Out & About #912 | NOTL Day 1 (Pt. 1): Port Dalhousie + Prince of Wales Hotel

​There were few schedule availabilities in July for birthday celebrations. Between Kaiseki near JCC and my own choice of adventure, I obviously went with the latter After all, emptying one's pockets for a static experience is the preference of the sleepy polar bear, not my own.

​My request of wine sampling at Inn on the Twenty eventually led to a long weekend getaway. But, when my first choice had filled up within twenty-four hours of contemplating the idea, we were directed to alternate accommodations within the Vintage Hotels lineup. Careful examination of the available options eventually led to Prince of Wales in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the Summer Lovin' Package was chosen on its inclusions of a three-course dinner and complimentary wine to the room.

​Canada Day celebrations had seen sunny skies and barely any precipitation, but the drive into NOTL was accompanied by a constant downpour, with some sections seeing heavier rain than others.
The trip had estimated two hours, but, like many previous Niagara-bound drives, gradually grew longer and longer. Much to my annoyance, a portion of the route was traversed on local, first exiting onto Trafalgar at 407, then along Dundas until Guelph Line. Congestion was horrendous, yet it wasn't even the start - nor the end! - of a long weekend!

With about thirty minutes of travel remaining, we stopped by Port Dalhousie around the 1.5 hour mark for a bathroom stop.

​I was surprised to find a Balzac's outpost in the compact BIA area. The familiar coffee shop had seating distributed between two floors, along with an outdoor patio - fitted with the brand's signature yellow parasols - for use during nice weather. Bathrooms were located on the upper floor, atop a narrow, winding staircase. We dashed up the wooden steps, then spotted the spacious single stall. It was clean and fitted adequately with toiletries.

In the days leading up to the trip, the sleepy polar bear had grumbled of stuffy nose and fatigue, supposedly caused by recurring "sinus issues". I had recommended intake of water instead of caffeine, but my good intentions were dismissed when a Mocha was purchased after the bathroom visit. I took to a Nitro Cold Brew - Vanilla-flavoured, for that was the only option in the fridge.

Just before departing, I led the way to the adjacent establishments. A mini marketplace was discovered; the layout was extremely unadorned, similar to International Village Market near East Hastings, albeit with a lower ceiling.

Within this sliver of shops was 416 Coffee Co. - a peculiar name choice for a roaster based outside of the GTA. A sign encouraged customers to look upwards: their menu had been posted on the ceiling - an innovative way to include more information in a small space, if you ask me.

The shelves were stocked with blue and yellow bags of coffee, with more unlabelled bags behind the brewing counter. Product-specific details hadn't been communicated very clearly, for the fruity Single Origins all had the same packaging, but merely different profile cards stapled on the backside.

After asking for recommendations, I took hold of the Peru La Florida, which was described to contain both fruity and chocolatey notes. The barista seemed a bit taken back at the quick decision, and suggested trying the beans as an Americano. I wasn't certain whether his suggestion would entail purchasing the cup, thus mentioned that my item of interest was actually the Nitro Cold Brew. He insisted on providing me a sample even after the declaration, confirming the 8 oz. sample's complimentary status.​

Extending the sample was an act warranting graciousness, but even more so adjusting the temperature with ice (not once, but twice!) for immediate consumption. The sample solidified my choice in the thirty-dollar bag of beans. Seeing the specialized apparatus positioned near the entrance, I also took to a Nitro Cold Brew to go.
Unfortunately, it wasn't very nitro, for the foam was nonexistent. A sweeter, medium blend of Million Dollar had been used for the Cold Brew, but I had developed distinct fondness for the refreshing yet complex notes embodied by my small Americano.

Bags were not provided by the café kiosk. Yet, somehow, we managed two umbrellas, three open-lidded drinks and one aluminum can for the drizzly walk back to the car. The assortment was, in essence, too much coffee. With all cup holders occupied, I continued to hold the Americano in the paper drink tray for the rest of the trip. Alas, at hitting a bump in the road, the Americano hopped out of its slot, conducting a full 180-degree flip, and landed between my thighs on the passenger seat. No amount of tissues could rescue the seat and my leggings.

​Eventually, we pulled into Niagara-on-the-Lake, both of us a tad distressed.
Across from the the asphalt lot I normally took to for past visits to COWS was the designated parking area for Prince of Wales guests. The observation hadn't been made until we turned onto the property from King St.  There were numbered slots that would be noted to concierge upon check-in, along with a reserved "Team Member of the Month" spot. 

As per my request, the sleepy polar bear maneuvered over towards the rear entrance of the hotel, dropped off my luggage and I to facilitate the check-in process. Graciously assisted by members of staff, I hobbled into the lobby, struggling with my umbrella, day bags, and two carry-ons.

From the moment my eyes fell upon the hotel interior, I was elated - Prince of Wales was absolutely gorgeous! Classic was its décor, exuding a refined, timeless essence synonymous with the overall aura of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Unlike many Google reviews, the setting was not "old-fashioned", but rather sophisticated and upscale, drawing inspiration from the hotel's British origins as opposed to the all-too-common, dust- and cobweb-covered North American "vintage".
The lobby had also been embellished with red and white balloons with maple leaves in honour of Canada Day.

The transition in design elements had me in absolute awe. On the ground floor were Victorian era chandeliers, stained glass murals, and gleaming copper pillars. These pillars were defined with sharp lines, dissimilar to those of Greek descent, which were often rounded and light in hue. Modern elements of computers and a single LED screen were incorporated into the check-in counter without disrupting the overall aura of the space.
A sense of cohesiveness would prevail while transitioning between storeys: the pattern on the ground-level wooden flooring matched the plush, mahogany carpet of the upper floors. Chandeliers and delicate bulb lamps served to illuminate the corridors, its walls partially adorned with the same rectangular embossing as the pillars in the lobby.

​Stepping into the room was yet another surreal experience.

​Firstly, it was clean - impeccably so! As the one known to identify areas of griminess in new surroundings without fail and have disinfectant (and gloves) within reach at all times, I was astounded by Price of Wales' attention to detail. Not a single swipe of Lysol revealed patches of grey or streaks of brown.

Fabulous was the room itself: comfortable, spacious, and furnished with elegance at every corner. Special requests of a second-floor room with a view of Picton Street had been granted. The room even included a balcony, though no walkout. Furthermore, a birthday note had entailed a delightful surprise of white wine, a printed (not customized) birthday card, and chocolates bearing the logos of different hotels within the Vintage Hotels lineup.

Nestled in a cozy section of the room, between the windows and next to a lounge chair with ottoman, were two wine glasses, a wine bottle opener, three oranges, and two complimentary bottles of water - a beautiful sight, to say in the least, given the track record of hotels as of late. The intricacy of the stained glass lamp was another wonderful addition.

Residing on a smaller table were Nespresso pods, its corresponding brewing apparatus, and two white ceramic mugs with saucers. Hidden with a faux chest of drawers was the mini fridge. Above the drawers was a TV, which could be operated in the traditional sense of cable or by utilizing its Chromecast-equipped features.

The closet was, again, impressively spacious and illuminated automatically when the left door was opened entirely. Found within were not one, but two (!) luggage rests and a small side table - perfect for my two carry-ons and one duffle bag. In addition to the standard offerings of a safe and ironing board, the space also supplied an umbrella, laundry bag with tie, and two extremely plush bathrobes! A third was also provided, but acted as the demo piece with a welcome message hooked on front.

Next up for inspection was the bathroom. While the towel count was insufficient, it mattered minimally this time around, for the facilities were quite clean. Noteworthy was the design of the shower curtain, which shielded the tub in a convex fashion, granting more space for tub usage. The shower head could also be adjusted to the desired height using a lever mechanism, enabling ease of use. A hairdryer was hung on the back of the door, in its own dedicated fabric case. 
The toilet could be flushed by pulling up on the vertical lever on top of the tank. The format nixed the "push and hold" option. I wasn't too certain about water pressure levels in the area, thus resolved to flushing several times to prevent clogging. By the toilet was a corded telephone - perhaps the rarest sight in any hotel room visited to date. A thin layer of dust was spotted cloaking this contraption, indicating its evident lack of popularity.

Though, the most intriguing element was likely the towel warmer, which came with cautionary warnings to prevent accidental burns.

​Speaking generally, there were few outlets in the room. These were mainly hidden beneath or behind other structures, probably to preserve the classic appearance.

Around 4:30 PM, I had ushered the sleepy polar bear back down to the lobby. The hotel's website had mentioned wine cellar tours at the specified time, but the concierge desk clarified that the event was slated for the following afternoon (Monday) instead. A booth for wine tasting and obtaining wine tour details was present, though that was the extent of Sunday's lobby activities.

​I took this opportunity to confirm the location of the pool, which lay at the midpoint of a corridor filled with paintings of (presumably) British characters in Renaissance attire.

​The mention of O. Reg induced surprise, amusement, and familiarity.

​Nearing the main entrance on Picton Street, we found the hotel's in-house eating establishments. Menus for The Drawing Room and Noble were featured on either side of the entryway.

View the full album HERE !

​We took a gander at the listing, then readied ourselves for outdoor exploration. While historic landmarks and parks were out of the question on the drizzly day, the NOTL BIA would prove more than satisfactory for our journeying needs.

Read Part 2 HERE !