Travelodge by Wyndham Cranbrook

The motel told us about its low-income and homeless support program when I reserved and again at check-in. I’d read other reviews and raised my concerns. They said there hadn’t been any problems requiring police intervention, but I still felt uneasy and wouldn’t recommend it for a family. Our room was directly above security and the support office, where residents came to sit and smoke outside. Coming down the stairs felt scary. We managed to stay safe, and the room was decently clean. My feeling may be due to my own bias, but the program did make the place feel unsafe to me.

They cancelled our reservation because they’d overbooked, just four minutes before check-in on a busy long weekend. We had to drive two hours to another hotel that cost twice as much, and our weekend travel plans were completely ruined. The staff were no help at all and did nothing to help us find somewhere to stay.

I was happy to find a smoking room at this Travelodge, and have no complaints about my stay. It’s an affordable, basic option for smokers who need a night’s room. The bed, carpeting, and decor were what I expected, and there was cable, a mini-fridge, two chairs, a closet, and a shower and bathtub. The towels were small, thin, and discoloured, so I’d suggest the management replace them. If you expect fancy, swanky rooms, go somewhere else.

The hotel backs an awesome community project, which is always a win for me. The front desk people were great, and the location was perfect, with traffic lights right there to get you anywhere and some good restaurants nearby. The rooms were relatively clean, and while the tub was a little small, I can live with that. Plus, it’s pet-friendly!