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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:Â 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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We would liked to have had two more throw pillows. The rooms were clean, bright and roomy with useful appliances. The rooms were quiet at night, with minimal hiway traffice noise. We made our reservations at the Wayside at the last minute, because other motel reservations we had made were cancelled. Given the circumstances the staff were extremely accomodating.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip 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 Nov 16, 2023
Hi Bruce Many thanks for reviewing us. We hope to see you again soon. 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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Additional touches like the use of a barbequeue really make this an excellent find. Pre-season in Manitowang makes this very nice as the restaurants may not be open yet.
Easy 20 minute drive to the ferry, and a good location to explore Manitoulin.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Nice amenities -- teapot and kettle, as well as a coffee maker.
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.
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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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 host, Elizabeth, greeted us upon arrival and was extremely helpful in assisting with lots of different places to visit and things to do during our stay. We were at Wayside for 3 nights. Elizabeth gave us a map of the island and informed us about all the amenities in the town. the room was immaculate, very well presented and had all the equipment we needed to be self catering should we choose to cook for ourselves. The sofa was very comfortable as was the bed. A lovely quite and peaceful location, with the opportunity to walk into Manitowaning. Would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: July 2023
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 Aug 27, 2023
We are deeply grateful for your kind words Kate and for staying with us this summer. Elizabeth
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This place was either recently renovated (everything looked new) or very well cleaned, or both! We immediately felt comfortable. A lot of little touches that make a difference. Things like coat hooks (vs. hangers), boot tray, kitchen wares (including paper towels), dixie cups, etc. The location is ideal (only about 30 minutes from ferry) and it was very quiet during the night. Will definitely go back, but for longer than only 1 night!
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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 Jul 22, 2023
HI Helen, Thank yo very much for your kind words and yes come back to explore the Island. We'll be happy to host you again. Best regards Elizabeth
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My boyfriend and I LOVED this motel near the small village of Manitowaning. I was already impressed with the friendly, helpful tone of the hostess, Elizabeth during our emails back and forth during pre-booking. The motel is about 20 minutes from the ferry at South Baymouth, easy to find, and well worth the drive. The room was clean, airy, spacious beyond our expectations, and well supplied. We had our choice of different coffees in the room, two beds, and lots of room for comfortable seating and luggage and coat storage. She even lent us an electric kettle so we could enjoy a hot tea when we wanted one. Elizabeth reviewed the local map with us and suggested several spots not to be missed on the island. We were so impressed with Elizabeth's natural warmth and good nature, her eagerness to please, and true desire to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. I highly recommend this motel to anyone staying on Manitoulin Island either overnight or for a lengthier stay.
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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 Oct 18, 2022
Hello Barb, I am deeply grateful for this insightful review. It is easy to be open and welcoming when blessed with such kind, conscientious and nonjudgmental people as our guests are. Our guests, just like you, are very special and unique individuals that deserve the best. I am happy that you felt welcome and had a comfortable stay. Many thanks and gratitude for choosing us. Elizabeth
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We stayed in a double bed room and were there for 3 nights. The check in was smooth, and we received a good deal of information about local activities and locations.
The room was clean and extremely well maintained. The washroom was sparkling and the towels were plush and quick to dry. The beds were very comfortable and the ac/heater was a welcome addition to the fluctuating weather. There was a coffee maker, a kettle, teabags, coffee pods, creamer and sugar, all stocked up with other kitchen utensils.
My only gripe was the slow internet, but there could be many factors that may not exactly be under the motel's control.
All in all, the high rating makes sense, and we would surely stay here again when in the area. Bright light during the day, quiet nights, ample parking, reasonably close to other spots, ideal in almost every way.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Internet isn't too fast, but streaming is possible in its lowest resolution.
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 Apr 18, 2023
Hello Apurva, Many thanks for choosing us nd for writing two fantastic review. Yes, the internet speed is beyond our control but, good news on this front. After waiting for over a year we are finally getting our Starlink gear shipped. Hopefully this will improve the viewing & communication experience. All the best to you. Elizabeth
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