Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - hotel west edmonton suggestion

I live a few hours out of Edmonton and go in to the city a few times a year for shopping, medical appointments etc. There are a lot of hotels in the west end of Edmonton, although I'm not sure about ones in your price range. I found that hotel rates in Edmonton have jumped considerably in the last two or three years. Rooms comparable to ones that were $89 plus taxes (totalling around $100) just a couple of years ago are now $125, and up. When I last stayed in "bargain" rooms ($59 to $75, plus taxes, a few years back), they were often pretty grotty, usually with beat up furniture and filthy carpets, and I imagine even those are now getting to be close to that $100 range, especially with taxes added in. I guess what I am trying to say is that I'm not sure that $100 is "moderately" priced in Edmonton anymore.

Many of the hotels in that area are chains - I've stayed at the new Holiday Inn, maybe about a year ago, and it was about $130, with an auto club discount, although I don't remember if this is with or without tax. It was nice and new and clean.

We used to stay at the West Harvest Inn when it was newer, but the last time we stayed there (several years ago, now), it had gotten quite ratty. I'm not sure what the rate would be now, or whether they have done any upgrades. It's certainly nicely located for going to WEM.

Have stayed at the Sandman, and the Westwood Inn, didn't like either of them - found them expensive and not too clean.

We have stayed a few times at the West Edmonton Mall Inn (this is across the street from West Edm. Mall, not the Fantasyland Hotel in the mall), and liked it very much. Higher than $100 per night though, IIRC; worked best for us when we had teens along - we could run around the city to do our errands, and they could hang out between the mall and the hotel, as they wished... so, as I recall, the rate was higher than what we normally paid, but worth it for the convenience and keeping everyone happy.

Have also stayed at the Royal West Edm Executive Inn (or something like that ... next door to the West Harvest Inn), a few years back now, and liked it too. Not sure if it would be around $100 though. (Nope, just looked it up - dbl rates start at $144.)

Have stayed many times when travelling with kids at the Travelodge West Edmonton (with the waterpark), however last time we were there, my lifeguard daughter commented on how disgusted she was by the lack of cleanliness of the pool area (now she notices these things). I had never noticed a particular problem there before (mind you, I rarely use hotel pools because I don't think most of them are clean enough).

Most of the time now when I go to Edmonton, I stay on the south side instead of the west end.... but again, the places I stay at are a bit more than $100 per night. I recently stayed at the south side Ramada - I used to stay there a lot and always liked it - and although it has gone up a bit in price too, they have kept it in good condition and I find it very reasonable. I think I had a rate of $110 plus tax.

Btw, I have never booked ahead when I go to Edmonton, and have never had any problem finding a place to stay. Why not just arrive and enquire at one of the cheaper motels in the west end (there are a couple of older style ones, one or two storey, where you park right outside your door)... have a look at a room and if it's not to your liking, move up a notch.

Try www.explorealberta.com - it takes you to the Travel Alberta (government tourism department) website, and you can click on accommodation listings and the next page has a link to Edmonton listings (partway down the page).

Hope this helps.