Winnipeg, right in the middle of Canada and on the edge of the Prairie, is allegedly not without its charms, yet it can scarcely be considered a tourist magnet. The winter is lethal. Summers are hot and humid and spring and fall, the most agreeable seasons, tend to be short lived. You need a very compelling reason to visit the city and an even more compelling reason to stay at the Carlton Inn.
As they say, you get what you pay for and by Winnipeg standards this is about as cheap as it gets for a hotel; certainly in the downtown area. Its nearest competitor in the low-end lodging league would be the Marlborough. If all you’re concerned about is a place to sleep with a private bathroom and a TV – for somewhere in the CDN$70-$90 range – then fair enough.
There is little that can be called welcoming about the Carlton Inn. Its outward appearance and main lobby are bleak. If the elevator is out of action, as it was the day of my visit, the stairs leading up from the lobby may discourage you – they’re filthy. Given that there are only three room floors and that consequently the stairs are much used, it might have occurred to the folk who designed the building to include a more substantial staircase – and for the staff to maintain it. Anyway, as you mount the stairs, along the way you’ll get a view of the Carlton’s smallish outdoor, kidney-shaped swimming pool, which is filled for the enjoyment of guests during the summer.
The corridors are plain although it looks as if they may be in the process of installing new carpet. The rooms are bland. The furnishings likely date from the 1960s although the carpets are newer and the mattresses acceptably firm. There is adequate drawer and hanging space. My room had two doubles – with identical framed prints hanging over each. There was a small round table with two chairs. As far as I could see, it’s impossible to open a window, which incorporated an air conditioning unity.
The bathroom is very basic – no hairdryer or toiletries beyond plain soap. And don’t expect to wrap yourself in big, deep-piled bath towels. However, rooms are equipped with a small fridge, filter coffee-maker and clock-radio. There is no ironing board/iron. The television delivers about 50 stations, most of which, of course, are drivel.
I was assured in advance that there is WiFi internet access throughout the hotel but, like the elevator, it was out of action – just when I really needed it. This was lunchtime. I was told --- by a pleasant female desk clerk – that someone was coming to fix it that afternoon but by evening it was still out. A grumpy and unhelpful night clerk could not say when it might be fixed -- and clearly he could not have cared less either!
Others have commented on the Carlton’s clientele. Yes, there are lots of Native people. In fact, it appears they comprise the majority of the clientele. If that’s a concern, which, in itself, it need not be, pay at least double and stay at the Fort Garry or some other high-end hotel. (The Delta is only steps away, across the street from the convention centre.)
The Carlton’s attached Paragon restaurant is decent and reasonably priced and the Delta, across the street, houses a popular pub-style bar-restaurant – the Elephant and Castle – that’s good for a late meal.
As for downtown Winnipeg generally, it is not a pretty place. Various attempts to revive the downtown have been made by successive city administrations but with only marginal effect. Still, despite all the drunks and beggars, it’s safe enough during daylight hours. You might, however, want to exercise caution after dark, especially if you’re a lone woman.
Finally, to all those bargain hunters, remember that even at the bottom end of the market, you can still end up getting less than what you paid for and the Carlton Inn comes close to falling into that category.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
