Yellowknife Polar Suite Guesthouse

Yellowknife Polar Suite Guesthouse is a guesthouse at 5009 48th Street, in the city's business district and a short distance from the airport. It offers a single room type, a deluxe room that sleeps four with two twin beds and a double sofa bed, which makes it a sensible choice for a family or a small group of friends who would otherwise need two hotel rooms. The kitchen, microwave and coffee and tea makers give you what you need for breakfast and simple meals, and in a city where restaurant prices run high, that can save a real amount over a few nights. The guesthouse has free Wi-Fi, free self parking, laundry facilities and a front desk that is staffed around the clock. Bathrooms have showers and free toiletries, and the room has a television with digital channels. Pets are not allowed. It is not a hotel with a restaurant, a pool or a gym, so think of it as a clean, practical base that leaves your budget for tours, dog sledding and the aurora.

Location and getting around. The address puts several sights within easy reach on foot. The Frame Lake Trail, the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre and the NWT Diamond and Jewellery Centre are about two minutes away, the Veterans Memorial is five minutes and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is around eleven. A pizza restaurant is two minutes on foot, shopping malls are close, and the airport is about a six-minute drive. In deep winter the walks are short but cold, so dress for it.

Aurora planning. Aurora tour operators commonly collect guests from central hotels, so check whether this address is on the pickup list. If it is not, taxis are easy to arrange. Allow at least three nights so that a cloudy evening does not use up your whole trip, and keep your warmest layers by the door.

Practical notes. Check-in is in the afternoon and check-out is at eleven. Cancellation terms differ by room rate, so read them carefully before you pay. Because the guesthouse offers one room type, availability can be tight in peak aurora months and during festival weeks, so reserve early. Ask the staff about breakfast, which is not mentioned among the amenities. With a kitchen in the room, many guests simply stock up at a nearby store on arrival, which also helps on nights when you return from an aurora tour long after restaurants have closed.

Who it suits. Budget travelers, families of up to four and anyone who wants a kitchen will find it useful. Guests who want a restaurant, a gym or a pool should choose one of the larger hotels. Rates change with the season, so check when you book. Because Yellowknife is a small city, a guesthouse like this one also tends to give a quieter, more personal feel than a large chain hotel, which some travelers prefer after a long flight north.