Ramada by Wyndham Duncan Cowichan Valley

We had a great dinner at The Old Fork inside the hotel, with friendly staff and excellent service. The studio suite worked really well for a work trip with my friend. It was roomy, the queen beds were comfortable, and there was lots of space to work at the desk. The TV seemed a bit small in such a large room, but it didn't bother me much. I also enjoyed having a billiards pool table to relax at after work. If you want bragging rights there, try the Heart Attack Challenge.

Everyone I ran into during my two nights was kind, from the front desk and bartender to the restaurant server, cleaning staff, and grounds keeper. The food and beer were really good, and the bed was super comfortable. There were a couple of issues: the wall behind the bed was grimy. I dropped my phone cord back there, and when I reached in, my hand came out with what looked like greasy lint. The exercise machines were a little dated, though they worked fine.

Our weekly BNI business mastermind group recently moved its meetings to the Ramada in Duncan, and we're glad we did. The staff have been accommodating, the food is terrific, and the venue setup is excellent. There are plenty of meeting rooms, free parking, and lots of amenities nearby. It works very well for both large and small meetings.

The hot water failed on our first day, so I couldn't shower. When I mentioned it at the front desk, they didn't seem surprised or keen to make it up to us. It was back the next day, with no more trouble. My wife and I were visiting family nearby. The rooms were tidy, clean, and updated as much as they could be, and the bed was comfortable. The air conditioning worked well in the heat, and we heard no noise from the small bar's event. Staff were otherwise helpful and polite. The hotel is average, right on the highway in Duncan. It's an older building, more like a two-story motel, with rooms reached by outside stairs. Clean enough for a good price, but there were hot water problems.