OverviewLocated on 9th Avenue South East, next to the Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum (3 minute and 1 minute walks respectively), this downtown hotel is popular with guests who want to be able to access much of Calgary's business district and the many attractions within walking distance. On-site amenities include a whirlpool, an indoor pool and a gym.
There are a few different room types to choose from, including Standard guests rooms, or more spacious Concierge Suites. Guests staying in the concierge suites have access to the Concierge Lounge, where a selection of beverages and evening hors d'oeuvres are served. In all 394 rooms at this hotel, guests can expect a mini-refrigerator, a hair dryer, premium bedding, an iron and an ironing board and a 37 inch flat screen TV. Limited valet parking is available for $35/day Monday-Thursday and $25/day Friday-Sunday, and Wi-Fi is available for a charge of $15.95/day. Pets are permitted for no additional cost.
There is dining available on site at Traders Grill, open for breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday from 6:00am-10:30am and from 11:30am-2:00pm, Saturday-Sunday from 7:00am-1:00pm (a la carte) and Brunch is served from 10:30am-1:00pm. Milestones is also located in this hotel, serving lunch, dinner and drinks, daily, from 11:00am-bar close. There is a Starbucks on premises as well.
This hotel is well located to a number of shops, restaurants and attractions, including the Stephen Street Mall (about a 10 minute walk), and the Stampede Corral (about a 20 minute walk). Guests looking to see a hockey game or a concert can get to the Saddledome in about an 18 minute walk, or about a 4 minute drive. Guests travelling by air should budget about 20 minutes to drive the 17.3km between the hotel and Calgary International Airport (YYC) (distances and driving time estimate: Google Maps).
Check-in is at 3:00pm, while check-out is at 12:00pm.
Confirmed with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi, parking, pet policy (call date: July 10, 2012).
The GoodFor guests that had a positive experience at this hotel, much of it could be attributed to convenient location, good customer service, and attention to detail in cleaning.
There were several comments from guests who found both their rooms and the common areas exceptionally clean. One guest said that this hotel is a "clean and well-maintained facility".
Several guests found the location to be very convenient, mentioning its proximity to a number of restaurants, shopping and attractions. One guest liked how "central" the hotel was. A business traveller appreciated its proximity to the business district.
Service from staff was excellent, according to a number of guests, who used words like "sensational service" and "friendly" and "helpful" to describe their impressions.
There were a number of comments as well from guests who felt that they had received good value for the price paid. Phrases like "good value in downtown Calgary" were reflective of guest sentiment.
There were a few additional comments on comfy beds, and from guests who enjoyed the pool facilities.
The Bad
While many of the comments used in this analysis were favourable, there were a few common points among complaints, including objection to extra fees and noise disturbance.
A number of guests thought that Wi-Fi should have been included with the room rate, and objected to paying the extra $15.95/day. A few more guests thought that the parking fee was excessive.
A few guests were bothered by noise, both inside the rooms, and from the street. One guest said that the fan on the AC/heat unit was very loud. Another guest, staying on the street side of the hotel, found there to be quite a bit of street noise, and suggested staying on the other side of the hotel as a solution.
There were a few peripheral comments, on things like temperature control in the rooms and poor room service.
Confirmed with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi, parking, pet policy (call date: July 10, 2012).
TripAdvisor.com guest reviewers ranked this hotel #28 out of 97 Calgary hotels, based on 230 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviewers rated this hotel 8.8 out of 10, or "fabulous", based on 42 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviewers rated this hotel 4.5 out of 5, based on 49 reviews. 94% of guests would recommend this hotel.
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Analyzed by Heather W.
Driven by the sense that every person, place or thing has a story to tell and a skill for being in the wrong place at the right time, Heather is a well-traveled writer.
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