Varscona Hotel on Whyte

Check in was super fast, room was clean and comfortable. Bed and bedding was perfect!

This is a fine option if you need to stay near Whyte Ave or the university but it has its issues. Noise from Whyte Ave is LOUD and their air conditioning is old and often either not working or not operable until late summer.

Honestly the location of the hotel was the only good thing about this experience. The parking situation was terrible, especially having a large truck. And the staff didn’t help what so ever with it. They didn’t seem to know how to do their job properly, it was very unprofessional and rude. The room had no ventilation at all and was about 30 degrees, one of the windows wouldn’t open and was broken. I would not recommend this hotel unless you’re staying for a short amount of time or just want to be in the surrounding location.

The hotel is dated and the rooms are comparable to a Ramada or Best Western in terms of comfort. We got a thin blanket sandwiched between two fitted sheets, there was no fan in the bathroom and the shower had little water pressure. The parkade and the stairwell leading to the hotel are absolutely filthy and disgusting. This hotel is also on a very busy stretch of Whyte Ave, with several clubs and bars in the area, so it is very busy and loud, especially on the weekend. All night, tuned cars and motorcycles were revving their engines and show boating up and down Whyte Ave. We usually sleep with the windows open, but that was absolutely impossible due to noise. There were also several parties going on in different rooms around the property. The fire alarm went off at 2 a.m. and it was a real treat to wait outside during bar close to be able to get back into the room. Great location if you come to party, otherwise I would avoid it. The price is way too high for what you get.

I had an issue with my room and the staff bent over backwards to sort things out for me in a very speedy fashion. All the staff except one were utterly fantastic. They were super friendly and made me feel valued as a customer. As well…I forgot a couple items in my room, and when I contacted them about it, they were again super friendly and followed up to let me know they’d found my items and where they would be kept until I could pick them up when I’m back in Edmonton. The desk clerk on check in seemed to be ‘phoning it in’ but gave all the info I needed. He wasn’t rude, he just lacked enthusiasm. Location is also fantastic and I would not hesitate to book there again.