I'll invite everyone to post reviews that made them laugh. Or cry.
Last night I looked up the town of Inuvik because it is one of the settings in a (great) novel I am reading now.
I found two reviews that tell a tale. In my entire life I don't think I have ever laughed so long and so hard as I did when reading the second review.
Read the first one as a prelude to the second; I've deleted the name of the property:

<<<<<At least its a story to tell...

Review of XXXXXXXX
Reviewed Jul 16, 2025via mobile
We decided to go on a roadtrip to the arctic for our Honeymoon, staying one night in the Mackenzie Hotel, another night at a local Air BnB and then 2 nights booked at tXXXX. What could go wrong, well strap in...

When we pulled into the XXXX it felt like we were pulling into an old garage or junk yard, vehicles, parts of vehicles, junk etc. As this is a working property, it didn't ring any alarms bells right away, but did seem to look very different from the photos on their website. Hey oh, let's go check in.

Walking into the lobby of the main Chalet, you are hit with this warm, musty smell. Again, id excuse this if the weather was 25 degrees outside, but we were being hit by a lovely arctic front during our stay, so temperatures were in the low double digits. The windows full of dead bugs, a sad sofa (no life left in the cushions and hadn't looked like it had been introduced to a vacuum at any point during its life) and layers of dust. No one was at the front desk, even though we had called ahead saying we'd be there shortly to check in.

We called the number on the front desk, spoke to XXXX, who said she'd be right down. A couple of minutes later, a lovely girl came out, introduced herself (it wasn't XXXX) and got unto the process of getting settled. During this conversation it became clear that there had been a miscommunication on when we were Intending to stay, our dates had been mixed up, mistakes happen and I honestly believe that this was no one's fault. The lovely girl who checked us in was courteous, came up with a solution to the issue and was chatting away with us about how the mistake happened etc, this is when XXX appeared from behind the reception desk, and asked what the issue was. We explained that it was XXXX who we had spoken to about a month ago on the phone, changing the dates of the stay. She denied this conversation ever happening, then pulled out a paper calendar and said if it isn't in the calendar then it didn't happen, she then had the gall to say to my wife "Don't you know that a verbal conversation isn't an agreement, always get things in writing, we've fixed this problem and given you a night in the best cabin at a reduced rate, it's so nice in there id stay there myself! You're very lucky"

It didn't feel lucky, and also, it wasn't XXXX who provided that solution, it was the employee. This whole interaction was incredibly awkward came across very aggressive and really upset us.

We drove the truck round to the cabin, let ourselves in. It was nothing to write home about, just a bog standard log cabin. We had a view of a bush, my truck, the cabin next door and another bush. For a cabin that is based in the arctic, it was incredible to see that in mid summer, the curtains on the window were about as useless as single ply toilet paper. This cabin also had the same, musty smell that it shared with the main lobby. If this was the best cabin, god knows what the rest of the cabins were like. It was at the moment that we decided that we didn't want this on our Honeymoon, we'd met some incredible people in Inuvik and Tuk, and the interaction with XXXX really affected us, completely different experience from everyone else we'd interacted with in the north. So we decided to leave.

While peeling out of the property grounds, we called the chalet to let them know we wouldn’t be staying. We thought it would be courteous seeing as there were very few beds in town available. XXXX answered the phone, angrily asking “what wasn’t good enough for us?” When my wife explained she didn’t feel comfortable staying, XXXXcontinued to argue, telling her it was their nicest cabin & we were lucky to get it at such a discounted rate. My wife calmly & politely repeated they were welcome to rent it to someone else, that we wouldn’t be staying. XXX then said “so I guess you’re telling me you’re cancelling.” My wife said something along the lines of “we’re not looking for anything, as I’ve said, you can rent it out to someone else, I’m only calling so you know you have the space.” My wife then said goodbye & hung up. Even in leaving, not asking for a refund, the owner still wanted to treat us poorly. In what world is this any form of customer service, especially to two paying customers on their honeymoon?

We drove to the Mackenzie Hotel, managed to score a cancelation ( we were ready to just camp in the truck like we had done on the way up the dempster) and enjoyed the rest of our trip.

Later that evening I started to read reviews online, saw that we weren't the only ones to have these issues (Seems to be a wonderful reoccurring theme!). When we look at their website again, we noticed that nearly all yhe photos of the site and the cabin we stayed in were old, and clesrly had not been updated in a number of years. This became clear again as to probably the reason why they didnt send us photos of the overflow traile that we had requested numerous time after booking until 48hrs before we checked in. And then got sucked into their incredible, discriminatory hiring practices that they seem to proudly announce on their website. I'm sad we never asked for a refund, because after realizing that we funded a business that doesn't even allow it's employees to experience the wonderful people and town of inuvik, let aknown all the ridiculous hiring demands they have. Nothing says culture tours like having a business that doesn't even allow it's people to become part of thr culture that makes the North and Arctic so exciting.

Overall, I'd steer clear of this place, there are some wonderful people who work there, however Judi was just abhorrent to deal with in every possible way and it makes me ashamed that a business like this exists in today's society. >>>>>



After you've read that, read this, and tell me if I have an odd sense of humor:

<<<<<Car rental, huskies, trails GOOD...Cabin suite NOPE

Review of XXXX
Reviewed Oct 3, 2021
We were here in a Covid year for a family visit. Our experience with XXXXX was very mixed, and our experience with the cabin unit was terrible. 
First, the resort was staffed with various foreign workers of varying degrees of friendliness while Judy, the manager was away on business. I booked the rental car with XXXX in advance of our stay and that went well, my questions and concerns about renting an older ‘beater’ were addressed.
The rental car was a muddy, beat up 2003 Jimmy (all the cars in Inuvik are muddy and beat up, lol). However, it was well maintained and worked out great for us! We toured the area in it very comfortably and reliably, over 600 kms altogether down to the MacKenzie River ferry, then up to Tuktoyaktuk and back. I can certainly recommend renting a car from them.


The property itself was a mishmash of buildings, with equipment and dicarded-looking ‘junk’ lying around but also some aesthetically pleasing touches such as the cozy lobby inside the main office, nice flower pots outside (leftover from summer), and the huge complex of immaculate, well-maintained dog kennels full of cute husky sled dogs. The trail to the near lake by the kennels and through the woods to a further lake were super nice and beautifully maintained. Canoes awaited at both lakes but sadly we didn’t have enough time to sign one out. Great bird-watching though, we saw a flock of tundra swans, plus osprey, an eagle, finches, and other birds. 


However, things went seriously downhill with the accommodation itself. We had a ‘cabin unit’ which is a duplex of two attached suites. First, our unit was freezing cold on arrival and literally took forever to warm up. The floors especially were freezing even with shoes plus only two small, thin mats. The staff turned on the seriously broken electric baseboard heat (the metal baseboards were all falling apart and looked quite derelict and unsafe). The baseboards never did release more than a trickle of heat the 3 nights we were there (and no heat at all our last morning!).

The staff told us the heat ‘radiates’ and would take time to warm the place up to the point where it’d actually get too warm. Nope, never happened and the only way the place got warm was when I requested a plug-in space heater. 
Next issue: the space heater! The one she brought sparked along the cord ,very scary! I asked her if it was safe and the staff said, no problem, the outlet just hadn’t been used in awhile. Well, it did warm the place up...until I went to move it just a little ways. Then there were three (large!) sparks that were really terrifying!

Then the unit shut off and died for good and I had to call the staff (again) as I was too scared to touch it but she coudn’t get it started either. It was actually me that pointed out a huge splice in the cord! That’s where the sparks had come from, an extreme fire hazard :0
I actually wondered if I should report it to the fire dept. or if there’s any office in Inuvik to report safety code violations for accommodations. It easily could have started a fire or electrocuted guests (or staff!).

So then I had to ask for another space heater (none was offered). But at least another, staff brought us one that worked.

But then the hot water suddenly stopped working and I had to call the staff back (again) and luckily she got it working that night.

But then another staff came to our door and said we had to give up the working space heater. WT?!
...Something about an emergency, the pipes about to freeze in another cabin if they didn’t get that heater in there right away because someone had smashed the window!

So now, in addition to our suite getting very cold again (with only the trickle of heat coming out of the baseboards) we had to worry about vandals (or angry guests?) trashing the place. Made for a very uncomfortable night plus the hot water went off again (!) and this time did not come back on for the duration of our stay.

They said the burner needed a part, the part is hard to get, has to be picked up all the way down in Whitehorse, etc.
I had to ask for the space heater back in the AM as we were so cold trying to pack up (and fortunately check out!). The first staff we had dealt with crankily left it outside the door. So many problems with these ‘cabins’!



Various staff kept giving us the excuse that ‘this is the north.’ Yes, I undestand that parts and repair services are scarce in such a remote town but c’mon, this IS the north, you’d think that heat would be the most precious commodity and that they’d stockpile portable electric space heaters on their trips to Whitehorse...just in case. 
Canadian Tire/ similar stores sell space heaters cheap (I have a couple, should have brought it in my luggage!) - even with the northern mark up in price it would be a small and necessary price to pay. Also, the other places we stayed at in the area (Tuktoyaktuk, and a different place in Inuvik our last night) are obviously located in the Arctic as well but had ZERO issues with either heat or hot water for guests, nor were the baseboards derelict and falling apart, AND these other places also had an electric space heater (with a safe cord) in EACH room just in case.

The problem at XXXX is NOT the north, but general maintenance issues for the accommodations without proper upgrading and safety code standards. I would rent a vehicle from them again but definitely regret staying at their rundown cabins. 
The bathroom was also falling apart (serious cracks all along and above the door), the shower was old and worn, the front of the kitchen utensil door was falling off, and we got seriously poked by staples that were sticking through one of the dining chairs (another safety hazard). Bad value for our money because many issues big and small had not been attended to.>>>>>>



Is it only me, but do these, and other, reviews often make you laugh out loud?

I think there is a book here....!!

There may be a book, but I wasn't laughing. In the first narrative, it was obvious there were many negative reviews posted long before these honeymooners showed up, including the second review posted in 2021. I wouldn't have ventured beyond the conversation in the "lobby." Maybe it's just me, but if it's my honeymoon I would check, recheck and triple-check reviews.

I agree a thousand percent on that!

Later that evening I started to read reviews online,

OK. That's the funniest sentence of all! You're supposed to do that BEFORE you book a place, not after

Right, Suze!!

I just thought those were so hysterical..especially the second one with the issues of the space heater that was then taken away from them, their fear of vandals, the whole thing made my hysterical!! That town does not sound very appealing, in any case! some of the action in the book I was reading took place there. The book is fabulous, AWAIT YOUR REPLY, by Dan Chaon....so I got curious about that town in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian Arctic..and then found these reviews. No wonder I get nothing done around here..always going off on a tangent and looking up things.....totally veering off the topic, like I am doing right now!!

Reviews can make me laugh even when they are right. When I was first planning Hawaii trips this one fabulous hotel I stayed had some 'bad' reviews. Things like there was rust around the edge of the mirror and the shoji screen had a rip in it and the carpet had a stain. All TRUE but heck this hotel was around $100/night, low-rise in a tropically landscaped courtyard, clean, cute as can be, two pools, restaurant, room had a kitchette, and was near the beach in Waikiki. Bring on the rusty bathroom mirror!!

The amount of 5-star reviews from one-time posters on Tripadvisor these days is amusing alarming.
I like writing reviews just because I like telling it like it is, sister.
One that had me laugh was someone complaining that a certain hotel was full of greasy old folks. Greasy?

I want to know too! Greasy old folks... Like suntan oil on wrinkly skin around the pool? Or meaning shysters and scammers??

+1

No surprise that you and I have very different senses of humor, KJA. No harm there.

On that, we do agree!

But it was FUNNY.

Like beauty, humor is in the eye of the beholder.

No, not really. Some things are universally humorous.

Except to people with little sense of humor!!

I don't find humor in reading about the misfortunes that strike others. Even if told in a humorous way! If you do, fine. But please note that HAVING a healthy sense of humor is not the same as finding humor in the same things. And criticizing those who have different sensibilities doesn't strike me as funny, either.