Riviera on Ruthven Motel - South Toowoomba, Queensland

Angie W.

I stayed at the Riviera on Ruthven for 5 nights. The room was clean and comfortable and had everything I needed for my stay. It was very quiet due to the solid walls and the room was freshened and fresh towels were provided daily. The small fridge kept my supplies nicely cooled and the room included plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery for two. If I wanted a larger fridge or cooking facilities I could have upgraded to a self catering apartment for a small extra cost. The continental breakfast is an excellent bonus and is well stocked and laid out.

Julie H.

We had a wonderful stay. The rooms, while dated, were very clean and spacious. The management people were lovely and very helpful. It was a wonderful surprise to find that complementary breakfast was included - all you could eat cereals, toast, coffee, tea and juice and the most delicious home made jams. The motel was very close to the 3 venues we attended over two days - it suited us very well. Would definitely stay there again.

Kathryn C.

It’s a great place to stay. It felt like a home away from home with security, great amenities, clean, (no bugs) well-appointed unit & central to everything. The managers are friendly & obliging. Returning guest for week long workshop. Will stay again.

matty A.

The couple working the motel were not friendly to me and made me feel unwelcome. I won't stay there again. The vanity blocked and needed attention. The ironing board and iron had sticky residue on them Lucky I saw it and used my friends one in the nest room. The place is ok for the price my main issues are with how I was treated by the couple running the joint, which I felt was extremely poor. I wont return..

ENGENE M. J.

I recently had a disappointing experience at Riviera on Ruthven Motel. Despite having made a reservation and paid in advance, I was denied check-in because I did not have a driver’s license or a credit card, even though I am an international student and only have a passport as my identification.

The staff insisted on seeing a form of ID that showed my local address, which was impossible for me as a student. When I offered to show bills as proof of my address, they refused to accept them. Even though I had the booking confirmation and payment details readily available in my email, they refused to consider them simply because I did not have “the required ID showing a local address.” I found the staff’s behaviour to be unnecessarily mean and aggressive, which made the situation even more unpleasant.

I understand that establishments have policies, but I would suggest the motel review their check-in procedures, especially for international guests, and train staff on how to handle such situations with more professionalism and courtesy.

geneviere F.

Booked the family room during school holidays. The beds were nice (we made sure to check for bed bugs) and comfy but bring your own pillows. The free wifi was great as we were able to wind down with their TV. There was a microwave, mini fridge, and kettle in the room which was convenient if you can't drag yourself to the free breakfast (cereals, porridge, toast downed with milk, coffee, or juice) in the morning. The parking was a challenge as we stayed in a corner room. The showers leak and you've got to really make sure it is closed. The cleaner came everyday but probably just to clean the toilets and empty the bins. Other than that, don't expect your room vacuumed or bed made. PM Reception was not welcoming.

Ropafadzo M.

I'm usually skeptical of negative reviews and rarely leave them, but the treatment I received at this motel was so troubling that I feel obligated to share my experience.

I had pre-booked and paid for a night's stay in Toowoomba to break up a long work trip in the outback. When I arrived to check in, the man at reception handed me a form and asked for the names of “anyone else who would be in the room.” I asked him to clarify if this included visitors or strictly people who are sleeping in the room, (I was planning to meet a friend from uni and wanted to know if I needed to pre-provide their name) but his response was to repeat the same phrase with clear annoyance instead of providing clarity. To avoid further tension, I left it alone and mentally decided to meet my friend elsewhere.

The situation only worsened when he requested my license (as he wanted a photo ID with an address on it). As a foreigner living in Australia, I explained that my passport is my primary ID and that whilst I have an international license, it only has my photo on it (no address). I tried to offer my passport, along with other documents (visa, birth certificate etc) including my lease, which verifies my address. He stubbornly refused these all, insisting their policy mandates guests need an ID with BOTH photo and an address. After much back and forth, I finally thought to ask if we could review this policy together - it simply read that “photo ID” is required - nothing about an address. Having pointed this out, he reluctantly accepted my passport without an apology or acknowledging his error. Had I not asked to view the policy, it was clear I would have been denied check in.

The entire interaction felt uncomfortable and interrogative, with him questioning why I was staying in Toowoomba, why I was asking about visitors and asking if I'd be able to provide evidence of my car rego if he asked for it. I can understand the need for certain information for security purposes, but these things can be asked without a disrespectful, skeptical, and condescending tone. The way he spoke to me felt more like a personal attack than a professional check-in. I’ve stayed in many motels across Australia without experiencing such treatment, and I couldn't shake the sense that racism played a role.

While the room itself was modern and well-stocked with amenities—there was a surprising oversight. Inside one cupboard, I found leftover takeaway bags from previous guests, including a bag of moldy strawberries and curdled ice cream (pictured). Thankfully, it hadn’t affected the room's smell, but this still should have been cleared and I can only hope this wasn't a rushed cleaning tactic by staff.

In the end, I would have overlooked even this cleaning issue if the reception experience had been positive. Unfortunately, the poor treatment I received left a lasting negative impression.
I've stayed in places with dated or imperfect rooms where friendly, respectful service made the stay worthwhile. Hoping management takes feedback like this seriously—other reviews reflect similar issues with staff and I hope for the sake of future guests, particularly international travelers, that changes are made.

Sian E.

Always a pleasant stay here. The rooms are spacious and immaculate, the staff are friendly and only too willing to help.
Free breakfast is simple but a lovely touch.

The motel is next door to an amazing Chinese restaurant, and only a short stroll away from a supermarket and other takeaway shops in either direction.
Two blocks into town and a short drive from the hospital. Perfect