Hotel Port Aux Basques

I’ve stayed here a few times over the years, and every visit has been a good one. This time I had several hours to wait between getting into Port aux Basques and check-in. I called the desk, and they had my room ready within an hour. Two hours later, I was fast asleep. Breakfast is great, too, and I’d recommend it. There are two hotel choices in town, and this is clearly the right one. Cheers.

The server in the restaurant was the best part of the visit. She was kind, thoughtful, and quick, even though she’d been left alone on a very busy evening with no experience because, apparently, the rest of the staff had called out. The food was mediocre at best. The three of us who ate there felt sick the next day, and that was all we’d eaten. The bill was over $100 for food we didn’t enjoy, with an aftermath we enjoyed even less. The room was dirty, the bed uncomfortable, and the bathroom nasty. The window was broken, and the septic smell was everywhere. After driving many, many hours, having to move rooms because of the smell was severely disappointing. Shame on the hotel for showing so little pride or quality in its work. To the waitress from that evening, you have a lot of potential in the service industry. Don’t waste it in this dump. Do yourself a favor and don’t book this dive of a hotel.

We weren’t staying at Hotel Port aux Basques, but arrived in Port aux Basques late on a Sunday and found few dining choices, so we were glad to get a table there. The classic fish and chips were fresh and cooked well. Nothing special, but satisfying, and the service was polite and efficient, if not especially warm. The room felt dull and lifeless, with very minimal décor. Some background music and softer lighting would have helped. If you just need a straightforward meal when most places are closed, it does the job, but don’t expect much atmosphere or charm.

Right by the entrance to the ferry to Nova Scotia, which made this super convenient. The hotel is older, but clean and well appointed. The dining room is nice and the menu is pretty decent.