Description: The drive from Fort Nelson to Watson Lake was short and we had almost decided to skip this stop however we decided to take a break and visit the Liard Hot Springs halfway through the drive. We arrived into Watson Lake a little after 4pm, which was good considering that in this town, especially during the winter, there is very little to almost nothing to do.
The Belvedere Hotel boasts that it is the newest and nicest hotel in town and with that said I’d hate to see what the town’s other motel is like. Upon entering, we rang the bell in the large deserted lobby and waited a few moments until a gentleman entered and attempted to check us in. I can only guess that he was a friend of one of the staff because he finally told us we would have to wait for the front desk clerk because he didn’t know where our keys to our room were placed. Conveniently enough, the front desk clerk suddenly appeared, at which point we received our keys and were then advised that if we left the hotel premises after 9pm, we would be locked out because the front doors are locked. I must admit that this worried us both, but since the town looked so small, my husband and I didn’t think we would be out enjoying any nightlife that evening.
After being told that the only place in town to eat was right down the street at the Gateway Motor Inn, we headed to our room with a bit of reluctance.
Our room was large but furnished very sparingly and cheaply. The main room contained a king size bed that was awfully lumpy, two bed side tables, a small television on top of a small dresser, and an oscillating fan that was placed over in a corner near the window. The green hung rather drably and almost gave us the impression that we were staying in the slums. The bathroom was very small and included a rusty shower with a constant leak that annoyed us throughout the night, a toilet and a small vanity that was a bit dark due to a blown light bulb.
Later that evening, after dinner, we retired to our room to be serenaded by a very vocal dog whose owners must have been staying somewhere near us as well as an occasional television. The next morning upon checking out, we left our keys on the front desk as we had been instructed to do if we left before 8am as no one would be on duty before that time. We had a quick breakfast at the restaurant located in the motel, which for some reason was not open the night before for dinner and then were on our way, gladly.
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