THE LORD OF THE MANOR
Written: Apr 17 '02 (Updated Apr 18 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location.
Cons: The halls are a bit dark and dingy.
The Bottom Line: Good value.
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| JAMES23's Full Review: Lord Nelson Hotel-Halifax |
I originally wrote this on November 21, 2000 and posted it in the Nova Scotia section in travel. Now that the hotel has it's own category I've deleted it there and reposted it here.
My sister is going to hate me. She and her boyfriend recently moved into a beautiful old Georgian house in Downtown Halifax. Naturally they have plenty of room there, and naturally I have a standing invitation to stay with them whenever I'm in town which is a couple of times a year on average.
The problem is that I can't say no. When she lived in a small apartment in Halifax's suburbs, I could decline with hurting her feelings. She really didn't have the room and fully understood why I preferred a hotel.
Now I have no excuse and the Halifax hotel industry has lost a customer, at least for now. There in is the problem, one of my favourite all time hotels is the Lord Nelson in Halifax. I used to love staying there, and actually looked forward to it on each trip.
I first discovered the Lord Nelson in 1993. I was still in the army and had just completed a course. I would be flying home out of Halifax, so a bunch of us decided we needed a weekend of R&R, and Halifax was just the ticket. We all booked rooms in the Holiday Inn in downtown Halifax. Well one thing lead to another including car trouble, and we were late getting to the hotel.
Naturally they hadn't been able to hold our rooms. To add insult to injury they had given them to a bunch of recent graduates from The Canadian Forces Recruit School (Boot Camp) from nearby Cornwallis. There was lobby full of nervous looking neophyte soldiers still in uniform with shaved heads staring at us., a bunch tired and travel weary NCO's also still in uniform.
Wishing to avoid a disaster, the manager offered to phone around for us and eventually got us all rooms in the nearby Lord Nelson. In retrospect it was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me. The weekend was a memorable success or what I can remember of it anyway.
My first impression of the hotel as we struggled in tired and dusty was the lobby. It is all highly polished dark word and brass. Large potted plants are tastefully scattered among the oversized sofas usually occupied by well dressed little old ladies doing whatever it is Victorian old ladies do or did to pass the day.
Those who've been to Halifax know that in many respects it is still a very "British" town. It is as if someone forgot to tell them that the British Empire has receded.
Attentive and immaculately dressed bell boys and front desk staff leap to your needs. It doesn't matter what you look like. I've strolled in wearing a business suit and looking worse than that first visit and it didn't seem to matter. I was a guest and here they still seem to understand what that means.
The Lord Nelson is one of those rare places that combines modern conveniences with old world charm. The building is old, that is obvious, but the rooms have all been renovated and have modern conveniences. I once stayed in one of the rooms in the older part of the hotel pre renovation and can attest that old world charm does not include old world plumbing.
Its location on the corner of South Park Street and Spring Garden Road is convenient to most of Halifax's attractions. The Botanical Gardens are across the street, and Spring garden Road with its shops, restaurants, and night life on are mere steps away. The balance of the city's attractions are a short walk, and even shorter taxi ride, from the front door. The Airport Shuttle makes regular stops here, and there are always taxis available.
The rooms as I said have all been renovated in the past They're nothing fancy, 20th century plumbing aside, but are a fair size, and comfortable. Little things like large towels, and lots of them, and pay per view, are nice touches at the end of a long day.
The halls are a bit dark and dingy, perhaps that will be the next thing renovated. Potted plants and coke and ice machines strategically located do provide a bit of colour though.
The hotel does boast a good restaurant, and coffee shop, although to be honest I've only ever eaten breakfast there. The choice of good restaurants in Halifax makes dining in the hotel seem a waste.
The Lord Nelson is good value for the price. A room should run no more than $100.00 per night and long stay discount rates are available. To be honest I have no idea what the rack rate is. I've never paid it.
The place seems to offer just about every discount available. In the past 15 years I've gotten the military rate, government rate, weekend rate, business rate, and travel industry rate. I've never even heard of anyone paying full price. Just ask and provide a business card.
Well this still leaves me with my initial quandary. I guess maybe I could get into a fight or argument with my sister just before the next time I fly into Halifax. Then I'd have no choice, right.
The Lord Nelson Hotel, 180 rooms, 1515 South Park Street
Halifax Nova Scotia Tel: (902) 423-6331 Fax: (902) 491-0148
Original Comments:
HR!...by SexySM2
Sounds like a nice place! You gave a great description of it, many details, and more. Good job! :) Nov 30 '00
3:11 am PST
Extreme Measures... by LEDOMAINE
to go to in order to stay in a hotel, aren't they? All I can say is The Lord Nelson must be all you say and more. Great review, James. Thanks,
E R Nov 26 '00
2:21 pm
Recommended:
Yes
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JAMES23
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Member: James Smith
Location: Toronto Ontario CANADA
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