Artisan Inn Trinity

Coming back to the property each day after exploring the Bonavista Peninsula was a pleasure. We made the most of our three nights there, and found a couple of very good restaurants within walking distance of our unit. We visited late in the season, when the place was quiet and charming.

The house was full of history on every floor, and beautifully restored. We never cooked in the kitchen, though it was nice to have a quiet cup of coffee there. Outside, there was a propane firepit for watching the sunset over the bay, and the fine foods restaurant was just three doors down, with its own deck on the water. We ended up adding a night because the bed was so comfortable. The restaurant food was especially good, with local jams and other things. We arrived very late after Booking.com had sent us to a hotel that was closed for the season. The owner got up to help us and found us a gorgeous 1700 year old artisan house for the night, saying we could sort out the check in details in the morning. They were incredibly trusting, and even went to their restaurant in the dark to find us a beverage.

We couldn't sleep because the house was so hot, even though we stayed in the fall, not on a hot summer night. There was no air conditioning, while most other houses nearby seemed to have at least an air conditioner or mini-split. The water had a slight yellow tint. We were told it was safe to drink, and I suspect it's artisan well water with a lot of iron. The door lock was supposed to update automatically using the last four digits of my phone number, but it never did, so we couldn't safely lock up our belongings while we looked around the community. We're Newfoundlanders who moved away, though that could matter to anyone traveling with passports, jewelry, and similar items. At checkout, the owner asked about my stay. I mentioned these issues and that a $50 cleaning fee seemed excessive. She replied, “You didn’t have to stay HERE, you could have stayed somewhere CHEAPER,” which felt condescending and made it seem like she couldn't take honest, constructive feedback. We arrived late in the day without calling ahead, so the room might otherwise have sat empty that night. Still, the one-night total came to $477.00 CAD, including the $50 cleaning charge. The house was called Lighthouse view, but the lighthouse was small and far away, which I found a little misleading. The value just wasn't there for me. I think these prices may be aimed at out-of-province visitors. I noticed some New York license plates around the community, so maybe it's chump change for people like that. As a local tourist or a Canadian earning a working-class wage, I'd stay somewhere cheaper in Trinity or visit somewhere like Greenspond instead.

Trinity was a gem, and we especially loved an evening walk on the Gun Hill trail. It was hard to leave after such an idyllic stay. Our family of four stayed in the Lighthouse View home, a beautiful place with loads of character and a gorgeous view. Sitting quietly and taking in the morning scenery was wonderful, and at night we could hear the water through the open windows. The house had everything we needed.