Description: Having already spent an extravagant wedding night in a posh hotel, we were looking to save a little cash upon our arrival in Calgary. We reasoned, quite accurately, that we would be spending the bulk of our two days in Calgary at the Stampede with little need for luxury linens or a cheese plate. As I waded through the universe of lodging information both online and in the guidebooks, I had begun to lose hope. The last thing I want to do in a strange city, especially in another country, is to pick a hotel by price that turns out to be located in a questionable part of town. The constant sense of impending petty crime can really put a damper on a vacation. I almost didn't believe my eyes when I discovered the web page for the Country Inn & Suites. The photos showed a recently renovated hotel, charmingly decorated in a cozy lodge style. The rooms promised to be of ample size and amenities for our needs, there was a mention of continental breakfast, and the location seemed fairly convenient to both the airport and Stampede Park. All of this came at the
bargain price of only US$98 per night, or about CN$109. It seemed to good to be true. I pushed the "reserve" button and hoped for the best.
Dragging from several days of wedding-related sleep deprivation, plus a long flight and time change, we stumbled through the door of the hotel to a series of pleasant surprises. The friendly, Western-clad desk staff greeted us right away, and we had key cards in hand in a matter of moments. The common areas of the hotel were clean and in good repair, and the country lodge decor of rich plaids and warm wood was delightful. We found our room to be clean and already cool upon our arrival – a welcome treat after the 92°F summer day outside. The room was well-appointed with tasteful décor, plenty of lighting, large television, coffeemaker, and a larger-than-usual bathroom for a moderate hotel. It far exceeded our expectations for the price, especially during Stampede.
The next morning, I went downstairs expecting to bring a bagel and a cup of orange juice back from the breakfast buffet. What I found made me go back upstairs and wake my husband! There were bagels, doughnuts, fruits, cereals, gigantic specialty muffins, toast, juices, milk, coffee, and a waffle station! Despite the crowd of hungry "stampeders" filling the room, all of the selections were constantly restocked in ample supply by a nice lady with a smile. The only thing in short supply seemed to be the seating. We shared our table with a father and daughter from Toronto who were also in town for the Stampede. The man said that he had been told about this hotel by a buddy of his who was often in Calgary for business. He agreed with his friend that it is definitely the best value in lodging. We agreed too!
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