Wanted to spend the night in the Stratford area that wasn't going to cost hundreds of dollars. Having two kids, a pool seemed like a necessary asset. We arrived and it was a quick check-in project. It took WAY too long to find the room but we eventually got there. Requests were attended to quickly and if you're looking for a bed with your regular room accessories. This place meets the expectations but definitely does not exceed it. The pool was large, a little cooler than we expected. We had the pool to our self which was fun. The hot tub that's advertised does not exist and the sauna was out of order. There is no longer breakfast on site but they partner with Stackt which is a few minutes away. Staff seemed knowledgeable although someone at the desk was just learning the ropes. Everyone seemed accommodating. Price point was fair for what we got. We didn't need anything fancy just a safe, clean place to rest our head and it did that. If I need a bed, pool and not much more this is a good choice. If you want something on the nicer side, this is not the place. At the right price I would definitely go back. read more

Ah...the trailer park life. I'm being harsh here but it is not Festive at this Inn. I know it's on the outskirts of Stratford and I get what I get when there are no places to stay in Kitchener - because Home Hardware was having their convention...I know...HH Convention? Yup...trailers, power tools, and riding lawn mowers - come to think of it, I think I would have a blast there! Back to the Inn. I got there and I had some hopes. They sent me off to the back where there were rows of mini-rooms. After getting my stuff in, and swatting a moth the size of a cicada - ugh really!?! - I tried to get on the WiFi and couldn't. Called the front desk and they say only wired in the outside suites. I told them that most modern portables (notebooks, tablets, and the like) no longer have network ports on them and that I would be checking out. That is when they offered me the place in the main building. The WiFi was spotty but enough to get my work done and check Yelp for more info on the place. After reading about bed bugs, I tossed the whole bed and took the sheets off to inspect it. Found no bugs and decided that I will stay there - too late now to go elsewhere. Went to the front desk and asked if the bar was open - nope - how about the restaurant - nope. Really? I don't think it was even 8PM or maybe it was 9PM. Got in the car and drove a few minutes to Crabby Joes - name tells you how I felt. Next morning rise and shine, I forgo'd the breaky and left as soon as possible. 2 stars for a 2 star Inn. Cheers. read more

You know those places that deserve a really good review, but you aren't sure you want to write a review at all for fear of other people finding it and ruining it? The Festival Inn happens to be one of those places. If I had more reason to return to Stratford more frequently, I may not even be writing this review. But, I'm here so infrequently that it can't possibly do me any harm... can it? What can be said about the Festival Inn that really does it justice? The rooms are moderately priced, very upscale for the prices you do pay, and elegantly decorated. I believe, as of my writing, they just went through a remodel which has DEFINITELY paid off. Flatpanel televisions with cable, high-speed internet access (which I'm on NOW), unobtrusive art decorates the walls, and great looking furniture occupy the rooms. The bathroom is a tiny bit small... but it's workable. Just don't try to jam a bunch of people in there to "get ready." Festival Inn is just a few miles outside of downtown Stratford. Which means that if you're looking to walk right downtown, it can be done, but you're most likely going to drive and end up paying for parking. However, having the Inn placed this far outside of the actual city probably benefits it as it seems a little less busy and more quiet. I don't think Ive seen a single family here with there kids tearing down the halls screaming to high Heaven. Oh, did I mention, the (absolutely tiny) workout room is open 24 hours? Because it is. Even though it is literally just a re-worked hotel room with a few pieces of cardio equipment, the fact that you can access it any time is totally top notch. It even has a window that looks into the pool so you can be an irresponsible parent and keep an eye on your kids and watch them drown but know you'll be too late to get there in case anything happens. When the police come to take your report you can honestly say "I WAS watching them officer, I just didn't make it in time..." as your voice trails off in the distance and you get choked up. The next morning as you awake, sans children, you'll be treated to an absolutely awesome upscale continental breakfast. Scramby eggs, potatoes, sausages, all sorts of juice (orange, apple, cranberry), cereal, breakfast pastries (bagels, fritters, muffins, rolls), and some of the best coffee this side of Tim Horton's can be found. All for FREE when you stay the night here. Holy. Crap. They didn't even bat an eye when I loaded a second plate up with about one of every pastry, wrapped it all up in a napkin and returned to my room to ingest them later... probably on the trip home. Everyone here is sickeningly helpful too. The smiles that greet you each time you come across a staff member seem absolutely genuine and they actually go out of their way to help you if it's necessary. Considering how helpful everyone is in this place, it makes me wonder if they're making six figures working at a hotel... because I know I wouldn't be that good at my job unless I was adequately compensated for it. Of course, maybe Canadians are just friendlier overall. I bet that could be the case too. But, service here is another top-of-the-line thing that I'm not used to - especially for such a bargain price. One room with two double beds and everything I mentioned above was about $140 (CAD) for the night. That figures out to be approximately $130 (USD) at the current exchange rate. Given all the amenities, this is WELL worth the price and actually a bargain if you're splitting the cost with someone else. When in Stratford, I can't really imagine staying anywhere else other than the Festival Inn. This place friggin' rocks to the bleachers and the stadium doors. read more

The biggest inconvenience of staying at Festival Inn is there is no in-room wi-fi. You can get an ethernet cable from the concierge or go to the lobby for wi-fi. But depending on where your room is, it could be quite the walk. The second thing is that the walls are quite thin. We had a room (that had a door to the next adjoining room) and we could hear every single word that the next room said. We called down to the front desk and they said they'd do something about it - but the noise continued. Now that I have those 2 things off my chest, here are the pros. The hotel, while not close to downtown Stratford (about a 30-minute walk or 5 minute drive) is close to a lot of amenities including McDonald's, Starbucks (inside the Target Store but be warned, they don't accept Starbucks cards nor can they scan your card via the Starbucks App) and there is a Food Basics and LCBO across the street. The hotel is quite large and has a pool as well as a restaurant attached to the hotel. While I didn't eat there, my parents did and they spoke quite highly of it (read, good value and decent food). While they have already undergone a renovation, the overall feel of the hotel is still "old school." The radiator had a knob broken off of it which was inconvenient. The coffee maker looks dated, like circa 1980s. One great plus however, is there is a fridge. Seeing how Stratford has lots of great local producers, farmers markets etcetera this comes in handy. Also, since most places close at 5:30PM on Saturdays, it comes in handy as a bar fridge. Given the choice, I wouldn't stay at the Festival Inn again, namely because there is no in-room wi-fi which, in the 21st century is simply unacceptable. read more

Close to town but not worth the hassle. The front desk people were very rude. The fitness room unaccessible. The pool not heated and freezing. And they charged extra without telling me, a charge for $169 showed up on my credit card after the fact, still trying to figure out what that is. Not recommended!!! read more

A lovely hotel with modern, updated rooms. A spacious bathroom and our king side bed were wonderful. The free breakfast was great, even for those who are gluten free like us. Ample parking. It has a pool, though we didn't get a chance to use it. read more

2 Nights 223 Bedbug bites I have been fortunate enough to have travelled the world (including some rustic places in Africa) yet I can safely say that the Festival Inn in Stratford turned out to be the worst hotel experience of my 57 years. I was there for two nights in mid August while attending an event. My room was tired and due for a renovation but the sheets were clean and it's fairly reasonably priced with a modest breakfast included . The hotel staff are pleasant. The mistake I made was that I wrongly assumed that hotel rooms are properly checked daily by the maids for bedbugs and fumigated on a regular basis. I understand that it's expensive for hotels to fumigate rooms so it's done on an as needed basis as it's difficult for them to control bedbugs getting into rooms. That said, my case was in the extreme. For those who have not had the experience, it is certainly one to be missed. Shortly after returning home, red welts began to appear all over my body and I ended up with over 220 bedbug bites including 42 on my face and eye lids. They itch and burn like crazy and last for weeks. In view of how many bites I received and that I had brought my pillow and luggage into my home upon return, I considered that there was a distinct possibility that I may have transferred the bedbugs from the hotel to my home. To prevent this transfer, I was forced to purchase a number of items including: boxspring and mattress covers, climbups, glue traps, killer insect powder, etc. Following consultation with my Doctor, I was also required to purchase a number of medications. I immediately contacted the hotel and they confirmed that bedbugs were found in my room so they subsequently fumigated both my room and the two adjacent ones. I asked to be compensated for my out of pocket expenses that were all directly related to begbugs. I did not ask for anything for the pain and suffering that I endured. For their part, the hotel reimbursed the cost of my room and initially offered me about 25% of my costs (which were only about $500). They subsequently raised the offer to 40% but that was as far as they would go. It will be interesting to see if they honour that. In Canada we are at the hotel's mercy when it comes to matters of compensation. In my mind, given the severity of my case, their response was completely inappropriate. So fellow travellers, I would highly recommend that you check the bedbug registry before going to a hotel and check your room before you bring in the luggage. As for the Festival Inn?...Not only would I not recommend them, it would be preferable to sleep in your car. read more

This is about the inn itself, a place I used to stay all the time as a kid but hadn't visited in a while. It is owned by the same folks who run the Arden, with the same flair for design and little touches that make it aesthetically unique. Overall, the place is quite clean, well maintained, and fairly good sized, with various types of rooms, some in a typical two-story opens-on-the-hall structure, and others in an old fashioned courtyard mode, opening onto the parking lot. These are ground level, so great for anyone with some difficulty on the stairs. The room we stayed in was on this courtyard area and had undergone some renovations - fairly recent I would guess - that really give it a bit more flare than I remembered it having. It featured a very comfortable queen sized bed, dorm-sized fridge, and a flat screen TV. The glass shower...is an interesting touch...It is a bit tough to shave one's legs as there's no ledge and no where to sit, so maybe do that before you leave home ladies. The only downside is that the nearest ice machine is located in the two story structure, requiring a walk across the parking lot and keying into the main building. Also, for the tech-savvy sort, wi-fi is really only available around the lobby area and in part of the structure; otherwise, internet is accessible through a cable. Be sure to return the cord to the lobby (or bring your own). I recommend getting a little portable wi-fi device if you have more than one person who will be wanting to connect to the net. Worked great for us. The location is pretty far from the downtown, so if you are going to the plays, you will definitely want to drive it. However, there is plenty of parking at the hotel itself which is a good thing. The place itself has a pool and restaurant, though I did not visit either this visit. It's also right down the street from Crabby Joes (which I gather is pretty good) and some fast food chains/coffee shops if you want a snack. It probably is a good idea to get reservations early, especially if you plan on coming for American weekend or any other time a big crowd might be expected. This last visit, we got one of the last rooms even calling a few weeks ahead. read more

This was a great hotel for the price paid. It is a little ways away from downtown but a simple drive solves that issue. The hotel was nicely decorated along with each room. The pool area was large and quite clean which made it very enjoyable. They also have a bar/ lounge that I did not use. It did have a patio and was decorated rather nicely with an upscale feel to it. This hotel also has a dinning room for all 3 meals. Did not try their food, but they do offer as a covience. If I ever have business in this area again, I will most likely stay here as the hotel exceeded my expectations for the money paid. read more

It started out a 4 star. The front desk was very helpful. The room is clean and spacious. It's was a Saturday and I felt like a beer. The bar in the hotel was suppose to be open Til 11pm. Went down and the bar is closed. Ok so I decided to go back and buy a pop and Pepsi was sold out. Bought a 7up and went back to my room and pick up a coffee cup and it was dirty. Hopefully I won't find anymore disappointment. read more

5 stars out of 5. My mom and I wanted a get away and we wanted to go to Stratford. I was looking around at hotels and this one caught my eye. I've been going to Stratford for as long as I can remember and passed this place too many times to count on the way in. I booked a room for August 6-7. Check in was a breeze. While the rooms are a bit dated, they're quiet, they have free WiFi with a fairly strong signal and the beds are very comfortable. The complimentary breakfast was more what I would expect to see at a much more expensive hotel. Eggs, bacon, toast, home fries and cereal. The eggs and bacon were not swimming in grease which normally is what you get at breakfasts like that. We did have an unwelcome cricket in the bathroom this morning but he was quickly squished with a shoe and for a hotel that's surrounded by farmland, this wasn't unexpected. Would I reccommend this hotel to others? You bet. Will I stay here again? You bet! read more

We were booked to stay at the Festival Inn. The front desk staff were very courteous and professional. Their beds did have bed bugs. I have since reported it the the local health inspector. We did not stay in the room, but even as we left, the staff remained courteous. Please take time to check the head of your mattresses for small nymphs, eggs and bugs before settling in. read more