Chateau Backpacker & Motels

Absolutely filthy. Room smelled really badly of damp and mildew, the whole place was tired and dirty. Our sheets weren't exactly clean, woke up with small bites all over my head (suspect bed bugs in pillow), kitchen facility dirty, shower/toilet block shared by 3 rooms, tired, didn't want to use shower. Reception area shut before times of closing, roof in dining area close to reception leaking. We had paid for 2 nights, left after one night but couldn't find staff to raise our concerns. Avoid at all cost

We stayed at Chateau Backpackers & Motels from 25–27 January and it was one of the worst accommodation experiences we’ve ever had. The room and overall property were filthy and clearly not maintained to basic hygiene standards. We encountered bed bugs, spiders, and a severe mosquito infestation inside the room. It was impossible to sleep properly on both nights. I personally suffered severe mosquito bites, leaving my leg swollen. What was most concerning was the impact on my young children, my wife, and my elderly mother, all of whom were extremely uncomfortable and distressed throughout the stay. This is not about luxury or expectations — this is about basic cleanliness, pest control, and guest safety, all of which were seriously lacking. A property in this condition should not be hosting families. Due to being in a remote location and travelling with kids and an elderly parent, relocating at short notice was not possible. I would strongly advise future travellers — especially families — to look elsewhere.

Dear Booking.com Customer Support Team, I am writing to formally lodge a serious complaint regarding my recent stay booked through Booking.com at Chateau Backpackers & Motels, Franz Josef, from 25 January to 27 January 2026. Booking confirmation number: 6322449325 This was an extremely distressing experience for my family and posed a clear health and hygiene risk. From the moment we entered the room, the conditions were unacceptable and far below basic accommodation standards: • Bed bugs were present • The room had spiders and a heavy infestation of mosquitoes • The room and surrounding areas were filthy and poorly maintained • There was a clear lack of proper cleaning and pest control across the property As a result, none of us were able to sleep properly for both nights. I personally suffered severe mosquito bites, leaving my leg swollen. More concerning was the impact on my young children, my wife, and my elderly mother, all of whom were extremely uncomfortable and distressed throughout the stay. This was not a matter of personal preference or inconvenience — it was a serious health and safety issue. A property in this condition should not be listed on Booking.com, particularly for families. I would also like to highlight that I have been a long-standing and regular user of Booking.com for many years, and I have always trusted the platform to provide accommodation that meets basic hygiene and safety standards. Unfortunately, this experience has significantly shaken that trust. If this matter is not resolved fairly, I will seriously reconsider using Booking.com for future travel. Due to the remote location and the fact that we were travelling with children and an elderly parent, relocating at short notice was not feasible. Given the seriousness of these failures and the health impact on my family, I am formally requesting: 1. A full refund for the entire stay, and 2. An urgent investigation by Booking.

Staff not so accommodating to us and the bed bugs

BED BUGS Went to bed at around 10:30 pm woke up an hour later and my whole skin was itchy. Checked sheets and found bed bugs. Left right away.