Name: Carmi Motel
Address: 1473 Main St, Penticton, BC V2A, Canada, Penticton, Penticton, Penticton, V2A 5G4, Canada
Rating: 6

Smoking areas

Newspapers

Ticket assistance

Garden

General

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Safe-deposit box

Concierge services

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Barbecue grill(s)

Picnic area

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Outdoor pool

Pool and beach

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the mini-hotel

Penticton Airport

Kelowna International Airport

Carmi Motel

Penticton

We stayed here in the fall during the off season, which may or may not have accounted for the cheap price. After spending 2 nights, I regret not having paid more for a room in a chain hotel that might have actually cared about the guests.

When we first got to the room my girlfriend could barely open the door. I helped, and the door was so tightly jammed in the frame I'd be amazed if a less mobile senior could even open the door.

I would really prefer to write this review in a more professional manner, but I think the list an its explanations would be too much, so I'm just going to go with point form on this.

Cons:

*The majority of "guests" are permanent and therefor have various friends showing up at all times, with yelling back and forth as they come and go.

*Many of the permanent renters are outside almost all the time, often smoking.

*There were kids doing laps around the wooden walkways all around the motel on scooters. Although the noise was very loud, it was intermittent. This was a minor nuisance, but obviously one attributed to the fact this motel caters to permanent guests

*There is an apartment building almost just behind the motel. At various times of both nights we could hear yelling and music from behind our room. At one point we left for dinner and saw running vehicle (where the music was coming from) at the back of this apartment with what looked like homeless people hanging out around the vehicle.

*The carpets are disgustingly dirty. When getting into bed the first night I noticed the bottoms of my feet were almost black. I had been barefoot since we got to the motel about 2 hours earlier, and was sitting on the bed for half that time. I have never seen my feet this dirty, so I quickly washed my feet so they were completely clean and then walked around the room continuously for about 1 or 2 minutes. I checked my feet and they were brown. Even if everything else about this motel was positive, this alone would make we never consider staying again. I have never seen anything like this. I'm quite sure the carpets haven't been cleaned in at least a decade.

*Our upstairs neighbour was extremely loud and obviously very heavy footed. Every step echoed in our room and their TV was almost always on very loud, to the point where you could easily hear the words from the TV. After it finally quieted down around midnight, we were able to fall asleep. But then again around 2am the upstairs TV turned on at near max volume and the stomping began again. The next morning I complained and the manager said it was just a single retired lady (just another permanent renter), so basically no hope for the next guest. She said she'd tell the lady about the noise, and as soon as I walked back to the room I heard the upstairs phone ringing. The conversation went on for about 5 minutes, so I can only imagine what they were complaining about together (actual motel guests). The next night the TV was on again all night but slightly quieter, but the stomping was no different.

*The bed in our room must have been at least 20 years old. The springs/support were completely gone, and with two of us in the queen size bed the mattress would immediately compress in the middle and we would wake up being crammed together in the middle 40% of the bed. Neither of us is overweight, so the beds are obviously toast. The first morning I woke up with such a bad back that I made sure to keep myself on the very last 8-10 inches of the mattress for the second night, where the mattress actually still have some structure.

*The bathtub/shower faucet is completely worthless. I hope this isn't the case in every room, but in our room the faucet dial couldn't actually control the water temperature. After turning the dial to a good temperature, the water would quickly cool within a couple minutes. At first we thought we were running out of hot water, but then found the dial would deliver hot water, but only if you held the dial in an exact spot that it wouldn't stay on its own. If you turned the dial all the way hot, the water was still cool. You could force the dial past max and it would click, and then give hot water for about 5 seconds.The only spot on the dial to get reliable hot water after 2 minutes was to physically hold the the dial in this no-mans-land. This kind of works when filling a bath, but just imagine it when trying to shower.

Pros:

*It was cheap.
*Dairy Queen is basically attached to the parking lot (if you like ice cream)

Well, when starting this review I hoped it would be quicker. But, after getting into things I guess that wasn't the case. In the end, I can say I would never again stay at the Carmi Motor Inn. If it was free and I was desperate, then I would possibly stay here, but still, I'd rather pay $100 to stay somewhere else than to stay here for free.

I guess it's cheap?

This was a great motel, We needed a room for one night and it worked out great for us. Not for hoighty people but for an at home feel this is the place. Wonderful Manager and a lovely garden. There is a pool but when we were there it wasn't in season same with the question about air conditioner. Didn't need to use it so can't say anything about it.

Quaint Motel

We were coming from a week long climbing trip in the alpine and were looking for a cheap, clean room with a shower after so many days in a tent. Unfortunately, this motel was a miss on all three. For $140 for a single night, we got a shower that fluctuated between ice cold, to scalding hot every 30 seconds (and the head sprayed everywhere), dirt on the floors (did they even vacuum?), and spiders & flies everywhere. 

Also, for a non-smoking motel, the front desk smelt like a smoke shop, and was an instant turn off. If we weren't desperate for a place to stay, we would have left immediately based on the smell alone. 

There were a few pros. The WiFi was great, the staff was pleasant, and the soap package was unexpectedly nice considering. However, there are a few simple basics that you hope to find even in a lower price (if $140/night is low price!) motel. A few dollars towards decent shower heads and fixing the hot water system, and sealing the cracks in the room so that the hand-sized spiders don't get in would go a long ways.

The cons far outweigh the pros

We rolled into Penticton late and were grateful to find an affordable place to stay. The lady at the front counter was lovely and the place seemed well kept. However - our room was not very clean! There were bugs & bits of previous peoples garbage in most corners of the room. The shower leaked when it was running and the water always went scolding hot every so often. I was also disappointed that they did not have a hairdryer. The wifi was good as it had router in the room. The cons out did the pros for us.

Cute on the outside - not so much on the inside

I stayed here on very short notice on a very busy weekend for the city.  There were three families that booked. The  price was at least double what it should have been and the room was lets just say old.  I know the sheets were clean but I can't say the same for the tub or mirror.  I realize it is mostly permanent residents but that should make it easier to upkeep I would think.  I will not return, I think there needs to be some serious upgrades in the room and the surrounding walkways.

Time for a Reno!!!

This is a fine little motel in the heart of town....staff are very friendly and accomadating...i stay here everytime i go to penticton for family visits...beds are comfortable and the pool and common area are well maintained.

Carmi Motel

Main amenities of the mini-hotel

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the mini-hotel

What other amenities are there?

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Payment