There are lots of small motel/hotel options in Ucluelet, but there is only one Black Rock Resort.
When we were looking for a place to call our temporary home on Island for our trip, we needed something that was pet friendly, and we wanted Oceanfront. Well, Black Rock did not disappoint!
For pet friendly options, there are several in the Ucluelet area, Black Rock, however, was the only one that has oceanview pet friendly rooms. When you are paying for a vacation on the ocean, this is a big consideration! Do you really want a view of trees or buildings? I don’t!
Room: 5/5
We got the standard King room with Oceanview – and we were not disappointed!
When we walked in, there is a coat closet immediately inside the door with a safe and plenty of hanging space for your clothes and jackets. There’s room on the floor in the closet for even a few pairs of Mr. S’s size 13 shoes!
Next to the closet is a door to the bathroom…and what a bathroom! This was one of the largest, nicest bathrooms I have ever seen. It’s about the size of a bedroom. A 6ft long by 4 foot wide shower is along the left side of the room. Complete with dual shower heads (a rain shower head from the ceiling and a hand-held stick shower head on the wall).
There is about 8 feet between the shower and the bathtub on the right side – taking up the same real estate as the shower! And what a tub. Deep soaking, modern free-standing tub. In addition to the faucent, you also have a hand-held stick shower head here! How easy does that make rinsing off after a relaxing soak? And if you want to, open the frosted sliding glass above the tub to look out at the tv in your room or straight out the balcony windows to the ocean. Oceanview from a tub – how is that for luxury.
In between the bathtub and shower is the vanity, sink, and mirror. It’s a large mirror! While the bathroom is very well spaced for getting ready in mornings and there is no lack of space for 2 people even, it is quite dark with the slate walls and floor. They have provided a tabletop lighted mirror for applying makeup, which makes a world of difference, but a lighter wall would brighten the space quite a bit!
Outside the bathroom in the hallway leading to the main living space is a built-in bar style kitchen and cupbaords. There isn’t a lot of counter space, but the area is well appointed with a little microwave, french coffee press, fridge, and sink. They even have wine glasses, a couple cups/mugs and cutlery available to use. All your essentials are here! They do leave a bottle of wine and water on the counter for you. Keep in mind that these are an extra charge if you open them (the prices are on the little tags on each item).
And then the hallway opens up to your bed and living space! And what a perfect setup. To our left was the sofa and a long sofa table against the far wall giving pwrfect seating and storage. Directly in front of the sofa is a smart tv mounted above the fireplace. The living room area is perfectly spaced for 2 people and a dog. The sofa is comfortable, and the space is nice and open. From the sofa, you can look out on the bay or watch your favorite show!
And the bed? It is one of the comfiest hotel beds (particularly for pet friendly) that I’ve experienced. Soft and full of whatever pillow you need, directly beside your balcony access. Floor to ceiling windows stretch along the balcony beside the bedside, offering up beautiful views to wake up to! Skye loved stretching out against the pillows for a snooze.
She also loved to snuggle up with Free Willy (her stuffed whale) during our trip.
And the balcony – you can not forget the balcony. Every unit has their own ‘private’ balcony. Now, something to keep in mind, while it is a balcony only for your use, the separation between balcony spaces is all glass railings. Because of this, you see your neighbors when you are enjoying the waves. There were a couple of occasions where Mr. S and a neighboring guest got more views than either had expected. You see, when you wake up in paradise and go to look out your floor to ceiling windows in the morning – nude in the neighbors case and in boxers in Mr. S’s case – you forget about glass railings and neighbors! There are some sights better left behind curtains.
Amenities: 4/5
Hotel amenities are always a consideration for a variety of reasons. Everyone has their own must-have lists for hotels, and we are no different. For me, I need to have a hot tub and a restaurant that is on site or next door.
For me, I can’t relax on a vacation without first having a nice long soak in a hot tub! Well, Black Rock has 2, and both overlook the ocean beside the pool. The pool, though not very big or deep, it is perfect for kids to splash in! And for the cooling off, just want a dip for adults it is more than sufficient. You just won’t be swimming laps.
Having a bigger pool and hot tubs would accommodate some space between guests for a more comfortable swim experience during busy times.
Within the resort, you also have a full service spa with 5 private treatment rooms for your services. The Drift Spa uses local island sea products for their treatments. You can purchase some of these to take home from the spa or the gift shop! I am not much of a spa person at all, so we did not partake in their services. But from what we saw, it looks like an amazing relaxing option for those who enjoy the treatments!
You also have 2 options for eating at the resort. There is Big Beach Lounge and Patio, which has live music nights and a cocktail bar feel. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with delicious drinks! The food is delicious, though Mr. S says that while Big Beach Lounge’s Seafood Chowder was good, Howlers had the best Chowder in the area.
The second food option is Currents Restaurant. Currents is a pricier option for dining and more of a dressed up dinner out. Though for breakfast on the resort grounds, your only option is Currents. The food again is amazing! We did not have dinner, but we did have breakfast in the mornings at Currents and were wowed every day! We loved their coffee mugs (I know, such a simple thing that you don’t think about – but they were perfectly weighted and comfortable in the hand).
Both Currents and Big Beach Lounge have patios, though it is only Currents that has the pet friendly patio. We discovered this on our last breakfast at the resort and were disappointed it took us so long to ask. We would have had Skye with us for all our meals if we had known earlier! Both restaurants also use the same kitchen, which means while the price points and menus are different, you are still getting the same cooks and service!
Also in the amenities is a full gym. While not a big gym, there is everything you need to keep up your workout regime on vacation. Between dumbells, benches, treadmill, bikes, and a couple of weight towers, you are all set! And for those who want to go running? Black Rock Resort is directly on the Wild Pacific Trail head. You can take your run through the cedar forest or along Big Beach just steps from the front door.
Location: 4/5
The location is a bit out of town from Ukee/Ucluelet, by 2 minutes. Ukee is a small town where just about everything is within 10 minutes of walking or driving. But it is also situated on the very edge of a rock bluff overlooking a bay and the Pacific Ocean. For views, you can’t get any better!
The resort is easy to locate and has lots of parking available. There is limited parking at the front of the hotel, but there is a large parking lot at the entrance to the driveway.
The resort is situated, just mere steps from Big Beach. You can easily walk the little trail down the side of the resort to spend some time relaxing on the sand in the bay. We spent a few hours one day relaxing with some wine in the sun at the beach.
You also access the Wild Pacific trail just out the front door. The Pacific rim stretches from Big Beach to Terrace beach just 8km away. The trail is a loop that travels along the ocean past the lighthouse and then comes back through the forest to Black Rock. Wood boardwalks wind through ancient cedars for a majestic coastal experience.
If you want a relaxing and diverse option for a vacation location, Black Rock is a perfect destination. It mixes nature adventures with modern comforts beautifully. Close to everything you need, but far enough away where you feel, you really are on vacation.
Hospitality: 5/5
Service at Black Rock was very friendly. From the receptionist greeting both people and pups to the Currents manager who took pity on some coffee deprived travelers one morning. The staff were very welcoming and friendly throughout our entire stay.
Because this was a birthday trip, I had a couple of requests made of the hotel, and they delivered beautifully! I had asked for a bottle of sparkling wine and a charcuterie board to be waiting for us in our room, figuring we would be tired and hungry when we got in. While we didn’t eat/drink it right away, the hotel staff had it all nicely wrapped up and waiting in the fridge chilling for us! They even included a little happy birthday card for Mr. S with a message in it.
Each server we had appeared very happy to be there and was full of information about the local area.
Every time we went in and out of the hotel we were greeted with a hello and smile. And the front desk always had treats a plenty for pups!
The only comment I could make about hospitality is around the pet friendly aspect. And even that isn’t a big one! It would be nice to see dog bowls or beds available for fido when traveling – even if this is something that is a by request option for travelers. Sort of a little welcome basket for your pooch like some of the other hotels and cabin rentals in the area. A little baggie of local pup treats or a souvenier dog bowl you could purchase would be great additions to an amazing trip!
Overall: 4.5/5
Overall we would stay at Black Rock again in a heartbeart! We heard birds, watched an hotter swimming in the bay, listened to waves crash while drinking some sparking wine. It was a beautiful location for everything we did! Taking Skye out for a potty was easy and we could walk through nature right out the front door.
The service from staff was exceptional. The hotel room was immaculately clean. The patios were spacious and well kept. We even had a few feathered visitors perch on the railing while we watched the waves – albeit they wanted our charcuterie board more than our company!
All in all, I don’t think anyone can go wrong booking at Black Rock Resort. The only spot that I would say could use improvement is the pool and hot tubs. They are quite small – good for up to 4 people in the hot tubs and a small family in the pool. Anymore than that at it is very crowded. But unless you are a swimmers this isn’t that big of a deal! And there is always an ocean for dipling your feet in right beside the hotel if you need to. Just don’t go diving – rocky and waves do not make for safety in the outer bay!
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