Discussions

Looking for suggestions for fun and kid friendly hotels and restaurants in Winnipeg. We usually stay at the Fairfield Marriott but it's always really busy. Thought we would try somewhere different.  
Thank you

The clarion at polo park has a nice pool/slide, kids always have fun

We stay at the Victoria Inn by the airport, pool side rooms with bunk beds. It has a beach entrance and is dinosaur themed. The water slide is does not go into the pool so you can use the entire pool area which is nice.

Viscount Gort is awesome. Located across from Polo Park on Portage and 95 (St. James). Has amazing waterslide and amazing staff. AMAZING staff. Very clean, very friendly. It was pretty quiet when we went there (January).  
The rooms actually have a very small bar style counter where the microwave, fridge and coffee maker are located. Really liked that as it was ideal for preparing food and serving the kids. The beds are probably the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on. Even better than the Fairmont.  
Prices were super reasonable. I actually booked online at the website literally just before leaving Brandon. Everything was ready when we got there. I highly recommend Viscount Gort.  
 
http://www.viscount-gort.com/

We always stayed at this hotel as their kids rooms were great. They included 4 bunk beds in a self-contained room that had a tv and game system. Now the hotel is under construction and they are redoing the rooms so it will be new in a few months.  
In the mean time, the pool area is incredible. Nice size hot tub, large circular kids pool and a 3 story play structure with air nerf guns, ball pit, climbing areas and a slide.  
Plus, the staff is incredible. All of the new rooms have microwaves and fridges. Your kids will love it and will love it more when the kid suites are opened again.

If what you're looking for is fun for the kids, its REALLY hard to beat this place. It has the usual pool etc. No waterslide BUT it has a AWESOME play structure. So your kids can swim or play in the structure. And when I say awesome I mean it. Lots of slides, a super soft ball pit that can either be played with normally, or you can load the balls into these turret guns that are air compressed and shoot them. (No where near hard enough for even a baby to be hurt. They go a decent distance but they're so soft that my friends' toddlers get pelted with them and dont even notice).  
 
The structure is awesome.  
 
Another great benefit is free underground parking with video cameras. It's a big part of why we stay there. we've never had any issues with our cars because (ideally) the people in the underground parking are all there with their own vehicles, but even if someone did go down there to steal/break stuff, there are cameras all over the place.  
 
We stay there everytime and always love it. The rooms are really nice as well.

We also stay there for all the reasons mentioned above plus that the pool is kept at a very comfortable temperature. All hotel pools are heated, but the Holiday Inn is kept around 80 degrees. Also kids eat free with a paying adult.

Yup I also recommend the Holiday Inn Airport West. The kids themed rooms are currently being renovated though but if you don't need a larger room you'll be fine. Great play structure, there is a small wading pool for infants, a few games like ping pong, and kids eat free with adult. After the Holiday Inn we like the Clarion, the rooms are nice, and the pool is great, it has a waterslide. The Victoria Inn is also ok, the pool is great for younger children but it is NUTS on the weekend. Everytime we've been there on the weekend the pool has been uncomfortably packed, especially with birthday parties during the day. But the kids suites a great, huge with 2 bathrooms.

Holiday Inn Airport West .There renovations are nearly complete. When we were there the restaurant wasn't done. But our room, the lobby, lounge etc was done. Free shuttle to the airport or polo park. No fancy water slide but big play structure. Been staying there for years!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I second the Holiday Inn (although it is usually very busy if you're looking to enjoy more of piece and quiet) I also love the Victoria Inn by the air port, the pool is great. We've stayed at the Canad Inns in Windsor Park and enjoyed the pool also.

Holiday Inn Airport west is PERFECT for kids, great salt water pool with a frog slide, play equipment....it's fantastic...

Haven't stayed there since the days when it was known as the Downs Motor Inn. The last reviews I can remember reading essentially panned it for all manner of bedbug infestation, stains on bedding, carpets, etc. Just wondering if the basement (then operated as a bar) has been re-purposed or is it still closed?

Thinking of Howard Johnson Portage Ave West

We are waking up at the Vic Inn this morning. We have been here many times before.  
We were only able to enjoy the pool for about 15 minutes yesterday as it was beyond too busy. It was almost chaotic. We were jumped on by kids, kicked, could hardly move. We finally left in frustration. Didn't seem to be staff who monitored numbers. Water from shower would be brown every so often. A few items forgotten in room service.  
It has been a disappointing stay, hoping it is just a one time thing as we usually enjoy staying here.