Our Nova Scotia adventures started out in Halifax as we checked into the historic Lord Nelson Hotel in downtown Halifax with a toddler and baby. I’ve been to Halifax about three times and all three visits have been spent at the Lord Nelson. The hubs’ mom loves the hotel and since they frequent Halifax (the “big” city) this is a popular choice for them and I can totally see why. This visit showed us how kid friendly the hotel is!
Disclosure : We received a complimentary stay, though as always…opinions are totally mine!
From the moment you walk into the lobby of the Lord Nelson you can feel the history of the space. This is one of those rare hotels that have been able to maintain the historic elements, whilst incorporating modern details that travelers have come to rely on. The Lord Nelson Hotel was originally known as the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel and had opened in October of 1928. Today the lobby, floor, woodwork and clock above the main entrance are still original items. During my stay I Instagramed a picture of the ceiling and the hotel’s social media team quickly informed me that the lobby’s ceiling is a replica from the Ottawa House of commons!
As the video shows, Baby Boy and Little Monkey were both extremely comfortable during our stay in an Executive double room. I was thrilled to find out that the hotel offers both pack and plays and cribs. Baby Boy thrashes around a lot and I’m not a fan of metal cribs because they leave a lot of bruises and leads to plenty of crying after he bumps his head around. As always I was thrilled to learn that each of the 262 rooms have a fridge and the best part was that there was a freezer compartment as well! This breastfeeding mom did a happy dance when I saw that. Not only was I able to safely store my breastmilk but I was able to keep my ice packs frozen for our road trip! Total score!
It really was the little things that makes this a luxury spot that travelers gravitate to. From the AVEDA products ( I’m not going to lie… I stocked up on the shampoo for our road trip travels!) and the USB ports by the bedside to the weather updates, complementary water and chocolates at turn down, there was much that the staff did to make our stay a relaxing one. As you saw in the video, we had plenty of space to store our clothes (drawers galore) and even park our double stroller! During a previous visit I stayed in one of the 60 suites and definitely think that it’s a great layout for extended travel, especially with young kids. There’s plenty of space in the regular rooms but if you want to spread out, look into the suites which come with a kitchenette.
We popped by for the continental breakfast two of the three days we were at the hotel and it was a great way to start our day. Croissants, yoghurt and eggs were our faves, especially since both Baby Boy and Little Monkey enjoyed the fare. They do have high chairs and I heard many a rumour about a new chef who’s making the hotel’s restaurant, The Arms, THE place to dine! Sadly we didn’t have a chance to check out their lunch or dinner menus but word on the street is… it’s darn good!
One rule in Nova Scotia that caught us off guard is that kids aren’t allowed at pubs and restaurants past 9 p.m. … total bummer for us as our kids don’t sleep until 11 p.m. However our room had a wine opener, comfy robe and a bottle of wine for purchase. So the hubs and I enjoyed that obviously!
The location really can’t be beat, from shopping on Spring Garden Road to strolling in the Public Gardens (right across the hotel and a great way to get toddlers to burn some energy) the Lord Nelson Hotel is smack dab in the middle of it all. We walked everywhere and didn’t need a taxi for local exploration. Over the years I’ve have many a fond memory at the Lord Nelson – attending weddings, staying with the in-laws during our travels and now, I have fond memories here with Little Monkey and Baby Boy. No doubt we’ll be back here the next time we’re in town!
