Evangeline Motel

The room was simple, uncluttered, clean, and just how I like it. They upgraded us before our overnight stay because of a maintenance issue in the room we originally booked, and check-in was contactless with updates by email. I would have appreciated a tissue box and coasters since I worried our drinks might leave rings on the wood furniture. The pool was a nice temperature, and the hot tub was lovely beneath the string lights with snow flurries falling. The infrared sauna door stuck, and for a moment I panicked when I couldn't get out. The light remote also needed new batteries. The seasonal ice machine was in the house, but a very helpful woman in the office fetched ice from the restaurant for me. We were happy with our stay and would come back. We didn't eat at the restaurant this time, though I'd had brunch there before and liked it.

The Borden king room cost enough that I expected more, and the place left us disappointed despite having the makings of a five-star stay. I liked the setting in a historic old home, the period wardrobe, comfortable four-poster bed, and robes for the pool and hot tub. The stark white walls and trim had no artwork, and there was no toilet paper holder, just holes where one had been. A few basic extras beyond a small bar of soap and makeup remover wipes would help, perhaps shampoo and facial tissues.

The locals clearly like this place, and we saw plenty of them eating alongside tourists. It's the restaurant most recommended around here. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was great. This is a simple, down-home spot with no frills and good basic food. The corn chowder soup special was very good, and they also do a great seafood chowder. I hadn't seen many local restaurants serve hot dogs, but apparently they're a specialty here, with several kinds. They used to go without fries, but this time the special was a chicken club sandwich with fries. This review is about the Inn's restaurant, not the hotel.

The room wasn't what the website photos led me to expect. It felt damp and dark, basically underground, with stark white decor. Without a doormat, dirt got tracked in during the few hours we were there, stuck to our feet, and ended up in the bed. The TV had no cable, and using our own streaming logins wasn't practical while traveling from another country. Seeing the room put me off having dinner at the restaurant. This was the most expensive hotel on our Nova Scotia trip, and it didn't feel worth the cost.