Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG
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Summary of reviewsHoliday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, is highly praised for its picturesque and convenient location right on the waterfront. Guests frequently enjoy beautiful views of the lake and harbor from their rooms, making it an ideal spot for relaxation or exploration. The central setting places visitors within easy walking distance of downtown Kingston's attractions, shops and restaurants, as well as Queen’s University and a nearby concert venue.
The hotel offers a comfortable and clean retreat with many guests highlighting the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. Spacious accommodations often come with balconies, providing serene vistas akin to being on a cruise ship. The corner suites are particularly appreciated for their quietude and welcoming layout. Additionally, the dining experiences at the hotel, especially breakfast, garner positive feedback for quality, variety and reasonable pricing with attentive service and accommodating options for dietary restrictions.
Despite some maintenance issues, such as outdated decor and occasional noise, the hotel's rooms are mostly described as clean and comfortable. The family-friendly environment, spacious rooms and kid-friendly amenities like the pool contribute significantly to the positive experiences of families staying at the hotel.
The staff generally receive high marks for their friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness with numerous mentions of exemplary service, especially by specific employees. While there are occasional reports of long wait times or unwelcoming front desk personnel, the majority of interactions with the staff are positive, enhancing the overall stay.
Dining at the hotel's Wharf & Feather restaurant is noted for its tasty and high-quality offerings, although some guests find the menu limited and the service hours inconvenient for late diners. The dinner buffet is described as reasonably priced, further contributing to the positive dining experience.
Amenities like the gym and pool also receive varied reviews. The gym is positively regarded as good or great by many guests, while the pool's cleanliness and temperature receive mixed feedback. Parking at the hotel is convenient, though some guests find the fees excessive and the maintenance of parking areas lacking.
Overall, the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront provides a generally pleasant and comfortable four-star hotel experience with beautiful waterfront views, a fantastic location, friendly staff and a range of amenities that cater well to travelers and families alike.
Categories
The hotel offers a comfortable and clean retreat with many guests highlighting the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. Spacious accommodations often come with balconies, providing serene vistas akin to being on a cruise ship. The corner suites are particularly appreciated for their quietude and welcoming layout. Additionally, the dining experiences at the hotel, especially breakfast, garner positive feedback for quality, variety and reasonable pricing with attentive service and accommodating options for dietary restrictions.
Despite some maintenance issues, such as outdated decor and occasional noise, the hotel's rooms are mostly described as clean and comfortable. The family-friendly environment, spacious rooms and kid-friendly amenities like the pool contribute significantly to the positive experiences of families staying at the hotel.
The staff generally receive high marks for their friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness with numerous mentions of exemplary service, especially by specific employees. While there are occasional reports of long wait times or unwelcoming front desk personnel, the majority of interactions with the staff are positive, enhancing the overall stay.
Dining at the hotel's Wharf & Feather restaurant is noted for its tasty and high-quality offerings, although some guests find the menu limited and the service hours inconvenient for late diners. The dinner buffet is described as reasonably priced, further contributing to the positive dining experience.
Amenities like the gym and pool also receive varied reviews. The gym is positively regarded as good or great by many guests, while the pool's cleanliness and temperature receive mixed feedback. Parking at the hotel is convenient, though some guests find the fees excessive and the maintenance of parking areas lacking.
Overall, the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront provides a generally pleasant and comfortable four-star hotel experience with beautiful waterfront views, a fantastic location, friendly staff and a range of amenities that cater well to travelers and families alike.
Dog Friendly Hotel
This hotel has a downtown location with easy access to parks and walking paths. It offers a welcoming atmosphere for pets, with a grassy area for pet relief on-site and a park next to the hotel. The outdoor patio also allows pets.
Hotel with Swimming Pool
Located on the waterfront, this Holiday Inn features a pool and provides easy access to Kingston's attractions, making it ideal for leisure and business travelers.
Indoor Pool
Hotel with Parking
The Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront provides parking and is located in a central area.
Hotel near Golf Courses
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Business Hotel
Accessible Hotel
Hotel with Gym
4-Star Hotel
Hotel with Indoor Pool
Guest Reviews
The Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront, an IHG Hotel, boasts an enviable location that garners significant praise from its guests. Positioned right on the waterfront, the views from the rooms are frequently described as beautiful with many highlighting the serene lake and harbor vistas. This central setting places guests within easy walking distance to downtown Kingston, making it convenient to explore local attractions, shops and restaurants without needing a car. The proximity to the city center, a concert venue, Queen’s University and the main streets provides a perfect base for sightseeing and attending events.
Guests appreciate the hotel's central and quiet location, creating an ideal spot for both relaxation and exploration. The surrounding waterfront and park areas contribute to the picturesque environment, described as almost like being on a large cruise ship.
In addition to the excellent location, reviews also emphasize the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, the friendly and helpful staff and the onsite dining options. The overall sentiment suggests that staying at this hotel offers a convenient and pleasant experience for anyone looking to explore Kingston on foot, enjoy waterfront views and have a comfortable retreat to return to.
The breakfast experience at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, receives a mix of reviews, predominantly positive. Guests frequently highlight the excellent food choices and pleasant service. The breakfast buffet is particularly noted for being good, varied and reasonably priced; it offers a substantial selection and is free for kids, which many families appreciate. Several guests commend the staff's efforts to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as preparing delicious gluten and dairy-free meals upon request.
Reviews also mention the great quality and variety of the Sunday breakfast buffet and the overall good size portions served. Breakfast often receives praise for its delicious taste and well-prepared dishes with some describing it as amazing or fantastic. There is also mention of the restaurant's lovely terrace offering a pleasant dining ambiance.
However, there are areas where improvements could be made. Some guests express disappointment with the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, while others note that breakfast is not always included in the room price, which can lead to unexpected costs. Complaints also surface about the slow service at times and the lack of complimentary breakfast provisions.
Despite some criticisms regarding price and service speed, many guests still regard the breakfast at the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront as a positive aspect of their stay with its quality, variety and attentive staff frequently leaving a good impression.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, offers a generally satisfying dining experience, especially at their Wharf & Feather restaurant. The salmon and delicious starters are notable highlights, receiving praise for their taste and quality. Guests consistently find the restaurant clean and accessible, appreciating the al fresco dining option and the pleasant atmosphere, sometimes accompanied by a Cuban musician on the terrace.
While the restaurant's food is often described as excellent, there are some areas for improvement. The menu is considered limited by a few diners and the dinner option sometimes did not meet expectations as advertised. Additionally, the restaurant closes relatively early at 9 PM with the kitchen halting service 30 minutes prior, which can be inconvenient for late diners.
Despite this, the dinner buffet is reasonably priced and the overall quality of meals—whether dinner or breakfast—receives positive remarks. Service is typically good, although the restaurant staff can be overwhelmed at times, leading to longer wait times. All in all, guests are pleased with the dining experience, which stands out as a strong aspect of their stay at the hotel.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront boasts a prime location with stunning views and proximity to restaurants, shops and parks, making it a convenient choice for travelers. Guests frequently mention the spaciousness and comfort of the rooms, which many find large enough to accommodate families. Several reviews highlight clean, well-maintained rooms with comfortable beds and modern bathrooms.
Many rooms feature balconies with picturesque views of the harbor or lake, creating a serene atmosphere akin to being aboard a boat. The corner suites, in particular, are appreciated for their quietude and inviting layout. Amenities, such as mini-bars, coffee machines and fast room service, add to the overall positive experience.
However, the hotel shows some signs of aging with outdated decor and occasional maintenance issues like malfunctioning AC units, broken thermostats and inconsistent room cleaning. Noise from adjoining rooms and common areas can also be a concern for some guests. Despite these minor setbacks, the standout feature remains the breathtaking views and the convenient, comfortable stay offered by many of the rooms.
Located right on the waterfront, the Holiday Inn Kingston boasts beds that receive consistent praise for their comfort. Guests frequently highlight how comfortable, clean and nicely sized the beds are with many describing the mattresses as extremely comfortable and high-quality. Comments often include mentions of super comfy, very comfortable and the comfiest, emphasizing the overall relaxation and satisfaction provided by the beds. Despite a few remarks about softness levels and occasional cleanliness issues, the majority of reviews reflect a high level of satisfaction with the bed comfort, making it a notable aspect of this hotel experience.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, has garnered mixed reviews regarding cleanliness with many guests praising the overall upkeep of the establishment. Rooms and common areas, including the restaurant, are frequently highlighted for being clean and comfortable with some guests describing them as exceptionally clean or even outrageously clean. Guests have also noted that amenities maintain a good standard of cleanliness, contributing to a positive experience.
However, there are notable inconsistencies, particularly regarding the maintenance of balconies and certain areas of the hotel. Several reviews mention dirty balconies with broken furniture and spider webs, while hallways have been reported as needing better vacuuming. These issues extend to specific areas like the pool, which some guests found overly hot and uncomfortable. The reliability of daily room cleaning has also been questioned with some guests mentioning that rooms weren't cleaned properly or that they had to repeatedly request clean towels and additional amenities.
Despite these issues, many guests did find their rooms satisfactory and clean upon arrival. The modern design of the hotel and the friendliness of the staff were also appreciated, adding to the overall appeal for those who had a positive stay. However, inconsistencies in cleaning protocols and the need for better maintenance in certain areas may require attention to ensure a more uniformly pleasant experience for all guests.
The guest reviews for the staff at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, highlight a mix of experiences with a strong emphasis on positive interactions. Numerous visitors praised the staff for their friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness. Specific employees like bartender Hayden and Johnny received special mentions for being particularly awesome and fantastic, respectively. Many guests found the restaurant staff funny and attentive and praised the housekeeping team for their friendly disposition.
However, there were instances where guests had less favorable experiences, particularly at the front desk. Complaints about long wait times, unwelcoming receptionists and untrained staff were noted. Some guests found the reception staff to be pre-occupied and unapproachable with a few going as far as describing the front desk service as terrible. Despite these negative points, the overall sentiment leans positively with numerous mentions of staff being accommodating, polite and exceptionally kind.
In summary, while there is room for improvement at the front desk, the majority of the hotel staff at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront are praised for their exemplary service and friendliness, contributing significantly to the pleasant experiences of many guests.
Guests at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront have found the WiFi to be reliable, which is a substantial positive point for those needing a consistent internet connection. Despite some issues reported by a few guests about the internet not working, the hotel generally maintains a dependable wireless service. The front desk staff often receive praise for being polite, professional and helpful, enhancing the overall guest experience. While there were occasional mentions of unresponsiveness from some front desk staff, these appear to be less frequent.
The gym at the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront receives steady praise from guests. Descriptions often highlight the facilities as good and nice with some even calling the workout amenities great. Although there are occasional mentions of it being just ok, the overall sentiment leans positively. The gym is noted alongside other amenities, suggesting a well-rounded offering for fitness enthusiasts, despite a few instances of closures. For travelers prioritizing a solid workout space during their stay, this hotel's gym seems to generally meet expectations.
The pool facilities at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront receive mixed reviews from guests. Many visitors describe the pool as nice, enjoyable and great, highlighting that it can be a warm and pleasant space to use. The indoor pool, in particular, is noted as being nice with convenient amenities like a washroom or change room nearby. Cleanliness is praised by some, who mention a majorly clean swimming pool and generally well-maintained environment.
However, there are several criticisms. Some guests highlight that the pool can feel small and there have been complaints about the pool being dirty at times. Issues with pool temperature are frequently mentioned with some finding the water to be ice-cold, which led to disappointment, especially when the pool was a primary reason for their stay. Additionally, there have been instances of the pool being closed or non-functional, which has frustrated some visitors. Overall, while there are positive aspects, guests' experiences with the pool facilities can vary considerably.
The parking situation at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, presents a mixed experience for guests. On the positive side, visitors appreciated the convenient on-property parking and the availability of free parking for some. Access to the parking area was generally considered handy and in several cases, guests felt that the parking options were satisfactory. However, numerous guests expressed concerns over the high cost of parking with fees ranging from $24 to $30 per night, which many found to be excessive and disappointing. Additionally, some noted that the parking areas were tight and not always well-maintained with issues such as unguarded lots and occasional messiness detracting from the overall experience. While a few guests experienced security issues, the consensus indicates a room for improvement, especially regarding the cost versus the level of service and security provided.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront offers a fantastic location, making it a prime choice for family getaways. The spacious family rooms, equipped with all necessary amenities, provide ample space and comfort for larger groups. Kids thoroughly enjoyed the pool and various activities available, ensuring they are well entertained. The hotel has been praised for its kid-friendly environment, highlighted by safe balconies that give parents peace of mind. Families found the room service commendable and particularly accommodating. Overall, many families have chosen this hotel for its combination of great location and family-friendly facilities.
The Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, offers a predominantly positive four-star experience with many guests affirming that their stay felt like that of a four-star hotel. Visitors generally found the hotel to live up to their four-star expectations, noting that it was the best hotel in Kingston and among the best overall in Canada. The accommodations were comfortable, aligning with typical four-star standards. While some guests felt that the luxury level could have been higher for the price paid per night, many seemed to value the view and the hotel's prime location.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront has received mixed reviews regarding its accessibility for guests with disabilities. Positive feedback highlights that the hotel is accessible by bus, metro and car, making transportation convenient for travelers with disabilities. The accessible bathrooms and general accessibility features were appreciated by some guests. However, several areas require improvement. There were mentions of inadequate drop-off space for those with mobility challenges and the steps to the pool being too high for handicap access. Additionally, some guests reported that the hotel staff struggled with handling accessibility issues and there was a noted absence of accessible bathrooms specifically designed for wheelchairs. Overall, while some aspects of the hotel's accessibility were appreciated, several significant areas need attention to fully accommodate guests with disabilities.
Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG, is well-regarded for its dog-friendly accommodations. Guests appreciate the availability of pet-friendly rooms and the convenience of the pet-friendly patio. The hotel’s overall pet-friendly atmosphere is noted positively by many. However, those with easily disturbed pets should be aware that the hallways and doors might be loud, potentially triggering barking. Despite a pet fee, the hotel remains a favored option among travelers with dogs.
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Location
Guests appreciate the hotel's central and quiet location, creating an ideal spot for both relaxation and exploration. The surrounding waterfront and park areas contribute to the picturesque environment, described as almost like being on a large cruise ship.
In addition to the excellent location, reviews also emphasize the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, the friendly and helpful staff and the onsite dining options. The overall sentiment suggests that staying at this hotel offers a convenient and pleasant experience for anyone looking to explore Kingston on foot, enjoy waterfront views and have a comfortable retreat to return to.
Breakfast
Reviews also mention the great quality and variety of the Sunday breakfast buffet and the overall good size portions served. Breakfast often receives praise for its delicious taste and well-prepared dishes with some describing it as amazing or fantastic. There is also mention of the restaurant's lovely terrace offering a pleasant dining ambiance.
However, there are areas where improvements could be made. Some guests express disappointment with the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, while others note that breakfast is not always included in the room price, which can lead to unexpected costs. Complaints also surface about the slow service at times and the lack of complimentary breakfast provisions.
Despite some criticisms regarding price and service speed, many guests still regard the breakfast at the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront as a positive aspect of their stay with its quality, variety and attentive staff frequently leaving a good impression.
Dinner
While the restaurant's food is often described as excellent, there are some areas for improvement. The menu is considered limited by a few diners and the dinner option sometimes did not meet expectations as advertised. Additionally, the restaurant closes relatively early at 9 PM with the kitchen halting service 30 minutes prior, which can be inconvenient for late diners.
Despite this, the dinner buffet is reasonably priced and the overall quality of meals—whether dinner or breakfast—receives positive remarks. Service is typically good, although the restaurant staff can be overwhelmed at times, leading to longer wait times. All in all, guests are pleased with the dining experience, which stands out as a strong aspect of their stay at the hotel.
Rooms
Many rooms feature balconies with picturesque views of the harbor or lake, creating a serene atmosphere akin to being aboard a boat. The corner suites, in particular, are appreciated for their quietude and inviting layout. Amenities, such as mini-bars, coffee machines and fast room service, add to the overall positive experience.
However, the hotel shows some signs of aging with outdated decor and occasional maintenance issues like malfunctioning AC units, broken thermostats and inconsistent room cleaning. Noise from adjoining rooms and common areas can also be a concern for some guests. Despite these minor setbacks, the standout feature remains the breathtaking views and the convenient, comfortable stay offered by many of the rooms.
Beds
Cleanliness
However, there are notable inconsistencies, particularly regarding the maintenance of balconies and certain areas of the hotel. Several reviews mention dirty balconies with broken furniture and spider webs, while hallways have been reported as needing better vacuuming. These issues extend to specific areas like the pool, which some guests found overly hot and uncomfortable. The reliability of daily room cleaning has also been questioned with some guests mentioning that rooms weren't cleaned properly or that they had to repeatedly request clean towels and additional amenities.
Despite these issues, many guests did find their rooms satisfactory and clean upon arrival. The modern design of the hotel and the friendliness of the staff were also appreciated, adding to the overall appeal for those who had a positive stay. However, inconsistencies in cleaning protocols and the need for better maintenance in certain areas may require attention to ensure a more uniformly pleasant experience for all guests.
Staff
However, there were instances where guests had less favorable experiences, particularly at the front desk. Complaints about long wait times, unwelcoming receptionists and untrained staff were noted. Some guests found the reception staff to be pre-occupied and unapproachable with a few going as far as describing the front desk service as terrible. Despite these negative points, the overall sentiment leans positively with numerous mentions of staff being accommodating, polite and exceptionally kind.
In summary, while there is room for improvement at the front desk, the majority of the hotel staff at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront are praised for their exemplary service and friendliness, contributing significantly to the pleasant experiences of many guests.
Wi-Fi
Gym
Pool
However, there are several criticisms. Some guests highlight that the pool can feel small and there have been complaints about the pool being dirty at times. Issues with pool temperature are frequently mentioned with some finding the water to be ice-cold, which led to disappointment, especially when the pool was a primary reason for their stay. Additionally, there have been instances of the pool being closed or non-functional, which has frustrated some visitors. Overall, while there are positive aspects, guests' experiences with the pool facilities can vary considerably.
Parking
Family
4 Star
Accessible
Dog Friendly
Yes, Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Indoor Pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG.
Yes, Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG.
Yes, Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG has a gym.
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