Wanted to spend the night in the Stratford area that wasn't going to cost hundreds of dollars…read more Having two kids, a pool seemed like a necessary asset. We arrived and it was a quick check-in project. It took WAY too long to find the room but we eventually got there. Requests were attended to quickly and if you're looking for a bed with your regular room accessories. This place meets the expectations but definitely does not exceed it. The pool was large, a little cooler than we expected. We had the pool to our self which was fun. The hot tub that's advertised does not exist and the sauna was out of order. There is no longer breakfast on site but they partner with Stackt which is a few minutes away. Staff seemed knowledgeable although someone at the desk was just learning the ropes. Everyone seemed accommodating. Price point was fair for what we got. We didn't need anything fancy just a safe, clean place to rest our head and it did that. If I need a bed, pool and not much more this is a good choice. If you want something on the nicer side, this is not the place. At the right price I would definitely go back.

Ah...the trailer park life. I'm being harsh here but it is not Festive at this Inn. I know it's…read moreon the outskirts of Stratford and I get what I get when there are no places to stay in Kitchener - because Home Hardware was having their convention...I know...HH Convention? Yup...trailers, power tools, and riding lawn mowers - come to think of it, I think I would have a blast there! Back to the Inn. I got there and I had some hopes. They sent me off to the back where there were rows of mini-rooms. After getting my stuff in, and swatting a moth the size of a cicada - ugh really!?! - I tried to get on the WiFi and couldn't. Called the front desk and they say only wired in the outside suites. I told them that most modern portables (notebooks, tablets, and the like) no longer have network ports on them and that I would be checking out. That is when they offered me the place in the main building. The WiFi was spotty but enough to get my work done and check Yelp for more info on the place. After reading about bed bugs, I tossed the whole bed and took the sheets off to inspect it. Found no bugs and decided that I will stay there - too late now to go elsewhere. Went to the front desk and asked if the bar was open - nope - how about the restaurant - nope. Really? I don't think it was even 8PM or maybe it was 9PM. Got in the car and drove a few minutes to Crabby Joes - name tells you how I felt. Next morning rise and shine, I forgo'd the breaky and left as soon as possible. 2 stars for a 2 star Inn. Cheers.

We stayed one night at this inn. We did everything online. They sent the key code 2 hours before…read morechecking in. Our room was the mini and first on the left. It had a super hero theme. The bed was comfortable, huge walkin shower with beautiful coloured tiles. I like the window over looks the water. And you're located in the heart of the city near Shakespeare park. And you're connected to the Relic bar and cafe. Everything went well. The place is quiet and clean. They have parking with 4 spots and they were taken. We had to park 5 minutes away. They have designated spots with the name of the Inn. Now someone with mobility issues may have a problem. We also had issues with the tv and ended up staying on one channel the whole time. Despite that it was great experience.

I loved staying here! Beautiful room with lots of fun…read moreamenities and decor. I loved the brick and fun art work and pops of color. I loved my bathtub. Comfortable king bed. Very spacious room and perfect location in downtown Stratford. Easy to walk everywhere, including all the theatres. Very close to the lake too. Free parking for guests. Amazing taco shop located in the front of the building. I definitely want to stay here again.

We enjoyed our Stay at the Stratford Hotel. Beautiful small…read moreboutique hotel. Wonderful staff and lovely ambiance. Delicious continental breakfast. Will definitely come back.

No air conditioning! The room was really warm, and we couldn't turn the pilot light off of the…read morefireplace. We opened the windows to get some air; one didn't even have a screen! Emails went unanswered. Parking is an additional fee (not free as stated).

The worst stay in any hotel ever. The bathroom smelled of…read moremold and the sitting room was stuffed with mismatched furniture.

Check in was ok - nobody acknowledged us while we waited while the two ladies behind the desk took…read moremultiple reservations from the calls they were on. Even a friendly nod would have been appreciated. When the lady did check us in she caught and us that there were quite a few high school and little school hockey teams so it was probably going to get loud at times. The first evening was great, it wasn't very loud as the kids had not checked in yet. The next day was another story. in the afternoon, what appeared to be middle school kids, and probably their younger siblings essentially overtook the hallways with yelling and screaming while running around. Several rooms opened up the doors and told the kids to quiet down and finally some fathers came out to kind of help ensure that the kids were quiet. The hotel does have a 10 PM curfew but the fathers said the kids had a 9 PM curfew. That sounded perfect.! Later that evening, all hell broke loose as the teenagers got wild in the hallways. They ran around slamming into walls and doors. They yelled and swore (f-bombs). Long story short, many rooms ended up calling the front desk to complain in police were eventually called out as it was 1130 at night. One room in particular was very bad, across the hall from us, and the police entered that bedroom at some point The next morning, I went to the front desk and asked if they knew if the coach of these teenagers was still around. Of course, they said they had no idea. I hope the coach finds out how horribly these teenagers acted and removed them from the games this weekend. But the way these entitled teens were acting , I highly doubt it. The hotel also said that each room had to have an adult chaperone, but there was no way an adult was in some of these bedrooms. The yelling and roughhousing in the rooms just would not have occurred if a parent was in there, so I really am doubting what the hotel said about each room needing a chaperone. Would I come back here again? Possibly but I would definitely make sure that there was not going to be any sports teams staying there.

My friends were interested in a B&B but since I like cleanliness and privacy, they kindly selected…read morea hotel in the heart of the Stratford community for us. Mercer Hotel is a small, mom-and-pop type hotel that sits atop a popular bar/restaurant. The hotel is located in front of the river, a good landmark to follow to get to the theater. My room was quite spacious, with a view of the main drag. The bathroom was small though. My friends' was considerably smaller and darker - we both paid the same price. We were all settled in before we discovered the difference; I would have offered to trade otherwise. The room included the requisite desk and flat-screen TV. As well, I liked the very comfy chairs in room, perfect for reading or doing the mini crossword on the NYT app. The hotel was in close proximity to coffee and shopping - is there anything more that is needed on a weekend? I appreciate that we were allowed to book only one day of the weekend. It seemed that many hotels wanted to maximize profits with guests for the entire weekend. Our room generously included parking in a nearby lot. Check-in occurred behind the bar. It seemed a bit chaotic contributing to a clerical error - I was charged for both mine and my friend's rooms. A few other things to note: (1) the bed was harder than what I am accustomed to and (2) there is no elevator.

My wife and I loved staying here and will return if/when we visit Stratford again…read more The location is as good as it gets if you plan to explore downtown on foot. Lots of restaurants, cafes, high end pubs, boutique stores, gift shops, chocolateries, and various other attractions are within immediate proximity. We didn't need our car at all. The restaurant downstairs (which is called Mercer Hall, and is the ground floor of the hotel) is excellent. And I may write a separate review for it later. Mentioning it here because you can literally walk downstairs from your room and have access to an upscale dining option. The hotel staff were great. Brooke at the front desk was super helpful getting us checked in / settled in, and communicating when I had questions. Everyone we interacted with throughout our stay was friendly. The room was cozy and comfortable. It was also really ROMANTIC. Fireplace + jacuzzi jetted tub + king size bed. Use your imagination. ------ Overall it was an A+ experience; but there are a couple caveats to be aware of: * Parking is somewhat confusing. If you're facing the front of the hotel, there is an alleyway on the right you need to drive into. Then after driving a bit there is a lot to the right that has spaces with "Mercer guest" signs on each. * Stairs, stairs, stairs. There is no elevator, so either pack light or be prepared to get your lifting workout in. The hotel is really a beautiful historic building. But it's also a maze of staircases. Neither of these were a problem for us, but the stairs in particular might not be ideal for those who have knee issues, for example.

Majer's Motel is one of the most affordable accommodations you could find in Stratford…read more Conveniently located right off Highway 8, it has everything you need for your stay. Obviously, for a motel, you should not expect anything beyond basic necessities. If you only need a place to sleep, Majer's Motel is your best option to save. Some of the amenities that I do care about and was satisfied with: free parking, hot water, heat (can be adjusted), quiet rooms, safe (plenty of locks), clean, basic toiletries, and towels. The motel is family-owned and the lady accommodated my request for early check-ins. There's also light breakfast provided. My main purpose to Stratford was the Festival, if I wanted luxurious living then I wouldn't be in Stratford. If you're doing a road trip and just need somewhere to rest, I recommend staying here as opposed to the expensive downtown hotels.

Clean and affordable. One of the cleanest motels I've ever…read morestayed at! ('Though it did smell a little stale. This was easily remedied by opening the window for some fresh country air.) The double bed was extremely comfortable. Nice & firm. The price was one of the lowest in town. This is a great option for people who want to save money on their accommodation so that they can splurge on theatre and restaurants.

I've stayed at this hotel the last few years and it's been fine. This year I was a little…read moredisappointed in my stay. I arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon and they said my room wasn't ready yet and to try back at 3 PM. No worries. I was able to hang out for a few minutes waiting and went back and my room was ready. I was able to bring up my things and get settled. The 3rd floor of the wing is under renovations but that never was an issue. I went to go turn on the TV and the remote didn't work. Not a huge deal since I wouldn't be in the room long but I mentioned it to the front desk and they said they would find a replacement but it didn't happen until the next day when we found a maintenance worker. Which is fine because the channels weren't working at all on the tv the next morning anyways. The breakfast was better in the past. They replaced all the real plates with paper and the silverware is all plastic now. They even downsized the offerings for food and it's still a good breakfast but it the very basics. Overall, this is an okay experience. It is in a good location that is easy to navigate to but the amenities seem to be dwindling here. Next year when I come up to Brantford, I'll definitely debate staying here or somewhere else.

The rooms in the East wing are dated and dirty, worn couch and wing chair. I could only plug in to…read moreone outlet in the table lamp on the desk as the other lamps in the room did not have outlets. How do you charge more than one cell phone? We learned that our fireplace was not functional when we tried to turn it on, and Joanne Brooks, General Manager must be fully aware by now that the rooms in the East wing have non‑functioning fireplaces and the rooms are in poor, worn, dirty condition. The fireplaces continue to be listed as an amenity on their website in the East wing, which is misleading to customers and was not indicated at time of booking which is what was claimed we were told at reception. We doubt this is the first complaint, and it appears the fireplace photo for these rooms are actually from the Gretzky wing. We were provided an adjusted the rate and bonus points for the non‑functioning fireplace. Besides the one on the door, we did not see one NO SMOKING sign in the room next to the detectors as is the norm in other hotels in Canada. This would contribute to the evidence of smoking of cigarettes and marijuana observed from the hallways at various times of day. There are only heat detectors wired to the alarm system. The battery operated smoke/CO detectors can easily be pulled from the wall allowing smoking to go undetected. This is a loophole in Ontario law according to the Brantford Fire Department. We have stayed in the past at the other three major chains in Brantford, and all of these hotels are much newer and cleaner. We have never complained about these hotels as their standards appear higher despite being a budget offering. I can say at least the bathroom is clean though the door makes it hard to get in and out of the room. The pool area had a Grade B rating for the spa earlier that week when inspected by the Grand Erie health department. Everyone raves about the Gretzky wing, and there is no way we would ever stay in the East wing again unless it is fully renovated.

I am a city girl who has never gone camping. I love the concrete jungle and anything outside of it…read moreis unfamiliar and sometimes unwelcome. This beautiful motel is a bit of paradise. It made me turn off my phone and look up at the sky. The rooms here are a throwback to old school motel but it is very clean and comfortable and fully equipped with what you might need. Kim, the owner, is such a lovely host that you can't help but feel immediately relaxed when she greets you. She radiates friendliness and verve. They have a tiny lake that you could swim in, which is a tiny ecosystem housing 2 swans, 2 herons, ducklings and lots of lily pods. It is so peaceful. The patio garden has been laid out in the most comfortably cunning way, with 2 areas for outdoor fire and thoughtfully grouped patio furniture for maximum relaxation and coziness. Each set of outdoor patio has expectation of comfort and some privacy. We stayed at the guest house, which had a glorious salt water hot tub. That hot tub melted all of my neck and shoulder pain. There is nothing like immersing in effervescently warm water while you have a perfect view of the moon over the lake and hundreds of stars. In the evenings, we went to the outdoor fireplace and made honest to goodness smores. I was on a cooked only by open fire diet and I loved it. The room has a kitchenette and grill, which allowed us to cook most of our meals. There are trails around the resort, which you could walk safely any time of the day. f you feel quite active you have access to bikes and boats at no additional cost. There is a boat shed stocked with every imaginable nostalgic outdoor game. I grabbed the hula hoop and kept my waistline busy on it the whole weekend. This is a perfect transition for me if we ever go camping. The great thing is that it is only a couple miles away from a food and beer store and the culture of Stratford. I was loathe to go for supplies since all I wanted to do was lounge and be lazy. This place really lets you recharge your batteries if you let it. Sit back and grab some continental breakfast and let nature give you a big embrace. Truly a woodland retreat. I think this will be our yearly retreat.

We read the reviews and were sucked in! I've been in larger bathrooms in motor homes. I had to sit…read moreoutside to use my computer, the Wi-Fi would not work in the room. Then there were the trains. A grade crossing less then a football field away at which all trains blasted their horns made sleeping a bit difficult. The Inn suggested turning on the AC to drown out the noise but it was so loud we couldn't here the TV! Considering the price was the same as the major hotels in the area we will go back there next year and enjoy the quiet.