Muir, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Muir is a Luxury Collection hotel at 1709 Lower Water Street, on the Halifax harbourfront, and it describes itself as a harbourfront retreat with a signature spa. The hotel is about a minute's walk from the Waterfront Boardwalk and a few minutes from the Halifax Convention Centre and the Scotiabank Centre. Rooms range from standard and deluxe king rooms through signature rooms and junior suites to premium, executive and presidential suites, and every room includes rainfall showers, deep soaking tubs, free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen television. The pool is indoors, the spa has a steam room and vitality pools, and a 24-hour gym covers the basics. Dining is on site: Drift is known for its seafood chowder, and BKS is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar. It suits couples, special occasions and anyone who wants to walk out the door onto the water.

Location and getting around: Lower Water Street puts you on the waterfront with the boardwalk at your door. From here you can walk north to Historic Properties and the ferry terminal, or south toward the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and, further along, Pier 21 and the Seaport Farmers Market. The Citadel is a climb up the hill behind, and downtown restaurants and shops are within a short walk. Halifax Stanfield International Airport is about thirty-five kilometres away, around half an hour by car, so a taxi or rideshare is the usual way in.

The rooms and the spa: choose a harbour or city view when you book, and consider a suite if you want separate living space. The deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers are the in-room signatures, and the Windward spa gives you a steam room and vitality pools for a cold November afternoon. The indoor pool means the hotel works well in winter. The front desk and concierge are open around the clock, with express check-in and check-out, and the property is smoke-free.

Good to know: continental breakfast is available at a surcharge rather than included. Self-parking and valet parking both carry a daily fee, so factor that into the cost if you are driving. Pets are allowed. Rates are at the top of the Halifax market, and rise in summer and around events, so November can be a good time to book. It is the right choice for a honeymoon, an anniversary or a harbour-focused trip, and less so for travellers on a tight budget, for whom the other hotels in this guide offer better value.