17700 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, Canada | (251) 219-4428
Set inside North America’s largest mall
Quick walk to indoor water and amusement parks
Elaborate and fun Theme Rooms such as Western, Igloo, and Truck
Straightforward standard rooms with coffeemakers and mini-fridges
Many units feature hot tubs, living areas, or bunk beds
On-site eateries include a lounge, cafe, and grill with buffets
25,000 square feet of conference and banquet space
Business center on-site
Free property-wide Wi-Fi and parking
Some complaints of noise and maintenance issues
Food receives mixed reviews
Some units have open-plan bathrooms that lack privacy
Wi-Fi is free but spotty
No pool or gym, though free access to nearby fitness center
Opened in 1986, the upper-middle-range Fantasyland Hotel has an unbeatable location as far as fans of the West Edmonton Mall are concerned, though it also qualifies as a destination in its own right thanks to one-of-a-kind rooms. Although they represent only about a third of the total 355-room inventory, the themed options -- from space to Roman -- are extremely popular. All, however, come equipped with mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, but some have open-plan bathrooms that may lack enough privacy for certain guests. On-site eateries and function facilities complete the features, but food quality receives mixed reviews. Since this is such a unique venue, there’s no competition in terms of design; however, if proximity to the mall itself is your primary concern, the budget West Edmonton Mall Inn also fits the bill.
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Scene
Fun-focused hotel with busy atmosphere inside huge mall
A coveted location at the huge West Edmonton Mall coupled with the promise of lavishly themed rooms makes the Fantasyland Hotel extremely popular, especially during holidays and weekends. The result, not surprisingly, is that crowds can clog the reception desk in the spacious lobby and spill into the hallways on the guest floors above, some of which are themed themselves -- think totem poles and butterflies adorning the Polynesian floor or marbled murals and Ionic columns decorating the Roman one. Nevertheless, most of the folks who stay here don’t seem to mind because this is an exuberant spot, geared to family vacationers, young-at-heart couples, and wedding attendees seeking fun, not quietude.
Location
In the West Edmonton Mall with on-foot access to Galaxyland and World Waterpark
This hotel's biggest pro is its location right inside West Edmonton Mall -- the largest mall in North America. The mall has 1,000-odd shops and restaurants, plus popular attractions like indoor amusement and water parks, an ice rink, casino, and aquarium, which collectively pull in about 32 million visitors per year. Guests that do feel inclined to leave can reach other key tourist destinations by car in half an hour or less. Traffic depending, it takes about the same amount of time to hit the airport.- 14-minute drive to Fort Edmonton Park
Rooms
Over-the-top themed rooms, plus chain-like standard units
Many of the 355 total rooms make up the 15 types of elaborately decorated themed rooms. They run the gamut from kid-friendly truck and space-themed to more adult-centric Hollywood- and Roman-inspired. These get booked quickly, though, and it's worth mentioning that some have open-plan bathrooms that limit privacy -- even in those with bunk beds. Subtler, chain-like units are also available, with neutral tones, patterned carpet, and dark-wood furniture. All come with the same standard features, including air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges, ironing equipment, desks, digital safes, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Straightforward bathrooms have showers in lower categories, plus hairdryers and toiletries. Executive and Theme Rooms add hot tubs, while Suites add separate living areas; Luxury Theme Rooms contain both. Note that because this is a family-friendly hotel, bunk beds are an option for most room categories, and cribs are free, subject to availability.
Features
No pool or gym, but multiple eateries and event spaces
Although the mall itself has a wide range of franchised dining and drinking destinations, there are also choices within the hotel. L1 Lounge offers light bites, Cafe Levi has a menu of sandwiches and salads, and L2 Grill is for more sophisticated meals served either buffet-style or a la carte. Room service is also available, but food as a whole receives mixed reviews. Additional amenities include a convenience store, a small business center, and laundry services, plus freebies like parking and Wi-Fi, but the internet reception can be spotty. There are no pool or gym here, but guests get free 24-hour access to a nearby Crunch Fitness facility. The Beverly Hills Ballroom, combined with the hotel’s 10 meeting rooms, creates more than 25,000 square feet of conference and banquet space. Dedicated event planners, in-house caterers, and audiovisual support personnel are available as well. Pets are allowed for a fee.
