Spanish Bay Inn, CANADA

The Inn is right in the heart of downtown, next door to the Governors Pub, and parking is included, which was a huge help in that area. The rooms were excellent, and we were really impressed with the accommodation. Each had a fridge, microwave, and a few dishes, and we could use a cozy kitchen stocked with breakfast items. The ladies who run the Inn were lovely, helpful, and accommodating. Bonnie was one of them, but I didn’t catch the other lady’s name. We’ll definitely recommend the place and hope to stay again someday.

The proprietor was very friendly and accommodating, and breakfast was self-serve with plenty of continental options. It’s right by the water, within walking distance of several great restaurants. This is a beautiful old inn with spotless rooms, a new bathroom, lots of hot water, and a great shower.

This heritage building on Pitt Street has been a hotel since at least the 1940s, when it was called Paul's Hotel. The original front desk is still there, along with lobby photos of the first owners, Paul and his wife. She sold the property to the current owners after her husband died. For downtown Sydney, the modern hotel is good value, but Spanish Bay Inn didn’t quite deliver on its “luxury meets convenience” promise. Service was extremely limited, partly because of COVID. There’s no breakfast, and the front desk is staffed only a couple of hours a day. When you arrive, call the number on the door and be ready to wait a few minutes. The room was clean but very chilly in early October, and the armchairs were visibly worn. We couldn’t get the TV to work, though the internet was fine. Because of heritage regulations, management can’t install an elevator, and most rooms are upstairs.

It’s very clean, and it can be an okay stay if you have an early start and sleep heavily. I asked for a quiet room but got one facing the main street, with sirens and all. They also didn’t tell me construction banging would start at 8:40 a.m. on a Saturday. The water pipes are LOUD too. If your neighbors shower, you’ll be awake before they finish.