El Toro Motel

This motel was an absolute disgrace. Filthy inside and out. Room smelled of smoke fire alarm broken. Shower recess disgusting. I have never in my life seen anything so awful. I only stayed because everything else around was booked out due to a CFA championship competition which was on in Mooroopna. Which I was attending. I would not recommend this place to anyone. If I could get my money back I would. I would say the health department would close it down if they saw it. I am going to report it.

Arrived at 3.30pm, office unattended, manager did not answer bell or phone, did ring back to advise room not ready and come back in 30 minutes. Came back, no manager, sat outside room and cleaning staff (who were pleasant & helpful) said another 10 minutes. No key in room as we were told it would be, cleaning staff went to office and found it. Another room occupant arrived and she could not contact reception staff and did not have a key. On leaving still no manager to speak to and office locked. Room needed improvements including back door lock damaged (managed to make it work).

Nothing to like except at least the aircon worked. Everything was dirty, only three extremely flat pillows provided for three adults, one with no pillow case. Two thin towels provided for three adults you could almost see through. No cups or spoons for the coffee provided. Scruffy men lurking in the pool area staring at us and sleeping on a mattress. Pool obviously not cleaned in forever. Never anyone in reception and when calling was told to help ourselves from room 10 which was not locked but no cups etc, towels there either, was two more thin pillows with cockroaches inside the pillow cases. We left a day early. How can ******* and others take bookings for this motel? How are they even open at all?

No staff at reception, told room open but not, toilet didn’t flush, no cutlery, shower dirty, no milk, no ordinary glasses, yard and surrounding really untidy, old mattresses laying around. O/side ash trays full of cigarette butts. Very uninviting

Fair bit of noise not sure if in motel or surrounds but lots of empty beer bottles around motel.

We had been forewarned by a relative who lives in town that the motel had gone downhill recently. We thought we'd give it a go anyway. Upon arrival there was no-one at reception and no response when ringing the doorbell. Another person staying there said they had to wander up to the local pizza shop (also managed by the motel owners) to get any service. We had to call two phone numbers listed on the front door before someone answered. Our first impression when opening the door was the overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke, in defiance of the 'No Smoking' signs. While the room was spacious and the bed comfortable, maintenance of the room and property was poor. The knob on the outside of the bathroom door was missing; the normal supporting bracket for the shower was loose so the showerhead wouldn't hold; one of the tap handles fell off when in the shower as the retaining screw was missing; there was no chair in the unit, and the chairs outside were in an unusable condition. One of the windows was cracked and had been boarded up. While basic tea making facilities were provided, there was no coffee or teaspoons. While we could cope with most of the above, the all-pervasive smell of cigarette smoke was the big downer for us. It is unacceptable in 2024 to allow guests to sleep in a room that has been smoked in and furthermore, there appeared to be no functioning smoke alarm. These are serious health and safety hazards that must be addressed by the owners.

Definitely not a place I’d recommend. There is no reception service and we had to wait 10 mins and a couple of phone calls before someone arrived. The ‘receptionist’ when she arrived didn’t have a key to get into the office and had to go back to a cafe on the main road. Then when I tried to pay, the machine wouldn’t work and after a few phone calls with an absentee owner, she said she had to go get another one - another 5-10 mins. We just dumped our bags and left for a funeral we had to attend. Later we had to go through the process again of getting someone to check us in. Again it took 15 mins of phone calls. Extremely bad service. Our room is adequate but barely 3 star. $110 with no glasses, plates or cutlery (except 1 teaspoon), no kettle in the room and no wifi. The bathroom smells like it needs a good clean and the fridge also (that was turned off and smelled of mould). There is only 1 bedside lamp with its switch under the bed and the 1 overhead light is operated only from a switch at the entrance. There seems to be a permanent group of residents - itinerant workers apparently. We have stayed here a couple of times the last time just 8 months ago and felt it was OK for the price but we would definitely not recommend it to anyone unless they are desperate.

The photos online are obviously out of date as the property itself is quite dated, with broken furniture and pot plants littering the surrounds. The room was adequate, but could do with a major spring clean - curtains dusty and mouldy on the back. The sheets were clean and bed comfortable, water was hot. The staff seemed friendly enough.

Pulled up at the property and very run down and unkept outside. No staff at the property on check in in office hours. Called the phone number and told key was in the room. Upstairs room with rubbish outside of room on balcony, used alcohol bottles. On entering the room, very dated, cobwebs in windows and carpet had visible dirt on it as if it hadn't been vacuumed. Repairs to cracked and damaged tiles uneven and poorly completed. Bathroom door didn't shut, poor security with a press button lock on the external door which was loose. On returning later that night patrons in the next room loud and drinking alcohol with music playing. Locked the door and went to bed. Noise and music continued and then someone tried to enter our room. They did not get in, but couch was pulled up to the door as extra security. Drinking, music and laughing could be heard by several males. Started to go to sleep and then a fight breaks out, screaming, yelling, swearing, banging against the wall. It sounded like someone was pushed down the stairs. Police were called and when they arrived we felt safe enough to leave the room. Worst motel, do not stay there. We left the property not staying longer than 4 hours in that motel room. We drove all the way home in the middle of the night, very upset. This motel should be shut down, not safe, not clean, service is zero.