Who doesn’t love dog-friendly elegance? Well, I do. In fact, it’s my personal goal to stay at all of the Canadian Pacific Railway hotels, or those formerly CPR hotels, across Canada. (I’ve been to The Westin in Halifax and the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa). And if I do that with my dog, even better because many of these grand historic properties left over from the heyday of luxury train travel are pet-friendly.

And this includes The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection (2125 Victoria Ave, Regina), now a Marriott hotel, located in the centre of Regina, a 20-minute drive from the airport. Yes, The Hotel Saskatchewan is dog-friendly, but unfortunately, I was not here with my pup.

However, my dog Victoria would have loved it here for many reasons. She would love the comfortable bed with pillow-top mattresses. I certainly did. And she might love the fact that Regina is known as the ‘Queen City’ and references to both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria dot the history. The hotel is on Victoria Street across from Victoria Park. Clearly, I couldn’t stop thinking about my girl and how much I’d love to have her with me.

Downtown Historic Opulence (and Convenience)

I also couldn’t be more surprised by how opulent this hotel is in the middle of a typical urban downtown (arguably) struggling with typical downtown issues. The downtown is functional with a mix of active storefronts and empty ones; historic buildings and new reflective office towers, and moderate traffic and a city bus passing by every 30 minutes. There were fewer pedestrians than I expected in a city of 250,000 people.

By contrast, the hotel is regal and grand. A carpeted staircase leads you in and chandeliers, marble floors and a modernized Victorian-era vibe envelop you in the lobby. High-back velvet chairs invite you to linger before or after you check in.

If you didn’t know this hotel dates back to the days when the well-heeled and hatted dragged luggage without wheels off trains, you do the moment you enter the lobby. Yet constant beeps of elevator buttons and free Wi-Fi remind you this is 18^th-century architecture with 21^st-century convenience.

Speaking of elevators, note there are no rooms on the main floor, so you will be riding up and down to take your dog outside as needed. That’s the one inconvenience I find when staying at luxury or historic city hotels with the dog in general. But the best part is, yes, The Hotel Saskatchewan is dog-friendly.

The Hotel Saskatchewan Pet Policy

According to The Hotel Saskatchewan, pets are welcome, including both dogs and cats. There’s no size limit or breed restrictions, which is good news for large dog travellers. But there is an additional cleaning fee of $50 for the first night and $20 for each additional night. For example, a three-night stay will cost an additional $90 added to the standard room rate, which starts around $250 per night. Documented service dogs are exempt from the pet fee.

According to online guests who’ve stayed at The Hotel Saskatchewan with their pet, dogs can stay in the room for short periods of time if you leave a phone number with the front desk. This is good news for those who want to try one of the signature cocktails in the Circa 27 lounge.

I highly recommend the Prohibition Tea – it’s not just a drink, but an experience. Served in a box you open, the drink actually steams like tea. So, of course, what you’re really drinking is a secret. Since the lobby of the hotel is dog-friendly, likely you wouldn’t have too much trouble enjoying fancy libations with Fido there.

Nearby Green Space

Across the street from The Hotel Saskatchewan is a block-sized urban park – Victoria Park separates the hotel from the downtown indoor shopping mall within an easy jaunt away. Exit the front door of the hotel, cross the street at the lights, and you’re in Victoria Park with your dog on-leash.

The proximity of Victoria Park makes it an easy pee break or a short walk spot, but note this is downtown Regina, and you will likely encounter unhoused people or others hanging out on benches. I had no issue walking during the day, but it’s important to know, especially if running your dog out for a before-bed pee break.

Nearby Dog-friendly Patios

Also, along the walking street that extends from the hotel to the Cornwall Centre (2102 11th Avenue, Regina) shopping mall, there are a few pubs and restaurants – including O’Hanlon’s Irish Pub (1947 Scarth St, Regina) – that have small outdoor patios permitting dogs. I also found that these restaurants were close enough to the hotel that it was easy to walk over, order take-out, and bring it back to your hotel room if you wanted to eat indoors with your pup.

History of The Hotel Saskatchewan

The Hotel Saskatchewan opened in 1927 as one of Canada’s grand railway hotels, originally built and owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway company after the original Grand Trunk Railway hotel went bankrupt in 1919, before completion on a nearby site now home to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Thanks to competing railway companies building majestic upscale hotels along the cross-country railway line, Canada has some beautiful hotels today, most run by hotel chains and independent companies. For instance, The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection is a Marriott hotel as of 2015. In a year, however, it will celebrate its 100^th anniversary and that’s a considerable milestone for a hotel in North America.

Overall

The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection, 2125 Victoria Ave, Regina, is pet-friendly for up to two pets, any size or breed, but there is a pet fee per night. Victoria Park is across the street from the hotel.

The hotel has the following:

• 224 rooms
• 27 suites
• 1 restaurant
• 1 grab-and-go coffee shop
• 1 spa called the Damara Day Spa
• 1 lobby bar called Circa 27 Lounge that celebrates the hotel and city’s connection to rum-running during Prohibition

What else is dog-friendly in Regina? There’s a surprising number of options – and that list is coming up next on dogtrotting.net. In the meantime, check out the dogtrotting guide to dog-friendly brewery hopping in Regina, Saskatchewan here.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!