A certain lifelong friend of mine, one of the high-maintenance variety, was in town this summer visiting Mister and I, along with her husband and kids.
Before they came she had asked me where she should stay in the city. Her specific instructions were it needs to be chic-yet-kid-friendly (because she's so fancy), located in the heart of downtown, has a pool (for her kids to play in), and has clean, comfortable and affordable rooms.
I said no problem, just book yourself in at the Delta Hotel Winnipeg.
Well, she did, and I tell you you can score one for Missus Peg -- because their stay could not have been better.
First off, the sleek lobby with its modern furniture, swish lighting fixtures and glassed-in fireplace made an excellent impression as she was quick to tell me that night (the side tables made from logs were especially of note); while the bright, spacious, clean rooms with comfy beds hit all her check points.
But above those -- as she told me as we caught up over drinks on the patio of the Delta's newly renovated Elephant & Castle pub (which has always been a good spot for a burger and beers) -- was the heated tile floors in the bathroom and their south facing room which overlooked the forests that blanket the southern part of the city. She was so charmed with my Delta recommendation that she even insisted on buying my drinks (which I only half-heartedly opposed).
While we were catching up, Mister, her husband and our kids were up in their awesome outdoor rooftop pool area (part of the Odyssey Health Club) which stays open from May through to Labour Day. Needless to say the kids loved it, while her husband was impressed with the pool's setting which is surrounded by downtown's buildings. There is also an indoor pool, sauna, gym and whirlpool that they'll be using when they come back to visit in late November.
In fact, the Delta Hotel Winnipeg has just been completely renovated, so I hope she is ready for even more of that wow factor. The newly refinished Odyssey Health Club now goes above and beyond what you would find in an excellent hotel's fitness area, while all the rooms and public areas have been made even sleeker.
And speaking of when they will be coming back in late November, another big draw for the Delta is that it is connected through the downtown skywalks to everywhere in the city's centre that you'd want to go. Right now, the Delta is promoting this through their Leave your Coat In Your Room package, along with other specials like a couples and family package that includes tickets to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, along with a Stop, Shop and Play package where if you stay two nights you get the third for free.
I tell you they are pulling out all the stops -- and I haven't even mentioned their charming, attentive staff, whom my picky friend could find no fault with (which is saying a lot).
But anyway, back to the Leave Your Coat package: with the MTS Centre only a short jaunt across the heated skywalk, the hotel's location could not be better if you are looking for access to all the entertainment that downtown Winnipeg has to offer. While I've personally never felt winter is much of a bother, I must admit that the ability to leave your coat at your hotel while still taking in a concert, or Jets game -- like we'll be doing with them on November 20th when we host the Red Wings -- is more than an added bonus.
She's also looking to do some Christmas shopping (sans jacket) to Portage Place and the Bay when they visit next, so you really can't beat the cover and comfort that the Delta provides.
It's no wonder they have so many regulars stay there on monthly business trips, along with such high ratings on Expedia.
It just made my job recommending a stay there that much easier.
Only in The Peg chronicles the adventures of the Peg family–Missus, Mister and Lil' Peg - as they discover everything there is to see and do in Winnipeg. Follow them on Twitter at @tourismwpg or visit them on Facebook. For even more info on Winnipeg, visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com.
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