My wife and I chose to stay at Long Beach Lodge on a recent January weekend to enjoy some relaxing and storm watching. After considerable research into the more high-end Tofino properties, including receiving exact rate quotes from each, we called and reserved. We were very excited about spending a very special anniversary here.
Upon check in, it became apparent that our quoted rate was not going to be honoured, that a mistake (on their part) was made in the calculation of the room taxes. The supervisor at the front desk became quite condescending when asked if they were not going to honour the rate that we had received a confirmation email for. When told her that I could show her on my iphone the confirmation email, she asked me to give her my phone so she could see for herself. Even still, reading the email was not good enough for her, she kept repeating that a mistake was made, and quite sarcastically said more than once "so you are looking for a further discount". Trying to explain to this young woman that I was not looking for any kind of discount at all, just for my confirmed rate to be honoured, was like talking to a 11 year old. Only after another couple arrived to check in did she quickly agree, obviously not wanting the other folks to hear what was going on. If not for the fact that one nights stay had already been charged, we would have left and gone elsewhere.
I'm VERY glad we didn't.
After checking in, and finding a gracious welcome letter from the manager with his email address asking to be contacted if anything was not to our liking, we did exactly that. To our amazement, he responded almost immediately, could not have been more apologetic, and took immediate steps to ensure that the rest of our special weekend was perfect. If anything, he went beyond what one would have reasonably expected. The rest of our stay was, quite literally, perfect. The gentleman even interrupted his dinner one evening (he appeared to be with his family) to introduce himself to us personally and again apologize.
From the staff (Lara in the dining room in particular is an absolute gem) to the food to the guest room, to the 'great room' and it's spectacular fireplace, to housekeeping. Everything about this lodge is first class.
What an amazing weekend. Kudos to the manager of this resort for turning one extremely unhappy customer, who would have torn them apart in this Tripadvisor review, to one extremely happy customer, who will not stay anywhere else on future visits to Tofino.
They have made a customer for life.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC