Auberge Le Cabanon

The owners and staff were friendly, and the lake setting was lovely. We could use kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards, a canoe, and life jackets, with plenty of outdoor seating under umbrellas. We also went around the lake on a pontoon with the owner and other guests, and had a nice conversation. There are lots of toys and games for kids, so it seems well suited to young families. Our room had a mini fridge, but the beds were much too soft for me, the bathroom faucet dripped all night, and the bedrooms and bathrooms felt worn and in need of a refresh. The outlet by the nightstand only worked in one socket, which made charging our phones awkward. There was no AC, just a portable fan. The satellite TV had maybe six channels, all in French, and Wi-Fi barely worked in reception and the dining area, with none in the rooms. We only got a tiny bar of soap, with no shampoo or body wash. We ate there once. My large salad cost $17 and turned out to be a tiny bowl with a few iceberg leaves, tomato, and cucumber. It wasn't worth $2, though they refunded me after I complained. There were no vegetarian choices, and the prices seemed ridiculous, so we bought groceries for the rest of our stay. We also had to provide our own morning coffee despite the Keurig in the room, which had no pods. I left disappointed and can't recommend the place.

The lake setting was a real bright spot. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats with life vests, and swim at the lake Stanislas area. The scenery is beautiful and it's peaceful, a nice break from city life. Breakfast was simple but filling, and the food was good on our second night, with hot, well-seasoned meat pizza and ribs plus sides. Portions were very large, though the waitress got three of our eight orders wrong and misdescribed the ribs as coming with fries. We felt rushed because we arrived at 7:30 pm and were told they were closing, even though the menu said 8:30 pm and the website said 10:00 pm. We took leftovers back to the room. The first night's fish, rice, baked potato, broccoli, and sour cream were bland, dry, and barely warm. The room itself was okay, but the advertised A/C was actually a noisy industrial fan. Our toilet leaked, and one pillow smelled of smoke. The receptionist was cold when we arrived and explained nothing; we had to ask about the breakfast and supper included in our booking. The old, worn furniture made the hotel feel like a retirement home from the 80s. The so-called game room had a broken pool table and cramped rusty tables. I did enjoy the stay despite all that, but I wouldn't return. At $125 a night per person, I think I could find better service and facilities at other resorts in the area.

The beer was cold, the hotel staff were nice, and the trail system is excellent, though it gets chewed up by the end of each day. The on-site fuel station only takes cash. Rooms were just okay, breakfast was good and so were the breakfast staff. Dinner was another story: the wait staff, kitchen, and bar staff were awful to deal with. Not one meal came out right all week, service was slow, and there wasn't even an apology when food was wrong or missing. Wi-Fi also failed the entire week.

Auberge du Lac Taureau costs more, but it's absolutely worth going there instead. On February 3, 2024, the pool was closed, the vending machine was empty, and the pillowcase smelled like someone had just slept on it and it hadn't been changed. What internet? I called two days earlier to ask if the pool and spa were open and was told yes, but the heater apparently hadn't been started, and there was a sign saying the water was cold because the heater was broken. The trails around the place were full of holes, and nobody seemed bothered. That average of 4.3 stars seems impossible. One star from me, first and last visit. Don't bother replying to this review.