1st Ave, Val Marie, Val Marie, Saskatchewan S0N 2T0 Canada
The Convent Country Inn
61 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Can't say enough about this place. Adam and his mom run a very efficient, clean, welcoming inn. It is absolutely spotless, the beds are very comfortable and we were very welcome and felt at home. The breakfasts were made fresh, and did you for most of day while exploring the grasslands. Adam was great for giving us just about any information about the local area, or basically anything you wanted to know, he was a wealth of knowledge. I will definately stay here again on my next visit to Val Marie.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed during the May long weekend and happened to be there at the same time as a larger, older group. The hosts at the Convent Inn take good care of their guests from arrival to departure. Tip: Bring slippers or shoe covers to walk around the common areas, and be mindful of the slow drains. I especially enjoyed playing the ancient Sega Genesis on the ancient TV, all by myself in the common room at 11 PM :D
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Convent Inn in Val Marie! It is so fortunate that the owners were willing to take on the restoration! Only days before the wrecking ball we've heard! So not only did we enjoy the history of restored building, the immaculate rooms, and interesting paintings, photos and other works throughout, we were treated to exceptional hosts. They have been welcoming guests - retirees and families and everyone in between - into their inn for over a decade. Their willingness to accommodate, and the enjoyment of their guests is evident, as is their pride in the amazing accomplishment that is the Convent Inn! The breakfast is the real deal, FULL plates of your choosing no less, and bottomless cups of superb coffee!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If you enjoy B and Bs, you will love this one. Fellow guests regretted not being able to stay...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Val Marie is a destination you must experience with its iconic grasslands, rare prairie wildlife, and the incredible Milky Way in one of Canada’s darkest night skies! But find another place to stay than at the Convent Inn, if you have children accompanying you. Our difficulties began when we attempted to book our accommodations online a full six months prior to arrival. All was completed with no down payment required until, upon inspection by a family member, we found that our reservations were completely erased! When we questioned the owner, we were told only that his website wasn’t reliable; no apology and no attempt to contact us. With some maneuvering we managed to book all the rooms and did stay there anyway, much to our later dismay… Whenever we called about our accommodations because, of course, we were anxious we would lose it again, we were warned to “control our kids, or we would be kicked out”, (his exact words) and “keep our eyes on our kids at all times or we would be evicted”. Although it seemed excessive, I warned our three families with a total of eight Little ones, all under eight years old, and we weren’t concerned, having stayed in many hotels, motels and Air b’n bs over the years with absolutely no concerns whatsoever. This, however, proved to be different and disastrous! From the moment we entered the dining room for breakfast, the owner appeared to be looking for trouble, accusing our 4 yr. old of climbing all over the furniture (he was reaching across the table for a glass) and our 6 yr. old of the same thing when she hitched herself up on her elbows to better see the jewelry display several feet away.. It didn’t end there and ended up an unqualified disaster. We will be going back to Val Marie again, for it is a gorgeous, spectacular destination but we will never stay at the Convent Inn again, where the host yelled that “No, I don’t have kids and I never want them!!!” (his exact words) His behaviour was hateful and our children were terrified of him… 👎
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:There are several other options for accommodations in or near Val Marie that offer a much better...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mette Ducan, Owner at The Convent Country Inn
Responded Sep 10, 2023
The customers stood by and did nothing while their children ran around the building waking our other guests at 7am, in the dining room they allowed their children to stand on their chairs and play with the overhead light fixtures (twice), they also allowed one of their children to climb on top of one of the tables. When I told their child to get off the table, one of the parents started yelling at me and became verbally abusive. For the rest of the weekend the customers would refuse to respond and just glare at me every time I greeted them or wished them a good day. This is the first time I've encountered this kind of passive/aggressive hostility in my 10 years of managing the business. We've had hundreds of families stay here with no issue, kids are welcome. However, if you are a permissive parent who allows your children to treat the building like a jungle gym with no regard for their chilren's safety or the well being of our other guests, then this probably isn't the place for you. With that said, one of the guests did email us in January when we were closed for the winter with a reservation request which we did respond to, but we failed to enter it into our system when we opened in April, I had conflated this with a spam filtering issue we had around the same time when they offhandedly mentioned an early email upon check-in. They also failed to mention this in the 9 emails I exchanged with one of their family members who contacted us to book the rooms in June. This was entirely our fault, and if the customer had explained this or possibly showed us the email, I would have made it right.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was my second time staying at the Convent Inn and it was as delightful an experience as the first time. There were three of us in our group and we so enjoyed the Inn. It really is part of the fantastic experience of exploring Val Marie itself and the superb Grasslands Park.
At the heart of this Inn is Adam and his Mom…we felt so welcome! We didn’t arrive there until 7 pm and Adam went it of his way to meet us there and get us plates, cutlery, even a tea pot and cups so we could heat up some food and enjoy a cup of tea after a long drive. There is a little lunch room complete with microwave, small fridge, and kettle on the third floor of the Inn. It’s shared space, so you need to use it respectfully and clean up after yourselves. We were grateful to have that access.
The beds are comfy, the Inn is very clean, and a lovely breakfast is served. There are even little baggies in the breakfast room…. If you don’t eat your whole breakfast, make a little sandwich and much on it later while hiking Grasslands. We’re we’re glad we did that!
We are already planning a trip back to Val Marie and Grasslands and will be sure to stay at the Inn.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Be open to meeting interesting people at the Inn. People come from all over to visit the area. ...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was extremely pleasant to stay in this historic building. We stayed two nights and I wish we could have stayed for more. Adam is such a nice host! He is very accommodating and kind and makes you feel at home. He even went the extra mile by bringing us his organic peanut butter from his own home because we are vegans and couldn't eat everything on the breakfast menu. Even if we couldn't eat everything on the breakfast menu we still had a very decent and filling meal. The breakfast is included in the room rate which is very great value. The sunsets are to die for. It is a very quiet building in a very quiet town. The town of Val Marie is very charming. It is so peaceful and heartwarming to hang out outside of the building and walk around the town. There is plenty of space in the common rooms to relax with music, boardgames and more. The entire building is very cozy. It is located very close to Grassland's National Park (West Block) I'd say less than 30 mins drive. It is not only the perfect gateway to the grasslands but staying at the convent is an experience itself. I highly recommend staying there and I also recommend making a reservation. We will definitely be back next time we visit Saskatchewan. Many thanks to Adam!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have driven through Val Marie numerous times over the years while crossing the border into Montana, and each time I would say how I would love to spend a few days at Grasslands National Park someday. Well, 2020 and Covid-19 brought me my "someday", as our usual travel plans fell apart and I decided to go on a solo Saskatchewan hiking weekend in early September.
I'm not sure how I stumbled across this wonderful Inn, but I knew it was the right choice for my adventure from the moment I entered the door. The warm wood, the unique decor that surprises and amuses you with every room you explore, the clean, comfortable bedroom, and the proximity to the West Block make it the perfect prairie getaway. Adam is a gracious host, and over a surprisingly hearty breakfast each morning, he answered questions from me and the other guests about the area (where to get gas, where to hike, how far to the East Block, etc.) and shared with us some history about the magnificent building and the quaint village of Val Marie.
I appreciated the little kitchenette on the second floor with a microwave, electric kettle and small fridge, especially since restaurant options are limited this year. The shower is hot and the lounging areas and chapel are comfortable and thoughtfully furnished.
September is my birthday month and I have decided to make this an annual birthday trip for myself, but next time I want to stay at least three nights instead of just two. There is so much to see and do in the area, and this is the most unique stay you could ever ask for, as a solo trip, or with friends and family.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staying at the Convent Inn will allow you to imagine life in a simpler time, but you will still get to enjoy a hearty breakfast and good company. We were thrilled with the welcome given to all guests, and appreciated the cleanliness and attention to detail offered by our host Adam. Although the weather got hot during the day, there were constant breezes and low humidity. At night, the inn cooled off to allow us to sleep comfortably. We enjoy exploring Grasslands National Park during the day (awesome hikes for any level), and were grateful to be able to enjoy the star-filled night sky. Lastly, we enjoyed meeting other couples from across Canada. We definitely recommend the Convent Inn if you want to have a holiday to remember.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:We were on main floor and it was quiet.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Convent is a beautiful old building with a lot history to tell. The rooms we stayed in were small but that is to the expected with an old building being repurposed.
Val Marie and the grasslands park are beautiful and our family had a great time in the area. We enjoyed hikes and ecotours, and saw buffalo, rattle snakes and prairie dogs.
The Convent owners ruined our stay at the convent. Our experience was crushed the first morning by the owners yelling at our young children so that they were too scared to go back the next morning for breakfast. We were also called “bigot’s” when a pride sticker was found peeled on his exterior door, this was not us and could have been anyone with access to the exterior of the building. We spent as little time as possible at the convent while in the area solely due to the angry and accusatory behavior of the hosts.
We would 100% not recommend staying here.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mette Ducan, Owner at The Convent Country Inn
Responded Sep 10, 2023
This is someone from the group who left the other bad review. This is also the guy responsible for us adopting a zero tolerance policy for abusive behavior. By 'yelling' I'm assuming the customer is talking about when I said "Hey, get off the table" when I saw their child literally climbing on top of one of the display tables in the dining room. At this point the customer started screaming at me: "DON'T YOU TALK TO MY KIDS THAT WAY! I bet you don't even have kids!!", to which I responded: "Thankfully I don't, and I wouldn't have to talk to them that way if you kept them under control". They became even more abusive at this point. The customers stood by and did nothing while their children ran around the building waking our other guests at 7am, in the dining room they allowed their children to stand on their chairs and play with the overhead light fixtures (twice), there was also the incident mentioned above. For the rest of the weekend the customers would refuse to respond and just glare at me every time I greeted them or wished them a good day. This is the first time I've encountered this kind of passive/aggressive hostility in my 10 years of managing the business. This is also the only time we've had any vandalism in the building. When I asked the guest if they knew anything about the vandalized sticker, they exploded at me and accused me of vandalizing it myself. They then said they would destroy our business with bad reviews. I never called anyone bigoted, I did say that vandalizing the sticker is a bigoted thing to do however. We've had hundreds of families stay here with no issue, kids are welcome. However, if you are a permissive parent who allow their children to treat the building like a jungle gym with no regard for their children's safety or the well being of our other guests, then this probably isn't the place for you.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The nice and cozy Inn was converted from an old convent/high school. It has ten bedrooms on three floors. You have to share bathrooms with other guests. However, there are big common rooms if you want to rest from visiting the Grassland National Park. The beloved host Robert passed away and his son, Adam, took over the family business. He is very nice and welcoming. The Inn offer free breakfast and Adam cooks for you and normally will share the local weather, society, roadway conditions, etc. with you on the breakfast table. Nice and cozy.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Do tell Adam what size of room you need based on your group size.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Val Marie area.
LOCATION
CanadaSaskatchewanVal Marie
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.