The Good:
:: it's a local business!
:: gorgeous views of the mountains, trees, nature in general...all from the comfort and coziness of your unit
:: adults-only...this means no screeching of howler monkeys aka toddlers and kids under the age of 8. :D nothing on kids but when you want to get into nature and feel like you are able to be immersed to take in the grandeur, the less you can deal with distractions from the vibe bc of kids, the better
:: wifi was solid and was easy for me to do work video calls, watch movies and stream shows, do email, etc
:: you can see some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the porch or from your bed
:: very comfortable mattress
:: easy access to get help via text
:: great big windows letting in a lot of fantastic natural light and also letting you see the night time skies from the warmth of your unit
:: kitchen is very convenient! has 4 burners, an apartment-sized fridge (vs the crappy personal fridges you use in dorm rooms that do absolutely nothing), and sink. you have only a few utensils but if you needed more forks/spoons/knives/etc you can just reach out to the office and they will get you set up. also furnished with 1 big pan, 1 big pot, plates, cups, glasses. dish soap and sponge are provided.
:: heated floors in the bathroom...so awesome!
:: spacious standing shower
:: welcome gift of keychain and local coffee with a note was very nice!
:: 2 different eyemasks are provided
:: crazy soft bathroom towels...loved them! also had bathrobes for use.
:: bear spray you can borrow from the office to carry for safety during your hikes
:: parking is free...1 spot per unit
:: checkin was super easy...checkin using a digital lockpad
:: comms were great start to finish!
The Bad:
:: my sheets were very rough, worn and bumpy. you could literally run your hands over the sheets and feel them. i didn't notice the first 2 nights because i wore pj pants but when i switched to sleeping shorts, i noticed immediately with my legs and confirmed with my hands. they really need to recycle/reuse older/worn sheets and ensure that all sheets are nice and soft for guests.
:: it was hard to wash dishes in the one sink as there is not much counter space at all to hold food, drinks, and a dish drying rack. i had to put washed dishes into a big bowl and then dry them with a cloth when the bowl got full. also, the counter space available is not adjacent to the sink--it's sink then stove then counter space.
:: the gas for the outdoor small fire pit is not free--it's currently $40 CAD per tank. it feels a bit nickel-and-dime. consider introducing a community set of fire pits that can be turned on and off by personnel that doesn't cost guests money.
:: no condiments, spices, etc outside of a salt and pepper shaker. it's not an AirBnb or Vrbo so don't expect a fully stocked set of things for your use. get your necessities before you arrive because the nearest major grocery store is about 40 minutes away in Canmore! you're going to have to do a lot more meal and grocery planning in advance of arrival to avoid the 40 minute drive in and 40 minute drive back.
:: no convenient place to eat meals except the couch. there is no table or chairs, and i used the folding table they provide to put my luggage on top of to get it out of the way. not a dealbreaker though...just keep your meals simple and easy to eat on the couch so you don't need any elaborate setup for dining!
:: no snowshoes for guests to use
:: no hot cocoa or smores for guests in a community form
The Ugly:
:: none
Would I go back? 100% yes! This place is a fantastic idea and while they are still figuring some things out, being a new business and all, what they have established as the baseline is solid and just needs a little tweaking.
This place is IN. read more