Clarion Hotel & Suites

The restaurant is always good and serves generous portions, but the room cleaning has been a problem on every visit. This was our third or fourth stay, mostly because my daughter has tournaments in Brandon and we keep getting booked here. One time there was used soap in the shower and a filthy sink counter; staff cleaned it. Another time I had to scrape gum off the bathroom floor, and later the bed skirt was disgusting with who knows what on it. This past weekend, there was caked dirt on the lamp and along the bathroom counter and wall, so I wiped the room down with Lysol. A few hockey parents found bed bugs, which panicked us enough to strip the beds and check. There was garbage all over the hallways too. They need cleaning staff who actually clean. Do better.

I travel extensively for work across North America, and this was the worst hotel stay I’ve ever had. I only booked because everywhere else nearby was sold out. The hallway noise went on well past quiet hours, with people running and shouting, and despite the heavy security presence it felt like there was no security. For the first time, I didn’t feel safe in a hotel and stayed in my room once I got back. Outside the lobby, the building felt dirty. My room smelled strongly of old cigarette and marijuana smoke, and the pillows were stained. The morning showers were barely lukewarm when I tried around 7 and 8:30am. A local strip club and hotel combination might have been more pleasant.

The details of the room were a nice surprise. The bed linens were very soft and comfortable, and the chair and footstool made a good spot to sit because the TV swivels toward them. The TV is dated and a little small, but big enough. There’s a decent internet connection, a good-sized fridge, and a useful bench for luggage or putting on shoes and boots. The bathroom is spacious for a hotel, with a long vanity that keeps towels well away from the toilet. I think the porcelain floor is heated because it felt warm and I couldn’t see a heater. The rooms are clean and roomy, the property is well run and kept, and there’s a restaurant and lounge on-site, with several more just a short walk away. There’s also a nice pool, waterslide, and gym.

There’s hardly anywhere to sit in the lobby, which makes the place feel unwelcoming even though the staff are friendly. There’s only one bench outside, far from the entrance, with a camera pointed right at it. A peer who checked in early was basically told there was nowhere to sit. The hotel bar is an option, I guess, if you’re willing to pay. I don’t know whether loitering has been an issue, but adding a bench or two would make a big difference.