Thunder Bay Hotels Downtown and Close By

The Quality Inn & Suites Thunder Bay Downtown is the only central address here, and the one I would choose for a stay focused on the city itself. Its description places it in the city centre and lists family rooms with a refrigerator, a microwave and a tea and coffee maker, a fitness centre, a 24-hour front desk, free private parking on site and a free breakfast. Its rating, 7.5 on about 990 reviews, is the lowest of the three, so I see it as a practical base rather than a highlight. From the centre you can reach the Lake Superior waterfront and Marina Park quickly, then drive out to the Terry Fox Monument east of town.

The Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre is the address with the most facilities. Its description lists two on-site restaurants, a lounge with live entertainment, a modern fitness centre, an indoor pool, a hot tub and a sauna, and the hotel welcomes pets. It sits a four-minute drive from Thunder Bay International Airport and runs a free airport shuttle, which makes it a sensible choice for an early flight or a late arrival. Rated 8.0 on about 860 reviews, it suits families and couples who want a pool after a day at Fort William Historical Park or Kakabeka Falls, both on the west side of the city.

The Days Inn by Wyndham Thunder Bay North has the best rating of the three, 8.4 on about 280 reviews, but it is not downtown. It stands directly off the Trans-Canada Highway, a ten-minute drive from the city centre, and Lakehead University is 1.5 km away, which makes it the obvious pick for a campus visit. Rooms are air-conditioned and non-smoking, with a fridge and a coffee maker, and a continental breakfast is served each morning. For travellers crossing northern Ontario on Highway 11 or 17, it avoids driving through town, and the road towards the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park starts east of the city.

My practical advice for all three hotels is to plan on a car. Thunder Bay stretches along the shore of Lake Superior, and its main sights are spread out: the waterfront at Prince Arthur's Landing, the Terry Fox Monument overlooking the lake, Fort William Historical Park to the southwest, Kakabeka Falls about 30 km west and the Sleeping Giant across the bay. All three hotels offer what a driver needs, with free parking at the Quality Inn and road access at the other two. If you arrive by plane without a car, the Valhalla and its free shuttle are the simplest option, and taxis cover the rest.