Review – The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection

Weekend in Regina, Saskatchewan

Visiting all of Canada’s provinces had been a long-standing goal of mine, and I was excited to add Saskatchewan to my list. When I told friends I was headed to Regina, their reactions ranged from confusion to amusement, with the question, “Why?” But I was determined to uncover what charm this oft-overlooked province might hold. With the right mix of affordable flights, hotel deals, and a curiosity to explore Regina’s local history, I made my way to the city that plays a quieter yet essential role in Canada’s story.

For this trip, I flew from Toronto (YYZ) to Regina (YQR) with Air Canada, redeeming 16,500 Aeroplan points plus $93 CAD in taxes, for a round-trip fare. Thanks to my Aeroplan Elite status and a premium credit card, I had complimentary checked luggage and selected an emergency exit row seat with extra legroom on the 3-hour flight.

The Hotel Saskatchewan – Exterior

My hotel of choice was The Hotel Saskatchewan, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. I found a fantastic cash rate that worked out to under $150 CAD/night, leveraging a $60 Amex Marriott statement credit and a Marriott promo that offered 4,000 bonus points. This, combined with a room upgrade courtesy of Suite Night Awards (SNAs), made it far more economical than the 74,000 points required for a redemption stay.

First Impressions and Check-in

Getting to the hotel was just a 10-minute, $15 Uber ride from the airport. The property is right in downtown Regina, directly across from Victoria Park. Walking through its main entrance felt like stepping into another era. Crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and rich wood panelling immediately brought to mind Toronto’s Royal York Hotel.

Check-in desk

Originally built in 1927 as part of the Canadian Pacific hotel network, The Hotel Saskatchewan also served as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 1945 to 1984. In 1993, it was designated a municipal heritage site.

Hallway – Main floor

Check-in was seamless. Debbie at reception made a point of addressing me by name each time I passed by, a genuinely personal touch. At checkout, Jobanjeet handled a split payment with Marriott gift cards and credit cards with the kind of efficiency that most other Marriotts should take note of.

Suite Night Award – Sussex Suite

Thanks to my Titanium Elite status and confirmed Suite Night Award, I was upgraded to the Sussex Suite, a 630 sq. ft. deluxe corner suite on the 9th floor with a full park view. No larger suites were available on the app during my check-in, as the BC Lions CFL team was staying in-house for their game against the Roughriders. Sure enough, after the team checked out, the app showed availability for larger suites again.

Sussex Suite

The Sussex Suite had a residential, vintage feel. The living room featured a burgundy sofa bed and a grey sofa with burgundy pillows, flanked by old-fashioned lamps and antique side tables. A welcome treat—a maple donut—was presented on a silver tray. A desk, two TVs, a coffee maker, and bottled water rounded out the space. There was no microwave, but the mini fridge was functional.

Sussex Suite – Living Room

The separate bedroom had a king bed, additional closet space, and a second TV. The bathroom, while charming, was relatively small and underwhelming for a suite of this category.

Access to Bedroom

Design-wise, the room maintained the hotel’s historic aesthetic with gray walls, matching curtains, and vintage furniture throughout. Room photos on the Marriott website are an accurate representation.

Sussex Suite – Bedroom

Welcome Amenity – Maple Tea Donut

Views from Sussex Suite – Victoria Park

F&B Options

Dining was a highlight here. The hotel houses Circa 27 Lounge, Café Royale, and a grand breakfast dining room. The breakfast setup rotates depending on occupancy. A buffet is served on game days or when the hotel is above 80% capacity. Otherwise, an à la carte menu is available. As a Titanium Elite, I received two $13 daily breakfast vouchers instead of 750 points, which I consider a good value.

Circa 24 – Bar

Breakfast Room

Breakfast Buffet

The complete buffet options included Hash browns, bacon, eggs, waffles, Meats, cheeses, yogurts, fruit, and a variety of breads and pastries. The Saskatoon berry jam was the highlight! The à la Carte highlights from my stay were the Truffle Croque Madame (Brioche topped with sunny-side egg, bechamel sauce, ham, and cheese, with honey-drizzled crispy hash browns) and the Smoked Salmon Toastie (Poached eggs, smoked salmon, ricotta, pickled shallots, maple hollandaise on grilled sourdough with honey butter hashbrowns).

Truffle Croque Madame

Smoked Salmon Toastie

Each meal was accompanied by a relaxing view of Victoria Park, muted news on the TV, and gentle country music playing overhead. The ambiance was refined yet inviting.

Breakfast views

Other Amenities

Located in the basement, the gym was far more equipped than expected, featuring: Treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and free weights. The change rooms, which included lockers and showers, also had access to a Hot tub, providing a welcome experience for post-sightseeing relaxation (open until 10:30 PM).

Hotel Saskatchewan – Gym

Hot Tub

The hotel also housed a Day Spa, barber shop, and shoeshine station on the main floor. A private event space, The Rabbit Hole, was located down the hall from Circa 27 lounge.

Barber Shop

Takeaway

Staying at The Hotel Saskatchewan was a memorable experience that balanced heritage charm with modern service. The central location made it easy to explore key Regina attractions like The Saskatchewan Legislature and Wascana Park, The RCMP Heritage Centre and adjacent training depot, The Royal Saskatchewan Museum, home to Scotty, the world’s largest T-Rex, or a CFL Roughriders game!

And on the food front, discovering Houston Pizza, a beloved local chain, was the unexpected cherry on top, especially their iconic 9-topping traditional pie that held up beautifully.

Houston Pizza

Would I return? Absolutely, especially if visiting with a better chance of securing one of the top-tier suites with a park view (a must). The only downsides were the tight bathroom layout and the limited suite availability during my stay. The warm service, high-quality breakfast, and prime location easily outweighed both.

For anyone looking to check Saskatchewan off their travel list—on points or otherwise—The Hotel Saskatchewan offers a dignified, comfortable base to experience Regina’s quiet charms.