Visitors to this part of Ontario choose between three bases: downtown Kingston, the riverfront at Gananoque and the budget strip off Highway 401. The right choice depends on whether you want to walk, how long you plan to cruise the islands and the season you travel. Whichever you pick, you will drive or take a tour for at least some of the sights.
Downtown Kingston
If you want to walk to the waterfront, City Hall, the market, the cruise docks and the evening tours, stay here. The Belvedere Hotel and Spa, at 141 King Street East, is the boutique splurge, with individually designed rooms that follow the historic building's floor plans and a bathhouse-style spa with a sauna and Turkish bath. Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront, at 1 Johnson Street, is the full-service harbourfront option, with an indoor pool, a restaurant and water views. Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront, at 2 Princess Street, is the central mid-range choice, with the trolley stop, cruise docks, City Hall and market all within a few hundred metres.
Gananoque
If the 1000 Islands are the point of your trip, stay on the river. Gananoque Inn and Spa, at 550 Stone Street South, is a historic inn with waterfront rooms, two restaurants and free docking for boaters, within walking distance of the downtown and the waterfront. Its spa is temporarily closed for renovations, so do not book for it until the inn confirms. Kingston is about 30 minutes away, so you can still reach the city for Fort Henry and the market.
Off Highway 401
Comfort Suites Kingston Central, at 33 Benson Street, is the budget base, with a free hot breakfast, an indoor heated pool and a Denny's on site. It is a few minutes by car from downtown, so it works best for drivers and families who use it as a hub for day trips to Gananoque and the 1000 Islands.
Cars and parking
If you will drive, ask each hotel about parking before you book. The Belvedere and the Delta charge for parking, the Gananoque Inn offers free parking, and the Comfort Suites charges a small fee. The Holiday Inn's parking details are on its own pages, so confirm them directly. Downtown hotels let you leave the car for the old town and use it only for the day trips.
Seasons and rates
July and August are the busiest months, along with autumn-colour weekends, and the best rooms go first, so book early. Winter and early spring are quieter and usually cheaper, but Fort Henry, the Penitentiary Museum, Bellevue House and Boldt Castle are closed, so match your dates to what you most want to do. A cold-weather stay suits a spa, the market, the old town and a fireplace room.
How to choose
For a boutique splurge with a spa, choose The Belvedere Hotel and Spa. For a harbourfront pool and a restaurant, choose Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront. For the most central mid-range base, choose Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront. For a riverside stay in the 1000 Islands, choose Gananoque Inn and Spa. For the lowest price with breakfast and a pool, choose Comfort Suites Kingston Central. In every case, confirm parking and breakfast when you book.
