During our trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake my girlfriend and I spent one night at the Somerset Bed Breakfast. Overall, we had a great time but for the price point there were a number of things that could be improved.
The location is perfect for exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake and any of the nearby wineries. It's close enough to walk to the main historic area but far enough that you're able to enjoy the privacy staying outside of the city center.
The property is located right on Lake Ontario so all of the rooms have an amazing view of the Lake, Toronto Skyline, and mouth of the Niagara River. You can also see Fort Niagara over in New York - a bonus for history lovers!
During our trip we spent the night in the Master Suite. The room is more than 1,000 square feet and more space than you would ever need for two people. There was a full seating area, dining area, two queen beds, and a beautiful modern bathroom. The best part about the bathroom was the jacuzzi, which my girlfriend enjoyed.
The bed was comfortable and the quiet property meant I had an amazing sleep. Really loved the pillows and bathrobe to use in the morning.
Although I didn't get much of a chance to speak to her, Julie, the host of the B&B, was friendly and welcoming. She made a few recommendations on places to eat nearby and prepared breakfast for us the next morning.
All of the other small details you look for when you're spending the night away from home were met. The wifi worked well, there are towels, bathroom amenities, the parking is easy, and the location is perfect for exploring.
Despite all of this, there are some things I want to mention.
Before arriving I looked up the B&B and found out that it’s located on a historic property. There are also some historic sites just down the street that visitors to Niagara-on-the-Lake might want to check out. Julie never mentioned any of this and didn't share much information about the property. The tourist map that was provided wasn't of much use and it would have been difficult to know what to do in town if we hadn't come prepared or weren’t as familiar technology.
At one point we arrived to find a repairman in the driveway. I'm not sure about the circumstances surrounding his arrival but having to deal with the repairman while on vacation at a $400+ per night B&B is not something I ever expected.
Later on my girlfriend went to take a bath and the battery-powered candles left beside the tub didn’t work. We tried the remote and the switch on the candle but couldn’t figure it out. Something like this needs to be checked regularly!
Another thing I noticed in the room was that were random tools and items in the drawers. There was a glue stick, tape, and some furniture pieces or large mats in the closet. This was unusual to me and not something that should be left behind in the rooms.
Having heard so many great things about the breakfast I was really looking forward to it in the morning. It started off with a poached? Pear with yogurt and granola. Very well done despite the pear sliding around the oversized plate.
The main course was what I would call a “deconstructed breakfast sandwich”. It came with fried ham, poached eggs, a tomato slice, and a toasted English muffin. There wasn’t any sauce so the bread was dry - so dry that at one point my girlfriend burst into laughter watching me try to saw through it with the knife. The presentation was off and I found the flavor to be subpar.
Throughout breakfast the door into the kitchen was left open so my girlfriend and I were able to enjoy listening to the conversation of Julie and the other staff member. Shutting the door would have resulted in a more casual dining experience for the both of us!
Overall, I'm not sure I would personally recommend staying at the Somerset B&B. For the price you could enjoy a premium level of service from a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Alternatively, there are a number of B&B’s nearby offering better value for a more competitive price. Do your research before booking and I'm sure you'll be fine!