Moby Dick Inn

I paid $850 for two nights for two adjoining rooms on the 3rd floor, even though the official site listed $128 per night and said kids stay free. There were two adults and seven children, all under 17. I had to call because there was no way to book adjoining rooms online. The front desk agent wouldn't acknowledge the price, kept saying it wasn't his site, then told me to click through and the price would adjust. It clearly did. I couldn't book online, but afterward the agent emailed saying I hadn't told them they were children rather than adults. I'd have expected them to correct that when they saw the kids entering the room. In the end, I got just $46 back. It wasn't worth it. I stayed only because I used to work with the agent who checked me in and the longtime housekeeper who keeps the rooms really clean. At check-in, it would be common sense to greet people and be friendly when they enter the lobby. Why are the same problems still happening after 5 or 6 years? Why hasn't anyone told the owners about the front desk agents?

For a cheap stay in Rupert, I'm not sure you can do better. It's an old, dark hotel with a smell, and the staff are cool toward you, though professional. The place is as clean as you could reasonably expect, so I give it 5 stars for what it is.

We stayed one night before taking the ferry in the morning. The place is well located, with lots of parking behind it, and the room was clean with a comfortable bed. There were lots of power cords being used for extra fans and portable AC. Handy tip if you're waiting for the ferry: the Tim Hortons a minute away is open 24 hours, so I got coffee to take to the terminal.

Sometimes this is all that's left, but it's never a good experience. The restaurant is good; the hotel's hospitality isn't. Staff are always rude, look miserable, and don't hide it.