Yellowknife's BEST Kept Secret: Quality Inn & Suites Review!
Yellowknife's BEST Kept Secret? Quality Inn & Suites – A Chaotic (But Charming?) Review!
Alright, let's get this straight. I just got back from a trip to Yellowknife, the diamond capital of… well, the world, or something like that. And I stayed at the Quality Inn & Suites. Everyone raves about it being "the best kept secret." Secret, huh? After my stay, I'm still a bit conflicted. Is it a secret worth keeping, or just… a secret? Buckle up, buttercups, because this review is gonna be a wild ride.
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Accessibility & Getting Around: A Mixed Bag
First impressions? Okay, the accessibility situation is… complicated. They do have the basics. Wheelchair accessible rooms are a thing. I saw an elevator too, which is HUGE in a place like this. You’re not scaling sheer ice walls to get to your room, that’s a win! But…details were hazy. More dedicated info on facilities for disabled guests on site would be great. Getting around Yellowknife itself? Well, the hotel offers airport transfer, which is a godsend in that frigid climate. And the car park [free of charge] is a lifesaver because parking downtown can be a nightmare, especially during peak Aurora season. They also have car park [on-site] which is convenient, maybe that’s the difference?
Internet, Oh Internet! The Eternal Struggle
Let's get real: a solid internet connection is a human right in the 21st century. They claim Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and that's partially true. I got it in my room. It was okay sometimes, then it would cut out to something like dial-up, and I wasn’t even trying to stream anything crazy – just checking emails. I swear, I saw a ghost of a buffering wheel haunting my laptop screen for a good hour one evening. The Internet access - LAN was also available, and I didn’t even know what to do. I'm old school, but I was ready to give it a try. Internet services in the lobby were probably better.
Cleanliness & Safety: Trying Their Best
Alright, let's talk about the elephant in the room (pun intended, because Yellowknife is pretty damn cold): COVID. I'll give them credit, they seemed to be trying. I saw Anti-viral cleaning products, that’s a good start. Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere. But, I noticed a used mask by the elevator for a while too. Look, they tried, maybe it’s the nature of the place. I did like the Room sanitization opt-out available so it’s nice to know these options exist, but I am still not convinced. You could tell they were managing it, but it isn’t perfect… but then nothing is, right?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Journey (Hopefully You Packed Snacks)
The food situation? Oh boy. They have Restaurants. And a Bar. But it's… complicated. Breakfast [buffet] promised a feast… and delivered a somewhat passable one. The Western breakfast, the Coffee/tea in restaurant, and the Breakfast service, were all there, and everything tasted like it was from a pre-made packet (minus the fruit). Did they have the basics? Yep. Would I rave about the culinary brilliance? Absolutely not. The Poolside bar was closed. They advertised an Asian cuisine in restaurant, but I gave it a miss after breakfast. There's a Coffee shop which is okay, and a Snack bar which is basically gas-station snacks. And I’m a big fan for the Bottle of water they provided to me in my hotel room.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Alright, the small stuff matters! Daily housekeeping was definitely appreciated. Cash withdrawal available, a big plus. Convenience store… stocked with the essentials. Laundry service and Dry cleaning came in handy. Concierge was there, but… I don't know, they seemed a little overwhelmed at times. The Air conditioning in public area was crucial because I was in a massive coat for most of my stay. Safety deposit boxes? Check. Generally, the staff was trying hard.
My Room: A Cozy Fortress (With Quirks)
My room? Okay, listen. It had Air conditioning (thank GOD!). Blackout curtains (essential for those endless summer days or the Northern Lights!). The Bed was comfy enough after a long day of aurora chasing. They provided the basics, the Daily housekeeping, the Complimentary tea, and was equipped with a Coffee/tea maker, the Free bottled water, and the Hair dryer. But… the décor. Lord, the décor. Let's just say it had a certain “early 2000’s hotel lobby” vibe. But, hey, it was clean, and the Shower worked, and the Toiletries were, you know, there.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Chasing the Magic
I didn't spend a TON of time in the hotel – this is Yellowknife! You're there for the Swimming pool [outdoor] if it's open, and maybe the Sauna (if it's working, which I didn't find out!). The Fitness center? I didn’t check it out, let’s be honest, I am not going to work out on vacation. The main thing to do in Yellowknife is to hunt down the Aurora Borealis!
For the Kids: Family Friendly?
I didn't have kids with me, but according to their features, it would be safe to say it is Family/child friendly. The hotel staff were very friendly.
My Biggest Takeaway…
Is the Quality Inn & Suites a luxury resort? Absolutely not. But is it a perfectly serviceable, clean, and decently-located hotel in a town that isn't exactly overflowing with options? Absolutely. The small hiccups are things you can live with, and the important aspects? They were there!
Final Verdict:
It's not the best kept secret, more like a… well-worn secret? It's not perfect, but it's got charm, a solid location, and the staff are trying their darnedest. If you're looking for a comfortable base camp as you explore Yellowknife and chase the Northern Lights, the Quality Inn & Suites is a decent choice. Just don’t expect Michelin-star dining or flawless internet. And bring your own snacks. You can find a lot to do around the hotel like the Front desk [24-hour] as well as the Security [24-hour] in case you are late, but the best part is the Outside property.
Griffin, GA Getaway: Unforgettable Stay at Country Inn & Suites!
Yellowknife: Where the Aurora Borealis Mocked My Sanity (and I Secretly Loved It) - A Totally Unofficial Itinerary
Alright, listen up, because this isn't your cookie-cutter, perfectly-planned-out travel guide. This is my Yellowknife, warts and all. We're staying at the Quality Inn & Suites, which, let's be honest, is about as exciting as lukewarm toast, but hey, it's got a bed and a roof in a city built on the edge of the world. So, here we go…
Day 1: Arrival & That Arctic Chill That Bites Right Through You
- Morning (ish): Flight into Yellowknife. Let's just say that my luggage and I had a very intimate relationship with the baggage carousel. After half an hour of staring at nothing, (and judging everyone else's luggage), I finally got my bag. Note to self: pack a brightly colored suitcase. That way, you're bound to see it, right? So, out I went, and BAM! The Arctic wind. Seriously, it felt like someone was personally trying to frostbite my nose off. Immediately regretting all my fashion choices, particularly the "stylish" scarf I'd deemed appropriate for a "mildly cold" climate.
- Afternoon: Check-in at the Quality Inn. First impressions: clean-ish, beige-ish, and suspiciously quiet. The woman at reception seemed to have smiled once, sometime in the Paleozoic Era. No matter. Room secured. Dropped my stuff, and almost fell asleep on the bed I was so tired. Then, in a moment of supreme optimism, decided to walk downtown. BIG MISTAKE. It's maybe a 20 minute walk, but that was with me trudging every 20 steps to catch my breath. The wind was relentless, trying to push me into the icy Great Slave Lake. Found a coffee shop (I think it was called "Javarama" or something equally generic) and warmed up with a latte that cost a small fortune. But hey, survival.
- Evening: Aurora viewing tour. This is IT. The reason I was there. The thing that everyone talks about. We went to a spot outside of town with a bunch of other hopefuls bundled up like Michelin men. And… nothing. Zilch. Nada. Cloud cover. And here's where the emotional rollercoaster began. I spent the first hour desperately clinging to the optimism I'd built up for a year. Followed by angry denial. "No! The Aurora has to show up! I've come all this way!" Followed by a despondent realization that I was probably just going to be staring at the dark for hours. I actually considered crying (the weather wasn't the only reason for the tears). Eventually, embraced the clouds. The other tourists were looking at their phones or chatting, so alone, I just lay there, contemplating the vastness of space and my utter insignificance. The tour guide was very nice, he kept saying, "It's the luck of the draw." Which, while true, just didn't help. Back to the Quality Inn, defeated but strangely peaceful.
Day 2: The Giant, Cold, and the Quest for Happiness
- Morning: Breakfast at the Quality Inn. The breakfast buffet, a veritable feast of processed indifference. The sausage links tasted vaguely of sadness. Coffee, however, was plentiful, and so was my internal monologue of "at least you tried".
- Afternoon: The Giant Mine Tour. This tour was, in a word, "creepy." The air was heavy with the ghosts of workers who died in the mine. A former world war air strip. Our guide was very good, though, a grizzled veteran who knew the stories. He has a good sense of humor, too. I'd highly recommend, with the caveat that you might be a little disturbed afterwards.
- Evening: Another Aurora Viewing. This time, I was prepared. Layers of clothing, hand warmers, and a healthy dose of low expectations. And… BAM! The Aurora. Green, shimmering, dancing across the sky. It was the most beautiful, alien thing I've ever seen. And that's when my brain short-circuited. For a good few minutes, my jaw was permanently hanging open. I did a little dance to the music of the sky. All that waiting, all that hoping, all the doubt - poof - gone. I felt a pure, incandescent joy. The cold disappeared; the people vanished. Just me and the lights. This is the kind of moment that lodges itself in your memory, forever. It made the whole trip worth it.
Day 3: Hunting for Art, and the Lingering Glow
- Morning: Wandering around downtown, visiting the shops and art galleries, and shopping for souveniers. The prices don't help the wallet, unfortunately.
- Afternoon: Trying to figure out a way to stay in Yellowknife forever. Then remembering my bank account.
- Evening: One last attempt. Okay, this whole Aurora thing is addicting. So I booked another tour, with my last chance. The aurora came out yet again, but it wasn't nearly as special as the night before. But that's okay. You can't bottle up magic. You can't force it. You just have to be open to it. This time, I didn't feel the same childlike glee, but a warm contentment.
Day 4: Goodbye, Yellowknife (For Now)
- Morning: Wake up, pack up, and get out of the Quality Inn. The Beige Fortress of Solitude.
- Afternoon: Flight out. Looking out the window on the plane, I saw the land below, frozen, vast, and beautiful.
- Evening: Arrive back home, feeling disoriented. Still trying to process the whole experience. The cold, the vastness, and the breathtaking lights.
Quirky Observations & Imperfections:
- Spent way too much money on parkas and hand warmers. Worth it.
- I'm pretty sure I saw a Sasquatch walking my way one night, but it might have been the isolation.
- The coffee at the Quality Inn was surprisingly good. My expectations were really low.
- I'm still finding bits of snow in my pockets. It's a souvenir, right?
- I left a little piece of my heart in Yellowknife. And I'm definitely going back.
Yellowknife's "Best Kept Secret" (Maybe?) - Quality Inn & Suites: FAQ (and Ramblings)
Okay, is this place actually *good*? Because the internet is... well, the internet.
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your sanitized, TripAdvisor-approved review. "Good?" Depends. Are you expecting the Ritz? Then, absolutely not. Are you expecting a clean, functional, and sometimes surprisingly charming place to crash in the middle of the Arctic wilderness? Then, maybe... just maybe... yeah. It's a mixed bag, folks. Think of it as a slightly-less-glamorous version of that quirky uncle everyone's got. He's got stories, he might smell a little of mothballs, and he's definitely got opinions. That's the Quality Inn & Suites, Yellowknife.
My first impression? The sign. Oh, the sign. It boasts "Suites" in a font that's seen better decades. And the lobby… well, let's just say it smells vaguely of industrial cleaner and optimism. But hey, it’s YK, and it's not the outside that counts, right? More on the inside, in a bit.
What about the rooms? Are they actually *clean*? That's a biggie.
Cleanliness is… a fluctuating concept. I’m not going to lie. On my first visit, I'm pretty sure I saw a dust bunny the size of a small cat eyeing me suspiciously from under the bed. (Okay, maybe a *slight* exaggeration, but you get the picture.) The bathrooms were… *mostly* clean. Think, clean enough to not make you actively shudder.
BUT, and this is a big but, the sheets *felt* clean. There’s a crucial difference. They *looked* crisp. And after a long day of tromping around in the snow and chasing down the Northern Lights, clean-feeling sheets are a GIFT FROM THE GODS. So, yeah, maybe not hospital sterile, but definitely passable. And honestly? For the price, and the location... I was forgiving. Maybe *over*-forgiving.
The "Suite" part… is that actually a selling point? Am I getting extra space for my money?
Alright, the *suites*. This is potentially a highlight! (Emphasis on *potentially*.) Some of the "suites" are deceptively spacious. Think a separate seating area, sometimes with a pull-out sofa (because, let's face it, you're probably traveling with someone who snores like a grizzly bear). It's a definite upgrade from a cramped hotel room, especially if you're traveling with kids or trying to spread out after a long, cold day.
However, the "suite" designation is… variable. There might be a questionable dividing wall. The furniture could be straight out of the 80s (think floral patterns and questionable wood finishes). And the "kitchenette" might consist of a microwave and a tiny fridge. Don’t expect to be whipping up gourmet meals in there. Think more… reheating that leftover pizza you crammed in your bag. But the space? The extra space really made a difference. And after being crammed in a bush plane all day, I valued it. The pull-out sofa in our suite was… well, it was a pull-out sofa. But it was *there*, and that was enough.
What's the breakfast situation? I'm a breakfast person. Don't judge.
Oh, the breakfast. This is where things get... interesting. It's included, which is a massive win. Free food! But it's not exactly a culinary masterpiece. Think continental: cereal (sometimes stale), toast (possibly burnt), yogurt (questionable origin), and maybe, just maybe, some sad-looking fruit. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. (Which, honestly, is the most important thing.)
On my last trip, they had those pre-made breakfast sandwiches. The kind that come in plastic wrap. I ate two. Don't judge *me*. It was cold, and it was convenient. It filled the void. And there's something comforting, in a weird way, about that predictability. You know what you're getting. And you know there's always coffee. Always the coffee.
The staff! Are they friendly? Because that can make or break a stay.
The staff… okay, here’s the thing. They are... *Yellowknife* friendly. Which is to say, they’re universally polite, helpful, and genuinely seem to care. It might not be the over-the-top fawning you get in some swanky hotels, but it’s real. And in the middle of nowhere, with the potential for frozen plumbing and polar bears roaming around (okay, maybe not the *polar bears*, but you get the point), real is what you want.
I had a minor issue with my key card during my stay. The poor front desk person, bless her heart, was run off her feet, but she handled it with grace and a smile. And that, my friends, is priceless. They probably deal with all kinds of crazy up there, and they still have that Northern charm. It's a HUGE upgrade over someone who’s clearly checked out. And hey, a friendly face goes a long way when you're exhausted from aurora-chasing.
Location, location, location! Is it actually *convenient*?
Location? Pretty darn good, actually. It's not smack-dab in the heart of everything, but it's close enough. You're not going to be spending your entire vacation wrestling with public transport to get around. You can walk to some restaurants, you're a quick drive to downtown and the Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Center. And that's key. You're in Yellowknife, not a bustling metropolis. Everything is a *bit* of a drive. So, yeah, convenient.
You're also reasonably close to the airport. Meaning, no agonizingly long commutes after surviving a flight. And you'll be thankful for that after a red-eye from back east. It’s a good base for exploring the city… or at least, easy enough to get *out* of the city and into the vast, beautiful wilderness. Which, let’s be honest, is why you’re going to Yellowknife in the first place, right? The aurora? The big sky? The feeling of utter isolation? Yeah, the Quality Inn puts you in the perfect spot to achieve that isolation.
Okay, be honest. What's the worst thing about this place? Spill the tea!
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