It’s not for everyone. Many would vision a low end experience being so close to train tracks. However, there’s a unique part of the world’s population that would be like kids in a candy store with a view like you get at the Quality Inn in Sudbury, Ontario. Railfans, train spotters, rail enthusiasts. Call them what you will, these are people that don’t mind at all the constant movement of freight cars and diesel engines just a short distance away.
The Quality Inn by Choice Hotels in Sudbury, Ontario is more than that. This, in my opinion, is a great hotel without the trains. Any shortcomings are being addressed, the biggest being the lengthy closure of the indoor pool due to renovations. The rates are on par, if not easier on the wallet, than other downtown area hotels, including the Sudbury Radisson Hotel.
Image Gallery
Quality Inn Sudbury
Choice Hotels
Sudbury, Ontario
Sudbury Downtown Video
Sudbury Rail Yard and Quality Inn Image Gallery
The images in the gallery are a mix of views from my room on the third floor, photos from track level, just across the road from the hotel and of the hotel itself. Note the geological uniqueness in the image of the back side of the hotel with the structure built right into the rock of the Canadian Shield. See below for a great video driving through the downtown area, starting from the Quality Inn.
For full-size, high resolution versions of any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
Quality Inn Sudbury, Ontario
Located at 390 Elgin Street on the southeastern corner of downtown Sudbury, the Quality Inn by Choice Hotels is tucked between the Bridge of Nations and the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes Park. The Bridge of Nations shows the incredible diversity of Sudbury with flags representing the original nationality of the city’s residents. The Grotto is an exhibit of Catholic shrines from around the world. Both locations, other than their intended significance are great view points.
At the Quality Inn, there are 98 room over four floors. The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day and, when operating, the indoor heated pool is open from 7am until 11pm. The pool is slated to reopen by September 30, 2017.
The complimentary breakfast at the Bridges Bistro is quite nice. This is not a buffet but a choice of two dishes with coffee included. The view of downtown from the Bistro is stunning, especially with the morning light. The Lounge 390 is open for drinks in the evening. Coming in November, 2017 is a Don Cherry’s Sports Grill.
Another thing that makes the Quality Inn in Sudbury unique is that it is pet friendly. For $10 per pet per night (with a limit of 2 pets), you favourite animal can stay in the room with you. Of course, you’re liable for damages…
A bit of a review – The rooms are a bit tight but there’s enough for space for either two double beds or a single queen size, along with a dresser, fridge and table. For photographers, the windows actually open for an unobstructed view where both the glass and screen can be pulled back for an open one foot square space.
When booking a room, this is very important – request a room facing downtown! Rooms on the east side of the building face out on the parking lot and the rock of the Canadian Shield. The higher floor, the better. When the pool reopens, I would consider this the best overall value in the area.
Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels claims to be the first hotel chain, dating back to 1939 when they had a group of roadside motels. Now, there are more than 6,400 hotels in more than 40 countries with a total room count of over 500,000. Their website contradicts these numbers on the very same page, stating 6,300 hotels in 35 countries. Regardless, wherever you go, you’ll likely be able to use them for accommodations.
Included in the Choice Hotels group are: Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Hotels and Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Econolodge and Rodeway Inn. Earn rewards with their Choice Privileges program.
Sudbury, Ontario
Sudbury, Ontario is a city of 160,000 located 410 kilometres north of Toronto, via highway 400/69. This is the 24th largest metro area in Canada by population and the largest in Ontario by area. The city was established in the 1800’s with the discovery of nickel ore while blasting for the railway. It was incorporated as a town in 1893.
The Inco Superstack, at 380 metres in height, is the second tallest structure in Canada, after the CN Tower. Ramsey Lake is the second largest lake in the world that is located entirely with the boundaries of a single city. The largest is Lake Wanapitei, also in Sudbury.
Sudbury, Ontario Downtown Video
The following video was taken in August, 2017 and starts from the Quality Inn, passing under the Bridge of Nations and by the train station before touring downtown. The video ends after crossing the bridge of nations and heading south on Paris Street by Ramsey Lake and Science North.
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