Black Gold Inn

For a kitchenette stay, this place is well equipped: dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, a four-burner stove, microwave, huge fridge, toaster oven, toaster, coffee maker, and a big sink. Sobeys is a 10-minute walk away. There’s also a large LED TV with lots of channels, fast Wi-Fi, strong water pressure, and plenty of hot water. I find newer hotels look fancier but often have disappointing showers. The family-run motel is well maintained, and it’s clear the rooms are cleaned properly and the paint gets touched up. All rooms are non-smoking and no pets, so the halls don’t smell. After so many years in service, not many hotels are kept up this well. The other guests seem less rowdy, and I can leave my window open and walk down the halls without choking on drug smoke, which is common at other hotels in town.

I’m travelling from BC with my family and had booked a room for the 21st. I called to ask about the cancellation policy in case the fires forced road closures on our way. I made clear that I wanted to keep the reservation, but the man kept saying, “cancel, cancel,” and “no charge, cancel.” I asked if that meant I wouldn’t be charged if I cancelled, then thanked him and hung up. A few moments later, Expedia emailed me a cancellation confirmation. When I called back, he said he’d cancelled it through Expedia. I told him I hadn’t wanted that, but he just repeated, “cancelled, cancelled, no charge.” I believe there was a language barrier, but I wasn’t impressed.

The washroom wasn’t clean enough, and cleanliness in general could have been better. Customer service was poor, and you have to park your vehicle at your own risk. I wouldn’t recommend it. I did like that there’s a Mosque right across from the motel, though.

I stay in hotels all the time, and this was one of my worst experiences. Housekeeping entered our double-locked room at 6:45 AM, even though the do-not-disturb sign was on the door and checkout wasn’t until 11. They then cleaned noisily until 9 AM. So much for a relaxing stay. I was so disappointed I wouldn’t have given even one star, but had to choose one. If you want to relax, stay far away.