It has been a long time since we last stayed at The Rose ( 2008 ), what a difference, last time there were tourists and a few Reps etc but now, it is full of miners. As a footnote I too work in the mining sector and travel to Mackay every second week or so. It has become increasingly harder to find accommodation on the strip ( Nebo Rd ) and anywhere else for that matter of fact, so we pulled into the Rose, last Saturday. We got one of only two rooms available it was in the corner. When we got there it became apparent that the rooms around us were how can I put it, permanent residents, the doors were open and they had posters on the wall, fishing tackle and a boat in the corner, there were tables and chairs outside under the car port and further up kids toys etc. Anyway we walked past all the guys and into our room, great a no smoking room, plenty of room, two double beds and a flat screen TV. Off to a good start, the rooms are a little dated, I was unsure as to whether it had been changed at all since 2008 but it did not look as if it had. As excepted there were small flaws ie crack bathroom tiles but again it is not a 5 star hotel so some stuff you accept. Anyway time for bed and I pull the covers back a little and notice “bum fluff” my wife says it comes from the belly button but I dont care, so I pulled the cover right off and the bed had not been changed, pubic hair more fluff etc. So lucky there was a second bed, this had not been used but being so late what would we have done? So we got into bed and noticed that the room never had any glass panes in the window just slates so the guys who were sitting outside Talking, Drinking and Smoking no more than 6 foot away posed a problem, the smoke drifted in and out of the room. So the night was going to be uncomfortable as we are non smokers. But on the funny side was there was also a “working girl” staying in a room two doors in front of us and the conversations and timings of who was going next also drifted in through the slates. Luckly she must have tired them out as they did not stay up past midnight and they were pretty quite so we got a goodnights sleep and after all that is what were where there for! Next morning Karen called the manager to view the bed and they began to investigate which cleaner was on duty etc as we left. Overall unless I was desperate and all the other hotels/ motels were full would I never stay there again and actually on that anyone reading this travelling to Mackay region I would suggest you book your rooms well in advance, not long back we got caught out and had to sleep in the car !!!!!