Somass Motel & RV
5279 River Rd, Port Alberni, British Columbia V9Y 6Z3 Canada
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About
#2 of 6 motels in Port Alberni
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Welcome to our Cottage Style Motel located in the heartland of Vancouver Island's Pacific Rim region. Our central location makes us the perfect base for daytrips throughout the area. Cruise the Alberni Inlet on the MV Lady Rose, ride the summer steam train out to McLean Mill National Historic Site. Our well appointed and air conditioned rooms include 1 and 2 bedroom fully equipped kitchen suites as well as standard rooms with fridge & microwave.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Business Centre with Internet Access
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Seating area
Sofa
Kitchenette
Microwave
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Telephone
Refrigerator
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Korean
Location
5279 River Rd, Port Alberni, British Columbia V9Y 6Z3 Canada
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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.
Grade: 54 out of 100
54
Alberni Valley Regional Airport
10.2 km•
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Qualicum Airport
28.8 km•
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Rental Cars
18 Restaurants
within 1 kilometer
Reviews
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Detailed Reviews

A few tidy, level, graveled spots. Ours had electric and water. A couple had dumps too. The rest of this place is small cabin motel rooms. Everything seems pretty well kept up. There is one bathroom and shower, which means if someone is showering you aren’t going to be able to use the bathroom. The shower is small and the hot water is not abundant but it’s adequate. small outdoor pool that looked clean. Staff was friendly.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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 was a little nervous about this because there were no reviews, but my frugal side won out and I booked because of the price. I was pleasantly suprised.
The owners take very good care of this property. It's spotlessly clean and possibly recently renovated. There are flower gardens everywhere, from which they cut fresh flowers for the rooms. There's also a PC in the lobby for quick internet access, and free ports in the rooms if you have your laptop. They also have numerous brochures and guides in the lobby to help plan your activities, and the owner is great about giving suggestions.
I even recommended this place to my mother-in-law!
But be sure you have the right place. There's also the Somass Guest House (a B&B just down the road), and the Somass Hotel (downtown, and looked scary).
The owners take very good care of this property. It's spotlessly clean and possibly recently renovated. There are flower gardens everywhere, from which they cut fresh flowers for the rooms. There's also a PC in the lobby for quick internet access, and free ports in the rooms if you have your laptop. They also have numerous brochures and guides in the lobby to help plan your activities, and the owner is great about giving suggestions.
I even recommended this place to my mother-in-law!
But be sure you have the right place. There's also the Somass Guest House (a B&B just down the road), and the Somass Hotel (downtown, and looked scary).
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Date of stay: July 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
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.
An older motel, but very well maintained. We had the familly unit which has a well equipped kitchen, great to make simple meals. Very clean overall, spotless bathroom, great shower, comfortable bed. We have stayed here a few times over the last ten years, and will again if in the area.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Our family went to Port Alberni and stayed at this motel & Rv in summer time.
Fantastic views and the family-friendly staff made us just like home. The room was very clean and comfortable, with good bed linens and towels.
Everything was perfect as we needed, clean and comfortable, - WiFi, internet and a suitably equipped kitchenette. The swimming pool my kids loved was very nice and relaxing us for Our tired bodies in hot days. We were very helpful lots of advice about road, restaurants and etc.... We were very happy, a memorable experience and relaxed during our stay, overall both parents and kids had a wonderful time!
Will definitely come back again and recommend it to more friends!
Fantastic views and the family-friendly staff made us just like home. The room was very clean and comfortable, with good bed linens and towels.
Everything was perfect as we needed, clean and comfortable, - WiFi, internet and a suitably equipped kitchenette. The swimming pool my kids loved was very nice and relaxing us for Our tired bodies in hot days. We were very helpful lots of advice about road, restaurants and etc.... We were very happy, a memorable experience and relaxed during our stay, overall both parents and kids had a wonderful time!
Will definitely come back again and recommend it to more friends!
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Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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've stayed with my husband at the Somass Motel & RV on at least three occasions. It certainly isn't meant to be a luxury getaway, but we are outdoor enthusiasts and love this hotel as a perfect stopover point for our travels. It is quiet and the guests always seem to be respectful of one another. The owners are polite and friendly, and as mentioned in the other review, very attentive to cleanliness and detail here.
If you are driving through and just need a good night's sleep, don't hesitate!
If you are driving through and just need a good night's sleep, don't hesitate!
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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 stayed for two nights and were impressed by many things. Modern rooms with flat screens and comfortable beds. We stayed in a pet friendly room that even had its own little garden and picnic table. The owners were friendly and professional. They even came outside to wave us goodbye as we drove off. We have recommended to all our friends as a great alternative to paying double or more in Tofino.
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Date of stay: May 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 stayed at this motel for the past 4 years. Each of the first 3 years things went very well. Our room was made up and cleaned each day including fresh coffee and mints. This year was different. There are new owners of the hotel, even though they are very nice and courteous there housekeeping ideas are different then the last owners. The first day we did not ask for anything other than fresh towels, the next three days we asked for normal service, I guess their idea of normal service only includes making the bed. We did not get fresh sheets that we could tell any of our nights. The room was not vacuumed, the coffee service was not refreshed nor was the bathroom sink or counter cleaned.
After our great treatment by the previous owners this was a real let down. We usually tip our housekeeping staff but we did not during this stay. I hope that it is just growing pains because we have always enjoyed our stays at the Somass Motel. We will return next year and give it another chance but if things are the same we will not return.
After our great treatment by the previous owners this was a real let down. We usually tip our housekeeping staff but we did not during this stay. I hope that it is just growing pains because we have always enjoyed our stays at the Somass Motel. We will return next year and give it another chance but if things are the same we will not return.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Not a lot of people spend a lot of time in Port Alberni, unless of course you live or work there. If you're just passing through, this is an excellent place to spend a night or two. It's on the road to Tofino/Ucluelet, in town, and possibly the cleanest motel you'll spend time in. It has a pool and a barbecue as well.
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 SomassMotel, Manager at Somass Motel & RV
Responded May 7, 2018
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your recent stay at Somass Motel & RV in Port Alberni. We take all of our guest's feedback and suggestions very seriously. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back when you visit us again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Before you’ve even entered your room you realize that this is a place owned and run by people who care. My husband and I have stayed here on several occasions and have been totally satisfied each time. Check in is friendly and personable, the rooms spotlessly clean and you can tell that the owners have thought of all the little details that make a person’s stay comfortable. I certainly plan to stay here again!
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Date of stay: July 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 SomassMotel, Manager at Somass Motel & RV
Responded May 7, 2018
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your recent stay at Somass Motel & RV in Port Alberni. We take all of our guest's feedback and suggestions very seriously. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back when you visit us again.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at the Somass Motel in May of 2013. Assigned the task of finding a reasonably priced place to stay before and after our trip down Barkley Sound to Bamfield on the working boat, HMS Francis Barkley, I did my internet research and was impressed with all of the positive feedback. Having stayed at motels a few times and vowing to avoid it again if at all possible, it was quite a surprise to read such great things about the Somass Motel. I bought in and booked our stay. We ended up staying there twice because it was such a great experience. This motel is like no other motel I have ever seen or heard of. I was blown away! As we drove up the first thing to stand out was how great to place looked. New roofs, fresh paint, really nice landscaping....not at all like any motel I have ever seen. Then, even more surprising were the interiors. Beautiful! The rooms were completely redone with perfect bathrooms. All white, new tubs, showers, sinks. flooring and paint. Everything was spotless! The beds are wonderful. Much like a very good hotel. Marriott comes to mind and I have a very high view of Marriott. Nice sheets with good looking bedspreads and beautiful fluffy pillows. I was truly blown away. There was a regular coffee maker and also a gourmet pod coffee maker in our first room, (#10) though just the regular coffee maker in our second room, (#15). The rooms both have small refrigerators and microwave ovens, flat panel tv's and clean new carpeting. #10 was the first one we stayed in and it included wonderful white terry cloth robes, again much like a very good hotel. When we came back and were lucky to score a room again for a few nights we did not find robes in #15. No problem, our gracious hosts provided them as a courtesy. It is good to note that not all rooms come with the robes and pod coffee makers and we did not know so if you want these things you might want to mention it. I would have been very happy without them but after having the robe on the first visit I was a bit hooked and glad they were able to come up with one for me again. The outside of each unit has very comfortable chairs and a table and for the larger cabins there are picnic tables. The flower beds were filled with flowers and the grounds were very clean. In one area fo the grounds there is a little grotto surrounded by trees and flowers with tables and chairs for a group of people to sit. I played my banjo out there and it was magic. There are few BBQ's on the premisses though no one we saw used one while we were there and there is a pool though we were there off season so it was not full and too cold to swim. The pool area looked good though and I am sure it is great at the height of summer. Here is the biggest deal about the Somass...the service is truly amazing. I know a lot about the hotel business and seriously, these wonderful people for sure know the meaning of hospitality. They were so outstanding I do not know where to begin. Okay, maybe I do. The first think they did was completely map for us how to get to where we needed to go to catch our superfine working boat. They figured out where we could safely park our pretty high end luxury car for four days while we took off down Barkley Sound. When they saw there were two of us, out of nowhere one of them appeared at our door with a second robe for my partner and some bath salts for me. Some of my outfits needed a bit of pressing and when we asked if there was an iron we could use, an iron and ironing board were delivered to our room within 15 minutes. This couple is warm, professional and savvy. They also hold the key to truly great hospitality and that is the gift of anticipation. Housekeeping was very good also. In fact, we stayed at three places during our 11 days on Vancouver Island and though one was a hotel on the harbor in Victoria, the housekeeping was by far the best at the Somass Motel. I am very grateful to people who write reviews and am paying it forward here.
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Date of stay: May 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 SomassMotel, Manager at Somass Motel & RV
Responded May 7, 2018
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your recent stay at Somass Motel & RV in Port Alberni. Your review is very important to us and we take our customers comments and suggestions very seriously. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back when you visit us again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
somass hotel port alberni, somass hotel rv
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaVancouver IslandAlberni-Clayoquot Regional DistrictPort Alberni
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Somass Motel & RV
Which popular attractions are close to Somass Motel & RV?
Nearby attractions include Stamp River Provincial Park (0.3 km), Nuu-Chah-Nulth Whaling Canoe Sculpture (0.7 km), and Naesgaard's Farm & Market (0.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Somass Motel & RV?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Somass Motel & RV?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Somass Motel & RV?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Somass Motel & RV?
Conveniently located restaurants include Pescadores Bistro, Boomerangs Cafe, and Bare Bones Fish House & Smokery.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Somass Motel & RV?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Somass Motel & RV?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Somass Motel & RV?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Korean.
Are there any historical sites close to Somass Motel & RV?
Many travellers enjoy visiting McLean Mill National Historic Site (5.4 km) and Petroglyphs at Sproat Lake (1.4 km).