Highland Breeze Accommodations

We'd booked two nights but left after one because we didn't feel comfortable. Anna was kind enough not to charge us for the second night. On the day we arrived, I got an email saying we'd be the only ones in the house and nobody would be there, but that breakfast items were in the fridge. What we found was open yogurt containers, rotten bananas, cheap Wonder Bread, and a tub of I Can't Believe It's Butter. It was gross, and I wasn't sure it met Canada Health Food Standards.

We stayed in the cabin with our dog. It had a nice pool and jacuzzi, and the area was peaceful and lovely for enjoying nature. But it felt so remote that we got freaked out, like we were alone at the edge of the world, and cut the trip down to one day. Airbnb still charged us for the second night we didn't use. Maybe we'd try again with a bunch of friends. The trip itself was a fall drive from Toronto, ON to see the Cabot trail, and the drive was nice but tiring. We reached Anna's B&B in the late afternoon. Keep in mind there's no cell service, and the Wi-Fi wasn't very fast or reliable. There aren't any lively restaurants or stores, so plan your food. For whale watching, early fall, around mid September, is a must. Nights get cold, so pack warm clothes.

I came to Cape Breton to hike, and Highland Breeze at least gave us a clean bed and a warm shower. The place was clean, but the rest of the stay was frustrating. We arrived Saturday between the recommended 4-6pm after hiking, and only a man working on the pool was around. He showed us the room, but didn't seem to know we were coming or that we had booked two nights. I couldn't find any house rules or information sheet. If the place is going to be unmanned, some instructions would help. There was no breakfast in the off-season, which would've been useful to know in advance. We ran out of toilet paper the whole time and had to use a trail bathroom at first, then buy our own. I would've contacted the owner or manager, but had no way to do that. There was no working internet, and Pleasant Bay has no cell service. Some louder guests took food from the fridge that wasn't theirs, though I don't blame Highland Breeze for that. I wish we'd met Anna, as other reviews mentioned her. Maybe the place gets more attention in high season. I might recommend it in summer, but I'm not sure about after that.

For $200, I wouldn't stay again. Anna was nice enough, but the sheets were wrinkled, mismatched, and looked like they'd sat in the dryer for a week. The so-called hot breakfast was just boxes of cereal on the table with a jug of milk. Reading the reviews, I kept wondering if we'd stayed at the same place. There was more, but that's enough.