I picked this hotel as I needed somewhere in the area following a day long business event and couldn't find any other options. You’re not going to get a five star Hilton in the middle of Richmond. That said, I was not disappointed by my choice. The staff were friendly and efficient on arrival. The motel itself is above the average typical Australian motel fare.

The room was large with plenty of space, with a desk, small dining table and chairs, and had a comfortable double bed. The bathroom was huge with a large spa style bath and shower which worked a treat. The nice presentation of the towels, shower gel, shampoo etc showed that this was a motel where the staff cared about the appearance. I was very impressed by the general cleanliness of the room and bathroom itself.

Whilst some of the furnishings are a little dated (but not particularly by Australian motel standards), they are in good condition. The room had a good modern air conditioning unit which was appreciated as it was particularly warm in the evening. In addition to this fox sports and sky news were available along with broadband internet (but didn’t try the latter). The room also had a good quiet fridge along with an ice box to chill beers.

I noticed the hotel had a restaurant but as I had an evening business function I didn’t get to try this.

The hotel is near enough to the town to be convenient but enough of a distance away to enjoy a quiet night's sleep. If I was in the area again and needed somewhere to stay I’d definitely give this place a go.

I took a deluxe room and it is very large and well appointed

tea/coffee facilies, fridge, toaster, fast internet, 1 x double, 1 x single bed

Everything worked and was very clean

The super hot shower was tops!

I arrived very late however the manager was very accommodating and helpful

If back in this area would stay again

I stayed at the Best Western Colonial Motel in Richmond for one night this week while travelling between business meetings. The hotel was chosen because of the location, approximately half way between my meetings.

Reservation via telephone and check in were both friendly and efficient. Throughout the stay the staff were very pleasant.

My room was located in the single level block. It was a 1980s style decor and was unrenovated. Containing a double bed and a single bed, it was very basic and not particularly comfortable. The bathroom was small and contained a shower only. An old CRT television was fitted, but television reception was not great. The bed was not very comfortable - the most negative aspect of the room was finding a large cockroach near the kettle in the morning.

A western restaurant is located on the premises, where I enjoyed a good dinner and good service. I also had breakfast in the restaurant the following morning, which was reasonable priced.

Due to the very dated decor/presentation of the guest room and the cockroach in the room, I would try a different hotel next time I travel in the area.

A positive feature is that this hotel does not charge any credit card surcharges. I find it deplorable that hotels can enjoy more benefits of credit card use than most other industries (booking guarantees, pre-authorisations, charging for no-shows, charging for late charges, avoiding large cash transactions) but the industry has been one of the most bullish industries in Australia to introduce credit card surcharges. Well done to the Colonial Motel for not introducing any surcharges.

Staying here is like stepping back to 1980. The rooms are generally clean but sparse, and look like the standard you'd expect in a backpacker hostel, not a Best Western.

The furniture is cheap, and almost industrial in feel. The bathroom is truly awful.

Broadband internet is available for $10 a day, but no wifi. The modem is located next to the bedhead, so that you can't actually use your computer on the desk as the blue cable is too short to reach.

Given that the price here is not overly cheap, this place is a big disappointment.