Situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the Gananoque Inn & Spa occupies the original The Gananoque Carriage Works factory. Converted to a hotel in 1896, the historic and charming Inn provides two riverfront restaurants, private docking, waterfront accommodation, and fireplace and Jacuzzi suites. The Inn is the perfect location from which to explore the 1000 Islands, the nearby UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications. Golf, fishing, island tours, kayaking, cycling, summer theatre, brewery tours and shopping are just a few of the nearby activities.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, French
Location
550 Stone St S, Gananoque, Ontario K7G 2A8 Canada
The Gananoque Inn And Spa
721 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We were a group looking for a get away and the Gananoque Inn & Spa worked perfectly. We could all gather along the water to chat and enjoy the view. Our rooms were clean and the beds comfortable. We enjoyed breakfast on the patio and also had dinner one night in the restaurant and the food was all very good. My only complaint would be it is tired. Rooms and public areas could all use an upgrade and a new coat of paint. Also, outdoor areas could have cobwebs removed and gardens looked after. We would definitely stay there again.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lori Higgs, Marketing at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 31 Aug 2020
Thank you for your comments and we were so happy to hear of your stay! Having the waterfront and spaced our Adirondack chairs definitely has made things a little easier to catch up with family and friends. Because we are a historic inn, you can imagine the undertaking it is to keep this majestic property to its rightful appeal. Since purchasing the Inn only 3 years ago, it has undergone some much needed updates including new guest furniture in all the rooms, heating and air conditioning units, new hot water tanks, a new addition to house our new and more efficient walk in fridges to key-less room entry and new windows. We do plan on more upgrades, but Covid-19, put a slight glitch in this and will be delayed regrettably as I am sure you can understand. We continuously sweep down the bugs daily, but being located on the water in a hot summer time, just makes it that much tougher to stay on top of. Thank you again and we hope to see you return. The Management of The Gananoque Inn & Spa
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My husband and I decided to make the Family Day long weekend a quick getaway. We booked a room at the Gananoque Inn because they had a jetted tub in the room and that sounded like the perfect treat for our winter weary bones. We stayed in room 114. It appeared recently updated. It had a lovely king sized bed, small fridge and afore mentioned jacuzzi. The room had a beautiful view of the waterfront which we enjoyed sporadically thanks to Mother Nature's snow squalls.
Breakfast was included in the cost of the room and we were extremely satisfied with the offerings. It was a sit down breakfast with choices such as French Toast, BLT with homefries and the traditional bacon and eggs hungry person breakfast. No make your own waffles, dry muffin or crank your own cereal then eat while hovering in a corner waiting for a table to open up mania here! Service was also extremely friendly and all COVID protocols met.
The staff was extremely friendly. COVID measures made us feel comfortable. Check in and out was efficient. We plan on returning in the summer months.
Thank you for the lovely weekend.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:We had room 114. It had a jacuzzi tub and was on the water.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We needed a place to stay for one night en route to Quebec. Gananoque was exactly the halfway point in our journey, so after a lot of research here on TA and elsewhere, I decided the Gananoque Inn and Spa must be the best place in town. It probably is…but that doesn’t mean it’s great.
The location is pretty much perfect, overlooking the river, and within in easy walking distance of everything worth seeing. The first impression of the exterior is that it definitely has some Victorian charm, but it needs a refresh. That impression continues inside as well.
Check in was quick and the front desk clerk was very pleasant. We hauled our bags up to our third floor queen bed room with view of…the parking lot. Some of the furniture appeared new, but the carpet, draperies, and wallpaper are old and in need of replacement. The tiny bathroom is also sorely in need of renovation. The two windows were covered in bugs and spiderwebs (outside). For $259, we had to laugh…
We had made advance dinner reservations at the Watermark restaurant, but they were only offering the pub menu. This was a great disappointment. We definitely wished we had chosen one of the fine dining establishments in town instead. Our meals were okay, and reasonably priced, but it wasn’t the experience we were looking for.
After a walk into town for ice cream, we returned to our room to the smell of marijuana smoke in the hallway. I just assumed this would be a non-smoking hotel, since it’s an historic wood framed building. When we opened our door and turned on the lights, we were alarmed to see dozens of bugs (fish flies?) had somehow gotten into the room and were all over the window shades, the walls, the ceiling… We managed to kill a lot of them with aerosol sunscreen, but it was a losing battle.
After our dinner experience I decided to skip the included breakfast and go for a run instead. My partner sent me a picture of the menu: 3 options (and his was not great, he said).
We checked out vowing that Gananoque was a “one and done” for us, but for those of you who really want to stay there, book one of the waterfront “motel” style rooms, as those appear to be the best on the property. But regardless of what category you choose, you are certainly paying too much.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Do yourself a favour an choose a waterfront “motel” room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Management, General Manager at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 27 Jul 2021
Thank you for your 3 bubble rating and detailed review and we are sorry we fell short on your stay. We are a historic inn that dates back to 1896 and do our best to keep the history of the property yet keep it up-to-date. Covid has put a wrench in the plans to upgrade many additions including carpets and washrooms, but they are in works in the future at some point. This past winter we were however able to add key less remote entry, new windows, new heating & air conditioning units, a new roof the our waterfront section, new guest room furniture and new decks to mention a few. But the pandemic has halted any further renovations for the time being, but is is coming and takes time and money. We do note in our guest rooms that this time of year and being located on the river, that non-biting insects known as "midges", make their way into rooms through open windows and doors and are attracted to lights, but mike many cottagers can attest, as much as we do, they always seem to find their way in, and we do apologize for that. We are a smoke free property, and had we have known absolutely would have put a stop to that, and again we apologize. We definitely fell short there and wished someone called to tell us. But have made note to try and do more rounds of the property. Again the ever so dreaded pandemic, has limited services and left us short of staff. Not being able to offer buffets, plus the increase in food prices, we have done our best to offer 3 hot breakfast options instead of continental breakfast. It seems although businesses are still struggling to reopen, keep updates,operate short staffed and plead for patrons to be kind and patient, expectations are only enhanced from guests being cooped up at home so long, and we apologize, but are doing the best we can and thank those staff for their hard work..
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I stayed at the Gananoque Inn as I have heard and read much about its storied reputation. It was clean, the bed comfortable, and the staff were personable, but it did not live up to its reputation, and definitely not worth more than $280. for one person for a single night. The building has very poor accessibility. There is a poorly marked ramp to the north side of the main entrance, no elevator for the 3 stories, and even steps at the elevator landings at each floor. So people with mobility issues can reach the reception desk and dining areas – if they see the one ramp option, and stay in the motel units (down a steep hill). People with scent issues will have problems because when entering, the heavy smell of essential oils from the spa can be immediately detected in the entrance lobby, and become stronger as one mounts the main stair to the level of the rooms. The interior of the building is tired: the main stair rails and newels need paint; my room had a variety of furniture that was respectable, but much of it was old, and nothing that was antique or high end; the broadloom was wrinkly; the ceiling had a very poor patch job; the window unit air conditioner was very noisy and greatly disturbed my sleep; it was not possible to open the other window as the sash kept sliding down, and there was no screen for the window to keep out insects so close to the water; the seal of the openable thermopane window was compromised so it was fogged, which eliminated half the view of the so-called ‘window view’; and for the spontaneous visitor there were not fairly common provisions of a bath robe or refrigerator.
For breakfast one had to pass through an area where the chairs were stacked on the tables which did not look inviting. The complimentary breakfast was very basic, with limited choice for people with gluten issues, or vegetarian or vegan diets. The home fries came out cold, the butter was too cold to spread on the cold toast, tomatoes and fruit were not a reflection of seasonal bounty, the water for my small tea pot was not steaming hot so it could not steep, and hot water was not offered later to top it up. The menu stated that coffee was an endless cup, but I didn’t notice this offered to patrons. There were Italians and Germans in the breakfast dining area when I ate. Cognisant of the level of attention in resort destinations in these areas, even when staying at affordable locations, I don`t imagine these visitors were impressed.
While the new proprietors of the Gananoque Inn have a pleasant letter wishing people a good stay, that they are working on updating the facility, and a wish to see them again, I believe there is much to do before charging the prices they wish, and to keep visitors coming who may have heard of its storied lineage.
I wish the new proprietors the best, but there is a heck of a lot of work ahead of them to retain the tradition, rating, and rate scale of the storied Gananoque Inn.
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Date of stay: August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lori Higgs, Marketing at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 6 Jul 2020
Thank you for your review, since your stay, which seems to be quite some time ago, we have started many upgrade and additions to the property, many that have been of note during your past stay. We have replaced windows, heating and air conditioning units, have gone to a key-less entry system for guest rooms, and have recently replaced all guest room furniture and bedding. With plans to complete carpets and bathrooms, we regrettably have put this on hold due to Covid-19, but they are in the plans. We are a historic inn, that dates back to 1896 and there is no hiding this fact. The age and character with this property is its appeal to many. This makes simply adding elevators difficult. We do offer complimentary luggage service to our guests.Also due to the age of the property and its wiring infrastructure, we just regrettably cannot add refrigerators to all guest room, but some do have them in certain rooms, and they are available on request. We do offer bath robes in our suites that feature a Jacuzzi. We discontinued breakfast in March with Covid-19, but have taken note on your comments for when we do re-open. We want to thank you again for bringing these issues of yours to our attention and can assure you, we are invested, committed and take every comment extremely seriously .
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After a year and a half of staying home we booked here for a change of pace. The location is perfect - right on the river with lovely landscaping and chairs outside to enjoy the view and action of the boats etc. One negative thing was a lot of smokers sitting outside chain smoking - not pleasant, also near us a couple who many times had several couples over in front of their unit all talking at once very loudly (not in English) to the point we had to go inside because of the noise! Breakfast was included but had a very limited menu (3 selections to choose from) it was good but not what we expected as we paid over $700.00 for 2 nights. One waitress was absolutely amazing extremely pleasant and efficient. We ate dinner here as well and the food was good. Would not book again unless the price was more reasonable, our room was okay but more like a $100.00 motel room.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Management, General Manager at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 10 Aug 2021
Thank you for your 4 bubble rating and review. We are so sorry to hear of your issues with other guests, and only wished you contacted us at guest services prior to leaving so we could have tried to rectify the situation. Regrettably Covid has left us limiting our menus, to avoid added contact/touching, short staffed and food shortages, But we find that at least we can offer hot entrees for breakfast with a bit of something for everyone, from bacon and eggs, pancakes and a simple BLT for the light eater. Sorry we fell short there. We have amazing staff and so pleased you experienced what we see very day. High Season (summer) is typically higher priced in our area as we are a typical summer destination, but there are always great specials and packages in the off-season on our website. Thank you again.
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My husband and I just spent two nights at this hotel. It was a special treat b/c it was his birthday, so we upgraded to a larger room. (508) While we enjoyed it - it was kinda hit and miss. The pluses were - The Inn is in the best location in town. The restaurant is cute and has a great view. The decor was quirky but sort of charming and we even had a fat groundhog that sat by our Muskoka chairs in the morning. The staff (despite being short staffed) were lovely. The minuses however were - that it was really expensive! The breakfast was not included (and considering how much we paid for the room it should have been) And the air conditioner made the room damp, not cool. When we arrived, all the material in the room felt damp. And even the carpet was wet. Plus I woke up with tons of bites. I don't know if it was the mosquitoes? b.bugs? midges? Fleas? or what. All I know is I came home with 27 red itchy bites on my feet. Would we stay again? I dunno.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Management, General Manager at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 31 Aug 2021
Thank you for your 4 star rating and review and we thank you so much for the positives. We understand that although we are a large property, many miss the fact we are an actual "Inn", not a hotel, and unique in amenities as well. We do offer rates with breakfast and without, Or guests can purchase it as well should they decide last minute. We are so sorry to hear of your air conditioner issues and hope you mentioned it during your stay?. We have maintenance looking into it as we speak. We have had our pest control company in as well and can assure you it is not bed bugs nor fleas. As well we have them on a monthly preventative measure service to ensure our guests safety. Midges are bad, especially being located on the water,.and we do post notes in each guest room to be careful leaving doors open and lights on long as they tend to make their way in. Also being on the water brings deer flies, mosquitoes and more. We are sorry to hear of your discomfort but thank you again for joining us.
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It isn't the worst hotel I have stayed at, but the worst VALUE.
My experiences simply come no where close to the $350/night i paid for the hot tub room.
I was greeted with a musty smelling room that has not been updated since the 1990's. A cracked hot tub that appeared to be roughly patched with putty? A closet that had a cheap wooden armoire in front of it. A small, badly out of date bathroom. A cheap, small tv. Curtains that completely cover the air conditioner.
I have stayed in nicer rooms for less then $100/night.
Breakfast was included in the stay, but that too disappointed.
I stood at the entrance for a few minutes before a wait staff even 'saw' me. The staff appeared to be run off their feet as they are woefully understaffed .
There were a total of three items on the breakfast menu, all listed for over $12.
I ordered the $15 traditional breakfast of bacon and eggs. The serving size was shockingly small, regardless of the price.
I have seen this happen far too often with other businesses. A successful business is purchased by new owners (Gananoque Inn changed hands in 2017), and the new owners proceed to run the business into the ground. Sadly, Gananoque Inn is suffering the same fate.
Unless there is significant change, I will not return.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Management, General Manager at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 9 Nov 2021
Thank you for your rating and review and are sorry ot hear of your dissapointment. Please know we are planning on continued renovations in 2022. Regrettably Covid has put a halt on upgrades that had already started as well as left adjusting to pandemic procedures and protocols with our guest and staff safety in mind which has a limited breakfast menu. But still lots to choose from, bacon and eggs, pancakes and even a BLT.
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My parents were celebrating their 50 anniversary, and this place did not disappoint. We upgraded to a waterfront room, which came with a designated parking space. Paper vouchers were given for a simple breakfast, which was a choice of classic breakfast (toast with scrambled or fried eggs, bacon), BLT, veggie sandwich (lettuce and tomato on toast), pancakes, and French toast. Breakfast is on one room/patio with lunch and dinner on a different room/patio.
The location was spectacular. Not only with waterfront views, but also walkable to shops, the ships, the beach, and the playhouse. While the spa was not operating, the massage place was only a 10 min walk. After I finished at the beach, I could still sit on an Adirondack chair and enjoy the picturesque setting.
The personal touches made a world of difference. Dinner was until 9, and on my parents’ anniversary, the waitress let us order dessert after 9 and didn’t rush us. All of the waitresses were attentive and kind. The front desk were quick to address any issues.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Upon checking in, you can park in the parking lot across the street. If you get a waterfront...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited Gananoque on a day trip last summer and thought it was beautiful so this spring we reserved a room at the Inn for my August visit to Canada. A few weels before my visit I checked in to Trip Advisor and read some really awful reviews of the inn-complaints about breakfast, cleanliness, staff, and more. I seriously considered canceling our reservation but thankfully I didn’t. We have had an absolutely wonderful visit. The front desk staff was welcoming, our bags were brought up to our room, the room was clean and nice with what looks like a brand new bathroom, the bed was comfortable and the bed linens lovely
Breakfast is included in the room charge and we have absolutely loved sitting on the covered porch being served a hot breakfast (4 options) while watching the harbor. The service has been excellent and unrushed. We usually lingered there after breakfst with refills of coffee.
I love being able to sit out in the Adirondack chairs on the dock abd being able to walk around the area. Our visit has been all I hoped for-relaxing and beautiful.
Because the Inn is in a very old building, there is no elevator to the rooms in the main building. Staff wiilingly carry your bags. There are also sreep stairs down to the dock and lawn. I use a cane and managed the indoor steps by taking my time and walked down the driveway to reach the dock and lawn.if you have concerns I would talk to the staff to find which rooms would work best for you. It is a wonderful place with an amazing view.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First the good: loved the location, which is within walking distance of the interesting part of downtown Gananoque. The restaurant patio has a great view of the harbour and there are a couple of ice cream locations within easy walking distance. The inn feels like it was built in another time and is quirky but fun. No pool but there are dockside Adirondack chairs to sit in and enjoy.
Unfortunately the negatives take away from this. Replacing the carpet in our room would have raised this place a star. Our pillows were too soft and I've slept in better hotel beds. The furniture could be spruced up. There isn't a pool for kids but that's not a big deal.
The staff at breakfast and lunch/dinner were very nice although heads up the breakfast menu only has 3 options.
Honestly, the big thing here is replace. Do that and you'll do wonders here!
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lori Higgs, Marketing at The Gananoque Inn And Spa
Responded 22 Sept 2020
Thank you for your 3 bubble rating and review and we are happy that for the most part you enjoyed your stay. New ownership took over 3 years ago and in that time spent a great deal of time replacing and repairing infrastructure items that are unseen to the eye, but were desperately in need to run the Inn. The Inn, that dates back to 1896, reveals a great deal of history and we do our best to capture this while upgrading the best we can. Since March this year, we turned our focus on more eye appealing amenities that our gusts would notice, and have replaced windows, air conditioning and heating units, have gone to a key-less room entry system and have replaced all guest room furniture. The carpets and some other action items are on our list of things to be completed, but with Covid-19, we just cannot complete everything at this time. We did eliminate breakfast at the start of Covid-19, as this is a more high contact and high-touch service, but when guests provided feedback we were able to offer a reduced breakfast menu with little contact to cater to our guests needs with hope it was able to at least offer some options. We have had wonderful feedback and guests have understood during these times, we can only do what we can. We hope in the future you will visit again and see the many more changes that are in store. Thank you again. The Management of The Gananoque Inn & Spa.
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I do not think so because of safety factors. The water levels
are high and over the board walk a bit.
Also it is a boat channel.
You can always ask at the Inn desk
or phone ahead.
It is a beautiful setting by far.
Hope you get there for a visit.
I loved my room. The bathtub was obviously older, but the bathroom itself was still charming, clean and did not have any problems. The room was nicely decorated in a way that reflects the heritage and style of the inn. Again nice, clean and pleasant with a comfy mattress. If you are looking for a makeover reno porn setting with a completely upstyled room this is not your hotel. I suggest a glam major chain hotel in a major city centre. If you want atmosphere, pleasant surroundings, fabulous view of the water, good food, Saturday night entertainment, and the quiet of a small town neighbourhood, this is the place.
There are more places to choose from in the Gananoque area.
PRICE RANGE
S$140 - S$202 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the gananoque hotel gananoque, gananoque bed breakfast
LOCATION
CanadaOntarioGananoque
NUMBER OF ROOMS
52
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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