OverviewLocated less than a minute's walk to the Eau Claire Market, near the northern tip of the downtown area by the Bow River, this hotel is popular with guests who want to be in the heart of the downtown area. This hotel is close to the business district and to Prince's Island park (a 7-minute walk), which is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
This 323-room, all-suite hotel gives guests the choice between standard suites or club suites. In all rooms, guests can expect a microwave, a hair dryer, a coffeemaker, a flat-screen TV and an iron and ironing board. Guests in club suites have access to the club lounge where a free buffet breakfast is served in the morning and hors d'oeuvres are served in the evening. Club suite guests also have access to free Wi-Fi in the lounge. For other guests, Wi-Fi costs $14.95/day. Pets are permitted for no additional cost.
Guests can opt to dine on site at Barclay's, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, or at Fionn MacCool's Pub, also serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Parking is available on-site for $38/day (Sunday-Thursday) and for $26/day (Friday-Saturday). The Eau Claire Market area is known for its trendy dining options, many of which are located less than a 5-minute walk from this hotel. Other on-site amenities include an indoor pool, a waterslide, a spa, a hot tub and a gym.
Some of Calgary's main attractions are located within walking distance of this hotel, including the Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum, which are both about a 16-minute walk away. For guests in town for the Calgary Stampede, the Stampede Corral is about a 10-minute drive away. Guests travelling by air should plan for about a 21-minute drive between the hotel and Calgary International Airport (YYC). (Distances and driving time estimates: Google Maps)
Confirmed with a front desk agent: parking, Wi-Fi and pet policy (call date: August 19, 2012).
The GoodBased on the reviews used for this analysis, most reviewers had a good experience at this hotel, and much of that could be attributed to its convenient, scenic location and to stellar customer service.
Location was a positive point for a number of guests who liked being close to Eau Claire Market, downtown Calgary, and the Bow River. A few guests also felt that this hotel was a reasonable distance from the airport.
Staff received a lot of praise from guests who described them as being friendly, helpful and attentive. The general sentiment was that staff went above and beyond to meet guest requests. One guest gave the staff a "15 out of 10" for excellent service.
Several guests commented on the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms.
There were some peripheral comments about things like comfy beds and from people who enjoyed the pool and the hot tub.
The Bad
Most of the reviews used for this analysis were positive, but there were a few points in common among guest complaints, including some disappointment with extra fees and small rooms.
A number of guests objected to being levied extra charges for Wi-Fi and parking. Also, a number of guests felt that the extra charges were excessive.
Several guests felt that the rooms were small and poorly laid out. A few guests also felt that the bathrooms were particularly small. One guest felt that the living room/TV area was cramped.
A few guests had problems with noise, both from the street and from guests in neighbouring rooms and the hallways. One guest who was particularly bothered by street noise suggested that other guests should avoid rooms on the side of the plaza (north side).
There were a few additional comments about things like lingering pet odours in pet-friendly rooms.
Expedia.ca guest reviewers rated this hotel 4.6 out of 5, based on 89 reviews. 98% of guests would recommend this hotel.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviewers ranked this hotel #10 out of 97 Calgary hotels, based on 267 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviewers rated this hotel 8.3 out of 10, or "very good", based on 15 reviews.
Confirmed with a front desk agent: parking, Wi-Fi and pet policy (call date: August 19, 2012).
