hotel review Archives

In Hotel Review

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet: Review

May 25, 2016

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is located in Ucluelet between the Wild Pacific Trail and Big Beach. My friends and I came here for the long weekend to relax and unwind. The Pacific Rim Whale Festival was happening at the same time in March, so there was plenty of things to do in the area.

The resort is 40km away from Tofino, which is around a 35-40 minute drive. It’s not too bad as it is a really nice drive and tons of hikes and viewpoints along the way. Just make sure you get an park pass for Pacific Rim National Park so you can park and enjoy the sights.

Checking in

Photo Credit: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

We checked into the lobby at 4pm and got our keys to our room. The staff were very friendly and knowledgable. If you had questions on where to go or dine nearby, just go ask them.

Dining

Photo Credit: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

Black Rock has 2 dining areas you can check out – Fetch and Float Lounge.

Fetch is a 90 seat oceanfront restaurant that over looks the Pacific Ocean. Every seat has a spectacular view of the surrounding view.

Float Lounge is their more casual dining atmosphere. You still get a nice view if you sit right by the windows. They do not take reservations, so its first come first serve. It is cheaper than Fetch and has a good amount of West Coast dishes that will tickle your taste buds like the seaside bowl, Surf n’ Turf Steak Sandwich, and the Smoked Seafood Chowder.

Spa and Amenities

Photo Credit: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

Drift Spa is an award-winning spa and won Top 20 Spa in North America from Spas of America in 2015. They have an extensive menu of rejuvenating and restorative body and skin treatments including, massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, hydrotherapy, body scrubs, wraps, soaks, and hot stone treatments.

I looked into RMT services but since they don’t have a dedicated RMT team, they contract it out, so book in advance to make sure you have a spot.

Amenities

All guests get access to public outdoor hot tubs, plunge pool and fitness centre.

Adjoining Trail Suites

My friends and I stayed in the Two Bedroom Adjoining Trail Suites which combines their One Bedroom Trail Suite and Studio Trail Suite to create a larger space, suitable for up to 6 people.

Studio Trail Suite

The one side of the suite is a Studio Trail Suite which features a king size bed and kitchenette. This is suitable for 2 – 4 people as it has a king size bed plus a seating area with a double pullout couch.

The kitchenettes in this suite are fully equipped for four people with dishwasher, 2-burner stovetop, combination microwave/convection oven and small refrigerator.

My friends stayed on this side and they did like it. The only critique was the window separating the washroom and the studio. Since it is a sliding window, you can easily play pranks on each other…not that we did that or anything.

The bathrooms have heated slate flooring, soaker tub, and a shower with a rain shower head. Everything was clean and we had no issues.

One Bedroom Trail Suite

On the other side of the suite is a separate living room with a pull out double couch bed, flat screen tv, gas fireplace and a dining table. This also fits 4 people as well. You can also step outside to the balcony to look at the views outside. We didn’t get much of a view as it was covered up with large trees. We could see a little bit of the Big Beach and smaller trails.

There is cable and wireless access, but some of the channels were limited. Wifi was a bit slow.

Since I have my data plan on my phone with Rogers, there was no LTE or 3G. Most of the time it didn’t work. My other friends that were on the TELUS network had no problems at all. I really relied on the Wifi at the resort.

The separate bedroom has a king size bed, a small flat screen TV and a closet. You can step outside on the balcony from the bedroom too.

The flat screen TV was pretty tiny, but most of the time we were out in the living room watching movies or shows.

The bedroom also has a window connecting to the bathroom. You can hear everything that goes on in the washroom.

The bathroom is very spacious and a lot larger than the studio suite. There are 2 sinks and the shower might have been bit larger.

Most of the time was spent in the living room/kitchen. We brought with us some snack and drinks for the evenings when we play board games.

The dining table has 4 chairs, so it have have a group of 8, you will need to find other ways for them to sit.

A nice relaxing time with a group of great friends.

Wild Pacific Trail

Wild Pacific Trail is on the right side of the Resort. You will want to take a stroll around the area to catch some gorgeous views. It’s definitely worth it.

You’ll need to walk through the parking lot past some stairs and you will see a path.

Walk towards to ocean and the scenic views will be there.

There are a few benches where you can just sit and take in all the beauty.

How could you not love this stunning view? We had a great time staying at the resort and there is definitely a good amount of things to do around here. We loved the area so much that we are going to plan another visit to Ucluelet/Tofino next year!

Address:
596 Marine Drive
Ucluelet, BC

Website:
http://www.blackrockresort.com/

In Hotel Review

Best Western Plus Nelson: Baker Street Inn

November 22, 2015

Making our way back to Vancouver, we made a stop at Best Western Plus at Baker Street Inn. We saw this on Trip Advisor and it was one of the top hotels in the town.

It’s conveniently located right off the highway leading into town. There is free parking across the street for guests. You just need to register your vehicle with the front desk. Most guests j-walk to get to their car and it seemed quite normal. Try not to get hit by cars.

The building has a bit of age, but it was ok since we only spent a night here. Didn’t bother us.

We stayed in their standard room with 1 Queen Bed, refrigerator, microwave and view of the mountains. The view wasn’t very impressive as it was obstructed by electric poles and wires.

The room was a tad small, but that was ok since we really didn’t need any extra space. It had all that I needed for the stay. If you were staying multiple nights and need the space, they you’re better off getting a larger room.

The TV had Food Network, so I was super happy. Wifi had a strong signal and was fast so I could go on my computer. There’s a Keurig machine with a few K cups if you wanted coffee or tea.

The bed was comfortable and clean.

In front of the washroom were recycling, trash can and an ice bucket with cups.

The bathroom seemed like it was renovated not too long ago.

Overall, it was a pleasant stay with no issues. Staff were friendly and the place was clean.

Address:
153 Baker Street, Nelson, BC

Website: http://www.bwbakerstreetinn.com/

In Calgary

Hotel Elan: Boutique Hotel in Calgary

November 19, 2015

M and I were in Calgary for 2 days during our week long road trip driving across BC into Calgary.

We stayed at Hotel Elan, a boutique hotel located just off stylish 17th Ave Retail and Entertainment District. We chose this place as it was the top ranking hotel on Trip Advisor. It’s also a great location since some of the best restaurants in town is within walking distance.

They have gated underground parking on site for $18 per night for guests. Still a lot cheaper and safer than parking on the street. They also have a Car2Go zone in there too.

Hotel Elan is the only boutique hotel in Calgary to offer combined accommodation and private in-suite meeting spaces designed specifically for business travellers.

We were in their Vista King Bed Suite. Walking in you will see like a mini kitchen without the major appliances.

Keurig coffee machines are free to use. There are K cups of coffee and tea.

It’s nothing fancy, but its nice to have the basics like the sink, microwave, mini fridge, cups, plates and utensils.

Each suite includes a bedroom, bathroom and living room with meeting space for four to six, complete with a private outdoor balcony.

It’s nice to just sit out in the balcony and observe people walking by.

In the room, you also get:

Complimentary calling to 75 countries worldwide
Complimentary dedicated Wifi

Free wifi is the norm now. I couldn’t imagine going on a trip and not having access to wifi. The complimentary calling worldwide is pretty awesome, but sadly I had no one to call.

There’s USB chargers built into the wall unit, so you can plug in your cord for your smartphone devices. The beds were comfy and I liked how there were 2 types of pillows – form and soft.

The only issue I found was that the AC/Heater device in the room did make a fair bit of noise in the evening that we ended up unplugging it.

The TV’s have Telus Optic HD TV, but for some reason I couldn’t find Food Network. We ended up watching a lot of Border Security on National Geographic channel. It’s a pretty addictive show.

In the bathroom, there are heated floors, showers with thermostatic temperature control valves, and heated toilet seats. M loved the heated toilet seats! Everything was very clean and we didn’t have any issues.

The shower is very modern looking and probably my favourite shower that we have encountered on our road trip.

I like their choice of L’Occitane bathroom amenities. SO much better than what other hotels have.

Business Centre

They have a mini business centre with iMacs if you need to do any work here.

Complimentary Happy Hour

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, they offer complimentary appetizers and a well deserved refreshment after your busy day.

I grabbed a few bites and a beer. They also have wine too. I really couldn’t say no to free beer.

Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast Buffet

They offer complimentary breakfast on weekday mornings from 7:00am to 10:00am and weekends from 8:00am to 11:00am. A nice touch and it was great to be able grab a quick bite before exploring more of Calgary.

They have juice, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruits.

Oatmeal, tea and coffee.

I grabbed some fruits, meat and scrambled eggs with a cup of coffee. It’s nothing fancy,

Overall, our stay was good, but you can tell some services are geared toward travelling business men and women. I didn’t mind since I liked the extra table space in our room to go on my computer and do work in the evening. The staff were welcoming, great location and clean. I would come back again.

Address:
1122 16 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Website:
http://hotelelan.ca/

In Hotel Review

Manteo Resort: Waterfront Hotel & Villas in Kelowna

October 6, 2015

Manteo Resort is located on the shores of Okanagan Lake in Kelowna. It is minutes from downtown and of course the many wineries in the area. M and stayed here during our road trip across BC for one night. We were looking for a place that had a great view and right on the water.

Manteo Resort offers a “no surprise fee guarantee”, so there are no extra charges for use of amenities, local phone calls, internet, national newspapers and parking. All the parking is outside of the hotel in the rear. When you check-in, they will provide you with a parking pass for your stay.

M and I arrived here 45 minutes early for the check-in at 4pm. They checked us in right away and told us they would give us a call when our room was ready. This wasn’t a problem at all since they had a mini beach that we could relax as we sat on their huge colourful chairs as we waited.

15 minutes later they told us our room was ready.

M and I stayed in the one bedroom premium suite with a lake view. It can fit up to 4 people.

All the rooms have:

Free Wi-Fi
Flat-screen TVs
Duvets, feather beds and feather pillows
Alarm clocks with iPod docking stations
In-room safes
Daily newspaper delivery
Robes
Coffeemakers
Discounted hotel breakfasts at Smack DAB

This particular room also has:

Private bedroom with a King size bed
Living room with double pullout sofa
Fully equipped kitchen and dining area
Private balcony
Business desk
iPod docking station and iPod stereo

At first glance, the decor is a bit dated and all the furniture doesn’t exactly match. I have a feeling the colour of the couch and the blue chair is supposed to mirror their logo as it has blue, red and yellow.

The living room is spacious and great if you have kids.

Their iPod docking stereo is now outdated too. You can only use it on the older generation iPhones. You can also put in a CD if you happen to have one with you.

There’s a kitchen with a stove, microwave, a refrigerator and a Keurig. It’s convenient if you want to cook. For us, it wasn’t really needed since we spent our time eating out at the restaurants in the area. I can see how this would be great if you had kids with you or staying here for more than a night.

They have coffee and tea pods for the Keurig.

They even dropped off some cookies after we got into our room. A nice touch.

The only thing that bothered me about the dining area are the abundance of chairs in the suite. A bit much for the 2 of us, but if we had other people on this trip or kids, I think it would be handy.

From the living room, you can get to the balcony. It has a great view of the Okanagan Lake.

The bedroom has a king sized bed and looks more modern that the living room area.

There’s also a flat screen tv with cable. We spend most of our time watching Food Network.

Pretty basic washroom with one sink in this area.

There is a bath and shower combo.

The products that they have are from h2o+, which is a pretty good brand.

You can section off the bathroom from the toilet room with a sliding door. It’s good for letting others use the toilet when someone is in the shower. This also has its own separate sink.

While you are here, make sure you walk along the dock during the day or night. It takes you pretty far out into the lake, so great for taking photos of the area.

At night, I was able to catch the Super ‘Blood’ Moon at the docks.

Smack Dab is the restaurant inside Manteo Resort and they are open for breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner. They serve up new style classics with bolder flavours. You can grab a drink inside or be sitting outside in the patio. They have a good selection of craft beer with 12 on tap and 20 by the bottle. A good way to celebrate BC and what we make here locally. Don’t worry they also have wine and cocktails too.

They also have a private dining room that seats up to 22 people. Great for large groups if you are here for a family get-together or birthday party.

Not quite sure what else to do here? They have indoor/outdoor pools, hot tubs, kids waterpark, saunas, movie theatre, fitness centre, tennis court, 9 hole putting green, playground, private beach and boat moorage.

Thats a lot of things you can do especially keep the kids entertained or to keep yourself relaxed.

Overall, our stay was great. It was right between downtown and Summer Hill Pyramid Winery. The service was good, beds were comfy, strong wifi signal and it has a fantastic view. The only 2 things that would have been improved would be an update on the living rooms decor, also the cable would cut out a bit in the evenings.

Address:
3762 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna BC

Website:
http://www.manteo.com/

In Hotel Review

Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport

March 13, 2015

Four Points By Sheraton at Vancouver Airport is located on Alexandra Road in Richmond. It isn’t close to the Airport nor is it in Vancouver. The airport isn’t too far away from the hotel, but its nice that they have free shuttle service to and from the airport. It gives you peace of mind when you’re traveling.

If you’re wondering what is around Richmond, it’s a food lovers paradise. It’s a daily dining adventure, promising fresh seafood, the best Chinese restaurants outside of China and unparalleled authentic cuisine from across Asia – especially among the 200+ restaurants. It feels like being in Hong Kong without actually being there.

Across the street from Four Points By Sheraton at Vancouver Airport is Golden Village, a strip a Asian Restaurants. Looking for a late night snack? Just walk across the street.

I stayed in their room with a King Sized Bed on their top floor.

Their rooms have a standard configuration – bed, chair, desk, tv and bathroom.

My room was a bit different and the bathroom was closer to the door. They have a good amount of channels on the TV and free wifi. I spent most of my time watching the Food Network or Home and Garden TV.

In the room, there is a coffee make, water boiler, coffee, tea, an ice bucket, cups, sugar, cream and 2 bottles of water.

All free to consume. There’s also a mini fridge under the desk.

The bathroom is clean and spacious.

They have body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

Also, soap, lotion, mouthwash, and a nail file. If you need anything else, the front desk can help you out. I forgot toothpaste and they were able to get me some.

In the morning, there is complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby. No need to brew it yourself. Ultimate laziness.

Overall, the stay was good and it’s great to have a lot of food options close to the hotel.

Address:
8368 Alexandra Road
Richmond, British Columbia, V6X 4A6

Website: http://www.fourpointsvancouverairport.com/