Travelodge Courtenay BC

The check-in was easy and the staff were nice, but the stay went downhill from there. For $189, I expected more. The hotel was far too expensive for a place that smelled strongly of cigarette smoke and had damp carpets. I had to buy air freshener just so I could sleep, and my throat was sore the next morning. They also charged me twice, saying one charge was a deposit that would be credited back. It still hasn’t been, and I’ve never had a hotel take this long to return a room deposit to my card.

This was the worst motel I’ve stayed in, and I wouldn’t recommend it. Rooms were badly renovated, as if the work had gone to the lowest bidder. They kept the old tubs and recoated them poorly instead of replacing them. The room had a very off-putting smell, hard to describe but like old people. There were also people experiencing homelessness living in the units. For a rundown dump like this, charging over $200 a night is absurd. It almost makes me want to get into the hotel business.

The check-in staff member was very friendly, but that didn’t make up for the rest of the stay. The property was poorly maintained, room service was very limited, and our room was dirty. We found a dog biscuit beside the couch, a hair tie on our friend’s nightstand, and a carpet beetle on her bed. There were dead bugs and mold on the window sills, plus sugar granules left on the counter on the afternoon we checked in. We had no room service and had to call for towels and ask to have the garbage and recycling collected. When we requested sheets for the pullout couch, we were told they were sold out. We also had to ask for dish soap. They sent us into the employee-only kitchen where breakfast is prepared, and it was filthy. There was garbage all over the property, and we saw rats around it. Monthly residents left beer cans outside their rooms and smoked, so our non-smoking room smelled of cigarettes. People experiencing homelessness were living near the garbage dumpster and outside stairs. We thought one person was overdosing and called the police, but they didn’t do anything because the property hadn’t called them. Another guest saw an employee pick up clean towels that had fallen onto the ground in the delivery cart, wipe off the dirt, and put them back on the cart. The pool area had cigarette butts all over it, even though it’s supposed to be non-smoking. I’d never recommend staying here unless major improvements are made.

The outdoor pool was lovely and warm without being unpleasantly warm. The staff were very nice, and I enjoyed breakfast, especially the convenient hours, hot chocolate, and raspberry muffins. The neighbors were noisy, though that can happen anywhere. My only complaint was that the room felt dim during the day unless I opened the blinds and turned on every light. It was nice in the evening, but annoying in daytime.