Staying at the Historic Lord Nelson Hotel
Written: Sep 10 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Historically detailed
Cons: a few minor details are missing
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| jcgrow's Full Review: Nova Scotia |
In August, my wife and I traveled to Nova Scotia for our honeymoon. We spent most of our time in Halifax, and really loved it there. Our first and last nights were spent in the Lord Nelson Hotel, a fantastic hotel in a fantastic city.
Why the "Lord Nelson"?
The Lord Nelson is named after THE Lord Nelson, the British naval hero who defeated Napoleon's fleet just north of Egypt. Why has a Nova Scotian city got a hotel named after a British hero? My guess is that it has something to do with history. The Lord Nelson Hotel has been around for a very long time, and Canadians have been Canadians for a much shorter time than Americans have been Americans. My perception is that Nova Scotians still identity with Britain a great deal, and besides, Halifax is an extremely naval city.
The History is in the Details...
The age of The Lord Nelson is apparent from the start, when one enters the lobby and strolls through the mezzanine, which is decorated with prints of historic ocean-going vessels. In the room itself, there are telling details, like a deep bathtub that actually has a rubber stopper in the bottom. The exterior windowsills have an aged, moldy appearance that I actually found quite charming. Furthermore, the hotel is opposite of the famous Victorian public gardens which are among the best kept I've seen in a long time.
... And So is the Quality
The little things meant a lot to me on our honeymoon. I wanted things to be just right for my wife, and the details of the Lord Nelson Hotel helped me make it possible. There were extra toiletries of good quality in the bathroom, from Q-tips to a milky aromatic vanilla soap. The thermostat was incredibly precise, and it always worked. Most importantly, the elevator was clean and prompt. The elevator of a hotel is a detail most reviewers overlook, but I can tell you as an experienced traveller that my impression of a hotel is often made as I stand waiting in the lobby to return to my room after a long day.
The Pub
The pub downstairs is really fantastic, with good dark wood and cozy, high-backed booths good for both romantic newlyweds or secretive business meetings. The breakfast is really exceptional and the wait staff walks the thin line of being highly personal and professional at the same time.
There are also more pubs right around the corner, a two minute walk at the most. These vary from atmospheres of fine dining to dingy but friendly dives.
On the Other Hand...
I loved staying at the Lord Nelson Hotel, but there were a few things they just didn't get right. It also bothered me a little that we had to pay extra for parking. On one night, I also had to pay for local calls, which I always find to be troublesome when I'm on the road. For our second night, we stayed in a business class room and didn't have to pay extra for these calls. Of course, we paid a higher price for the room itself. The first night we paid approximately $75 US, whereas we paid about $100 US for the second.
The strangest thing in this luxury hotel was that plastic plants were placed outside the elevator on every floor above the first. To me, the presence of plastic plants suggests that someone doesn't want to be bothered fussing about the little things. If a hotel can't bother to take care of real plants, how well will it take care of its guests? (Actually, they took care of us just fine. Still, you have to admit that it's a little bit weird.)
These little things keep me from giving the Lord Nelson Hotel a level-5 rating, but I nonetheless recommend it as a fine place to stay for anyone who is visiting Halifax.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jcgrow
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Location: Trumansburg, New York, United States
Reviews written: 238
Trusted by: 50 members
About Me:
Editor of IrregularTimes.com, looking at the world at through an irregular lens.
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