Hoping someone can help me

[ducklite]

Sorry for invading your forum with a non WDW question...

I'm going to be staying at the Winnipeg Fairmont in a few weeks, and had some questions about the hotel.

Has anyone stayed there that might be interested in asnswering a few questions?

TIA!

Anne

 

[mbb]

...never stayed there, so can't help - but Winnipeg is a cool place to visit...(literally - if you're going this time of year! )

Grover, are you out there anywhere?

 

[grover]

Yes it is a "cool" place! Bundle up!
I have never stayed at the Fairmont but I do work about 2 blocks away from it...what kind of questions do you have??
Apparently it is "the" hotel here..that is where anyone who is someone stays!
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for your replies! We plan on bringing warm clothes for the trip. They have an indoor pool, but somehow when it's -30 (C OR F!) out, the idea of swimming doesn't much appeal to me LOL!

Grover, have you ever eaten at Earls on Main? How's the food? How far is it from the Fairmont--I was told a 3-4 block walk.

How is the general vicinity of the Fairmont. Someone tried to tell me it's in a "bad area", but I can't really imagine anyplace in Winnipeg being all that bad. (I'm coming from New Jersey, and we are meeting friends from Minneapolis, Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver) Of course normal common sense would apply...

Is it walking distance to the Convention Center?

How easy is it to get a cab in Winnipeg?

What time do the bars close?

Is there a place to buy beer/wine/spirits within a block or two?

Can you suggest a grocery store fairly nearby? (This can be a cab ride--not expecting a grocery right downtown...)

If anyone reads this that has acually stayed in the hotel I have some hotel specific questions as well Thanks!!!

Anne (Who wishes there was as much info on ALL hotels in the world on the 'Net as there is on WDW hotels!)

 

[jersey shark]

I believe the Fairmont Wpg is the old Westin Wpg....if so, it really is the "best game in town".

I think it's location is right near Portage & Main...Wpg's famous main intersection although nothing compared to Times Square...Wpg is interesting for the very wide streets (good planning, I guess).

Earl's as I recall is a Friday's-like casual dining chain (though not as good as Friday's).

When in Wpg, if you at all like seafood, you MUST try to sample an incredible delicacy...a rare fish known as "Lake Wpg Goldeye"...the smoked version is available at restaurants/delis around town and is worth seeking out...it's something that MUST be experienced, much more intense flavor than smoked salmon and literally too good to be put on a bagel (I ate it "straight up").

How this fish hasn't become a national obsession is beyond me!

Enjoy Wpg!

 

[grover]

Earls is a easy walk from the Fairmont-about 3 blocks. I personally love the food at Earl's as do alot of people..I am not sure as to the comparison to Friday's as I have never eaten there. There are also several great resturants in the Exchange district which is directly on the backside of the fairmont. You have the Liberty Grill, Gilroy's (must love garlic), Baily's, Coyotes', and several more.
There are also a number of night clubs within a couple of blocks of the hotel.Can't give you much feedback on them on as I am not a nightclub person. Bars stay open to 2:30.
In reference to a bad area-If you are with a group of people you will be fine-I work in that area and have no bones about walking to the bank ect by myself. I wouldn't go wondering north on Main St. though past Market Ave...that is where many of the homeless folks spend there time. (Nothing against them-I work with people on social assistance so I see all kinds...). You are not by any means in the midst of the ghetto or anything!
Please note that to cross Portage and Main you need to go under ground thru a round about..it is confusing so I won't try to explain-just ask the hotel staff to assist you. You just go to the lower level of the hotel to connect to the roundabout!
You are also just a few blocks away from the Forks..it is a heritage site full of funky little shops and resturants.
You can certainly walk to the convention centre-will take you a good 15-20 mins-good thing is most of it you can walk indoors!! Downtown Winnipeg has a series of walkways that connect thru buildings, the hotel should have a little map or guide of them! I suppose you need them when you live in the frozen north! You can walk all the way outside-very easy to find and it will be quicker as well. It is about 3 blocks south and 5 blocks to the west of the hotel.
Cabs are easy to get-you can call for one or just check outside the hotel-should be some sitting there. Most folks use Unicity.
There used to be a liquor store within a couple mins of the hotel-underground but they have closed. The closest one will be on Ellice at Smith--you will want to take a cab there. You can buy wine at the Forks though--that would be my choice.
There is nothing to close by for groceries-you would need to cab it-there is a big Safeway on Marion, or again at the forks you can pick up fresh fruit,veggie trays,fresh bread,beverages-that sort of thing and it is a 10 min walk from your hotel.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[chico]

Anne,

ditto everything grover has said.

If you do need a cab - they're quick and reliable from the hotel lobby.

If you are headed to the convention centre, City Place (the old Eaton's Place) mall is a block east and has a liquor store inside. You can get to the mall via the walkways from the Fairmont with ease.

I've stayed at the hotel when it was the Lombard, so if I can help just ask.

 

[ducklite]

Thank you all so much for your help!

Here's a weird one for you--any idea how many rooms there are on the 20th floor?

Anne

 

[chico]

Anne,

I believe there are only 2 rooms on the top floor - the Royal Suite - with fireplace, stereo wet bar and grand piano; 1200+ sqr ft
And the Crown suite at around 1000 sqr ft.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

<font color=navy>
Hello and an early "welcome to Winnipeg!"

<i>
(First of all, I'll just mention that I'll have to split this into multiple parts since there's a max # of graphics per post and I exceeded it by far.)</i>

Grover did a great job at answering most of your questions, but I'll ramble and add a bit more and some pictures, since it's pretty rare we get Winnipeg questions on the board... LOL, this is exciting!

I too work really close by to the Fairmont. Well... if you work in Winnipeg in an office-type job, you have pretty good chances of working close by the Fairmont since it's right by all the office towers.

As mentioned earlier, the Fairmont is right near the corner of Portage & Main... Winnipeg's "famous" corner.

Also unoficially known as the "windiest corner in North America" due to the way that the winds can blow all the way right up Portage Avenue.

Cont....

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

<font color=navy>
I like Earls. In fact, we just came back from eating dinner at Earls... though not the one downtown, however I have eaten at that one before as well. It was good, as always. I'm pretty picky and I enjoy it! Not sure how to describe it... they have an open kitchen for atmosphere, and have a variety of things from oven-fired pizzas to steak to pastas etc. Here's a link to their website if you're interested: http://www.earls.ca/ (Click on menu tab at the top of the page and then flip through the various categories) Earls is an "upscale casual" I would say. Classier than Applebees for instance, but not fancy either. I love their "Raspberry Sprite."

Lot of restaurant choices here... the most per capita of any Canadian city. Just depends on what you're looking for.

Cabs shouldn't pose much of a problem... everytime I have walked by the Fairmont in the daytime, there have always been cabs sitting out front ready and waiting!

For the grocery store... what are you looking to buy? Just snacks and stuff for the room... or "real" food? If you just want snacks... it is a really short walk on the underground to the Shoppers Drug Mart where you could pick up chips/pop etc.

The great thing about the Fairmont location is that it is right on the tunnels, so you are connected to the underground mini-mall there with restaurants/food courts/coffee shops. There's everything from McDonald's to Chamberlain's (a fancier restaurant). So yes, it can be COLD here... but you really won't have to go outside that much if you don't want to, LOL!

As for the Fairmont itself, I haven't stayed there or seen in the rooms, all I can vouch for is the outside and the lobby, LOL. However, as everyone else has said, that is our "upscale" hotel, and for instance it is where the Queen stayed on her visit here last year. (I assume you've seen the Fairmont website?)

<i>(The Forks waterfront in the summer and winter, with "downtown" in the background)</i>

To get to The Forks ... you can walk if it's not *too* cold out... we walked that every day in the summer at lunch; however, if it's realy cold you may want to take a cab or bus down Main Street.

<IMG SRC="http://www.trailcanada.com/photos/photographs/winnipeg/05.jpg" WIDTH=250>

Here's a map of downtown Winnipeg, complete with showing where the above and underground walkways are. As you can see by following the red line from the Fairmont (near the dotted circle) to the Convention Center (@Edmonton/St Mary)... you can make it almost the entire way walking indoors.

You may find this link to our weather useful. (Dress warm )

Cont...

</font>

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

<font color=navy>
Some other photos from Winnipeg...

Not sure when you're coming exactly... but our downtown streets light up from now until Christmas...

A picture of our amusing sign at "Confusion Corner:"

The Mint:

We're on the prairies, so leave the city limits and you can see for miles and miles....

Any other questions?

Again... welcome to Winnipeg... I hope that you will really enjoy your stay here... it's a great town!

~ Lynne

</font>

</font>

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by chico
Anne,

I believe there are only 2 rooms on the top floor - the Royal Suite - with fireplace, stereo wet bar and grand piano; 1200+ sqr ft
And the Crown suite at around 1000 sqr ft.

Hi Chico! We have the Crown Suite booked, and have five other rooms guaranteed on the 20th floor as well for others in our party. We wanted the Royal Suite, but it was booked.

We are hoping that there aren't a whole lot more rooms on that floor, as I know it will get a bit noisy with about 20 of us staying there all at once, and we don't want to disturb other guests.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Wow Lynne! Thanks so much for the welcome!

I've actually been in Winnipeg once before, back in 1990, although it was only for a day or so and I don't recall much about it, other than the really friendly people there It was also in June, so teh weather was very pleasant.

We arrive on December 30th, and stay through January 2nd. We're meeting up with friends from Vancouver, Calgary, Minneapolis, Toronto, and more!

Will those beautiful holiday decorations still be up? After seeing the sign of "Confusion Corner" I'm glad we're not driving anywhere! LOL!

As far as groceries, we will be having people in and out of the suite and wanted to have soda, juice, bottled water, coffee, tea, (with milk and sugar), chips, pretzels, bagels, that type of stuff. So I guess we could probably get a lot of it right downtown?

Again, thank you all so very much for your help! Are any of you going to the Power 97 "Power Ball" on New Years Eve?

Anne

 

[mbb]

...to go to Winnipeg?!!

Anne, any new pictures of your Florida vacation home? It's really dark, cold and sleety here today - does anybody have any sunny pictures to share?!! LOL!!

...and it has only begun....sigh...

 

[ducklite]

Sorry, no new pics yet. I have to give my friend a call and ask her to take some more and email them to me.

Anne

 

[chico]

Anne,

I'm pretty sure you'll have the rest of the floor to yourselves!

Christmas decorations will be up till well into January, and you'll have a spectacular view of them both down Portage Avenue and down Main Street depending on your views from the suites.

The snacks should be no problem down in the Shops of Winnipeg Square - decent variety in the food court and as Lynne pointed out the Shoppers Drug Mart will have the snacks etc for sure.

The hotel might be an option itself for some of what you seek.

(Lynne - great job on selling the sights of Winnipeg!)

Have a great trip in, and enjoy New Years in Winnipeg!!

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

<font color=navy>Yeah, as Chico answered, the lights should be on until January. It's pretty coming to work in the mornings since it's still dark and the lights are on.

Exactly... most of that stuff should be easily purchased right downtown, just make your way downstairs. The Shoppers is the best bet, and then things like milk and bagels from the deli's/coffee shops on either side of it. Things like muffins and bagels would be more expensive purchasing them like that since you'll probably be buying them by the 1's instead of by the multi-packs at the groceries... but it's convenience, and at least the option's there if you run short on time.

The "confusion corner" sign is sort of a "Winnipeg landmark" LOL, but the city itself is actually really easy to get around. (As long as you watch out for "confusion corner" LOL! )

No, I'm not going to the Power 97 "Power Ball" on New Years Eve. On New Years Eve there are always two fireworks shows set off from The Forks... usually at 8 pm and midnight... so if you haven't left for the Power Ball at 8 pm, you might be able to catch some of those if you're in a spot downtown where buildings aren't blocking your view.

I hope you have a great time here. (PS... Winnipeg "guarantees" snow for Christmas! LOL! ) </font>

 

[maryliz]

WOW ... the pictures are absolutely beautiful. The furthest West I've been in Canada is Windsor, 2 hours away, you know, on my way to WDW Someday I am just going to have to forego a Disney trip and travel out there. Thanks for sharing all of this ... I really enjoyed it.

Anne ... sounds like you have a fabulous New Year's celebration planned! Enjoy

Mary Liz

 

[ducklite]

Again, many thanks to all of you for your excellent guidance and advice!

Anne