Take a Staycation in Edmonton

In the current economic climate, more and more Canadians are opting to take a ’staycation’ in Canada instead of leaving the country for their annual vacation. The theory behind a staycation is that by staying closer to home you can save money while at the same time perhaps see an interesting part of your own country that you may not have visited before. With that in mind, we thought we would put together a case for taking a staycation in Edmonton, by examining the value Edmonton hotels are providing when compared to other world cities.
According to Hotels.ca, a 3 night stay in Edmonton from June 11-14 2010 in their best selling 3 star hotel (Sawridge Inn - Edmonton South) will cost you $90 per room per night, while the lowest priced hotel (Howard Johnson Hotel) can be had for just $63 per night. Those prices certainly sound reasonable, but how do they compare to other destinations?
Well just down the road in Calgary, the best selling 3 star hotel would set you back $109 per night for the same dates, and $67 per night for the cheapest Calgary hotel. Vancouver hotels seem to have a wider range, costing $162 for the 3 star property and just $49 for the cheapest, and for a hotel in Whistler the cost would be $166 per night for the 3 star property and $92 per night for the lowest priced hotel.
With the current strength of the Canadian dollar against the British pound and the Euro, Europe may be an attractive destination for Canadians at the moment.
If you were considering a trip to the UK, you would no doubt wish to visit the capital city, however London hotels are notoriously expensive, and according to Hotels.ca the same 3 day stay would cost $201 per night in their best selling 3 star hotel, more than double the cost of the Edmonton equivalent, but fortunately at the budget end there are several properties for less than $60 per night. A visit to the north of England would be less costly at $73 per night for a 3 star hotel in Manchester and $42 at the economical end.
As a further comparison, elsewhere in Europe, for the same dates Barcelona hotels range from $51 (cheapest) to $159 (best selling 3 star), and the range for Amsterdam hotels is $90 to $127.

Conclusion

From the destinations we chose, only Manchester offered a cheaper 3 star hotel than Edmonton, with the other European cities being from 40% to 120% more expensive and the rates for other Canadian cities being from 15-80% higher, making Edmonton an economical choice for those staying in mid-range accommodation. However if you are looking for the cheapest hotel possible it does seem as if several other cities, even within Canada, may be able to beat Edmonton on price.

Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival

Modelled on the original “fringe festival” in Edinburgh, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has become the biggest of its kind in North America. The festival offers a constant stream of live shows ranging from comedy to theatre, and many of them sell out so be sure to get your tickets early! This annual event takes place in the Old Strathcona district of Edmonton each August and the dates for the next festival will be Augst 13th to 23rd 2009. See www.fringetheatreadventures.ca for an idea of what to expect.

Farmfair International

An important event for international and local ranchers to trade livestock, Farmfair International is also for anyone outside of the industry to get a taste of country life with team penning competitions, draft horse pulls and stock dog competitions. This year’s event takes place from October 31st to November 8th 2008 at Northlands Agricom. See www.farmfairinternational.com for more information.

Winspear Centre

Located in the heart of Edmonton’s art district, the Francis Winspear Centre for Music is Edmonton’s leading concert hall and its flawless acoustics are well known by musicians and audiences from across the globe. Home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winspear Centre has also been host to jazz musicians, blues musicians, opera, and even a Pink Floyd light show.
The building itself is of exceptional architectural merit and the current schedule of performances can be found at www.winspearcentre.com.

Blues on Whyte

One of the most iconic live music venues in Edmonton Alberta has to be the legendary Blues on Whyte at 10329 Whyte Avenue. If you ever listen to CKUA radio you will hear many references to this establishment, and for good reason, they have live music every day of the week, perhaps the most popular being the Saturday afternoon jam sessions. Depending on the night, entrance is either free or reasonable, and the atmosphere is always electric. If you have any interest in blues music or live music in general, you owe it to yourself to call in. For the current schedule, see www.bluesonwhyte.ca.

Condo Lifestyle

If you spend most of your life in downtown Edmonton Alberta, either at work or at play, then maybe it’s time to buy a home there. It just so happens that one of the most exciting Edmonton real estate developments in recent years is now underway at Aurora, where condos and townhomes are being built in the heart of the city. As well as waving goodbye to your daily commute to work, living at Aurora puts you within walking distance of all your favorite places, be it the Winspear Centre, the Citadel Theatre, city centre shopping malls, or High Street. In keeping with the urban lifestyle, there is a selection of contemporary designs for your condo, and of course city views abound, while the landscaped courtyard provides an island of nature within the downtown core.

Living in St Albert

If you are looking for a home in the Edmonton area, but you prefer the feel of a small town, you may want to take a close look at St Albert, Alberta. Although some people may find the commute to Edmonton too much to deal with on a daily basis, others may consider it to be worthwhile for the advantages living in St Albert can bring to the whole family.
St Albert has all the amenities you would expect from an Alberta community, such as schools, health care and recreational facilities, and also boasts several parks and a vibrant art scene. In a recent study Maclean’s magazine found St Albert to be the safest city in western Canada, and there is no doubt that it offers a reasonable alternative to the city of Edmonton for those who prefer a more relaxed pace of life.
Plus, if you need the occasional taste of city life, the St Albert Transit system offers a commuter service to Edmonton, which includes downtown, the Universty of Edmonton and West Edmonton Mall.
for more information about St Albert, visit www.stalbert.ca.

Downtown or Old Strathcona?

There is a tremendous choice of Edmonton hotels right across the city, but for those that want to be in the heart of the action, the question is often whether to stay in a hotel in downtown Edmonton, or a hotel in Old Strathcona.
While the two areas are not very far apart there are differences between them. Old Strathcona has a historical charm and is home to the well known Edmonton centre for music, shopping and entertainment Whyte Ave. Downtown Edmonton is more of a business district, and is obviously ideal for those in town on business or for those looking for a more modern, less Bohemian atmosphere.
While your best option really depends on the purpose of your visit, it is good to be aware of what’s available for your visit to Edmonton.

Edmonton B&B

For the comforts of home at an affordable price, why not stay at an Edmonton bed and breakfast? Many people consider the B&B option when they visit vacations spots such as Jasper and Banff, but a lot of people don’t realize that staying at a bed and breakfast in the city is a good option for either business or pleasure. While it may be difficult to find a B&B right in the centre of Edmonton, there are several within a reasonable distance, and if your are on a budget, there is a good chance that you were not planning on staying in a city centre hotel in any case.
We feel the location of the Alberta Setting Sun and McLellan House to be close enough to the city centre amenities without having to pay city centre prices.

Edmonton Oilers

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