Family-Friendly Hotels in Kingston, Ontario

Every suite at the Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge has a full kitchen, which I find the most useful feature for families staying several nights. The hotel sits on Lake Ontario, 850 metres from Queen's University, and a complimentary breakfast is served daily. The saltwater indoor pool gives children a year-round swim, and parents can use the fitness centre. It suits longer family trips to Kingston well. Guests rate it 8.6 across 447 reviews.

One-bedroom apartments with air-conditioning, a refrigerator and a TV make Queen's University Residence a practical Kingston base for a small family. Bellevue House National Historic Site is less than 1 km away, an easy outing with children, and Queen's University is a six-minute walk. The garden offers a little outdoor space, there is a lift for strollers and luggage, WiFi is free, and the front desk is open 24 hours. Guests rate it 8.4 across 1,197 reviews.

For a family road trip through Kingston, I would pick this Holiday Inn Express for its practical details. The deluxe breakfast is included, parking is free, and every room has a refrigerator, a microwave and a Keurig coffee station, which simplifies meals with children. The indoor pool and the outdoor patio give everyone room to relax after a day out. The historic downtown is about 5 km away, so a car makes visits to the waterfront and Fort Henry much easier.

Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront sits directly on Confederation Harbour, and every room looks over the harbour or Lake Ontario, which children tend to love. The indoor rooftop pool and whirlpool give a family something to do on a grey afternoon, and the on-site restaurant keeps dinner simple. It is listed as family-friendly and pet-friendly, and Slush Puppie Place is a short walk for a hockey game. Rated 8.3 across 744 reviews, I would choose it for a downtown Kingston family weekend.

Super 8 by Wyndham Kingston is 5.6 km from historic downtown Kingston, a short drive for families visiting the city. The outdoor pool is the treat for children, and the grab-and-go breakfast suits early starts. Every room has a microwave and refrigerator for simple meals, plus cable TV with a Blu-ray DVD player for quiet evenings. On-site laundry helps on longer trips, and pets are accepted. A score of 8.1 from 994 reviews shows dependable comfort.

Best Western Fireside Inn in Kingston offers spacious rooms and themed suites, some with whirlpools and fireplaces, which makes it more playful than a standard roadside hotel. Children will head for the outdoor pool in summer, and there is a restaurant on site. Fort Henry, Queen's University and the Royal Military College are all close, as is the Thousand Islands waterfront. I would pick a themed suite for a family weekend in Kingston.

Confederation Place Hotel is a simple two-star choice on Kingston Harbour, and I would recommend it to families who want to walk to the sights. St. George's Cathedral, Kingston 1,000 Islands Cruises and the Wellington Street Theatre are all within half a mile. The seasonal outdoor pool is a summer bonus, some rooms look over the lake, and WiFi, a coffee maker and a flat-screen TV come with the room. Pets are welcome, which helps if the dog travels too.

I like this Holiday Inn for families who want to explore Kingston on foot. The waterfront, Slush Puppie Place and the 1000 Island Cruises departures are all about a five-minute walk away, so a harbour stroll or a boat trip needs no car. Back at the hotel, the indoor pool works in any season, and rooms with a small fridge and microwave make simple breakfasts and snacks easy. In summer, the restaurant patio looks out over Lake Ontario.

This is a large residence-style property with more than 600 beds, so families should expect simple rooms rather than hotel extras. Each room has a refrigerator and air conditioning, which helps with snacks and summer heat, and the 24-hour front desk and security are reassuring with children. It works as an affordable base for exploring Kingston's historic downtown, the waterfront and Fort Henry. There is no pool or restaurant listed, so meals and activities happen out in the city.