Thompson Rivers University Residence Kamloops

The river and valley view was gorgeous, and it helped make up for a lot. But I paid $160 to stay here as an Open learning online student, hoping to be near campus for two final exams in one day before driving two hours home. I was put on a floor with high school kids, got no sleep, and the internet cut out in the middle of the night, interrupting the ocean sounds I had on to cover the hallway noise. Customer service was basically nonexistent. Staff seemed blasé about hospitality, integrity, and doing a good job. When they were asked to do something, they would laugh and shrug. I got no empathy. I was also refused a parking extension of even an hour so I could take my morning exam without worrying about where to park, despite acres of empty campus lots. Parking could only be paid for with a QR code, which I refuse to use. There were no room amenities, and the common kitchen was filthy, with no dishes or pans. The housekeeping manager should be replaced by someone who knows and cares about basic hospitality. They charge hotel fees for a dorm and should price it like a basic hostel. Students coming for exams should get a deal. If I take exams there in person again, I’ll stay somewhere else. I don’t recommend it.

We felt safe and saved a lot of money here. The rooms are large, the views are amazing, and it’s good value. The staff were friendly too. Just understand that this isn’t a hotel. It’s a university building they’ve sort of converted to rent out rooms, without really renovating it. You can tell you’re in a residence, it doesn’t smell great, and we found old goldfish crackers under the bed. It’s also out of the way. You get what you pay for.

We got a two room suite and thought the rooms were great. It was quiet on the 10th floor, too. Some people say the beds are as hard as rock or concrete, but they must be used to super soft beds. I don’t like soft beds, and these still had a nice bit of cushion, just perfect for me. This is going to be our go-to when we’re passing through Kamloops. I’d happily stay longer, too.

The room got pretty warm and there was no way to adjust the temperature. The fridge didn’t work, the chairs were really uncomfortable, and the walls are thin.