Carrum Downs Motel

Carrum Downs Motel is a budget motel and caravan park at 1165 Frankston-Dandenong Road in Carrum Downs, handy for an overnight stop within reach of Frankston, Seaford and the bayside reserves. It takes dogs in designated rooms, which makes it one of the few pet options on this stretch of the Frankston-Dandenong corridor.

Dogs at the Carrum Downs Motel

Dogs are accepted in designated pet-friendly rooms, with pet directories indicating dogs of any size are generally welcome and a refundable deposit of around AU$100 per stay. The details vary by booking platform and some listings are inconsistent on the policy, so confirm the pet arrangement, the deposit and whether it is refundable directly with the motel on (03) 9782 1292 before you book. Ask whether dogs can be left unattended in the room too, since that is not published.

Max: the $100 deposit came back in full after our stay, but the front desk wanted the dog approved on the booking first. Call ahead rather than rolling in late.

The motel

It is a straightforward budget property with renovated motel units, cabins, kitchenettes in some rooms, a caravan park section and a pool. Reviews are mixed, so it reads as a practical stopover rather than a destination, best for travellers moving between Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula who need the dog to sleep somewhere legal.

Getting there and out and about

The motel fronts the Frankston-Dandenong Road through Carrum Downs. Sandfield Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the local off-lead run, with the KCC Park grounds at Skye a few minutes east for a bigger loop, and Seaford's Keast Park off-leash dog beach down the road for a bay swim. Frankie's Coffee and Eats is the local coffee stop.

More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays guide and the Carrum Downs destination page.