I stayed here at the end of a tour of the Rocky Mountains and after spending a week in nature surrounded by mountains, lakes and glaciers it felt strange to be back in a city with busy roads and high buildings. But Hilton Garden Inn Calgary was a lovely hotel to readjust back to the real world!
It’s in a good location downtown and is walking distance to the main shopping areas and sightseeing such as the Calgary Tower, but if you’d prefer there is a tram stop just outside the hotel which you can take instead (top tip – the tram is free to all passengers travelling within the downtown area which I think is brilliant for a city to tempt people to visit).
The rooms are really big for a city centre hotel and the king-sized bed is very comfortable with plush pillows which make for a good night’s sleep. There’s a seating area and desk area too and plenty of storage space in the wardrobe. The bathroom was also bigger than I expected with a double shower and large vanity area. The décor was modern and fresh and everything was really clean well maintained – a really nice room and very good value for money.
Elsewhere in the hotel, there is a swimming pool which is a nice addition and a well-equipped fitness centre. But my favourite area was the rooftop seating terrace which was lovely as the sun started to set and you could look out over the city – there isn’t a bar up here but you could get a drink from the main bar and take it up to enjoy on the terrace. Breakfast was served a la carte which you don’t get in many city hotels but there was plenty of choice and the omelette I ordered was more than satisfactory.
Sometimes when you stay in a city centre for just a short time it’s easy to think your hotel doesn’t really matter – it’s just a bed for a night. But Hilton Garden Inn Calgary made me realise that it does matter and when you get a better standard and experience than you expected it means just that bit more.
