Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa

The weekend buffet was a real highlight, especially the omelet made to order right in front of you. Breakfast was à la carte during the week and buffet style on weekends, and it was included. On our first morning the English muffin with our Eggs Benedict was rock hard, but our server was friendly and quick to sort it out. They also let us replace the ham with smoked salmon at no extra charge. We were there for four nights in November, and the welcome started as soon as we arrived. The lobby staff were so helpful and friendly, and they adored our Chihuahua, greeting him whenever we came through. Our room was clean and well cared for, with a comfortable bed and good quality sheets. The pillow and blanket filling was a bit lumpy, which seems pretty common in hotels, but we had brought our own pillows. The room was cozy otherwise, and it was great that the TV's HDMI ports were accessible so we could connect a laptop and watch our own movies and YouTube. There was a good selection of channels too. We had a lovely stay at Digby Pines and would come back. The food, clean room, and dog-friendly welcome all made it better than we expected.

The ferry from St. John to Digby, or the other way around, is worth considering as part of the trip. The pier is less than 2 kilometres from the hotel. We had a fun time on the golf course, though a record drought had taken a toll. The staff had clearly focused on the greens and aprons, which made finishing each hole rewarding. We stayed three days and found the staff tremendously accommodating. Breakfast buffet was excellent, and the seafood dinners were outstanding. The building is beautiful, with a bit of faded elegance. Our room was very nice and had a fantastic view, but being near the elevator meant we heard its noise, especially given the age of the building and elevator. Next time, the same room type farther down the hall would suit us better.

The rooms were the letdown: small, no fridge, very dated bathrooms, and thin windows that let in drafts and wind noise. The walls are so thin you can hear everyone and everything. The staff were wonderful and helpful, with great customer service. The exterior, grounds, main hall, and restaurant were spectacular, and there was obvious care put into the decorations and details.

The lobby bar is worth a stop for a drink. It has that bygone charm, and you might get an Overlook Hotel from The Shining feeling in there. The cottages also sound like a great base for a golf trip. This old CP hotel still holds up. The views and location are spectacular, and the restaurant is great, especially breakfast. The rooms can feel dated, but the original design limits what can be changed, and that’s part of the charm.