Huskisson Beach Motel

We made the horrible mistake of staying here two nights at $250 per night in a room with water glimpses, broken balcony furniture, the smallest flat screen tv, (no foxtel or Netflix etc) a toilet seat so cramped you have to sit side saddle, hot water that takes 15 minutes to arrive and the unforgivable and unprofessional failure to advise your intending guests of significant construction noise. Fortunately we brought our own fan heater as the bathroom is so cold with a permanently opened window you could ice skate on the floor. There is no staffed reception as it’s check in electronically but probably so that the owners can avoid any interaction with complaining guests and they must be many based on previous reviews. The air conditioning is noisy at night and the road noise is, at times, significant. The stairs to the upper levels are so narrow they would not pass current Australian building standards. There is a lounge which is strategically placed with its back to the tv. There are two chairs but no proper table merely a short slab of veneer at coffee table height. I give it one star because of its close proximity to the town but at a price of $250 per night it’s about $100-120 overvalued. However, the failure to advise of the current construction noise is the most egregious lack of care and courtesy to guests and smacks of just a cynical money grab by the owners. Shame on you.

Arrived at Huskisson Beach motel and found parking very limited. Found a spot outside and then carried some gear inside and unpacked in a very small room. Headed out to meet up with family for dinner and returned just in time for the beach fireworks display. Drove into car park area to find no spots available and found ourselves gridlocked in the car park, alongside a fellow guest, due to the street traffic coming to a complete standstill, when the fireworks started and with a car blocking the driveway. People just got out of their cars in the middle of the road and watched the fireworks. When we raced to front of motel to catch a bit of the fireworks, an aggressive man leaned over the top balcony and yelled hey you can’t leave your car parked there! I said we can’t move it anywhere at the moment because the traffic is stopped and a car has blocked the motel entrance. People were rushing along the street to see the fireworks. The man kept yelling at us and wouldn’t let up and said right, I’ll get your car towed away. I replied we are guests at the motel and we cannot move the car anywhere as the traffic was stopped and a car was blocking the motel entrance. The man had a large glass of wine and at one stage he was so angry, I thought he would come down and damage our car. He was clearly intoxicated and had a lot of ‘guests’ drinking with him and egging him on with some of his party also joining in with abuse towards us. There was also another poor guest that had driven in looking for a car spot and he said he received the same abuse and threat of getting his car towed away. Together, as guests, we couldn’t do anything until the fireworks ceased and the traffic started moving. We waited at the reception area until the fireworks ceased and stayed close enough to watch our cars as we thought he might race down and damage them because he was so irate. When the traffic started moving my husband got straight in to move our car and to try and find a car park somewhere outside the motel. It was a shambles. I went up to my room, only to be confronted by people leaning over the top balcony, yelling at me to get in my room. I asked who they were and advised them I’m a guest and won’t be told to get in my room. Then those people and the aggressive man come running down the stairs surrounding me at my door and threatening to evict me?!!! I asked who were they to speak to me and upset me like this. I noticed the young female had a blue shirt with the Huskisson Beach Motel logo on it. She said well I can evict you!! I asked what for? I said we couldnt move our car at the moment because we were gridlocked in. The aggressive older man, with his wine glass in hand and reaking of alcohol, pushed towards the door lock and said well I’m just going to lock you out, so you can’t get your gear and swiped his hand several times over the lock. By this time, with them surrounding and threatening me, I said I think I’ll have to call the police. The older man said go right ahead! The younger girl in the motel uniform said well I’m going to evict you and ran off. I was shaking with fear now, I said to the older man look I don’t need this I’ve got an incurable bone marrow cancer and this was a visit to my old home town to create memories with my grandchildren. He just mocked this reply and said I dont care what you’ve got and in a childlike voice mimicked me by saying oh yes and I might have heart problems. I was shaking so badly praying my husband wasn’t far away at this stage. The two males laughed n walked away. I quickly zapped the door to see if it would open and it did. I pulled all the blinds down and locked the door and latch and sat in darkness, waiting for my husband to return. I did look up the local police number just in case they came back. I called the emergency mobile number on the motels website twice, leaving a message that I needed help but got no reply. I left my number twice and a message to please contact me as I needed help. When my husband returned we both sat in the room waiting for a reply. I texted my family who said they thought there was also midnight fireworks and that they’d come to the motel to check up on us. We waited at reception area again only to find out there were no more fireworks. We texted family that we were going to bed. At that time, we heard an electric bike ride out from beside the reception driven by the same aggressive man and the younger tall fellow doubling on the back, both with no helmets on, no lights and with the driver most likely intoxicated, he gave us a wry smile and sped off down the road. We made no comments but I was shocked to see them both again. We then realised we had left our key in the room and I tried the emergency contact number again that was listed on reception door. It rang for ages and then answered and I could hear a party going on in the background. Finally a young female answered (and I shakily recalled the voice thinking it was the same young girl threatening our eviction). I explained about our key, she said what room and when I told her she said oh well we’ll be there in half an hour and just hung up. A man arrived about 20 minutes later and I explained what had happened earlier and he was a bit taken aback and apologised. He said his parents owned the motel. He was genuinely apologetic and I said we’re both pretty shaken up and I mentioned the girl in the motel shirt was as aggressive as the older man, with the drink in his hand. I said he was very abusive and wouldn’t listen to reason why our car couldn’t be moved at that moment. Had a very restless poor sleep that night, not knowing what was going to happen. I went to reception next morning to speak to someone of authority but the same girl came out of the office, turned around and slammed the door shut. We found out the next morning, the aggressive, intoxicated man was the licensee of Sandbar and had some role in the motel and other accommodation venues in Huskisson. Cannot believe this man is in the hospitality business. His aggression, abuse and standover tactics were very frightening and to put guests through that, was beyond comprehension. We’ve since googled the reviews and he is a piece of work. The reviews are abhorrent and I can assure you I will be adding to those reviews. He replies to any feedback with abuse and horrible remarks, so that says it all. As an ex local I’m embarrassed that he operates out of lovely Huskisson. His favourable reviews appear to be made up.

Couldn’t agree more strongly with other reviewers who state zero empathy and the fall back position of their cancellation terms and conditions. Was due to stay this week but because of a last minute medical emergency we were unable to use the booking. Guess what I didn’t get 72 hours notice to my emergency so neither did the motel. If you are planning to cancel then make sure your emergency happens 72 hours prior your stay. No refund, no consideration to even a half refund. Dreadful customer service and a shocking cancellation policy. How many people really read the pages of terms and conditions- please do if thinking of booking this motel. Buyer beware!