Muskoka Lakes Hotel and Resorts

Port Carling had few businesses open when we visited, so it wasn’t the best time for a trip there, but we still enjoyed our stay. It’s a beautiful place to visit in the fall, with lovely autumn colours. The rooms were spacious, clean and had full kitchens.

It felt more like a shabby roadside motel than a hotel in the heart of Muskoka. The quality was well below what the price suggests. I only needed to stay one night, and I’m glad it was just that. I wouldn’t stay again.

The stay itself was nice, but I can’t get past the way the pet charge was handled. The hotel advertised itself as pet friendly, and I searched the website for extra pet fees before booking. There was nothing there, including in the terms and policies after I booked. I checked in and signed a paper that also said nothing about additional fees. After checking out, I got an invoice with an unexplained extra $60 charge. When I called, I was eventually connected with the manager. He said it was a pet fee and agreed there had been no notice of extra charges, but refused to reimburse it and called that “unreasonable.” The manager could’ve acknowledged the oversight, updated the website and policies, and refunded a charge that hadn’t been disclosed. Everyone could’ve been happy, and they’d have kept my five-star review. Instead, he chose pettiness and got a one-star review. I can’t stand businesses being deceitful, or refusing to take responsibility for their mistakes.

For $299, it was good enough for one night while we went to a concert at the Kee. I would’ve been disappointed with a longer stay. The room was a large suite in a downtown spot with a pretty waterfront and boat access, but it felt like storage for old furniture. There were two empty china cabinets and another holding kitchen appliances. There wasn’t a workspace. The closet had mops and brooms, but we didn’t get bathroom tissues or extra blankets. The bed made a sound like a whoopie cushion. It had only a zip-up plasticized mattress protector, sheets and a very thin extra sheet. Dirt was trapped under tape on the light switch, and the towels had black stains. You have to call staff from your own phone.