Hummingbird Guesthouse

The room was roomy and clean, with charming personal details, like a paddle used as a coat hanger. It was clearly a gift to Cheryl and Wayne, and made me think they’d put a lot of love into running the place. The decor felt a little dated, but it’s a nice property about a thirty-minute walk from downtown. It’s on a busy road, so there can be noise; my friend wore earplugs and slept fine. The blinds don’t all open, which left the room a bit dark. One funny detail, there’s a VCR in the room, so bring your travel VHS tapes 😆 I’d been a bit nervous after my friend pointed out some negative Google reviews. She arrived before me, and knew she couldn’t check in without me, so she planned to walk by the river and explore, since it was her first time in Port Alberni. She went to ask the hostess if she could leave the car there while she went for a walk. The hostess seemed frustrated and assumed I needed a late check-in, or perhaps thought my friend was trying to check in. It was an odd interaction. My friend had hoped for a suggestion about a nice walk or one of the snack trucks nearby. In our travels, hotel and B&B staff have often shared interesting local spots, but that didn’t happen here. It seems the guesthouse was Cheryl and Wayne’s passion project, and Cheryl is continuing the business. I’d seen reviews saying Wayne was very nice, and guessed he may have passed away and that the current host is still adjusting. I kept that in mind when speaking with Cheryl, and didn’t have any more issues. Still, that first exchange made us feel like we were walking on eggshells, which made the stay uncomfortable.

The shared kitchenette and dining table came in handy, and our main-floor Superior King Suite had everything we needed for one night. My boyfriend and I found the room clean and spacious, with a very comfortable bed and couches. We didn’t get to use the backyard, though it looked like it’d be lovely on a warm, sunny day. Some sound carries through the building, but it didn’t bother us, just a little morning footstep noise from the top-floor suite. Thanks, Cheryl, we’d stay again.

I booked for one adult and two kids, ages 9 and 11. A couple of hours later, she called and was rude and condescending from the start. She said her computer only showed two adults. I offered several times to send a screenshot of my reservation, but she got louder and angrier, saying she was the owner, knew her rates, and that I wasn’t being charged enough. She tried to add another $30, which would have been $120 more than I was already paying. Very unprofessional, wouldn’t recommend 😑

Cheryl was lovely and worked around my check-in needs. The room was gorgeous, softly lit, and had the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in at a hotel or B&B, with a lovely mattress topper. I could bring my own food thanks to the toaster, dishes, and mini fridge, and there was real cream for tea and coffee. I loved ending the day in the huge, peaceful backyard and deck with its gazebo. I’d come back!