There’s a tendency to see a motel as your last resort, the option you settle for when better options are off the table. But that gets the format all wrong. Motel accommodation Newcastle is built on a certain set of travel assumptions; people get in by car, want to get straight to their room without having to navigate a fancy lobby, prefer to be able to look after themselves rather than relying on a lot of extras, and need a setup that’ll let them check out just as easily as they checked in. In a place like Newcastle, with beaches, suburbs, a university and a major port, those assumptions actually match up pretty well with the way many people like to travel.
What the Motel Format Is Actually Designed to Do?
Drive-up access and ground floor rooms make life easy at the start and end of your stay; no trekking through a lobby with your luggage after a long drive from Sydney or wherever else you’re coming from. Your car pulls right up to the room. There’s no directory to fumble through, no lift to wait for in the middle of the night. That’s not some kind of compromise, that’s the format working exactly as it’s meant to, and for some travellers, it’s a lot more practical and convenient than a hotel that’s the same price or even cheaper.
Newcastle’s Geography and Why Motel Corridors Work
Newcastle spreads along a peninsula, with the CBD and beach situated at the eastern end and its corridors spreading westwards. The inner-suburb corridors which pass through Mayfield, Hamilton, and Broadmeadow connect tourists to the CBD, the university, the hospitals, the city’s major sports precinct, and the Pacific Motorway to the north or south. A motel along one of these corridors gives easy access to the beach, the restaurants on Beaumont Street, and the city’s major thoroughfares. Often the access to various zones is more valuable than being directly located in one of them.
Who Gets the Most Out of a Motel Stay?
While not every traveller gets full value from the type of accommodation offered, there is an identifiable category of people who always do.
- Contractors on Newcastle placement who require parking, an early start and a room which serves its purpose rather than being impressive.
- Tourists coming by car who require easy access to pull up and park, and a place where luggage can be unloaded without going through a lobby area.
- Tourists with families who need a range of beds, a fridge, a microwave and self-sufficiency in the management of their food requirements.
- Tourists on a social visit such as a wedding, sporting fixtures or attending an event who require a block of rooms in one place and direct access to them.
- Revisitors who have experience of the property and appreciate consistency.
The Amenities Motels Handle Well
Kitchens with a fridge, microwave, toaster and kettle make a significant difference in the economics of an extended stay compared to any soft furnishings. Access to streaming TV on the smart TV is important for an extended stay. Reverse-cycle air conditioning makes a significant difference to summer comfort in Newcastle.
Managing the Check-In Window
While most motel reception areas operate on specific opening times, mostly until mid-evening, the check-in outside these hours has to be planned in advance. Arranging an exact check-in time, confirming arrangements outside hours and knowing the phone number remove most of the hassle caused by unexpected lateness.
Leave a comment