Letter to Mantra Hotel Castle Hill Manager
Subject: Formal Complaint and Request for Full Refund – Unacceptable Conditions and Safety Concerns – Room 408B – Booking Reference Number 1167724559912031
Dear Manager,
I am writing to formally detail the unacceptable conditions and severe safety concerns experienced at Mantra Hotel Castle Hill that necessitated the cancellation and departure from Room 408B on October 29, 2025.
We arrived at approximately 16:00 and proceeded to our allocated room. The issues encountered were immediate and cumulative:
Personal Harassment/Safety: Upon exiting the lift on the second floor, my wife was subjected to harassment by an individual. This incident immediately raised significant safety concerns.
Floor Conditions: Upon reaching the fourth floor at approximately 16:08, the hallway was in a state of disarray, cluttered with cleaning trolleys, and staffed by what I perceived to be rude cleaning personnel.
Unsanitary Environment: The entire fourth floor had a pervasive, offensive odor, strongly smelling of ******** and stale cigarette smoke.
Room/Service Failure: The Wi-Fi in our room was non-functional. Furthermore, when I attempted to contact reception via the room phone, it rang out unanswered.
Second Safety Incident: Upon proceeding to reception to report these issues, I was confronted in the lift by an individual who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or *****, who solicited me for a smoke and spare cash.
When I reached reception, I informed staff of the feeling of unsafety, the offensive odors, the uncleanliness, the lack of Wi-Fi, and the failure of the room telephone. The staff member disputed my claim that the phone had rung out. Given the escalating safety risks and the compromised living environment (odors, lack of essential service), I immediately stated that we would be leaving and required a full refund.
I gathered our belongings and returned the key. Reception staff confirmed they would advise the manager regarding the issuance of a full refund of $177.06 AUD as we were unable to stay.
This experience fell far below any reasonable standard of hotel accommodation and rendered the premises unsafe. I expect you to honour the assurance provided at check-out. Please immediately authorise Trip.com to process a full refund for our prepaid accommodation.
I require written confirmation of the refund authorisation within 3 DAYS OF THIS EMAIL.
Yours sincerely,