Motel 429

This motel has a scenic location on Sandy Bay Road near Wrest Point, Hobart. The rooms are only average despite the tempting photos on the website. Evidently it is undergoing a makeover from traditional motel to upmarket one. The rooms in front appear to have been renovated, the ones toward the back are awaiting attention and show their age. Nonetheless it is decent value especially if you are a party of 2 to 4.

Directions: Sandy Bay Road, just past Wrest Point, on the right heading south.

The motel is situated in the suburb of Battery Point. The rooms are divided over 3 floors. When you are coming by car, there is plenty of room to park.

This was pretty clean, but it didn't quite pass the "barefoot test", probably due to the bathroom floor color (a dark reddish-colored vinyl). And although there was a small "sitting room" with a couch, chair, tv and small table, the main space in the room beyond was a bit cramped, and the two of us kept bumping into each other.

The bedroom had a double-sized bed across from a counter with refrigerator and coffee/tea making supplies, plus bowls, plates, glasses and silverware packs (I had not expected these to be included, plus they gave us a carton of milk when we checked in!). Then there was a twin bed set into an alcove with a sloping ceiling, going down to the floor! (Come to think of it, we were in one of three cheaper "ground floor" rooms at the end of the parking lot. And our room was the one on the far right side, next to an adjacent stairway... Most assuredly, the other two rooms there would not have that sloping ceiling, which we were afraid we'd bang our heads on!) There was room for a dresser next to the twin bed, which was next to the bathroom door. The bathroom had a fan which went on when you turned the light on, and it was annoyingly loud. There was no air conditioning here; just a window to open, and it only seemed to open about an inch. That was ok with temperatures being on the low side, but if it got warmer outside, it'd be stuffy inside the bedroom.

Would I go back? Yeah, maybe.... if the price was right. There was nothing here that screamed "don't come here".... but I'd probably try someplace else first. Or I'd at least not go back to that particular room at the end on the ground floor.

Unique Quality: The motel is located across from the River Derwent, not far from the Casino. Parking is off-street and free. Continental breakfasts are available from the receptionist for about $5.50 upon request.

Directions: It's just past the Wrest Point Casino on Sandy Bay Road, on the right side of the road as you head southeast, away from the town center. Look for the big 429 on the sign out front.