If you’re looking for a great Calgary hotel for kids, look no further. We’ve got a short, but sweet list of our favourite kid-friendly hotels in and around Calgary. We have personally stayed at each of these hotels and didn’t receive any deals or compensation for our stays, so these reviews are completely honest and genuine!
Full disclosure, my number one criteria when choosing a hotel to stay with the kids is the hotel pool. We look for pools that are shallow enough for the kids to play and that have other fun features like waterslides and spray features. After the pool, we also base our decision on how family friendly the rooms are and on proximity to family friendly attractions & restaurants. So, based on all of that, below is our list of the best Calgary hotels for kids in, and near, to the city!
Deerfoot Inn and Casino – Calgary Southeast
OK, if you’re looking for a super fun indoor pool for kids, you’ve found it. The pool and waterpark at Deerfoot Inn and Casino is, without a doubt, one of the best hotel pools for kids in Calgary. It features a large waterslide, toddler splash pool with a spray feature and toddler slide, as well as a hot tub! My kids LOVED this hotel purely based on the pool.
What we didn’t love? The rooms are outdated and the hotel isn’t super close to other family attractions. We also found nearby food options to be limited. If you want better food options or to visit other attractions you would need a car and need to be prepared to drive at least 10-15 minutes to reach them.
Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire – Calgary City Centre
The Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire is at the top of our list for family friendly hotels in Calgary. The pool is shallow throughout so my 4 year old and 6 year old were able to play and swim independently. There’s also a great waterslide and hot tub. When we visited we swam for 1.5 on the evening we arrived and another 1.5 hours the next morning and had the whole pool to ourselves.
In addition to the great pool, we also loved the proximity to family friendly attractions and restaurants. Across the street is the Eau Claire Market, which has a unique, free indoor playground right in the food court. The hotel is an easy walk to Prince’s Island, where there is a fabulous playground and beautiful walking paths along the river. The iconic Peace Bridge, Calgary Tower, and Olympic Plaza are also all within walking distance. Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark Science Centre are also a short drive away.
The main drawback of this hotel is the cost. Rooms are definitely more expensive than others on this list and parking is an extra $30-40 per night.
Ramada Airdrie Hotel and Suites
The Ramada Airdrie Hotel and Suites is a kid-friendly hotel gem located about 15 minutes north of the Calgary Airport. We loved the waterslide, pool and hot tub, but there is also another great family area in this hotel – the game room! The game room has a foosball table, arcade games & board games available to borrow. We also loved large rooms with plenty of space for the whole family and that there are some great food options really close by.
The main drawback of this hotel is that it is outside the city so it’s a 20 to 30 minute drive down the highway to reach most of Calgary’s popular attractions.
Pocaterra Inn and Waterslide in Canmore
If you’re looking to stay outside the city in Canmore/Banff, this hotel is a great option. My two bigger kids (4yo and 6yo) loved the waterslide and swimming pool. However, something to consider is that this is not the best pool for toddlers. The water was quite cold and the slide comes out in the deep end. There are no super shallow areas or stairs, only ladders, so there isn’t really a place for young children to play independently.
However, we still recommend this hotel because the rooms were nice and modern and the customer service was excellent.
Kananaskis Lodge
This list of the best hotels for kids near Calgary could not be complete without the Kananaskis Lodge. The waterpark at this hotel is one of the best we’ve seen in Canada. There are FOUR waterslides of various sizes, from toddler up to a tall, twisty slide. There are also spray features, a shallow splash area for toddlers and an indoor/outdoor hot tub.
In addition to the epic pool, there is also a playground, kids’ play room, drop-in daycare for 2-10 year olds and organized activities for kids, including crafts, tennis lessons, STEM activities & making s’mores. Of course, there are tons of family friendly hikes in the area and you can even rent hiking and outdoor gear from Kananaskis Outfitters (everything from baby backpack carriers to bear spray!)
Know of other great hotels for kids near Calgary? Leave a comment or send us a message to tell us about them!