Braeside Country Inn — Hotel in Pictou

I waited 2 months to write this. ||||1. When we arrived, we were told our reservation had been canceled because I had provided "an invalid credit card number" and "an invalid phone number". The owner had 1 number incorrect in each. I corrected it for her on the hand written sheet she had. The owner then informed me that she had tried to email me that day. We were completing our second day of driving from NY to Nova Scotia. I was not checking emails. We had a printed reservation but she said that "didn't mean anything" because people provide false numbers all the time.||2. We came back the next day to fulfill our reservation for the week- there was no other place to stay and we were 14 hours from home. That night, we moved a few chairs in the common room to play a game of dominoes. We were told "we were making noise".||3. At breakfast on the third day, my friend moved a chair to be closer to the window table which had a view of the bay. The owner immediately came out and said that the table was set for 2 - there were other tables set for 4, and to not move the furniture because we were scratching the floor (take a look at the floor btw if you are there). Other patrons had moved chairs with no reprimand.||4. We had locked our bikes outside. We bought bells locally. We were trying the bells when we heard a rap on the window and got a stern finger wagging from the owner. We still do not know what this about.||5. At one point, the internet was not working. I went downstairs (we were staying on the third floor) with my laptop and found there was another wifi connection. I saw the owner and explained that I came down because the wifi did not seem to be working. It was also not working in my friends room. Instead of saying "I will look into it for you", the owner took out her phone, and showed me her email saying "see - it is working". I noticed she was on a different wifi and explained that to her. Ten minutes later, she came back to me downstairs and says the wifi is working because she stood outside my door and tried her email. Draw your own conclusion here.||6. When we made the reservation, we were told we would have to move one of the rooms on the last night, to which we agreed. Two days before this would happen, the owner told us to wait and she would let us know if we needed to move - maybe a cancellation would occur and we could stay where we were. The next day - the day before the possible move - we came back to the hotel around 10. We saw the owner - spoke with the owner. Nothing was said of moving. The next morning, we had early tickets for the ferry. On the way out at 7:30, 3 of us in the car waiting to go to the ferry, the owner stopped my friend and tells him we have to move. There was no way we could at that point. We had seen the owner right before bed the previous night and nothing was said. The owner texted me while we were on the ferry. I suggested having the people coming in take the room she was going to move us to - there was obviously a room available. She texted back saying I was not respecting her and her rules (I saved the text - her words). Again she accused me of proving an "invalid number and credit card". ||7. My wife was having back problems all week but seriously put her back out that day. We cut the day short, went to the hospital (it was that bad), and came back to the hotel. We were literally accosted by the owner and her daughter accusing us of trying to not pay for the week. They came to our door - I was on the phone with my wife's Doctor, as my wife was on the bed in tears from the pain. I explained that I would take care of everything but would she please give me a few minutes to finish up. She was literally yelling at us and said "I have pain too" and demanded I sign a receipt, which I did after her daughter reached in the room and slammed it down on the dresser. She then went to our friends room and was screaming at my friend's wife also. Other guests came out into the hall. It was a scene.||||Summary: We provided a valid card and number. Why there was 1 number wrong in each, I do not know. A simple google search would have found my number. I corrected the 2 incorrect digits the day we arrived - even though we had to find other lodgings that night. The entire time from then on, they had our correct numbers. ...

We stayed at this inn for 2 nights and 3 days. While it is marketed as a boutique inn, I have traveled extensively across the country and can confidently say that it does not meet that standard. It might qualify as a boutique motel at best. Let me explain.

This place has the potential to be one of the top 10 boutique inns in the East. The building structure is beautiful, and the interior has a lot of potential. However, the management does not seem to know how to care for this lovely space. The interior design and color choices give off a depressing vibe—it's like the worst of vintage decor. From the questionable color combinations to the abundance of fake plants, outdated coffee pots, unattractive curtains, and the most uncomfortable bed imaginable, it was a disappointing experience.it was just that uncomfortable. The colors in the room were overwhelming and made me feel suffocated.

Here are some pros and cons to consider before booking:

Pros: The building's structure is old and beautiful, especially inside. near the bay side so many restaurants to visit tiny little town so pretty much everything is walking distance. Short drive to ferries.

Cons: There is a strange odor in the building, likely due to the owners living on-site and cooking. This smell, combined with an old scent, is unpleasant and mainly noticeable in the main hall. Although the host is a lovely person with an inspiring story, she needs better training in hospitality. The small details profoundly impact the guest experience. For instance, the rooms were not stocked with enough coffee or cream. On the second day, we asked for more coffee and cream. The room was cleaned, but the coffee wasn't refilled. No big deal. When my husband called to request additional coffee later, the host said, "I already gave you; it wasn't enough," in a tone that felt negative and made us uncomfortable. For the record, she provided only two coffee packets and very little milk.

The management comes across as stingy, evident in the meager breakfast offerings and room upkeep. The exterior of the building was quite dirty with spider webs on the main entrance door. Dirt is not vintage—please clean it. The fridge was turned off.

The water pressure was SOO TERRIBLE. No pressure at all. Lol.

Overall, the hospitality felt insincere. I genuinely believe Linda is a good person with a commendable life story, but I hope she considers taking a class in inn management. While the place itself is beautiful, its maintenance does not align with some of the more positive reviews.

This is neither vintage nor boutique. I hope the owner takes this feedback seriously and makes the necessary changes. The potential for this place is fantastic, and I truly hope they...

Linda is an amazing hostess and has an architecturally stunning inn! I had a comfortable corner room with two white linen double beds and an ocean view. Slept well. But important to say here is that I lost my diamond stud earring because I was talking on the phone with my husband and not paying attention while I was putting my earrings on. It must have fallen on my sweater while I thought I put it in my ear. Long story short when I noticed it wasn't in my ear Linda said she would ask her daughter to help find it as she has good eyes. Apparently so! I had to leave for the day but while I was gone Dana found it on the hardwood floor in the huge dining room. A miraculous feat. But what struck me was how thoughtful and caring Linda was when I mentioned I lost it. The time and the energy both she and her daughter took to find it, well... astounding. Not sure a chain hotel would have given me that kind of positive, caring experience. I am so grateful to both of them! Yes they even went through my trash cans, and her flower arrangements and the area I ate breakfast in their beautiful dining room. Linda called me immediately to let me know Dana found it on the dining room floor! Made my day and restored my hope for humanity! Seriously, I was not only impressed they found such a little thing but that they are so thoughtful and caring of their guests. I know where I will be staying the next time I'm in the area! 100% The Braeside...