5 best places to stay while visiting Canada

Canada, with its wide variety of landscapes and blend of cultures, offers many unique accommodation experiences. Compiling a list of the best places to stay is no easy task. There are so many great potential places to add to this list.

However, some places offer a unique experience. Whether it is the setting, landscape, architecture or activities (among others), these places stand out from the rest. They each offer an experience you cannot find anywhere else.

If you’re going anywhere close to these incredible places, I highly recommend that you visit them. It would be a shame to miss out on a unique experience.

1. Fogo Island Inn

Situated on a small island close to Newfoundland in northern Canada, you will find the most remarkable place to stay. Fogo Island Inn resembles the angular chunk of rock that it is perched on. It blends perfectly with its surroundings, facing the wild northern Atlantic ocean. A place as exotic as its location, it features 29 unique rooms/suites, all with magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows. What’s more, each of these spaces features a tasteful and comfortable blend of traditional and contemporary furniture.

To add your experience, Fogo Island Inn also boasts with a library, cinema and art gallery. Additionally, for a bit of healthy indulgence, you can sweat it out in one of the architect-designed saunas. There are many well-laid-out hiking trails around the hotel and on the island.

Fogo Island is somewhat of a unique place, unlike any other you’ve seen. It boasts seven distinct seasons, has many artists’ studios, and is situated on what is known as the iceberg alley.

2. Free Spirit Spheres

This is the kind of space-age concept you would ordinarily find in an advanced urban setting like Tokyo. However, the Free Spirit Spheres hang from trees in a rain forest. And “roughing it” doesn’t even come close to describing this way of camping. Contrarily, these suspended spheres are most luxurious by any standard.

These pods feature temperature control. Therefore, you can rest assured that you’ll sleep safely, away from the elements. They also have electricity, bathrooms and tiny kitchenettes. What’s more, you can connect your digital devices to a built-in high-fidelity sound system.

The design is something special, using techniques from ship-building among others. Strategically-placed windows provide beautiful views. Guests can access these pods by footbridges and spiral staircases built into trees. Therefore, you will require no tree-climbing skills.

You will find the Free Spirit Spheres on Vancouver Island. It is situated on the Pacific coast of Canada. Therefore, it will involve a ferry ride from the mainland.

3. Aurora Glass Chalets

You don’t have to freeze to experience the full splendour of the Aurora Borealis. In fact, you can view the majestic northern lights in sheer luxury! The Aurora Glass Chalets were designed explicitly for this purpose. An entire side of each chalet is almost entirely constructed from glass – huge windows that face the Aurora Borealis at exactly the right angle.

To reduce glare from the snow and enhance privacy, blinds rise from the floor upwards. Consequently, nothing obscures your view of the glorious sky. One can even view the midnight sun from the comfort of your cosy bed.

The tastefully decorated chalets contain all the creature comforts you would find in luxury accommodation. To boot, the Aurora Glass Chalets form part of a resort, with amenities like a spa, lounge, restaurant and other catering services.

As the Aurora Glass Chalets are in the “wild” province of Yukon, there are many related activities you could indulge in. These include hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing and riverboat cruises. Getting there is easy, whether you drive or fly in from Vancouver. What’s more, several airlines offer daily flights.

4. Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel)

The name says it all – this hotel is constructed entirely from ice. We’re not just talking about the walls here. Everything, including the roof, the furniture and even the “glass” you get your complimentary drink in, is made of ice. This doesn’t sound like an ideal place to spend a night. However, most guests claim that it is surprisingly comfortable. At the Hôtel de Glace, you can choose between 42 rooms and suites, each one unique. In addition to the ice furniture, there are numerous ice and snow sculptures in these spaces. Also, dramatic lighting forms part of this visual feast. Much of the lighting is inside the ice, making full use of its translucent properties.

Many of the igloo-like rooms and suites have fireplaces. As a result, one can get the temperature up to cosy levels without melting the furniture. To further enhance your experience, you can use the Nordic relaxation area. This unique outdoor facility features a spa and a sauna. And if it does get too chilly for you in the Ice Hotel, not to worry. In addition to your icy room, you also get a room at the Hôtel Valcartier next door. This comes in handy, as you’ll also need a place to put your luggage (or to have a hot shower). It is easy to get there – it is a mere 20 minutes drive from Quebec City.

5. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

“Majestic” is probably the closest word to describe the Fairmont Banff Springs. Its beauty and colossal size reflect the surrounding Canadian Rocky Mountains. This 130-year-old luxury hotel has the extravagance and elegance of times past. The excellent parts, at that. Every centimetre of this impressive structure was put together with care. One can also see the influence of art nouveau and modernism everywhere.

One has a choice of 764 beautiful rooms or suites. These start at a truly luxurious level which can escalate to royal opulence if you so desire. Incidentally, the royal suite, which offers 360-degree mountain views, has an upstairs foyer. It also boasts a library, a lounge, an extra bathroom and yes, you guessed it, a grand piano. Not too shabby for a suite, I would say. The Fairmont Banff Springs is the kind of place where you can have a butler or even a VIP concierge team.

The setting is spectacular. This hotel is in the centre of the Banff National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will enjoy a lush green landscape in summer and snow-covered peaks during the rest of the year. Whichever way, a stay at this hotel is a one-of-a-kind experience. Additionally, this incredible place is only 130 km from the nearest international airport in Calgary, Alberta.

So, what are you waiting for? After witnessing the luxurious marvels that exist in Canada, why don’t you consider paying a visit to this wonderful country? Relax on the island of Fogo Inn, spend a night in the tranquil treehouse spheres, sleep under the Aurora Borealis, chill out in the Ice Hotel or live like royalty in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Truly, Canada has it all!