VIP Motel

I was happy with my visit and felt I got what I paid for, so five stars all around for "the tide's inn." The room was clean and well cared for, though it wasn't extravagant and showed signs of lots of travelers, with scuffs on the walls and floors. It had a queen bed and the usual extras, including a microwave, fridge, and coffee maker.

Our bill came to $300 more than the quoted price in the confirmation email, and the pet fee was double what we'd been told. When we showed them the email and asked for a refund, they shrugged, said they didn't know who had told us that, and refused. They already had our credit card and ran it through, then basically said oh well. The room itself was also not what we booked: we reserved a dog-friendly ground-floor kitchenette room, but got a room up rickety stairs that smelled musty, with just a single hot plate in the cupboard. The room below us seemed like some kind of flop house, with a number of people coming and going. Worst experience. Bad way of doing business.

The desk staff were good to deal with, but my complaint is with the owners and managers. I had to move because a chemical smell made it hard to breathe. They switched me from a 2 Queen bed room with kitchenette to one bed with no kitchenette, and I've been fighting them for over a month for a refund for the downgrade. There was no deadbolt to lock when I left, and the walls were paper thin. Worst place I've ever stayed. I'd gladly pay extra to stay anywhere else in Parksville rather than return.

The room was very clean and had a personal note for me, along with two beers in the fridge. I don't drink, so I left them, but it was a really nice gesture and the first time I'd seen a hotel offer something like that for free. The woman who helped me was so friendly, and the service was second to none. She also gave me a bag of popcorn. Quiet, very clean, and top-notch service. I highly recommend this hotel.