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Calgary Canada

Gay Calgary Calgary City Guide

East of the Canadian Rockies, nearby some of the most beautiful national parks in North America, Calgary is the ultimate basecamp for outdoor adventure – be that winter sports, mountain climbing or recreating various scenes from Brokeback Mountain. Whether you stay in the city centre, within reach of swanky restaurants and sleek boutiques, run off to the mountains where a warm, small-town welcome awaits, or branch out to explore the stunning nature of nearby Banff and Lake Louise, you’ll find that Calgary cherishes its diversity, harmoniously co-existing in typical warm-hearted Canadian fashion. Despite being Canada’s most conservative state by far, Calgary still flaunts a loud and proud gay scene, home to the world’s largest gay rodeo association as well as the largest gay nightclub west of Montreal, Twisted Element. Expect to find colourful pockets of gay culture all around town, particularly in the booming downtown area, where all the best gay parties get going. Looking for the best Calgary points of interest? Read on for Mr Hudson’s ultimate Calgary gay travel guide.

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The best hotels in Calgary

Let’s start this gay Calgary travel guide with a roundup of the best hotels in Calgary. With an emerging travel market that is now focusing more on leisure verse business travellers, the hotels in Calgary have stepped up their game and are reaching out more to a different type of visitor that the city didn’t typically have before. Of course, for those who still want the grand, classic property, with updated accommodations, the Fairmont Palliser is located in downtown near the city’s business and financial district and is walking distance to the city’s shopping and entertainment venues. The historical landmark hotel is distinctive and elegant and provides those who seek it, the expected 5-star service always found at any Fairmont property.

The Kensington Riverside Inn, a Relais & Châteaux designated property, is one of only fourteen properties in Canada, within the collection that was established over 60 years ago in France. Located on the Bow River overlooking downtown Calgary, the intimate boutique features stylish finishes and an interesting collection of unique artwork. Another boutique hotel located just off the stylish 17th Avenue Retails and Entertainment District is Hotel Elan, and with this new boutique, no detail was overlooked. Guests staying here can enjoy custom designed bathroom fixtures to stylish furniture imported directly from Italy.

Hotel Le Germain

Hotel Le Germain

Directly across the street from the Fairmont Palliser, in the business district is yet another 5-star property, Hotel Le Germain, a new landmark in the heart of the city. The hotel lobby isn’t grand or spacious, but the modern design is an attractive and welcomed look for a hotel property of that calibre. The rooms are designed to be extra-spacious, and the bathrooms are incredibly generous when it comes to space. The hotel also has an award-winning restaurant and even offers in-room yoga, which is broadcasted on the televisions – mats provided for in-room use. The hotel is walking distance to the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Tower and Olympic Plaza.

Mr Hudson’s pick though is Hotel Arts, a hotel property that blends modern luxury and intuitive service. Calgary’s designer boutique hotel can be a bit of a visual overload as the provocative artwork featured throughout the public spaces and two award-winning restaurants battle for your attention from the creatively designed spaces filled with furniture that could also be considered to be art. The infamous parties held at their pool feature DJ’s and live music, and if celebrity sightings are your thing, this would be the place to question who is who.

Hotel Arts

Hotel Arts

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