at just after 1am I woke up and heard a sound from the throw at end of the bed. I thought it was a large cockroach inside the bed (I’d already discovered a small one in the toilet) so I hit the end of the bed repeatedly to see if there were any lumps.

To my shock the bed was wet to the touch in that area and I looked up to see a huge patch on the ceiling. There was a leak which was odd considering there was another room above me. It had been raining heavily earlier in the day but that’s no excuse for this condition. I promptly left the room and locked the key inside. I wasn’t going to stay any longer.

I called the reservations line to complain as reception was closed at this hour and the representative tried to help but said he couldn’t contact the manager and that he couldn’t organise a refund but I should try calling in the morning. While dealing with the call he offered, unwisely considering my response, that I can sign up to be a member and get discounts on future stays. Seriously, THE worst time to advertise this.

I drove to Melbourne and was so tired I simply slept in the hire car for a few hours. Having called the hotel direct the manager (who sounded much alike the lady to checked me in) answered and tried to deal with my claim, but the language barrier was so bad I had to repeat my room number several times and when I told her to check the leak in the room she told me there was no computer there. She finally understood and I told her I expected my money back in full. She appeared to agree but as I wasn’t confident that she understood I contacted customer services to ensure they understood the situation and after checking with the manager assured me that the refund had been processed (note to Comfort Inn c/o Choice Hotels... as I am still awaiting the cleared funds as I write this review, be warned that you are subject to legal action, including sought penalties, if the full promised refund is not forthcoming). And while I am sympathetic to people whose first language is not English and agree with ethnic diversity hiring, how can it be that someone who is so bad at speaking English is in charge of customer relations in an English speaking country?

I feel the term Comfort in the title is a bit of sarcasm/warped humour when it comes to this motel. The other thing I noticed from the pictures on TripAdvisor were some guest rooms boasted good quality (at least in comparison) rooms. I know I didn’t book for some form of ‘executive’ room but how DARE this company treat customers with contempt by giving them uninhabitable rooms while people who pay just a little more get some form of decency. Comfort Inn/Choice Hotels, do not suggest that you are going to upgrade the standard of your rooms and it’s a process... you should close these unfit for purpose ‘dwellings’ until they are refurbished, and suffer the financial burden of these rooms being unavailable. There are more hotels in the area to cope with demand. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone else is given this room once the leak stops. Disgusting.

I hope my review, and pictures, go a long way to damaging the reputation of Comfort Inn. I would encourage my fellow travellers to feel free to use my pictures to warn others of the rooms being offered by this chain.

Clean but tired in places

Lostgirl14 on 29/10/2017 21:32

Good size room and nice bathroom looked to have been updated .
But heated pool and spa where cold and spa has seen better days.
Small play ground across the road eas handy.
And bed are soft and clean.
Was booked out when we stayed

Wouldn't stay here again

Jenny S on 03/10/2017 01:32

Booked this motel before reading reviews as family requested a place with a pool. Was very nervous after reading reviews and my fears were realised when we arrived to find no family 2 bed room as booked but a room with a queen and 1 single bed. Not much good for family of 4. Staff were apologetic and were nice people but this is not good enough. Were given some refund so all credit to them. We also booked a queen room as well. Carpet needs replacing, beds were new and comfortable, shower tap heads came off in hand in both units. The room at the back had very annoying frogs from the creek behind croaking at night so hard to get to sleep. English as a second language also a barrier with proprietors. A shame as we did have the best time in Ballarat.

Close to Sovereign Hill

Carolyn J on 15/07/2017 12:12

Stayed here with my children for one night. Very conveniently located, a short 10 minute walk to Sovereign Hill which was perfect as we were there to see the Winter Wonderlights. Room was cosy and beds were super comfortable with the added bonus of electric blankets. Free WiFi was also included. Staff were very accommodating, friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place particularly if you're in town to visit Sovereign Hill and the Gold Museum. It is great value and we will definitely stay here again in the future.

Brilliant

Cindy S on 30/06/2017 13:52

Motel staff on arrival were exceptional, the room was spotless, the beds are super comfortable, the electric blankets and hearing were a bonus on an extremely cold night, room was warm on arrival.the toiletries provided were fantastic.
Do yourself a favor and give this motel a try!