Another Bill W review for you! Bill is a true road warrior, his work has him driving and flying
across Western and Central Canada every week while staying in a variety
hotels from a variety of chains. Bill is a regular contributor to Rewards Canada and has been reading, following giving tips and providing updates for a very long time so let’s welcome him back with this latest review!
This Holiday Inn Express Hotel underwent extensive renovations that were completed in late 2019. The renovations transformed the hotel into a very modern and upscale place to lay your head.
The Front Desk is very tastefully put together and evokes a warm and welcoming vibe from the moment you walk through the door. It is well lit and there is lots of room for 2 parties to check in at the same time. The lobby also has a seating area that opens off to the left of the door as you walk in and enhances the feeling of an open and spacious area.
There is a fully stocked pantry to the right of the Front Desk where you can purchase drinks, some snacks and even some microwaveable food if you fancy something hot. They also have a flight schedule screen right outside the elevator doors that will allow you to check the status of your flights.
I was able to get one of the more spacious rooms with a separate seating area. This is nice to allow you to stretch out on something other than the bed. The décor of the room is quite nice, it is done in earth tones, with the wall by the window and the bathroom in a darker shade to add some contrast. The king-size bed is quite comfortable and allows for a good night sleep. It is not too hard and adjusts to your body quite well. The feather pillows are also very luxurious, they definitely make you want to lay your head down when it is time for sleep.
The closet (with self-closing doors) and 6 hangers is roomy enough to allow you to hang your clothes without crowding. Of course, the iron and ironing board are in the closet and there is even an extra duvet in case you are feeling cold. (I should mention that the heating system is very responsive and does a wonderful job of maintaining your room at whatever temperature you are comfortable with. Even if it‘s -30C outside….). There is also a 3-drawer dresser for your smaller items. The room has a minifridge, microwave and Keurig coffee maker. The 48” LG TV is a very nice feature; it is easily visible from either the bed or the couch. The accent lighting over the bed, top of the closet and at the top of the TV are really good for helping you wind down your day. The ambience with the subtle lighting is very relaxing.
The bathroom is very open with a large mirror and lighting that projects from all sides of the mirror. This lighting is quite easy on the eyes as it is not stark and blinding. I would say it is almost a relaxing feeling to the lighting which makes it easier on your system first thing in the morning. The bath features shower gel, shampoo and conditioner by J.R. Watkins. The shower head is located 6’ from the bottom of the tub, so even taller persons will be able to take a shower without having to constantly stoop to get water on their head and shoulders.
One thing that is a particularly good feature of this room is the preponderance of electrical outlets throughout the room. There are 2 electrical outlets and 2 USB ports located on the headboard at both sides of the bed. There is also another set of electric outlets/USB ports located under the TV and the desk has an electrical outlet on the wall behind the desk. In addition, the desk lamp has 2 USB ports and even 2 electrical plugs configured for international equipment. I usually travel with 2 computers and 2 phones, so for myself, having access to plentiful charging opportunities is a must.
At 65” from the bottom of the door, the peephole into the hallway is located a bit higher than is usually found.
The window shades are kept in place by a track on either side and this is greatly beneficial in preventing any light leakage from around the edges. The room stays very dark which of course is great for a good night’s sleep.
I found the all-important Wi-Fi to be quite adequate with minimal lagging.
The Express breakfast is still quite good even with the restrictions due to Covid-19. They have a hot sandwich (muffin with cheese and bacon or sausage), assorted cereals, juice, yogurt, muffin, danish, Nutri-Bars, fruit cups, coffee, tea, etc.) The bags are not pre-packaged, you are able to customize the items you would like and the server will assemble the bag for you. You also have the option to eat in the dining area (with proper social distancing of course).
The pool and fitness facilities are open, albeit with restrictions. You will need to book in advance and there is a limit of one hour per room.
I have stayed at this location numerous times in the past and have always found it to be very well run and neat & clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful and make you feel welcome. It is located just 12 minutes from the Airport and 5minutes from Midtown Mall. I would highly recommend this Hotel whenever you are travelling through Saskatoon.
Hotel details
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saskatoon Centre (Book here)
Points required for a free night ~13,000 – 14,000 Points (IHG no longer has set award rates but our searches show most nights in this point range)
Points+Cash rates: ~8,000 Points + C$45 – 9,000 Points + C$42.35 (IHG no longer has set award rates but our searches show most nights in this point range)
Remember that right now you can earn up to 3x points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide until August 15, 2021. You’ll earn 2x points on your second stay followed by triple
points on your third and every stay after that. Full details, online registration & booking. (Registration is required)
Also be sure to visit and book mark our IHG Rewards Bonus Points page for many more points opportunities.
Talk to us! Have you stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saskatoon Centre ? What are your thoughts of the hotel? Or are you
planning to and looking forward to it? Let us know below!