The Reef Motel

Close to the esplanade

Golly, where do I start.... I booked this placed as the listing said it had recently been remodeled - as in past tense. However, upon arrival, it is still very much in the throws of a very large renovation. And thank goodness. The room I stayed in was probably the original décor, circa late 70's or early 80's. Very dated bathroom, the TV was hit and miss whether it worked or not and I had to go and ask if the air con / ceiling fan were working because I couldn't find the switches to get them to work. Turns out it was on a console in the middle of the beds with faded writing. The staff at "Reception" were very helpful: they hung onto my bag until it was time to check in as I'd arrived quite early in the AM, the maintenance chap was very quick to assist and the lady I tracked down to get some soap for bathroom was also very friendly. I didn't mind that it's a solid 20 minute walk from the popular end of the waterfront. It's a really pretty stroll along the promenade to all the cafes/restaurants - it's well lit and plenty of people around. I felt completely safe wandering back to motel at night by myself. The pros: comfy bed, black out curtains and phenomenal hot water & pressure. Only a 10 minute drive from airport by uber. The cons: in the middle of a very large reno, and very much organised chaos. If you can get past the decor (you're only in there to sleep and shower) it's cheap and I'm sure once the reno is completed, this will be a lovely place to stay.