Brigantine Inn & Suites

We had a lovely harbor view, with shops and restaurants close by. Carriage rides passed outside our window, and the Bluenose II is right there too. Our Sunday arrival made it easy to keep the nearby parking spot for our one-night stay. The room was clean, the bathroom spotless, and the shower had good heat and pressure. The carpet was a little worn, but the linens were crisp. We stayed in the HMS Rose Room, with a queen bed and a comfortable pullout. Check-in was at the bar downstairs, then we were on our own. That suited us fine since we didn't need assistance.

The staff were kind and understanding when we asked for a refund because we didn't feel we could stay. We had already eaten at the restaurant, and the meal was delicious. Our room had a lovely harbor view, but what we found inside was far from what the website had led us to expect. The carpet in the halls and room was dirty, with lumps in the room carpet that were a serious tripping hazard. The bathroom floor felt spongy, and water bubbled through the grout when we stepped on it. The air conditioner barely seemed to cool the room, and it shared an extension cord with the TV and another item. The cord setup looked messy and possibly like a fire risk. When we arrived, we weren't sure where to go and wandered around until staff at the restaurant and bar told us check-in was there.

The harbor view from the Bluenose Room, unit #3, was excellent. The bed, though, was old, worn out, and clearly smaller than a queen, despite the website listing it as one. It was smaller than the queen bed we slept in at St Andrews. With the room at 28 C (82 F) and a window AC that wasn't putting out cool air, I reckon I'll be sleeping on top of the sheets tonight.

We loved sitting in the little “reading” nook and looking out at the harbor. Our third-floor room had a great view, and it stayed quiet at night even though we were over a restaurant. The town winds down by 10. We spent two nights here during our Nova Scotia tour, with a quick, easy check-in, friendly staff, and delicious dinner at the restaurant one evening. The location was hard to beat for seeing Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, and the Black Rock Lighthouse area.