The Explorer Hotel Yellowknife

Our room on the 6th floor faced the frozen lake, with an amazing view across the snowy landscape and part of downtown Yellowknife. It felt like a million-dollar view, and the room was so spacious it was almost a suite. The bed was very comfortable, and we slept well. The bathroom had a bit of a 90s feel, but was clean and functional. We visited The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife this March to see the Aurora Borealis, and it worked out very well. It’s on one of the highest points downtown, with restaurants and a supermarket within walking distance. We walked about 1.4 km, or 18 minutes, to NWT Brewing restaurant. The hotel has a lounge and restaurant too. We had lunch at Trader's Grill and enjoyed the snowy scenery. Our room was beside the elevator, but after late nights on Northern Lights tours, we were too tired for the noise to bother us. We had a very pleasant stay and would recommend it to people visiting Yellowknife.

The lobby is a mess right now, but the rest of the hotel is pretty good. Rooms are clean and a decent size, and the beds and showers are alright, though the tubs are no good. The Trapline is great for a drink, and Traders grille has tasty food. One of my top hotels in Yellowknife.

The hotel staff are amazing and the hotel is very clean, but my service rating of 1 is because of the shuttle driver. We dealt with him twice, and his behavior was rude and unacceptable. I don’t know his name because we never got that far. The first time was in early May, after our flight landed at midnight. I tried to greet him and got no response. He took one person and left me outside at the airport in -30°C. When I called the hotel, they said he’d be back in 10 minutes. I waited a full hour and he never returned, so I had to book a taxi even though the ride was supposed to be complimentary. Today the same driver picked me up again. He had a bad attitude, ignored my greeting, and kept talking to an acquaintance while ignoring my questions about collecting my bags. When we arrived, I thanked him for the help, but he ignored me, slammed the door, and walked away. Colleagues who know him say he’s been doing this for some time. I travel through yellowknife often for work rotations, and this is unacceptable for an interaction that takes no more than 15 minutes.

The staff were polite, responsive, and helpful. It’s a busy hotel in a central location, but with so many guests the room cleaning was mediocre. They did the surfaces, but left spills and messes in the carpet.