My husband and I are travelling to Canada for the first time from the land of Oz.Staying in Canmore for a week , then have a couple of nights free before we fly to Vancouver for Whistler. Looking for a decent hotel downtown for a couple of nights, can anybody recommend nice hotel 3/4 star.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
CALGARY
1020 8TH AVE SW
CALGARY, AB T2P 1J2 CANADA

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

or the Sandman 888 7th SW.
http://www.sandmanhotels.com/hotels/alberta/calgary_downtown.php

The Fairmont Palliser is a nice hotel. I've stayed there a couple of times. It's a historic hotel (by Canadian standards; 1920s) that has been nicely renovated. It's quite central to several interesting parts of downtown Calgary and is not far from the Calgary Tower. I highly recommend it. The rates seem reasonable.

Palliser is probably on the top end of expensive, try the International Hotel, close to the river pathway, Chinatown and still in the downtown core. Holiday Inn Express is nice but further away at the edge of downtown.

You may want to check out the Art Hotel

http://www.hotelarts.ca/amenities_local.php)

Very nice inside but outside surrounded by lots of new condo development but still a little seedy at night (but still safe)

Hotel Arts has Calgary's newest restaurant darling, St. Germain. Fabulous food.

You could try The Hyatt as well. Look for it on the Hyatt website.

Have to try it out! only went there for a seminor once.

Is the Hyatt not 5 stars?

Are there that many Sheriff's in Cowtown?

No, we stayed there once for a spa weekend and I wouldn't consider it 5-star. Maybe 3 1/2 to 4. I am comparing it to the Four Seasons, which is 5 star all the way.

Phil!! love your pp. Were you in Banff recently perchance?

The Four Seasons is now the Marriott

Yes, that's true Griff, but I'm referring to the actual Four Seasons chain. We stayed at the FS in San Francisco, and there's no comparison to the Hyatt in Calgary. Maybe other Hyatts, but not Calgary's unfortunately.

What is the best in Calgary now? The Sheraton Eau Claire?

I think so; that and probably Hotel Arts. There is a fantastic inn as well called the Kensington Riverside Inn

http://www.kensingtonriversideinn.com/main.htm

http://www.hotelarts.ca/about.php

In Banff, The Rimrock is probably the classiest hotel; the restaurant called Eden is fabulous -- better food than we had in high-end restaurants in San Francisco. I was not impressed with the Banff Springs, the rooms were dated and tired, and I don't recommend it to anyone other than a day trip for a looky. My pick for the Lake Louise area is the Post Hotel.

Of course, always 5* service and ambiance at Chez Helene ;o)

Helen, that is actually from Florida, a cousin of the one at the Trading Post, I am still trying to figure if they are real!

I still like the Westin best, large rooms and friendly staff.

The Kensington River Side Inn is a very nice boutique hotel hidden away from the public, many movie stars stay there when they are in Calgary; and of course the Flames have their regular dinners at the Italian restaurant around the corner.

Yes, i know the Ken. the Arts reminds me of the Opus in Vancouver.
The Rimrock has great views up both Valley.
The Westin does have some big rooms but, the standard rooms are quite small. They were voted to have the best beds in Chain hotels

The Westin is ok, but I didn't like the "western" decor. For decor, I would pick the Hyatt over the Westin, except the beds are way better at the Westin.

I'm a girl, so I'm picky :o)

I wonder if hazelpazel will come back to read this all :o)

The Hampton Inn over in Motel Village is pretty nice, but it's not downtown.

Helen, your pp is making me very hungry~

Haytt is too close to the C-train, some of the people staying there said they can hear the train rumbling by at night and in the morning. Nice dinning room, the salmon is great.

Too bad the Hy's is closed, one will not stay at the Westin without dinning at the Hy's!

did you buy anything at the auction Phil?

My PPP for you Phil

We didn't hear the train, I guess maybe we were on the other side of the hotel? Also, C.U.P.S. the street people organization is across the street, and so quite a few street people hanging around the C-train station. I never felt threatened, but it's definitely not pretty.

The Hyatt does have the edge with plenty of good restaurants nearby.

Is there a Hy's in Vancouver? the owner is from there, he took most of the stain glass stuff home (or in storage) until they manage to find a place to open a new Hy's. Our team Christmas dinner was the last time...unitl the new one opens!

I know him well. I have a tip about Hy's, and go there at least every 2 months

He also owns the Keg

Have you tried Carver's in the Sheraton in the northeast? It's supposed to be the best steakhouse in town, but I wasn't impressed the last time we were there. I hope they were having an off night.

I am not much a Keg fan but definitely Hy's. We have bad luck with the Keg, everytime we went there was something "extra" on the salad, like half a fly or some other un-identified objects! .....anyone find teh other half of the fly let me know!
I went to Carver's about 5 years ago and was also disappointed.