Lost Harbour Inn

Fast internet and a spot just off the beach, close to restaurants and other amenities, made the location a big plus. We skipped the continental breakfast, though it smelled good. The property feels modern and the service was excellent. Rooms are clean with basic bedding and linens; towels and the standard-resolution cable TV are on the small side. Have your credit card PIN ready, although they also accept debit if you show ID and a credit card. Good value, and we'd come back.

We'd stay again. Check-in and check-out were easy, and the staff were great. The breakfast was a bit lacking, but it came with the stay, so it wasn't a big deal. Our room was clean and the bed really comfortable. The mini fridge made a loud, high-pitched noise, so I had to unplug it. The place is right on the water along the main strip, and everything else was great.

The owners, especially Howard, clearly care about this place. Howard took time to hear what we'd experienced with the former managers, apologized, and was professional about it. The new staff we saw in our final two days were great, and after seeing how they cleaned, my view of The Lost Harbour Inn changed completely. I'll stay here whenever I'm in Sylvan Lake. On my first two weeks here, there were issues with the managers' idea of clean. Old towels sometimes stayed when new ones were brought in, trash was only taken out some days, and vacuuming seemed to happen about every three days. Even so, the hotel was three times better than the other motels nearby. We liked the loft suite layout, and the price sat between the motels and more expensive hotels, which is why we kept returning. We'd been told the owners would take over while we were staying, so I wanted to see what they were like and finish the last two days of our third week. When I came downstairs, they asked if the room needed cleaning or anything replaced. I said it was okay since we were leaving soon, but that it would be nice if they had time. After I went to get food, I came back to find the room cleaned, with an apology for its condition. It felt like a different room in a different hotel. Later, they were scrubbing and cleaning, but still took time to listen to how the managers had treated guests. Howard said the managers and hotel had parted ways and hoped our last couple of days would be better. I stayed three blocks of six days on and two days off. I wanted to share this for Reid and anyone else wondering about the owners. Saying they don't care would be ridiculous. This is probably the best privately owned hotel I've stayed in.

Tim, Laurie and Annie put in the effort to make guests feel at home, and the staff were very friendly. Our room was large and clean, with a nice firm mattress. The tub had a good non-slip floor, which made getting in and out feel safe. Breakfast was good, especially the coffee. The price was right, too. We've stayed in hotels and motels around the world, and this one rates among the best. We'll book here next time we're in the area. All in all, a very good choice.