Rodmay Heritage Hotel

I came for school and would come back someday. Everyone I met in Powell River, including the hotel staff, was nice, and the WiFi worked really well with five bars. The building has a homey feel and some historical charm. Staff were helpful and friendly enough, and I found them beside the lobby in a dining room when I arrived. I paid $108/night for the cheapest room, which felt fair value. Room 19 had a queen bed, two regular pillows and two Rodmay hotel pillows, plus a nice cover with an asian design that was a welcome touch, as the owners are of asian descent. It was fine for one and could fit two comfortably, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a small family if you want space. There was no kitchenette, and the room was a little dark. The hotel is some distance from downtown. The door wouldn’t lock from inside, so I put a chair in front of it at night. I never felt unsafe, though it may have been a fault with that door. The small TV had ROKU for Netflix and similar services, a nice extra in an older building.

The owner was helpful and enthusiastic, though I wasn’t sure how the final price worked out. I’d booked through Booking.com to pay on arrival at $162.00 including the pet fee, but the charge came to $147 plus $25 for our small dog. He said he’d upgraded us to a queen for free, so maybe the extra was for the queen instead of a double. The rate felt a bit steep. The building dates to 1911, with plenty of charm and history, but the floors are very uneven and slope toward the middle. Some rooms have no air conditioning, and there’s no elevator. Our room was clean, the bedding smelled fresh, and the towels were nice. The mattress was very springy and firm, and there were only two pillows.

I liked the antiques and photos in the lobby, which give this historic budget hotel a special feel. The rooms are extremely basic, as you’d expect, and ours sloped so much that I had to keep myself from rolling into my partner during the night. We also had no window screens, leaving us to choose between overheating and being eaten by mosquitoes. The shower wasn’t very clean, and there were no toiletries, so bring your own.

We called while driving into town late one night to book at the Rodmay, and our room was ready when we arrived. We had a baby with us, and the staff were kind, friendly, and accommodating. The lobby’s historic photos were interesting to look through and helped explain the hotel’s significance to Powell River. It’s an old building that could use some TLC, but it was very clean. We’d definitely stay again.