South Country Inn

Those were the worst two nights I’ve ever had in a hotel. Our downstairs room was marked dog-friendly, and we could hear people stomping around overhead all night. Early the next morning, a large family used the community kitchen right by our room, and it was really loud. We asked to change rooms, but because we had dogs, they wouldn’t put us on another floor. The room itself didn’t look as if it had been cleaned at all. The hotel was super dirty.

I only checked into South Country Inn because something had gone wrong at the other motel in town. The woman at the front desk was very nice and accommodating with such a last-minute booking. At first the room seemed clean, but then I noticed nail clippings on the bathroom counter and that the bathroom garbage hadn’t been changed. The tub and shower surround looked as though they hadn’t been cleaned in years. The beds were clean, but the worst part was finding cockroaches scurrying around when I turned on the main light. I told the front desk, and they said they had spray for them. Highly disappointing. Do NOT stay here.

We had trouble with the key cards, and I saw both the guests before me and myself have to go back to the desk because ours didn’t work. The front desk often had no staff there, so I had to use the house phone to find someone and then wait for them to come. Parking was tight for the small moving trailer we were towing, and there’s no elevator in the three-story building. The reception area was hot, too. In the morning, other travellers were wondering whether their A/C worked. It did on the first floor, but apparently not on the third. I guess we weren’t the only ones who had a bad night. As a first-time visitor to Canada, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the lodging options, but I wish we’d kept driving to Fort MacLeod.

The staff were great about arranging a main-floor room for us. There are basement rooms, so mention your preference when booking. We emailed to reserve and the process was easy. My daughter and I are in Cardston for the C4 Fondo cycling race and a four-night holiday. Our room had plenty of space for our two bikes, golf bags, and other things. It was clean and the beds were comfortable. There’s air conditioning, a window that opens, and strong wifi. The hotel is older, so we could hear a toddler pattering upstairs and water running sometimes, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. My daughter’s enjoying the pool and hot tub. The town is dryer than toast, so bring your own adult beverages. Prices are competitive, and hot coffee’s available at reception. We’d definitely return.