The Water's Edge Inn is a quaint motel located in Campbellford, Ontario (about two hours from Toronto). While motels tend to get a bad reputation, after staying here and at Penny's Motel, I can attest to the fact that not all motels are bad. The Water's Edge Inn is located right on the Trent River, with chairs overlooking the water and a dock right on-site for guests' use.
Here, you will find a brief rundown of my thoughts and experience at the Water's Edge Inn.
More pictures and videos are available at the following Tiktok link: https://www.tiktok.com/@messnamedmichelle/video/7397182215613877510?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7363689351191086598
Check-In and Check-Out (8/10)
Both the check-in and check-out processes were traditional and simple. You go to the office in the main motel building that is right off the main road. Here, one of their staff will be happy to help you out. What is a little inconvenient is that the office is closed from 1-3 PM daily, so no one is around for assistance during this time. I would suggest this motel offer a text number for service or emergency assistance, as most hotels/motels do. I think this would boost customer experience.
That being said, the staff at the main desk were friendly and helpful when available. Check-in is at 3 PM, and check-out is at 11 AM, which is typical of most accommodations.
Amenities (7/10)
Tea, coffee, water, and some snacks are available free of charge in the room. Additionally, most accommodations tend to offer complimentary toiletries, including shampoo, body wash, soaps, shoe-shining brushes, etc. There is also Wi-Fi across the property, and it is very fast in the room.
There is a note left in the bathroom that says you can ask the front desk for anything you forgot at home and they offer a list of items, deodorant being the first on the list. Silly me actually did forget deodorant this time and went to ask at the front desk. Unfortunately, they did seem confused as to why I was asking and said they did not have it available. Ideally, products that are advertised are also available.
Other than traditional hotel room items, there is a great dock available to access the Trent River. Here, you can swim, paddleboard, kayak, boat, etc. Unfortunately, you do have to bring your own water-related items. It would be nice to have a few options on-site for rent or free for guests to sign out. There are chairs and tables surrounding the property, as well as a picnic table. Unfortunately, there is no food on-site, and most food places in the area are closed on Monday, so planning a trip for another day of the week would be a better choice.
Cleanliness (10/10)
The first thing I do when I get to a new place is check the cleanliness, especially the sheets, and the edges for bedbugs. I can confirm that the room, sheets, and facility, in general, are incredibly clean. The outside of the building is also kept immaculate with lots of flower arrangements to add a pop of colour to the beautiful red building. The cups and glasses provided in the room were also clean and I found no concerns in this category. Considering motels have a bad rep when it comes to cleanliness, this is a HUGE win.
Local Area (10/10)
Campbellford is known for being a quieter, less populated area, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. If you are looking for a bustling city and lots of parties, this is not the place for you, but for me, it is perfect. There are ample parks surrounding the city and river, including a park with a massive toonie in it. For the Americans reading this, that is a $2 coin. There is also Dooher's Bakery, which has some of the best doughnuts I've ever tasted. It is an Ontario-famous stop, so it is a must-try! While the pubs in the area lack curb appeal, the food is decent, but nothing to write home about. My friend and I tried Caper's Tap House and it was a 6/10 at best. Before we ended up at Caper's we tried Tap and Tonic, but somehow this pub was out of fries?!? My favourite part about Campbellford is the World's Finest Chocolate oulet store. Do you remember the chocolates that kids would sell by going door to door, those ones. I got 24 chocolate bars for $6, so I'm a happy camper.
Another nice thing about coming to Campbellford from the Toronto area is that there is tons to do on the way up. You can stop at Presquile Provincial Park, go to the Big Apple in Colborne, or head a little out of your way to the OG Reid's Dairy. I suggest a two-night stay if you have never been to the area, but if you only have one night, you can still see most of the fun stuff.
Overall Stay (8/10)
For a simplistic, clean motel, this was a great stay! It was great to have access to the river right at my doorstep and even better to have a table on the dock to enjoy my morning coffee. The motel's curb appeal is lovely in the summer, with ample flower arrangements and greenery. I certainly recommend The Water's Edge Inn for a quick trip to Trent Hills.
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