Auberge Villa Bellerive

The grounds were pretty, but there were several dilapidated buildings and areas on the property. We left after one night even though we’d booked two, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here. The room and hallway smelled very bad. The hallway was dank and dingy, and the room smelled similar even with the window open and bathroom fan running. There was mold growing in the filter basket of a hallway coffee maker, and the hot water kettle didn’t work. The lobby smelled of cigarette smoke and looked more like a messy home than a hotel lobby. The owner’s dog nipped my wife’s toe, though thankfully it didn’t break the skin. The owner was accommodating with our bikes. We’d thought about mentioning the room and hallway problems, but after reading reviews, decided not to.

The room was dirty, the sheets were stained, and a foul smell filled the space. My family and I had hoped for a peaceful night by the lake, but this one-night weekend stay ruined our trip. Dogs were all over the grounds, and one of the host’s loose dogs chased my daughter, leaving her in tears. My children are extremely afraid of dogs. I’d repeatedly told the owner that my wife and kids have severe dog allergies, but he callously replied that the hospital was nearby and treatment was free. The hotel was in deplorable condition, and the host was irresponsible and disrespectful. This was the worst experience of my life. I urge anyone with dignity and self-respect to avoid the place at all costs. It doesn’t deserve your business and doesn’t care about its guests’ well-being.

This was my second stay here, and the place has gone downhill. It used to be a historic part of the train system, but now it's a large, rambling building full of people who all look related to one another. There are some bright spots: the outdoor pool has been cleaned, and the gardens are well cared for. What I didn't like was the dog poop on the carpet in front of my room. I didn't look too closely, but instead of cleaning the carpet, they just sprayed the area heavily with apple pie room spray. It was nasty. There was a worrying lack of paperwork for my stay: no receipt, no request for ID, no room key, and no contract. I'm pretty sure the whole thing was under the table. There used to be a restaurant in the boathouse, but it's gone. There was a shared fridge in front of the dog poop, which I stayed away from. There was nowhere to get coffee in the morning, so I biked 58 km to Mount Laurier to get some.

The place smelled like smokers had been partying on coke for weeks without anyone airing it out. We all slept in our clothes. The rooms were dirty, and there was hair and dirt in the showers. The owner didn’t answer when we called to confirm our reservations. The room doors had keypads, but no one gave us the codes, so the doors were left unlocked. There weren’t any safety locks inside, either. Very sketchy.