Sappertown Vacation Packages

Riverside Inn - Cowichan Lake PROS: Friendly and accommodating staff. Clean room and linens. CONS: Not Accessible. Very pricey. Small room. Noisy street. No night staff. Built in 1886, it would make a great heritage hostel. But not a hotel. We appreciated that the lady at the desk returned our calls promptly and waited for our late arrival, since they don't have overnight staff. Thank you. Other than that, we got very little for our $250, twice the local motel rate. I opted for the premium sounding location and price because I assumed it would be well appointed and accessible for people with mobility challenges. It is not. Everything is up stairs. "Riverside" is a bit optimistic. The river was somewhat visible from our window, across a very busy road. As a heritage building (and bless those who preserve them) the interior is cramped. Narrow halls, steep stairs, tiny rooms. Heaven, after a bone-rattling stage coach ride a hundred years ago. Sorry, we are not as tough as our ancestors. The room was just big enough for the king-sized bed. Only one chair and no table or desk to share anyway. The bathroom was new and tidy but with no counter to put your toiletries on. We eventually figured out how to turn off the blinding light on the air-conditioner, so we could close the window and actually cool off. But even with the window closed, there was a radiator-fan for the AC serving the cafe downstairs. It sang for us off and on all night. Not recommended.

Excellent location. Easy to get around. Groceries and restaurants are within walking distance. But my room was a bit small with a king-sized bed. Walls are thin and not sound-proof. I can hear people upstairs walking around.