5 Best Saskatoon Hotels with Waterslides for Family Fun and Frolics

When vacationing on a budget, think Travelodge Saskatoon. This hotel packs in playtime fun without a hefty price, and you’ll find the newly-renovated Aqua Adventure Waterpark playing host to not one but two pools.

Watch as kids and parents alike rocket down one of the two new waterslides. First conquer ‘Aqua Rush’, where you can rocket 187 feet down a steep ride or better yet, experience ‘The Big Thrill’, a 232-feet-long open slide that boasts some thrilling drops along the way.

If you’d prefer to stay closer to the ground, head to the Splash Adventure Area and make use of the splash pad, hot tub and swimming pool. Warm up here in the winter months, or sit for a blissful session in the lobby lounge, e-reader in tow, as the fire provides a background soundtrack of crackling ambient sounds.

Standard Rooms are simple but stylish, with clean lines and fresh neutral colours. Make the most of your personal coffee maker—or, better yet, take a nap on the pillow-top mattresses—if your energetic young charges kept you awake the night before. Fancy going all out for some luxury? Some rooms have hot tubs you can have to yourself, as well as handy marble-top kitchens for prepping food, while others open up directly onto the hotel’s pool.

Go for breakfast in the hotel’s relaxed Fixin’s Homestyle Eatery, where meals range from cinnamon-coated French toast, to mix-and-match omelettes made with your choice of toppings. Later on, book-end your day by catching a game on one of the multiple screens at Red Zone Premium Sports Bar—draft cocktails such as the Beezer, a pint of beer with a salted rim and a clam on the side, will go down well while watching the match. You can also grab pub food here, like lager chips and cheesy poutine, if it’s a low-key meal you’re after.

With panoramas of the Saskatchewan River from many of its rooms, there’s more to the Delta Hotels by Marriott Saskatoon Downtown than just its tubular waterslide. Though we have to say, this aquatic feature—along with a pool set in a brightly lit space that parents will love to chill out in—makes for endless hours of adventure for the whole family. This accommodation is right in the middle of downtown (in the WaterWorks Recreation Complex), making it a great spot for catching a comedy act or live show at the much-loved Broadway Theatre, a scenic 12-minute walk away over the Broadway Bridge.

Bringing Fido along? Pets are more than welcome in the hotel rooms. While your furry friend settles down at the foot of your bed, switch on the flatscreen TV for a family film. If you’d rather have a personal whirlpool instead of sharing the hotel’s public one, you can opt for a room with its own hot tub. A soothing session in the bubbling water is the ideal antidote to a workout in the on-site Bodyworks gym.

Alternatively, skip the exercise and fuel up on food with the farm-fresh fare at AROMA Resto Bar. You’ll order from a whole host of inventive menu options, like Highland beef and savoy cabbage parcels or lobster and tarragon croquettes. If you’re up for sharing a pie, the pizzas here are cooked in a wood-fired oven for that authentically Italian taste. Just make sure to leave room for thoughtfully designed desserts such as sour cherry pavé and baked apple galette with vanilla bean ice cream.

Guests of any age can splash about in the pool whatever the weather at Home Inn & Suites Saskatoon South—this indoor aquatic area, complete with an epic swirling slide, is a hit with little ones and big kids alike. Being a 10-minute drive from the business district and right by the city’s main Highway 11, it’s a convenient choice if you’re looking for a peaceful rest stop on your way out of the city.

You’ll find everything you need for a microwaved snack or a cold drink in the entry-level rooms, all set amid bright white walls and minimalist décor. Free perks like parking and breakfast—expect delectable options such as baked goods, fresh fruit and tasty juices—also help to lower costs. You can even follow up your meal with a complimentary cup of Joe at the 24-7 coffee bar. If you have coins to spare, sign up for a soothing hot-stone massage at the hotel’s own spa for a relaxation-filled day.

For evening eats, share sweet-and-sour dishes at the no-frills Chinese spot, Yip Hong’s Dim Sum Restaurant, right by the hotel. Afterwards, chase down your meal with a local craft beer in the chilled-out atmosphere of The Canadian Brewhouse. You can also grab some home-grown comfort foods, including pan-fried steak, at this sports bar.

If you need a child-friendly hotel near Saskatoon’s John G. Diefenbaker International Airport, Days Inn Saskatoon is the place to be. Just 3.3 kilometres from the runway, this accommodation has a free shuttle to meet you after your flight. Post plane, you’ll sleep soundly on a queen or king-sized bed in a spotlessly clean room, and the morning after you can wake yourself up with a freshly brewed coffee or tea using the provided facilities.

A simple but filling continental breakfast laid out daily in the Daybreak Cafe is another bonus at this hotel. For hot plates, you can nab one of the family-sized booths at Crazy Eggs, 550 meters down the road, then spend evenings trying authentic Vietnamese dishes (think beef phở and fresh spring rolls) at low-key Jasmine Restaurant, a six minute walk away. If you’ve bagged a bite to bring home, the leather couches under the Days Inn’s lofty lobby ceilings make a comfy spot for a late-night snack.

Our favourite part about staying at the Days Inn is the thrilling waterslide and pine-clad pool area for rambunctious guests to make the most of. Adults will be taken care of too, thanks to the hot tub that’s ready for sinking into. Once you’re feeling fresh post-dip, take the kids along to the Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, a 15-minute drive across the river from the hotel. The animals that call this place their home range from American badgers to walking stick insects, and cheeky capuchins and lively meerkats capture the interest of many visitors.

You’ll keep the kids entertained during your Saskatoon stopover thanks to the chlorine-free, eco-friendly saltwater pool at Best Western Plus Blairmore. You might even slot in a sneaky full-family shopping trip at the city centre’s Midtown Plaza in the morning, what with the promise of the hotel’s 66-foot waterslide afterwards as a handsome bribe. Little will the kids know that the deal’s a win-win for you: you’ll keep an eye on their splashes from your own serene spot in the bubbling Jacuzzi.

In your comfortable room draped in earthy red and brown tones for a cozy feel, adjust the climate controls to your ideal temp and settle in for a snooze. The docking station means you can drift off under your thick duvet to the sleep soundtrack of your choice.

Tuck into a complimentary hot buffet every morning—that means filling up on eats like toasted bagels, eggs and breakfast meats, alongside aromatic artisan coffee. In the evenings, you can pull up a bench at Fatburger across the road, for juicy L.A.-style Angus beef burgers. And for extra-healthy fare? Lunchtimes come courtesy of the Chopped Leaf, less than a five minute walk from the hotel, where you’ll find wraps and salad bowls bursting with fresh veggies so colourful they might even trick the kids into eating them.