We stayed at the Best Western Mariposa with our family during our youngest son's hockey tournament,…read moreand this was by far the worst hotel experience we have ever had. We are a team with younger children, and parents made a point of supervising kids closely, following curfews, and being respectful to staff. Despite this, we were treated with suspicion and hostility from the moment staff realized we were a hockey team. On our first night, the hotel offered an empty room for kids to play mini sticks. The following day, when kids asked again, we were offered a different room that was dirty and had broken glass on the floor. Staff were notified, but no apology or concern was shown. That evening, while supervised kids were using the pool, another family (not part of our group) opened an unlocked side door and ran into the snow before jumping back into the pool. Some of our kids followed. There were no warning signs and the door was not locked. The pool was immediately closed by staff without testing water levels, and parents were falsely accused of children urinating in the hot tub. By 8:30 p.m., all children were in their rooms with parents. The following morning, our team manager received a rude email accusing our children of running the halls late at night and harassing guests--none of which occurred. The situation escalated further the next evening when staff aggressively confronted parents at the pool and accused a guest of having alcohol without cause. When another parent calmly attempted to speak to the desk manager to de-escalate, the staff member pushed past her and retreated to her office, where police were called. The OPP attended and confirmed there was no disorderly behavior. Everyone was allowed to remain for the night. Beyond staff behavior, the hotel itself was dirty and poorly maintained. Our room had a dead bug and personal items left behind, public areas were not well kept, and breakfast service was slow and inattentive. We would not recommend this hotel to families, sports teams, or anyone expecting professional service or basic cleanliness.

I stayed the Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn & Conference Centre last night ... I've never been…read morethere before. It was $120 (plus tax) for the night. WIFI (which was quick) and parking were free. There is a restaurant in the hotel, the Grape and Olive Wine & Martini Bistro, but there are lots (Swiss Chalet, McDonald's, etc.) within walking distance ... I had supper last night at Kelsey's, which is across the street. I had breakfast in the restaurant in the hotel this morning ... two eggs, peameal bacon, toast and homefries ($8) and a glass of milk. It was good! I'd stayed here again.

The hotel is clean and everything is working. Although it is a little old but overall good living…read moreexperience. The favorite part is the breakfast. Love it. Highly recommended.

We are spending a family Christmas Eve in Gravenhurst and booked this suite with a double room…read more Check-in was a breeze with full social distancing protocols in effect due to the surge of Omicrom variant worldwide. Front desk staff are friendly & professional. It's a very nice suite with a 4-seat dining table, office desk, sitting area for four, a fireplace (with a timer) and a full kitchen (refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, sink and cupboards). The fitness centre, swimming pool and whirlpool pool were open with proof of double Covid-19 vaccination. looked well maintained. A complimentary pre-selected breakfast was included; filled out order form by 9 p.m. the day prior. Pickup the meal yourself in the morning. It's back on the road again tomorrow!

My dad and I have stayed at the Kent Inn two times already, on our way to ice fishing on Lake…read moreSimcoe. (The location to ice fishing is very convenient and is about a 40 min drive.) There are rooms on the ground floor and in a two story building. Luckily, during both of our stays we were able to get a room in the building. During our last stay the owner even asked us if we prefer the first or second floor. The room had what we needed for a quick overnight stay (fridge, coffee maker, etc.). We were greeted warmly and welcomed each time and we would gladly return again!

Very nice staff! Rooms have been renovated, very clean and bright. Great location. My boyfriend…read moreput in a request to have fresh flowers in the room when we arrived and they were able to make it happen. Thank you so much for the stay :)

Sheer disappointment from a brand like Westin. The deluxe room was just basic. The pictures show a…read morebalcony but that's not what you get. The towels and robes were old and worn out. Included breakfast was average.

Amazing location! Ski in, ski out, right in the village and all the action. We had a loft suite…read moreroom and it was perfect for our family of four. Parking garage was great. Hot tub and other amenities were on point. Never waited longer than a minute for an elevator. Staff was attentive and while they were busy, they definitely all deserve five stars. We would definitely stay here again. With that said a few things of note: 1. We were never told about the ski lockers or provided our combo for the lock. Perhaps a newbie ski family mistake for not assuming, but also frustrating. 2. I had called about clearance height for vehicles as we wanted to use our Thule on our SUV. The front desk was not much help. Had we known there is a valet lot for vehicles with rooftop boxes, we would have done it for the nominal fee. As I am sure many parents can relate, driving in a snow storm when you can't see out the rear is not fun... roof box solves that. 3. The restaurant on site is lackluster. Service is on point; however, food is just alright and pricey, it is chaotic, and why in the heck only "reservations get window seats" is a policy is beyond any family we spoke to. All these awesome window tables looking at the village and lake that go empty because "walk ins" are subjected to interior seating despite all those tables being empty our entire dining session is beyond me. This isn't Manhattan. 4. The restaurant bar, given how nice the rest of of the hotel is, looked pretty sad. You could see all the shelf lighting was defunct, it looked tired and not well kept. As a business owner myself, and for how front and center the bar area is, my gosh keep it tidy, lit up, and gleaming with some pizzaz. Thankfully for those of us with older kids it is open until midnight, and once again the staff is Johnny on the spot, but geez it has seen better days. I realize it sounds silly, but this hotel is pretty awesome and with the large lobby the bar area should be the North Star, not something I look at and wonder "are they closed already?"

My family and I spent 3 wonderful nights at the Shamrock Lodge. It was an incredible and relaxing…read morevacation. It's easy to tell why many of the families there keep coming back year after year. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. They made my wife dairy free dishes from scratch when she didn't feel like some of the other options and cooked up grilled cheese sandwiches for my kids for lunch when they didn't want their chicken wrap. The owner personally introduced my wife to the kids club counsellors so that she was more comfortable leaving them in the mornings to play. This went a long way in helping both of us relax. Besides the good food, great staff and amazing views. The other guests were so welcoming and friendly. Our daughters made friends instantly and we felt very comfortable letting them run around and play with everyone. It's a great culture that Shamrock Lodge has cultivated. With magicians, tubing, water skiing, canoes, kayaks, fireworks, and more. Shamrock Lodge really went above and beyond to always have something to do and look forward to. The only criticism, and its a big one, is that the rooms are not air conditioned. There was a portable air conditioner in the room but it was barely functional and the room was way too hot all the time. It was brutal and really took away from our enjoyment of the vacation. They really need to invest in proper air conditioning for the rooms.

On the edge of one of the most pristine of the Muskoka Lakes, Shamrock Lodge is one of the most…read moreenjoyable places we have ever stayed at. A full service hotel with all 3 meals included, this getaway also provides immaculately clean rooms and thoughtfully kept grounds. It is family owned and the owners and staff have a clear love for both the land and the patrons. The staff were a delight - very friendly and ready to provide anything needed. There is a clean pool and sauna in the main lodge, and if you want to swim but aren't a pool person, not to worry because the lodge backs onto a gorgeously clean lake. A variety of watercraft such as canoes, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and paddle boats are available for patrons to borrow at any time. Motorized watercraft are also available for an hourly rental fee. We would, and plan to, return here.

Yay! A bump-up review! Bala Bay Inn's Grill/Ghosts restaurant continues to impress each summer…read more This year we were really, really pleased by the great service. We arrived for our dinner after a rainstorm, and the outdoor patio where we like to enjoy our food was fairly soaked as a result. No worries, the hostess assured us, we are more than happy to seat you outside. We were allowed to pick a table and then she and a few servers set to work diligently wiping everything dry. That was much appreciated. The great service continued throughout our dinner -- attentive, prompt, really friendly. Food seemed better this visit, too. Last summer's scallop fiasco left me cold, but this year we really enjoyed the PEI mussels (oh, heaven), the spring rolls (surprisingly good for BFE Canada), the local pickerel (treat yourself if you've never, it's sweet, mild, and tender), and the fish and chips (with sweet potato fries). The only near-miss were the nachos. The chips were wonderful and clearly homemade, but the cheese was not melted which, to me, seems like a nacho given, right? Other toppings kicked nacho booty, tho, from the thick, tangy sour cream, smooth, silky guac, and crisp, fiery pickled jalapeños. They have a martini menu that will blow your mind and rivals any shcmancy big-town bar. There have to be damn near 50 varieties on that thing. My favorite is an apple martini with Goldschlager -- it tastes just like warm apple pie and has some cutesy name (they all do) I wish I could remember. We come to the Grill/Ghosts at Bala Bay Inn every summer and are rarely disappointed. Definitely worth a visit when you're in town. If you're ever in town...

Imagine a restaurant where the owners seem to have just left the premises and let things go…read moredownhill. That's the Bala Bay Restaurant in the Bala Bay Inn. It's dark, in need a huge dose of TLC, feels dirty and unkept. It might be exceptionally clean - it just has the feel of an ignored empty local haunt. The food is what you might expect from a frozen food driven restaurant - though it is a great source of a traditional Pizza Nova pizza to takeout if you need one. This might be the real calling of the premises. There are a few signs outside branding the restaurant conflicting things. It is a restaurant. It's a Pizza Nova. It has a huge sign saying "Fish and Chips". So what is it exactly? Im not sure it knows. A place to drink beer I suppose and wait for your pizza takeaway. And if it just branded itself as the local source for right out of the oven Pizza Nova pizza, it would be perfect. Try that and I think you won't be disappointed. Go beyond that and it's hard to predict. I can't pin exactly what it is that makes this a place we avoid. I can only say that it has, in its neglect, seem to have chosen to be nothing in particular and that's exactly what it feels like. The staff are nice, the location convenient - it just doesn't have much else (but Pizza Nova pizza!).

Beautiful family friendly getaway!! It's the whole package when you come here. Beautiful views from…read moreany cottage you stay in. All equipped with AC, are kept very clean and maintained. By the water you have access to activities such as kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, stand up paddle boarding, water trampoline, water diving apparatus and jet ski rentals. There is a Sandy beach, a pool and a hot tub. For kids, there are structured activities for different ages. I saw kids working in teams to complete a scavenger hunt. They also have a park, games room, toddler room and karaoke on Friday's. If you want drinks during the day you can BYOB or there is a cash bar by the pool. Also it's up to you to bring snacks of you need something in between meals. In case, they sell chips and ice crwam at the reception desk if you are desperate! My Favourite so far....was dinner time!!! After fun in the sun it was nice to sit down for a nice dinner. We got a basket of mixes bread at oi4 table as we sat down with a large pitcher of water. I tried the chicken cordon blue because it's not something I usually would order. It was so tender and the cheese oozed out when I was cutting it. It came with red potatoes and fresh vegetables. To top it off I got a butterscotch sundae... so on point!!! Looking forward to trying out the lunch and breakfast.

I really loved this lodge. It was such a beautiful place to be at and the view was just stunning…read more This review is about the food. I appreciated that my misconceptions of this place looking older and what, not were wrong. The dinners were amazing, the food was soo unique and really tasty. I got to meet the sous chef who was in Europe for some time who came to assist the main chef at the lodge. It seemed that they worked together to make a little of both of their tastes work, and it worked well. I had Venison for the first time, the lamb was to die for, the chicken as well, their meat was tender. It just seemed so fresh for a lodge, I was impressed. The french fries are sooo good. I dont even eat much carbs but every lunch I ordered a side. Lunch is not bad, but I dont think its anything worth raving about. Breakfast is harty and always have fresh fruit, eggs, yummy bacon and juices. The last night we were there they did a bbq, we really appreciated that they did that for us.

After nearly 5 years we returned for our anniversary to find that not only has not much changed, in…read morefact, the services at the Marriott have been in decline. Everywhere that I go I have to clean my own chair and seats. This was a sign. First, everything is overpriced. If paying $700 per night wasn't enough, nearly every item on the resort is expensive in a way that does not map to its proportions. $18 for 3 oysters doesn't align with MP, $30 per child to jump on an inflatable raft on the lake, $150/hr jet ski rentals are just the tipping point. Look, I understand that the resort is for people who are privileged and certainly we are one of those people, but that doesn't mean I want to be raked over the coals for every little thing on the Resort. There was a time when everything was included, call me old fashioned, but what's included here? The service and attention to detail is greatly lacking and some staff informed us that it was their first day on the job. It was like pulling teeth to get information out of the front desk. Those failures of the staff are a direct result of poor leadership, and I think the lack of leadership is showing throughout the business as a whole. The spa was underwhelming as well, the two massage chairs (that are not cleaned between uses) and the Amazon 'reflexology' foot massage machine (which only does the right foot), accompanied by an oxygen concentrator that requires you to put on nasal cannula to inhale through some colored liquids for "relaxation" did not give me 5 Star vibes. I did however like the 18+ pool provided by the spa (despite the weeds growing up through the hardscaping), but do I think the whole thing is worth $100 day pass....I do not. The Avalanche Cold shower is to a cold plunge as a tomahawk is to a vegan hamburger, one is playing at being like the other but fails in all the ways that matter. We ate at the Chophouse, which was not bad, I recommend the short rib as it's been braised well. I had the lobster Thermidor as I am picky about steaks and how they are cooked. The lobster was underwhelming and was more of a canner than a mature east coast lobster. The spinach they served with it was overly bitter and should be dropped for the menu, it's not a 5 star vegetable. Use the lobster claws and shells to create a stock and use that to do a nice risotto with the Thermidor. I'm being overly picky but here is my last gripe. If you bring cutlery to a table, don't bring it in hand, use a plate with a napkin on it or a tray. Use oyster forks and small spoons where necessary. Do more. If you're charging $250 for a 50 ounce tomahawk. The service had to match those prices. If not, you cheapen the whole experience Marriott. 3 stars for the lake view.

Recently stayed here for a few days. Beautiful views and nice resort…read more Pros: - Food was quite good - Staff were welcoming and pretty friendly for the majority. - Outdoor whirlpool was really good / strong pressure and hot temps - Rooms are spacious and cleaning staff are helpful. Example: Will lay out your toiletries neatly on a towel in the bathroom lol - They have Kayak/ Canoe/ Paddle - I enjoyed kayaking around a little island in a group. They go fast though, so be prepared to go at it like an exercise session. It's not leisurely lol Cons: - Staying in the 2nd building is a bit of a trek if you need to go to the main building a lot. Unless l you rather be closer to the water and the Deck. They have golf carts to take you up to main building too but I think it's a bit of a wait sometimes? - Drinks were not great. Sodas are flat, cocktails are not that good and wines are $30 for a half glass. Beers are okay. - Never got a welcome cocktail but when I was leaving I just asked if I could have one and was asked a lot of questions for some reason so I just gave up. lol Overall, I would recommend as scenery is quite nice but there are a few spots they could improve on considering they are charging quite a lot per night during high season.

Overall a clean option, but not well staffed or maintained…read more The staff is made up of college kids (somewhat expected in H-ville) but they aren't quite sure of their roles or what to do when something out of the norm arises. The room was clean, but wasn't the room we booked. Also, not a single usb charger spot in the room (besides the old TV trick). Most hotels have lamps with charging ports at least. They could use a refresh or at least at add a port to the rooms for usb and usb-c. The c-store and business center look neglected and empty. Not very inviting for travelers.

***DO NOT STAY HERE***…read more To start off the first room we walked into the AC was making a horrible noise. Luckily they had another room available. Much better when it came to the AC being quiet. Gotta have that being a light sleeper. In the new room the bathroom door would not close unless you gave it a lot of force and would stick really bad. Now when it came to the bed, you would be better off sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag. The bed was EXTREMELY HARD and UNCOMFORTABLE. The worst bed I have ever slept on when staying at a Holiday Inn. For the owners, you need to do better and buy better quality beds. It is the whole point of someone coming to your hotel for the night. To get a good night's rest!!!!! Clearly not at this Holiday Inn. We will definitely be choosing a different hotel for our next stay when in town.

Ants in my room. Didn't know I was booking exterior room. Tight parking. Wouldn't stay again.read more

Been staying at this hotel for years and put thousands of dollars into it, yet, despite booking for…read morea week and paying in advance, I was called by the front desk and told I had to vacate the room because someone else was taking it over. I tried to explain that I had booked the room already and even confirmed my reservation with THREE different staff members, however, I was told that their night staff took my money but "didn't extend my stay on their computer" -- it was the manger who booked me in for a week and yet she's the one who told me to leave in order to make way for the new guest. After that whole fiasco, I was then told to pack up my room and be gone by 12:25 or I wouldn't be refunded my money. Once I made it to the lobby, I was made to wait 20 minutes while the manager chatted on the phone because apparently calling someone else to help me was asking too much. I tried to discuss the issue with the GM who was rude and extremely condescending. Trying to fix the issue didn't help though because I was told I wasn't welcome back to the hotel. After leaving the hotel, I was approached by the GM in the parking lot who told me to either sign a receipt or give her back the refund she issued me. Now keep in mind that this was MY money that had been refunded by the hotel after they kicked me out despite me having paid and being booked. I told her I wasn't giving her MY money and she then attempted to grab my arm and then stand in front of my car. I'm not even sure why I chose to come back to this hotel because they don't clean the rooms. I stayed here for 3 full months back in 2022, and it got so bad that I had to go out and buy a broom, mop, mop bucket, and cleaners. In the end, I ended up spending $150 to clean the room. Housekeeping entered my room once and a pair of diamond earrings that I had sitting on my end table went missing. I practically tore my room apart searching for them because I didn't want to believe they would steal from me, but they were gone. After that, I just took anything of value with me when I left the room. Some of the staff are extremely sweet people but the majority are rude.