@HOME by Best Western Walkerton

We stayed one night, Sept 16 to 17, at the newly added Home @Best Western in Walkerton. The receptionist was pleasant and helpful, and we were looking forward to the six-week-old addition. I’d suggest checking the room carefully before settling in, though. In room 227, the shower door had water stains and the stall floor was dirty. I mentioned it at the desk. Later, when I tried the shower, water pooled instead of draining. The drain cap lifted easily, and beneath it was a large clog of hair. I removed about half with a face cloth and the water started to drain, but the rest of the trap looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned since opening. I reported that too. They offered us another room, but we were already unpacked, and nobody came to clean it. After a long day trekking, we were kept awake by a yappy dog in room 232 while its owner was away. I understand the BW is pet friendly, but when we raised this the next morning, the response was a cheerful reminder of that policy. The room pillows were very firm, so you may want to bring your own. At checkout we had to ask again about compensation. The clerk seemed inconvenienced by the question and said to contact Andrew with any concerns. We were offered 15% reimbursement, which was a nice gesture, but we expected more from an established hotel chain.

The food was to die for, and the drinks were nice too. Staff responded quickly and respected the do not disturb signs. There was also a good spot to have coffee at night, plus an elevator. The place itself was great, and I went off to see shipwrecks while I was there. The pool looked questionably murky underneath, so I wouldn’t get back in. There’s no lifeguard, and some of the indoor areas outside the rooms were too cold. Lunch and dinner cost extra, the TV had no smart apps like YouTube or Netflix, and sometimes there were things left in room drawers. The daily price felt a bit steep.

We grabbed the last room at @HOME on a busy night while passing through Ontario on a whim. We’d had good luck with Best Western elsewhere, and this stay was pretty great. The room had a full fridge, dishes, glasses and a dishwasher, plus a TV with apps so I could sign in to my services. I slept well and didn’t wake up with a wrecked back. The staff were incredibly nice. I stayed up enjoying the Bartesian until 1 AM. There was food available, but we had brought our own, so I didn’t try it. The pool was properly warm. My only gripe was the overhead showerhead, which made washing my underbits a bit harder. If you’re in the area, I’d book it. It’s the first Best Western @HOME, and I hope they bring the concept to other places.

Thanks to all the staff at the Walkerton Best Western Plus. They were really helpful with our big group of rowdy theatre people!