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Wayside Motel is iconic to Manitoulin for its cleanliness and class, and as such we strive to provide you with the best the Island has to offer. Each room offers a stunning 340 sq. ft of bright, quiet space with high ceilings and large window space filling the space with beautiful natural illumination. Thick walls and insulation keep noise and the elements out. They are furnished with hand-made cedar furniture, so characteristic to the Island, and adorned with wall art created by two local artists. We also offer the best Wi-Fi available with Netflix and cable TV, and quality cotton bed sheets diligently ironed just for you! The motel's surroundings are very quiet, encircled by farmers' fields, a woodlot and a meadow. Highway traffic dissolves completely after 6:00 pm leaving only peace and quiet, and the sounds of birds and nature are ever-present. Our location offers spectacular sunsets and a cathedral-night sky of stars. We are on a S-W exposure with lots of sun and warmth. This motel is our pride and joy and we hope you will come to love it as we do.
We stayed three nights and were so glad to have selected this place. Although near the roadway, you do not hear much noise and the location is perfect for doing your day trips on the island. The rooms are quite spacious and allowed for lots of movement within the room itself. Fridge and microwave plus a keurig, it had what we needed and including the AC, everything ran very quietly so our rest was us disturbed. The beds were comfortable, the rooms clean and the bathroom spotless. We did not pay the optional fee for housekeeping yet they still came in to clean out garbage and neaten things up which was super nice of them. There is real,pride in ownership and they want to be helpful. We always packed lunches and often ate dinner in our room and they offered up a kettle or paper plates if we needed them. They do a good job of trying to read the customers well and be as helpful as possible. Absolutely zero complaints here and highly recommend this place and location for your island visit.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:You park right in front of your unit. Book early to avoid disappointment
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 Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Aug 17, 2022
Hello Dear Guest, We are deeply grateful for this insightful, detailed and very kind review. I am sure future travelers will find your description of our motel and your experience here very helpful. Many thanks for choosing us and hopefully you will visit us again in the future. Elizabeth & Wayside staff
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Ideally located right off the highway and close to the only unceded reserve on the island, Wayside Motel is a treat for weary travellers especially after a long drive and ferry ride from Toronto/Tobermory. Close to other attractions on the island, Wayside Motel is the travellers choice if one is looking for clean, spacious, safe and overall high quality “home away from home”. Elizabeth is a wonderful and gracious host and goes out of her way to make guests feel welcome.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip 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.
Response from Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Aug 11, 2021
Hi Ari, Many thanks for this well written and informative review. I am glad that you had a peaceful and refreshing time off on the Island and enjoyed staying in my motel. Many thanks and all the best for you and your family. Elizabeth
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A great motel and a wonderful stay. It served as a great base of operations for my partner and I for our hiking. We'd get back while the sun was setting and relax at the gazebo in front of nicely-kept flowers and trees.
The rooms meanwhile were spacious, quiet and comfy. It was really clean and with all the amenities we needed. They were big with plenty of window space to let the light in or the air out, too, so the whole place felt fresh and bright.
Compared to what Google street-view showed, a lot of additions were made to beautify the motel grounds. Elizabeth really worked hard to make the exterior pretty. I feel like actually checking her website is better than basing off google pictures to get an accurate feel for the place.
I look forward to coming again in the future, especially understanding that all the trees and flowers around it will be further grown and prettier with each year that goes by.
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Date of stay: June 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:All rooms except the "delux" room look about the same.
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 Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Jun 26, 2020
Hi Scott, Thank you for taking your time to write this detailed review...that's very kind of you. I will be happy to host you and John again when you decide to visit our beautiful island. You guys are so much joy to be around. Thank you very much for everything! Elizabeth
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i looked at a lot of pictures of other properties on the Island, and most rooms seemed musty and dated while the Wayside Motel looked modern spacious and comfortable
i was fortunate to spend two nights in two rooms bookending my motorcycle excursion up north and i assure you the pictures do not lie
furthermore, the property's proprietess Elizabeth is as sweet and accommodating as can be. there's even a grill for you to throw some dinner together. you can purchase supplies and drinks a 5 min walk away in Manitowaning village from the FreshMart and LCBO for a surprisingly affordable cost. Elizabeth even stocks some herbs and grilling salts for your pleasure
Manatoulin Island perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I'm already planning a return trip with some fellow moto-buddies to explore it further. truly a natural Canadian gem
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip 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.
Response from Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Jun 24, 2020
Hi Colin, Thank you for these kind words. I am happy that your motorcycle trip was a success. I am looking forward to hosting you again and discussing how mycelium changed the face of the planet and influenced human evolution! You rock man! All the best Elizabeth
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Stayed at the Wayside Motel in Manitowaning for 2 nights during a recent trip to Manitoulin island touring & visiting old family homesteads. It was an extremely clean, comfortable, large room & probably the most quiet room in a small motel we have ever had. Due to info on website we were prepared for lack of dining or take out service nearby & were able to bring takeout purchases to reheat in room for dinners & our own breakfast supplies. Very nice bbq area & seating area out front but weather wasn't bbq friendly. We would definitely stay at Wayside again if visiting island or catching ferry the next morning.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip 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.
Response from Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Sep 19, 2020
Hi Rick, Thank you for your feedback and for letting me know that the information on my website was valuable and helped you overcome some limitation in tourism infrastructure on the Island. I will be happy to open my room to you in future. Elizabeth
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I would definitely stay here again. Loved our room ( very clean, spacious) comfy bed. Elizabeth was attentive to all our questions about where to explore. We enjoyed renting the kayaks from Wayside (Elizabeth gave us life jackets, loaded the kayaks onto her trailer and drove them to the local beach for us). Really really liked sitting in the Muskoka chairs sipping our tea in the morning. And enjoyed eating our lunch on the beautiful outdoor comfy wicker furniture beside the BBQ area. So quiet and peaceful . Loved our stay for two nights.
Thank you so much Elizabeth.
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Date of stay: August 2021
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 Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Aug 10, 2021
Thank you very much Cindy & Heather. I am deeply grateful for this lovely review and for your stay. Hopefully you will be back on the Island, and at Wayside, in the future. Elizabeth
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On a trip to Manitoulin Island, we booked a two night stay at the Wayside Motel because of its central location and positive reviews. On arrival, we were welcomed by proprietress Elizabeth. She explained several extra amenities that we could use during our stay. She also provided helpful information on the area.
Our room was spacious, well equipped, and spotlessly clean. The room was quiet, and the beds were very comfortable. Just what you hope for when you stay in a motel for the first time. What was special about this visit was Elizabeth’s warm hospitality and attention to the “little things” that make for an enjoyable stay. It is a pleasure to recommend the Wayside Motel.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Location
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 Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Sep 15, 2022
Hello Miles, I am always grateful for being blessed with such a wonderful guests as yourself and your lovely wife. many thanks for this kind review and for giving us this opportunity to open our doors to both of you. Have a wonderful fall and visit us again please.
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My teenaged daughter and I stayed one night at the Wayside Motel. The proprietor Elizabeth was very flexible when we had to change our arrival time. All protocols were excellent and we felt very comfortable and safe during our stay. The room was so clean and bright and welcoming. The amenities such and parking, outdoor seating and BBQs were a very nice touch.
The motel was easy to find and located about 25mins from Little Current (where we ate supper) and the lovely tiny community of Manitouwaning. If ever back on Manitoulin Island, I will return! Thank you!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip 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 Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Aug 10, 2020
Hi Amy, Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experiences on this platform. I am grateful for your patronage and these kind words. Best regards Elizabeth
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This motel is truly a gem. The owner Elizabeth has been in contact since booking, so s super friendly and helpful before and during the stay. The rooms are spacious, very clean and as of 2022 newly renovated! Some rooms have a kitchenette with Keurig coffee maker, Microwave, water kettle, fridge and dishes. They also have an outdoor seating area with a BBQ - that too is kept very neat. Last but not least the bed is comfortable as well.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip 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.
Response from Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Sep 13, 2022
Hi Dominic, I am grateful for all these kind words and for your patronage. It was a joy hosting you. Elizabeth
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The motel room was great, spacious and clean. You can park your car next to your room and there is a common bbq outside should you wish to cook food.
The owner was helpful with suggestions and when we had a small issue with the room it was immediately corrected.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Location
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.
Response from Elizabeth Welnar, Owner at Wayside Motel Manitoulin
Responded Nov 2, 2021
Hello, Thanks for taking time to provide this feedback...much appreciated. Elizabeth
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