Tan Chalet at Cabot Shores | Front of property
Check availability

Reviews of Cabot Shores Wilderness Resort

3 out of 5
Cabot Shores Wilderness Resort
30 Buchanan Dr, Indian Brook, NS

Reviews

6.6
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 45 reviews" "

7.0/10

Cleanliness

7.2/10

Staff & service

6.6/10

Amenities

6.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

4.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

maggie

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Robin

Travelled with pets, Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The dinner meals were amazing. I had halibut one night and salmon the next. It was served with fresh vegetables from the garden. I had soup and mussels as appetizers and both were fabulous. The breakfast was very underwhelming, cold frittata and French toast with Aunt Jemima syrup ,no fresh fruit as promised. Our server Pierre was polite, efficient and kind. My room,6a ,had a moldy smell. The a/c filters were caked with dust ( I cleaned them out myself) and the patio door to the outdoor did not lock. I reported it to the front desk, nothing was done so I had to secure the door myself.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Paul

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Candace

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

4/10 Poor

Dianne

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness
We stayed in the tiny house and I found it to be not so clean. There was splash back on the toilet from someone vomiting...that was disgusting. The dining room had a dog wandering around, not okay with people dining. I found the food very expensive with limited amount and not very well cooked. Two green beans and four shreds of carrot does not warrant vegetables...four small cubes of potato and two small chicken thighs that were undercooked. Not happy with the food at all. I would not recommend this property.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

6/10 Okay

Arlene

Travelled with family
Unfortunately, our room was above the lobby/dining area. We woke up from the movement of people and chairs/tables.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

michelle

Travelled with family
The staff was really nice and helpful but the food was def not as great as they claim nor are the rooms (we stayed in) old musty The bed springs were digging into our backs and we had some bug bites on us after the night (don’t think it was bed bugs) but the area was beautiful and once again the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

Rong

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Nancy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed in rooms under main dining room and kitchen- loud
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

DONALD, BROOKLYN

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great isolated place in the wilderness. Loved our stay. Paul the owner is awesome. Highly recommend staying there.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

KEVIN

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Debbie

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort
Wilderness Beauty
Beautiful place to stay if you love the outdoors and simple comforts. The bed was pretty tough which was a shame as we really loved it here by the beach. All very clean and a great team. The location is fantastic.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with family, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness
It has a back to nature vibe with several unique abodes. The bistro wasn’t open for dinner and there are no eating establishments for quite a distance, so make sure you make plans ahead of time to eat before arriving or pick something up. For the price we would have liked a tv and a coffeemaker in the room.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020

4/10 Poor

Alexandra

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Camp here, do not stay in the lodge
I stayed at the lodge and was not very happy with my stay. The room was very overpriced for what it was and had the feel of staying at a hostel. I felt somewhat misinformed booking this stay, as the room pictures indicated on the website didn’t look like the kind of room my fiancé and I stayed in. This wilderness resort is definitely much more suited to a camping experience, and I would not recommend staying in the lodge in a hotel room. It felt like sleeping over a friend’s house rather than staying in an over $100 room with very minimal room amenities.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
The property has a very beautiful location. Very rustic and the yurts were very cute. Disappointed in the food service, however. I thought the prices were too high for the quality of the food and the service provided. I also thought it was pushy to insist upon a reservation for the "bistro". I appreciate that they wouldn't want to make food for more than expected, but I feel that's part of what happens in the restaurant business: you have to place a bet, and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose...
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
An absolute paradise , awesome staff, Barbara and Dr Paul congratulations!!!👍👍👍
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Barb, Squamish, BC

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful location and friendly, welcoming staff. Definitely plan to come back and stay longer.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018

4/10 Poor

Valere, Nyc

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The pillows smell bad and uncomfortable. The towels smell moldy. The chairs were broken. You would expect better amenities for the price of the chalet. Breakfast is expensive and the food is not good. Generally Overall the place is not well maintained. The Yurts look like a moldy yogurt pot.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
They kinda herd you through like cattle. It is more of a hostel. Beds are awful.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Unanticipated pleasure
Was given the option to upgrade to a Mongolian yurt from a regular hotel room at check in. Absolutely grand, complete with beautiful sunrise from our deck! Wonderful stay, nice people. Food was also very good. Definitely would recommend !
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

Mike, New Westminster, BC

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I had the best cooked piece of fish at Go Bistro. Staff were friendly. The resort felt like I was staying at somebody's home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property. Staff was friendly and enjoyed the music.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018
Response from Cabot Shores on Aug 29, 2018
Thank you very much for your review and rating. We really appreciate it. You have a great Summer

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very small room. Air Conditioners did not keep the room cool. Got an sticky. Bed was uncomfortable
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018

4/10 Poor

Michael

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
the good: super helpful staff, friendly owners, and a nice location. We had a great meal in the restaurant with excellent live music, but I’m rating the place only on the accommodations (5 out of 5 for the restaurant). The bad: when you drive in, the first things you see are junk laying around, and an out building that’s under construction. There’s a general untidiness around the grounds, with hoses and implements just lying about. Also, we paid over $400 per night for a 2 room suite that was right under the kitchen. In the morning it was like being under a tap dancing class.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
There was no mattress but instead a futon which was incredibly uncomfortable. No wifi.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Sharon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Chris, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was just a very peaceful place to rest and relax.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

6/10 Okay

Alfred

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Low key Rustic resort.
Would be good for those who want a rustic resort with no frills. But you can pay for an outdoor hot tub if you want. Thou, the early morning wake up call from the rooster is free. Little too high of price for what is there, small rooms, and low cost building. Would give it two stars for the hotel and 4 stars for service. The staff works hard to make the place enjoyable.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We had no water in our room our bed was broke an I paid 195$ for that room I feel like I was ripped off.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

Teresa, SF, Ca

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A very unique place to stay on the Cabot Trail. Rustic but comfortable. We really enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017

2/10 Terrible

William

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cabot Shores Beware
Cabot Shores was a disaster. I made the mistake of booking for two nights and realized too late that I couldn't cancel the second night. $170.00 + Tax for a room up 14 stairs in an older wooden building with one way out. The room didn't have a coffee pot or even Kleenex. Bare bones room in every way. Downstairs you could make tea at no cost but it cost 2.50 a cup if you made coffee ?? so the sign said. We thought we could relax downstairs after our day until the guy with the trumpet decided to practice. (And he needed the practice but outside would have been better). The breakfast - self serve (Prepared by the "Executive Chef LOL) was some dry cereal, cold boiled eggs, some fruit and some beat up bread you could make toast with. The coffee was included. $31.68 included the Gratuity (not sure for what) They refunded the gratuity. Total bill for two nights was $418.00 CAD. By comparison the night before at the Hearthstone Inn in Sydney was 140.62. Two nights at Holiday Inn in Stellarton, Nova scotia with breakfast cost $308.20 and Holiday Inns are top of the line as we have found the Best Westerns to be. I say "Cabot Shores Beware"
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
False advertising. Stay away.
We were having an amazing time on the Cabot Trail until we stayed at cabot shores. We stayed inside the "lodge" not in a yurt, tent, dome, etc. The bed sheets and pillows were horribly stained. Room was full of spiders. There are signs posted everywhere stating what you can't do. There were 4 posted in our bathroom. One older one advised there's been a continuous water shortage. Another one advised they change your bed sheets once per week and towels once every 4 days. Seeing the condition of the bed sheets that awaited us, I can guarantee you they have not been changed or washed for quite a long time. We used our beach towels and clothes to sleep on. The water in the shower is shut off after a few minutes. Everything is at additional cost, breakfast,kayaks,etc. You need to use a rickety water filled dinghy and pull yourself to a really rocky, unpleasant beach. We were advised of an "organic breakfast with a copious variety" , that we paid extra $12 per person for; it was the same every day, toast yogurt, granola, banana bread, hard boiled eggs. Oh, you are expected to clean up after yourself, even if there are 5 staff members just standing around, doing absolutely nothing. We've witnessed several guests complaining about the cleanliness, one couple spent 20 minutes speaking with the owner and they kept stating the disappointing cleanliness of their accommodations, the owner replied stating that "cabot shores provides a holistic experience". Ridiculous.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

6/10 Okay

Mike, Topsfield, MA

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
If you don't like the wilderness, don't stay here.
Very basic, bare minimum accommodations. No telephone or TV in the room. Bed was somewhat uncomfortable, bathroom facilities were fine.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not a good place
I wouldn't recommend this. You are on holidays. You have to be quiet between 10 pm to 730 am As soon as you check in they bombard you with extra things you can purchase like meals. Firewood etc.... people are very nice there. They had to read off a piece of paper What needs or had to be done. A very hippie type place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017

2/10 Terrible

Trent Arsenault, A

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst place I had ever stayed in Cape Breton
Recently Me and my family visited this resort. First according to my booking I was staying in a Cabin, with kitchen and usual cabin amenities. The pictures of the add only correspond to their cabins. When we got there, We received two rooms in the basement of their main building. The rooms ONLY have the bed, no kitchen, not even a coffee pot, nothing. The staff did not try to help us and make our stay a better one, seeing our dissapointment. Instead of this, they wanted to charge us for BBQ ourselves, making a camp fire, etc. At the end we ended up paying the full stay, even if we left with enough notice time to them, and additional charges that we do not recognize. The manager NEVER tried to face us up to solve this when we were there or a phone call. If you happen to have a reservation here, cancel it with time so you don't get your money wasted in something not reliable. We have visited Cabot trail lots and there is plenty places that offer better than this.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice location for trip on the Cabot Trail. We didnt eat there, so we cant comment on the food, but the little restaurant up the road (Clucking Hen) was excellent. Very friendly people!!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Relaxing and fun
Great weekend getaway. They make you feel like you're at home. Food was outstanding, staff was very accommodating with everything. If you're looking to relax and enjoy the outdoors give this place a try. Would let hesitate to go back!

10/10 Excellent

Marc-Antoine, Montreal, QC

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Awesome resort!
We booked a room at the charming Cabot Shores resort last minute as we were extending our trip for one day. We regret that we only stayed for one night. This place is an awesome resort where you can easily meet with other people of all ages and enjoy the nature. and outdoor activities. There is free meditation in the morning conducted by the owner of the place and healthy meal options. At night, we went outside sipping on tea watching the beautiful stars. This is definitely a great spot for watching the stars.
Response from Laura & the team of Cabot Shores on Oct 17, 2016
Thank you Marc-Antoine! That's exactly what we're aiming for: Guests having a memorable time on Cape Breton. We hope you come back one day and stay longer - we're open all year ;)

2/10 Terrible

B4, BC

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst "hotel" I have ever experienced.
The gravel driveway winds through trailers and and various ongoing construction sites and ends at the lodge, which does not look like any of the photos on Expedia. We registered, were charged the last half (total bill $166) before being shown our room. Up a creaking stairwell, we were led to a very small room, complete with a loud fan running. The fan was from the kitchen below, powerful enough to cause the bed to vibrate. Amenities? There are none. No fridge, minimal bedding, etc. with walls so thin that any conversation or activity actually sounds like it occurs in the room. Anytime that the occupants on either side left their rooms, the doors banged shut so loudly that they do would cause the bed to move, followed by the echoing footfalls up and down the creaky stairwell. The view from our window included campsite barbecues, rubbish, cars, tents, camping gear, and a chicken pen with roosters who competitively crow at daybreak. Cars parked adjacent to both sides of the building meant that meant constant beeping from key less car access-beeping till late in the night. There is no cell phone access, which was not mentioned on the Expedia site. Wi-fi is so minimal that if you do connect, the signal is lost within a few minutes. The location is miles from anywhere, including grocery stores etc. Of course, without camping equipment food is problematic. Although, for $13. per person, you could have a nominal breakfast. This is not waterfront property. This is not a hotel.
Response from Laura & the team of Cabot Shores on Oct 17, 2016
Apparently there have been misunderstandings with this guest and it’s too bad he or she didn’t tell us during their stay to give us the chance to make it better. First of all, we’re not a hotel. We’re a Wilderness Resort. We offer accommodation from camping over yurts and domes to lodge rooms and chalets. We have a large property with forest, access to a river, a pond and the Atlantic Ocean. There are hikes out the door, there’s a long beach – yes, it’s a stone beach, but there’s a sandy beach a 5 minute drive from here. When it comes to amenities: None of the lodge rooms have a fridge or other cooking facilities, as we do have a bistro offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nevertheless there is a fridge and a microwave downstairs. If guests want to cook, they can book the chalets with fully equipped kitchens or use the picnic area and bring camping stoves or use the fire pits. The breakfast currently is $12 per adult, and it includes coffee/tea and several homemade options like banana bread, yogurt, fruit salad, granola and more. (Add optional kayaking, guided hikes, meditation, counseling on Cabot Trail…) The kitchen fan is only on during cooking times, it’s off at night & in the morning. Of course we can’t influence our guests’ behavior, but we tell everyone to respect the quiet time in the lodge during the night. We are a pet friendly place where people can bring their furry friends after accepting our pet policy. Having no cell phone coverage is nothing we can influence. However, there’s a phone in the lodge our guests can use. And lots of our guests enjoy being off the grid for a while. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to this guest, to identify some of what wasn’t properly communicated back and forth, and what is possible for visitors to Cape Breton who make Cabot Shores a home base for their stay.

6/10 Okay

André

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Sylvain

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Sylvain

Travelled with group
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Stephane

Cabot trail
Belle endroit calme. Nourriture étais bonne
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018