Charbonnier Motor Inn

“Comfortable basic accommodation though not self-contained. Friendly staff!”

This is my second time at this accommodation. King Suite # 201. The reception staff again is lovely. They are quick to answer and resolve any issues. My room is one which is closest to the main road, having the benefit being not having to drag the suitcase too far. The downside is a lot of noise fr… more

This is my second time at this accommodation. King Suite # 201. The reception staff again is lovely. They are quick to answer and resolve any issues. My room is one which is closest to the main road, having the benefit being not having to drag the suitcase too far. The downside is a lot of noise from the traffic. Because this accommodation is off the main road, it’s easy to find, but also more traffic in navigating out and around- school zones, road works and traffic getting in and out of singleton in general. Accommodation on the other side of the city Centre would encounter less traffic. This particular suite has a combined kitchenette and living area with a separate bedroom. There is one bathroom with toilet. The balcony can be accessed from the living room as well as the bedroom and has a table, chairs and an ashtray. Some days I had to keep the balcony doors closed due to neighbouring cigarette smokers. As my last visit, is neat and clean (no odours) but rundown. Most notably there is a large rip on the couch which really should be replaced. The lift is old and rattly, but functional. The copious dusty artificial flowers in the foyer really should be changed, which would really help brighten up the space! The kitchenette is equipped with a bar fridge, microwave toaster, coffee machine and kettle. There is no cooking facility in this accommodation. Having a suite means there is a kitchen sink and more bench space compared to the smaller rooms. Cutlery, tableware and drink wear are provided. There is a very small built in wardrobe with additional pillows and blanket, iron and ironing board, two dressing gowns, which I have rarely seen in accommodations. The only mirror in the whole place is the half mirror in the bathroom. There is air conditioner and TV in the living room and a separate one in the bedroom. Free Wi-Fi is mostly functional but not always reliable, ranging from 16/0.2, to 17/17, 9/2, 4/1Mbps upload and download within 5 minutes, sometimes also dropping out. Surprisingly, still better than the far more expensive Quest, where the Wi-Fi was not usable as it was mostly not able to connect. There is complementary breakfast every day with bread, peanut butter, Vegemite, honey, two types of cereal, milk, fruit juice, and the odd apple and muffins. Instant tea and coffee. On the premises there is also a swimming pool and a tennis court, the latter of which looks like it has not been used for quite some time. There is a coin-operated laundry within the facility. I had some minor issues during my stay. The toilet half-flush button does not work. The fridge is not cold even on the coldest setting. The showerhead was putting out a dribble on maximum. I mentioned the last issue on my third day and they replaced showerhead within a few hours. The staff is always friendly and willing to help. Overall, a reasonable place to stay for the price. If you have a higher budget, I would recommend Quest. Otherwise, this is one of the better places in the mid price range.

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“Comfortable basic accomodation, friendly & considerate staff”

Charbonnier Singleton I stayed here three nights for work. It is located on the main street just a few minutes away from the city centre. The staff at the reception has been friendly even since before coming here when I communicated on the phone. Compared to my previous accommodation – Francis Phi… more

Charbonnier Singleton I stayed here three nights for work. It is located on the main street just a few minutes away from the city centre. The staff at the reception has been friendly even since before coming here when I communicated on the phone. Compared to my previous accommodation – Francis Phillip Motor Inn, this has a proper foyer and reception area. It is a rather quaint motor inn with elaborate and decorative architecture, and nice little touches such as a little library, water and paper cups. Yes, basic, but not at all basic accommodation (eg Francis Phillip). My room was compact but comfortable. A queen bed and a smaller single bed, plus wardrobe. Been an older building, there are not too many power points. I enjoyed having a small balcony and being able to open the sliding door which had fly screen. Outside is a plastic table and chairs with an ashtray for smokers. Despite being on the main road, it is slightly set in and as a consequence, do not get subjected to the traffic noise. Instead, all I heard was birds. (Note- avoid parking under trees!!! I overlooked a very tall tree and the next morning, my car was like a Xmas tree covered with baubles - not the nice type lol). The bathroom had no storage space but just a bench. The basin is shallow and will not fit a larger water bottle (tip!). There is a microwave, plastic kettle and toaster, bar fridge. They were also kind enough to provide cutlery and plates, kitchen towel and napkin, which was thoughtful. I had wanted self-contained accommodation but it has been booked out, hence providing cutlery for me. Comfortable bed and shower. Blockout curtain and sheer curtain for privacy and functionality. The doors aren’t very soundproof and it can be quite loud when people enter and exit, which is not very often, thankfully. Although I can also hear their conversations when standing in the corridor, they subside when I enter my room. Wi-Fi is variable. Sometimes offering 32 Mbps upload, but often times dropping out with no reception. This also was the case with my mobile phone reception (Vodafone). Apparently Telstra offers better coverage here. Great if you’re after a digital detox! There is a guest laundry which cost $5 to use and operates between 8 am and 8 pm. There is also a pool and tennis court, with the same operating hours. The restaurant offers meals for dining and also complimentary breakfast – tea, coffee, toast, cereal, fruit. The atmosphere is lovely in the morning- dine in or sit in the courtyard in sunshine. Even though the building is a little rundown and could do with a refurbishment, I found the accommodation basic but comfortable and enjoyable. Lawrence at the reception was particularly friendly and kind. It was good to see a feedback questionnaire left in the room. Of course, I gave positive review and would not hesitate to return. Come here for a reliable and comfortable stay, if you’re not seeking anything fancy and impeccable.

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