Blue Jay Motel — Hotel in Otonabee–South Monaghan

Based on the other reviews, I felt safe booking this hotel for a 1 night stay. At $70, I wasn't expecting 5 stars, but I have stayed in far better rooms for far less money. I don't think I have stayed in a worse room at ANY price. ||I want to be fair to the owners with this because I think this room has its own unique set of problems. Having said that, even without this disclaimer I think $70 is overpriced. So let's begin...||First off, the photos I've included show that there have not been any updates to this room in a long time. My student accommodation looked better than this at the worst of times. I should say that although very run down, the room WAS clean (i.e. it had been dusted etc.). Of course, cleaning can't fix what is shown here but I wanted to make this point in fairness.||Given the condition of the room, I would expect this to be a $40-50/night room at best (or $20/hour). If the night had been uneventful, I could have lived with it being overpriced.||Shortly after retiring however, we noticed a distinct bleach odour. This could have been coming from the sheets but it came in waves. When I went back to my car for a forgotten item, I discovered there was a utility room next door, which I think was also the laundry room. OK, fair enough...gotta be one somewhere and a little bleach smell isn't the end of the world. Then we heard the water pump. Every few minutes it would run for 30-60 seconds, very loudly. Sounded like a sump pump but couldn't tell. It sounded like it was right on the other side for the wall - i.e. about 10 feet from the bed. Once the pump shut off, there was the sound of water dripping about 2 feet from our heads on the other side of the wall at the headboard. It would be running at first, then slow to a fast drip, then progressingly slower until it dripped every few seconds. Then the pump would start again...rinse, repeat ad infinitum. Amidst this, we kept hearing (also from the next room) a set of electronic "winchester chimes (i.e. the tune that Big Ben makes on the hour). Finally figured out that this happened everytime the main office door was opened - I guess so that if someone was in the utility room they'd know when someone was coming into the office. This went on until the owner finally shut down the office around 1:00. The pump and drip continued all night. I really think I would have got more sleep if I went out and slept in the car. Had I been alone I would have. ||In terms of service, interaction with the owner/operator was limited to check-in and was incident free. On the way out I politely and frankly expressed my displeasure with the room, indicating that the owners should not be offering it for rent and that they should try spending a night in it. Should they not heed this advice and remedy the situation, I would strongly recommend you do NOT accept being placed in room 24. I cannot speak for the remainder...

I would definitely give it 4 stars maybe even 4 and a half due to its cleanliness it is owned by a husband and wife and it's is immaculate compared to the other five motels on this strip. It's not luxury but it definitely is comfort. The views of wildlife are amazing I watch chickadees play all morning in the front yard I saw a fox out my back as well as three deer and one Fawn across the front yard area. The price is fairly reasonable 135 and is the last known place to have cash deposit and no credit card needed. Whom ever ruins this shame on you times every person on the street due to your negligence in upholding a pretty fair checklist . Don't damage DON'T SMOKE Inside ROOM. DONT STEAL ANYTHING! If you are really stuck in a situation and you only have a certain amount of money the couple also was willing to work with people and families in having it for extended amount of hours because they couldn't afford a whole another day and that is better than nothing and praise to them for that I've used it myself in a desperate situation . It's also conveniently located right on the main road side. The only thing that I would change or they could make this place better would be to light the sign even if it's with a lamp just because you do pass the hotel at night time until the GPS squawks at you because it is not at all visible or legible at night time even when driving by with your headlights on. Even a very distinct blue would make me think blue jay and I would know where to...

So I booked the room online 2 hours later when I got there the smell was so bad I couldn't stay... I asked for a non-smoking room the office was overwhelmed with curry smell my eyes were burning! when I told her I was leaving I wasn't signing anything the owner went ahead and charge my credit card anyways... I had the website that I booked through phone them they refuse to remove the charges on my credit card .. the credit-card card company called if they refuse to move the Chargers ... did you Know legally you are allowed 24 hours on your credit card to cancel any hote regardless of any cancellation policy that any of those websites have l!!! The credit card company told him that they still refuse to move the charges so the credit card company is removing it for me.... never ever again unfriendly service argued with me that " I booked it over a week ago" she insisted on lying to my face when I informed her that was not the case. I informed her that I only booked it 2 hours ago and that I was not staying the smell was overwhelming!!! these people are very greedy maybe they should spend more time cleaning and fixing the place up instead of trying to find ways to scam...