Heron's Landing Hotel

The location and comfortable bed were the main positives: Heron’s Landing is close to the ocean and within walking distance of a good restaurant, and breakfast was included. Our room had a nice balcony. But there were too many cleanliness and service problems for the price, and the response to them fell short. When we checked the pillows, as we always do, one had visible dark brown-red dried blood spots, and all the pillowcases were heavily stained on closer inspection. The sheets themselves were clean. I took the pillows to the front desk, but got no real apology or acknowledgment. When I asked for replacements, I was told they’d “find some,” without much concern. The bath mat was dirty too, with yellow staining on one side, possibly urine, and brown marks on the other that looked like foundation makeup. There was also long hair on the room floor that wasn’t ours. The hallways and stairs didn’t look regularly vacuumed. The shower is very small. I’m tall and thin and still found it cramped, so I’d guess anyone heavier would struggle. The old mini fridge had a broken freezer and leaked water onto our food. The deck chairs felt brittle from sun exposure and weren’t sturdy. Housekeeping came in despite our Do Not Disturb sign. I was in the room, but it could have been a serious privacy issue if I’d been changing. The sign was there for a reason. Breakfast was okay, but one staff member was handling everything and struggled to keep up. Eggs, sausage, and coffee often ran out. The shared butter and jam setup and broken coffee pump could use work, and yogurt was offered one day but not the next. There were pitchers of juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, English muffins, cereal, bread, apples, and coffee. Service was inconsistent elsewhere too. Nobody offered a luggage cart while we were clearly struggling with our bags, even though carts were available. The front desk phone for assistance didn’t work on the first day. The TV setup required a personal Netflix account, with no clear way to get regular channels. The hotel wasn’t terrible, and its location and bed were good, but the poor attention to cleanliness and detail, plus no accountability or compensation for the visibly dirty pillows and bathroom linens, left us disappointed.

For $88 a night, our room had an ocean-front view, a king bed, a balcony, and a fan, which I need to sleep every day. It was very clean, with hardwood floors, and had the basics like a fridge, microwave, and coffee. Breakfast was included and was a real spread: three kinds of bread and cereal, sausage, and an egg cooked perfectly by Zuska, a very friendly chef. I’ve never had this much value for $88. I’d really recommend this hotel. They seem very focused on customers. While we were at the front desk extending our stay, I saw them give another guest a brand-new kettle, still in its package. Great service.

The kids enjoyed the stay so much they asked me to leave five stars. The suite had plenty of closet space, which I love when traveling with them, and the beds were comfortable. Everything was clean and fresh-smelling, even the Murphy Bed. The TV worked, appliances were all in working order, and the bathroom had been updated. They loved breakfast, and I enjoyed the balcony. It’s a great base for seeing the coastal mountains and taking a waterside stroll. A comfortable stay, and we’d come again.

Good value for Campbell River, and pretty clean, though the staff offered very little help or effort. Breakfast starting at 10am is almost comical.