West Kelowna ranked one of cosiest cities in Canada
Osoyoos and Vernon also on Expedia.ca list, but not Kelowna
Lots of wine, beer and comfort has landed West Kelowna on the list of Canada’s 55 cosiest cities.
Osoyoos and Vernon were also ranked, yet Kelowna is conspicuously absent from the list.
The list was generated by Expedia.ca, the massive website where you can book hotels, Áights, rental cars and activities, and released this week.
Although Expedia pointed out the list was in no particular order, West Kelowna was put in the No. 5 position behind Canmore, Alta., London, Ont., Langley, B.C., and Dartmouth, N.S.
The top 15 were accompanied by a description of what makes the destination cozy.
Nos. 16 through 55 were simply listed. That’s the section where Osoyoos popped up at No. 20 and Vernon at No. 46.
“Oh, how wonderful of Expedia.ca to say that,” said Rosemary Paterson, general manager of the Best Western Plus Wine Country Hotel in West Kelowna. “We love free publicity.”
Expedia.ca’s cosiness quota is based on the comfort score of hotels in each city of 3.5 stars and higher, out of Àve.
All the stars are awarded by people who have actually stayed at the properties, and there has to be at least 100 reviews.
The Best Western Plus was rated an average 4.4 out of Àve by 663 reviewers, which places it in Expedia.ca’s “fabulous” range.
The Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna was also “fabulous,” with 4.4, Holiday Inn West Kelowna was “very good,” with 4.0, and two bed and breakfasts, Teehouse and Lake Okanagan, are considered “superb” and “exceptional” for their scores of 4.5 and 4.8, respectively.
Expedia.ca was quite complimentary about West Kelowna.
“If you’re looking for a cozy vacation, you’re probably already on a Áight to the Okanagan Valley,” it said.
“According to reviews, it looks like West Kelowna is really doing it right when it comes to lots o’ wine, lots o’ beer and lots o’ comfort.”
Expedia.ca singled out two cosy experiences: a glass of wine or dinner in front of the Àre at Quails’ Gate Winery and tasting the Tapestry white blend or Auxerrois icewine at Little Straw Vineyards.
West Kelowna deÀnitely has lots of wine with the Westside Wine Trail encompassing 13 wineries.
However, the lots of beer billing is a little bafÁing. West Kelowna has only one brewery, Kind, on Main Street.
However, it does have lots of pubs and casual restaurants that will serve you a pint, from Friends, Whiski-Jack’s and Neighbour’s to Sammy J.’s, 19 Okanagan and Kelly O’Bryan’s.
The Best Western’s Paterson also cites West Kelowna’s small-town feel, ample outdoor recreation, friendliness of the hotel’s staff and availability of cookies at the front desk any time as cosy factors.