Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: Your Dream Calgary Getaway Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary. Forget the perfectly polished travel blog – this is the real, slightly unhinged, and utterly honest account of my stay. Prepare for a rollercoaster of opinions, a few rants, and probably a whole lot of "umms" and "ahs." Let's go!
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: My Dream Getaway? … Maybe? Let's Find Out!
Alright, first things first: Accessibility. This is HUGE for me, and honestly, the Sheraton Cavalier gets a solid B+ here. Wheelchair accessible? Yep, ramps, elevators, the whole shebang. It's pretty clear they've put some thought into this. That alone earns them major brownie points.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible is a big YES, elevators are working, even after a weird elevator incident.
Now, Dining, drinking, and snacking – this is where things get interesting, and probably where I'll spend half my life.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte is available, but it's just a bit too fancy for me. They have a snack bar! God bless them! Restaurants, plural! And the poolside bar… Ah, the poolside bar. You know… it's just a must. I loved the Western cuisine in the restaurant.
Okay, so restaurants. The buffet breakfast? Buffet in restaurant. I live for buffets. I mean, who doesn't? The breakfast service itself? Pretty decent, kept the coffee flowing, and that's the most important thing first thing in the morning. Coffee/tea in the restaurant? Double check! They really deliver the basics!
Things to do, ways to relax: Fitness center, check. Gym/fitness, check! Pool with a view. Oh, the swimming pool! It was actually pretty busy, so I went to the sauna instead. They say the heat is like a hug. I’m not gonna lie, it almost was.
Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in the public areas, elevators, daily housekeeping etc., the basics are covered. The Business facilities are great, especially the meeting/banquet facilities.
The Room: My Personal Sanctuary (Maybe Not)
So, Available in all rooms are: Air conditioning, oh thank god! Internet access – wireless. Wi-Fi [free]. Essential. Mini bar. Okay, let's get real. The mini-bar… let’s just say it was a temptation I occasionally succumbed to after a long day of… well, whatever I was doing. The coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver. The desk really served its purpose! Alarm clock. Always a love/hate relationship. The bathtub, perfect for a relaxing evening.
The Dirty Details (Cleanliness & Safety - Important Stuff!)
- Cleanliness and safety: Daily disinfection in common areas – good to see. Individually-wrapped food options – sensible. Hand sanitizer everywhere like it's the end of the world! Okay, I get it. Professional-grade sanitizing services. I have to say, I did feel safe.
Let’s Talk About The Quirks:
Okay, here’s where I get a little… unhinged. I had one specific experience that I’ll just keep replaying in my head forever.
The Room service [24-hour]! That's right, if needed. I tried it, and yes, it's not perfect. It's not my fault they’re constantly late.
Babysitting service… Who needs that???
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Look, the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary is a solid choice. It’s not perfect, nothing ever is. But it's got a lot going for it. It's got its flaws, sure, but it still comes out on top. Would I go back? Yeah, probably. Especially for that poolside bar. And the sauna. Definitely the sauna. It gets you.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is me, wrestling with a weekend in Calgary at the Sheraton Cavalier. Lord help us all.
The Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: A Weekend of High Hopes and Potential Disaster (Probably)
Friday - Arrival & The Great Pool Debacle
14:00 - Arrival at YYC, Airport Chaos. Okay, so I landed. Always a victory. But Calgary Airport? It's a swirling vortex of luggage carousels and bewildered tourists. Found my ride, a car share, thankfully not smelling vaguely of wet dog (a win!). Staring out the window, everything is sprawling and kinda brown. I thought Alberta was supposed to be all majestic mountains and crystal-clear lakes? Guess Calgary is a bit… industrial chic? My first impression: "Huh."
- Impression: Disappointed, but hopeful. I'm easily swayed by a good hotel pool, and this place boasts a waterslide. A waterslide! My inner child is already doing backflips.
15:30 - Check-In & Room Revelation. The front desk staff were…polite. Not exactly bubbly, but hey, it's a Friday afternoon. Finally, the room! It…is what it is. Standard hotel room fare: slightly beige, two queen beds that look like they've seen some things, and a view of… the parking lot. Sigh. Oh well, the waterslide awaits!
- Quirky Observation: There’s a tiny, almost imperceptible, buzzing sound coming from somewhere in the room. I choose to believe it's the ghost of a disgruntled bellhop, forever lamenting the tipping practices of the 1980s.
16:00 - THE POOL. The Waterslide. The Tragedy. The pool area…is a scene. Imagine a slightly humid, chlorine-scented wonderland. The waterslide? Glorious. I immediately change into my swim trunks (yes, I packed them; you never know!). Then, the first ride. Epic. Speed, flailing limbs, a brief moment of existential bliss. Then…the line. And the screaming children. And the lack of towels. And the realization that my swimsuit, which seemed perfectly fine at home, is now riding up. Oh. the humiliation. I think I'll go for a second ride to make the embarrassment worth it. Another epic slide, another moment of feeling like a kid and another lost hope for finding a towel.
18:00 - Dinner at the Hotel Restaurant (The "I'm Too Tired to Leave" Special). It's called "The Deck." I went with the burger. It was…a burger. Perfectly edible, did its job, but nothing to write home about. Felt all that chlorine swimming made me extremely hungry. The service was pleasant but slow. My attempt to catch the server's eye felt like a silent plea into the void.
- Emotional Reaction: Feeling slightly deflated, but a burger can always get me through.
20:00 - Early Night Debrief. Back in the room, watching some trashy reality TV. The ghost-bell hop is still buzzing. I need sleep. A long, deep, undisturbed, and hopefully towel-filled sleep.
Saturday - Brunch, Stampede Dreams & an Unlikely Friendship
09:00 - Brunch at the Hotel (The "Free Buffet" Gamble). This is always a gamble. The Sheraton buffet. Let's just say I walked in with high expectations and walked out…full. The waffle station was the highlight, but I think I saw a guy in a Hawaiian shirt with a side of a very questionable omelette.
- Messier Structure: The coffee was lukewarm, the bacon crispy, the little sausages tasted suspiciously like…well, I'm not even going there right now.
10:00 - A Walkabout Decided to wander the hotel grounds. I think there's a casino. A casino. I never gamble, but the allure is calling. The lights, the sounds, the promise of fleeting, irrational riches.
12:00 - Stampede Fever (In the Lobby). The Calgary Stampede! It's iconic, it's a big deal, it's…not something I'm actually participating in. I, however, am not one to do things. I can hear the music and see the cowboy hats, so, yeah, I get it. Lots of people dressed the part in the lobby. Big hats, boots, belt buckles you could probably use as a weapon. I felt extremely underdressed in my jeans and band t-shirt.
- Emotional Reaction: A mixture of intrigue and abject terror. I simultaneously want to be a part of the scene and run screaming in the other direction.
14:00 - A Chance Encounter in the Hotel Bar (Where I Meet Brenda). I found myself in the hotel bar later, nursing a beer and feeling a bit…lost. In walked Brenda, a woman of a certain age with a fabulous purple streak in her hair and a gin and tonic the size of my head. We start talking, and she's a firecracker! She tells me stories about the Stampede, about her ex-husbands, about everything.
- Unlikely Friendship: Brenda is instantly my new best friend. She's blunt, hilarious, and knows all the best (and worst) things about Calgary. I'm buying her another gin and tonic. This is the best part of my trip.
19:00 - Dinner & Casino Adventure. Brenda insisted. We hit the casino. I lost twenty bucks at the slots and laughed about it. Brenda, on the other hand, won enough to buy us both dessert. (Good job Brenda). The atmosphere was pure Calgary: excitement, a little bit of desperation, and a whole lot of neon.
21:00 - Late-Night Revelations & Room Service. Back in the room, exhausted but happy. Brenda and I did a hotel room service. I ordered the world's most incredible pasta. I feel like I've had a real Saturday. The ghost of the bellhop is singing a mournful tune.
Sunday - Departure & the Longing Sigh for a Better Hotel Pool
09:00 - Farewell Buffet & Brenda's Departure. The buffet. Same script, different day. Brenda swung by to say goodbye. I could never forget her. "Next time, we hit the Stampede," she says with a wink. I'm in.
10:00 - Checkout & the Parking Lot Blues. Checking out was painless. The parking lot, however, was a labyrinth of potholes and confusing signage. I swear I circled the block three times before I found the exit.
11:00 - Airport Bound. The Calgary airport, a symphony of bleary-eyed travelers and delayed flights. My trip, in all its messy, imperfect glory, is coming to an end.
- Emotional Reaction: Content. A little tired. But mostly…content. The Sheraton wasn't perfect, but it's a good place.
12:00 - Departure.
- Final Thoughts: I'll remember the waterslide, the burger, the slightly beige room, the buzzing ghost bellhop, and, most of all, Brenda. Calgary, you weird, wonderful, surprisingly cool city. I'll probably be back, and next time, I'm getting a better hotel pool.
So, uh, what *is* it exactly we're talking about here? (I swear, I'm not getting paid for this!)
Okay, okay, deep breath. Let's pretend... hmm, let's just say we're talking about the existential dread of choosing what to order at a fancy coffee shop. You know, the kind with the obscure single-origin beans and baristas who judge you silently. That’s a good starting point, right? I'm already feeling the pressure. It's not like my life depends on this, but...
Why are we even doing this? Seems like a complete waste of time, doesn't it? (Unless... are we getting paid? Because I could really use a new pair of socks...)
Look, I *told* you no money was involved. But here's the deal: it’s like, cathartic. Like, the universe needed to know how much I suffer when confronted with a menu. It’s therapeutic! Or maybe I just crave the validation of someone, *anyone*, reading this. Honestly, if it helps one person feel less alone in their coffee-induced anxiety, I'll count it a win. Plus, talking to myself is getting old.
Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: What's the *worst* thing that can happen when you screw up your order?
Oh, honey, where do I even begin? The absolute WORST? Okay, picture this. It’s a rainy Tuesday morning. You’re already running late, your hair’s a mess, and you’re desperate for caffeine. You mumble a complicated order – something involving oat milk, a hint of cardamom, and a prayer. The barista misunderstands (they *always* do). You end up with a lukewarm, bitter concoction that tastes vaguely of sadness.
The real horror, though? The judgey stares. The silent pity. Then you have to stand there, pretend you like it while every other customer is getting their beautifully crafted, instagrammable drinks, while you can barely choke down the first sip. And the worst part of that, is the barista will have to spend time on the phone, while the queue grows, and you feel bad for everyone. This has happened. More than once.
What about the *best* thing? Has anything *good* ever come out of this coffee shop experience?
You know, sometimes, *sometimes*, the stars align. Like that one time. I ordered a flat white, completely expecting the usual disappointment. And what do you know, it was perfect. Silky milk, just the right amount of espresso, a heart drawn in the foam that actually resembled a heart, not a deformed blob. I felt... happy. Actually, I felt ridiculously, embarrassingly happy. I might have teared up a little. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated coffee bliss. And, for a few fleeting seconds, the world was a beautiful place.
What's the single most important piece of advice you can offer someone, like, *me*, who's terrified of ordering coffee?
Okay, listen up. Don't try to be fancy. Seriously. Stick to something you know. A latte? A simple drip coffee? Whatever you've ordered a million times and *enjoy*. Master the basics. Once you're comfortable with that, *then* you can tentatively experiment. And always, *always* remember: It's just coffee. It's not brain surgery. (Unless you're getting your coffee *at* a brain surgery, maybe?) Oh, and be nice! Baristas are people! Even if they *are* judging you.
So, what's your *go-to* order? Don't be shy! Dish the beans!
See, that’s the problem! I *don't* have a go-to. That, my friend, is the root of my struggle. I'm a creature of habit, but also a chronic overthinker. It's a vicious cycle! Right now, I’m leaning towards Americano with a splash of milk, but I second guess myself every time. The fear of missing out on the "perfect" coffee keeps me from finding my perfect coffee! It changes with my mood and the perceived judgment of the barista. It's a *mess*. Don't judge me. I'm working on it.
Okay, let's get real... what about those insane coffee trends? Pumpkin Spice, Unicorn Frappucinos... Do you even *go there*?
Nope. Absolutely not. I have standards. (Kinda). Look, I’m not saying people shouldn’t enjoy what they enjoy... but some of these things are just... *wrong*. And the lines! The *lines* for Unicorn Frappuccinos! It's sheer pandemonium! I'd rather drink tap water. Or, you know, the lukewarm, bitter sadness I described earlier. (See, full circle!) I’m more about the simple pleasures. Give me a good cup of coffee, a good book, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of peace, and I’m happy. And by "happy" I mean, not actively miserable.
Do you ever try to pretend to know about coffee? Like, drop fancy coffee terms to impress the barista? What's the *worst* thing that's happened?
Okay, soooooo… I *may* have, on occasion, tried to sound sophisticated. Once. A long time ago. I saw a barista pour some water and called it "the pour-over with a hint of floral notes". I actually said that, and the barista looked at me, and I thought I saw a flicker of a smile, and he pointed out the water and said, "Sir, I just poured this for myself". I looked like such a fool. I've never tried to pretend since. Note to self - stick to the basics!
Any tips to avoid the dreaded "coffee shop stumble"?
YES! Pre-plan. Seriously. Look up the menu online *before* you go. Know your options. Have a backup order in mind. Arrive with a smile (even if itTop Places To Stay
