OverviewLocated on Crowchild Trail in Calgary's northwest quadrant, this hotel is a 7-minute walk away from McMahon Stadium, home of the Calgary Stampeders. Given its location, this hotel is popular with guests in town visiting the University of Calgary (a 7-minute drive), and the Foothills Hospital (a 5-minute drive). The C-Train is located nearby the hotel for guests who wish to visit the downtown area.
Of the 159 rooms at this hotel, guests can choose between standard rooms with different bed types, or more spacious suites. The suites have a separate bedroom, and sleep up to 4 people. In all rooms, guests can expect Wi-Fi, a coffeemaker, a hair dryer and an iron and an ironing board. Pets are not permitted at this hotel, and above ground parking is free on site. There is a $10/night charge for underground parking.
On-site amenities include an indoor heated pool, a jacuzzi and a gym. This hotel is close to a number of restaurants, but guests can opt to dine on site at the Courtyard Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For guests wishing to visit some of Calgary's attractions (Stampede Corral, Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum), the downtown area, where these attractions are located, is less than a 10-minute drive away. Air travellers should plan for about a 23-minute drive (16 km) between the hotel and Calgary International Airport (YYC) (distances and driving time estimates: Google Maps).
Confirmed with a front desk agent: parking and Wi-Fi (call date: August 9, 2012).
The GoodGuests had a number of good things to say about this hotel, and commented frequently on its location and on the level of cleanliness in the rooms.
Location was a positive factor for a number of guests. Guests liked being close to the Foothills Hospital, McMahon Stadium and the University of Calgary particularly. A few guests that were in town for the Stampede or to visit other downtown attractions felt that the hotel was conveniently located to the C-Train, making their journey downtown easier.
Guests felt that the rooms were comfortable, clean and well configured.
Guests received good service from staff, and felt that they were friendly and helpful. One guest mentioned that the check-in process was particularly efficient. Another mentioned housekeeping specifically, saying that their service was prompt.
There were some additional comments about comfy beds and good value for the price paid.
The Bad
While a number of the reviews used for this analysis were positive, guests who complained had a few points in common, like noise disturbance and aging decor.
For some guests, noise was an issue. A few guests felt that the walls were thin, and were bothered by noise from guests in neighbouring rooms. Given the proximity to McMahon Stadium (about 1 km), some guests were bothered by noise on game nights. Some guests had issues with noise in the pool area as well.
A few guests felt that the decor was aging and in need of updates. There was specific mention of worn carpets in the rooms and dingy decor in the atrium of the hotel.
There were some objections to the underground parking fee ($10), which some guests found excessive. One guest reasoned that this fee might be appropriate if this hotel was located downtown, but given its location out of the downtown core, the expectation was that parking should be free.
There were some peripheral comments about things like lack of toiletries and problems with hot water and water pressure in the showers.
Expedia.ca guest reviewers rated this hotel 3.6 out of 5, based on 29 reviews. 76% of guests would recommend this hotel.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviewers ranked this hotel #64 out of 97 Calgary hotels, based on 90 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviewers rated this hotel 7.6 out of 10, or "good", based on 64 reviews.
Confirmed with a front desk agent: parking and Wi-Fi (call date: August 9, 2012).
