The Algonquin Resort, St Andrews By-The-Sea

The Algonquin Resort is a luxury resort-hotel at St Andrews By-The-Sea in New Brunswick, Canada. The property features a recently redesigned 18-hole golf course, a treatment spa, an outdoor swimming pool (open between May and October) plus an indoor pool with a water slide. Four tennis courts are located behind the hotel and racquets can be used free-of-charge by guests who enjoy playing. The fitness centre has cardio equipment, weights and an area for stretching exercises.

The hotel building has a black and white mock-Tudor façade, a red tile roof and overlooks Passamaquoddy Bay. The Algonquin takes its name from the First Nations’ people who inhabited the region long before European settlers arrived. The hotel initially opened for business on 28 June 1889 and has hosted heads of state and royalty during its long history. For a time, trains operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway would bring guests to the Algonquin but that service ceased in 1958.

The Algonquin Outdoor Pool

Guests who stayed during the summer of 1889 paid between $3 and $5 per night for their accommodation. It’s rare to find a beer in a bar for that these days! Anyone who does want a cold drink (or a warm one for that matter) while staying at the Algonquin has the option of ordering room service or taking a seat in one of the hotel’s three bars: The Right Whale Pub (named after one of the cetaceans that can be viewed in the Bay of Fundy), Braxton’s Lounge or The Clubhouse, part of the Algonquin Golf Club, whose course has been played since 1894.

With a total of 233 rooms, including 17 suites, the hotel is notable in that it has 117 configurations of room size and layout. All of them were renovated as part of a $50 million refurb that began in 2012, when the Algonquin closed its doors to guests, and was completed in the spring of 2014, when the hotel reopened.

The Algonquin King Suite

The guestrooms are, as you’d expect in hotel of this category, comfortably furnished. The linens look and feel luxurious. Framed artworks, plush carpets and neutral colours create a cosy environment in which to relax. The beds have padded headboards and bathrobes are provided. For entertainment there’s flat-screen televisions and MP3 players.

The Algonquin is a short walk from the principal attractions of St Andrews, whose Water Street has a row of picturesque, colourfully painted stores that appeal to tourists and a harbour from which whale watching tours depart frequently throughout the summer. The concierge stands ready to provide suggestions on things to do and see in the town and surrounding region. People interested in heritage are likely to find a visit to Minister’s Island rewarding. Reachable during low tides, the island has the former summer house of Sir William van Horne, one of Canada’s 19th century railway barons.

Braxton's Bar

The part of St Andrews in which the Algonquin stands is a quiet location and disturbances during the night are rare. The town has relatively dark skies, so it’s worth stepping outside to view the stars, particularly at times of meteor showers.

The hotel is a popular wedding venue, not least because it lends itself well as a backdrop to photos. The hotel has a wedding coordinator to plan ceremonies and celebrations. There’s a rooftop garden and the gazebo, overlooking the bay, and is ideal for outdoor weddings on sunny summer days. The Algonquin has three ball rooms that are also used to host conferences for up to 400 delegates. Additionally, firepits outside of the hotel offer places for people to gather and socialise after nightfall.

The Algonquin Resort Clubhouse Patio

If you like to treat yourself to stays in luxurious surroundings and enjoy quality service, then it will be worth booking at the Algonquin Resort when you visit St Andrews.

The Details

The Algonquin Resort, 184 Adolphus Street, St Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, E5B 1T7, Canada.Tel: +1 506 529 8823 / +1 855 529 8693

Website: http://algonquinresort.com/

Email: Reservations@AlgonquinResort.com

The resort is situated off Prince of Wales Street and an easy 10-minute stroll from the stores on Water Street, along the harbour in St Andrews. The property is about 30 minute drive from the US-Canada border and a 90 minute drive from Saint John Airport or two hours’ drive from the airport in Fredericton.

Type of Hotel: 4 Diamond Luxury Resort & Golf Course

Number of Rooms: 233 rooms and suites including complimentary Wi-Fi

Price Band: High

Insider Tips: Play a round on the Algonquin Resort’s long-established golf course, which is rated at the best in New Brunswick and has Canada’s oldest clubhouse. Rod Whitman redesigned the 18-hole course ahead of its 2017 reopening. It has a 350-yard driving range and overlooks Passamaquoddy Bay.

Enjoy cycling? It’s possible to borrow a bicycle to explore St Andrews and the surrounding region. Maps of local cycling trails are also available from the reception.

If you’re planning on exploring the region you could always ask for a picnic basket to be prepared for you. Gourmet baskets are available.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8.5/10

Author Bio:

Stuart Forster is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer specialising in food and travel related features.

Photographs courtesy of The Algonquin Resort, an Autograph Collection Hotel

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*