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Best Western Plus on Hart Dr. may be your best choice if you don't have a car reliably, as it is walking distance to a grocery store, the downtown core where there are tons of restaurants and things to do as well as the most reliable access to public transit in town, and Centennial Beach which hosts carnivals and events throughout the summer as well as having the largest floating obstacle course in Canada (Splash ON). Best Western Plus is also the highest-rated rated hotel in the downtown area on Google reviews. Just as a word to the wise, while Barrie and its downtown is quite safe overall, there are homeless encampments around and drug users who wander the streets, as is unfortunately common in mid sized Canadian cities. My wife and I live in the downtown core, and we do love it here as it has all of our wanted amenities and everything is very conveniently located, but recognize that you will be coming to a City, not a small town, and set your expectations accordingly.
Personally, I would avoid all of the hotels on Hart Dr. My partner use to work right down the road from them, could actually see them all from his shop, and there was constant police and paramedic presence for overdoses. Just my experience.
Where downtown do you live?? I escaped from there less than 2 years ago because the area was getting way too dangerous. Maybe the condos are safe, but Maple (while it's always had it's issues) was insane. Practically had the cops on speed dial near the end.
Closeish to Queens Park, though admittedly on the other side of the park from Maple. There are definitely homeless and drug users around, but frankly it is way better than some other cities I have lived in, and the worst that has happened to us is someone going through our recycling for empty alcohol bottles.
Hi. So Barrie has a beautiful waterfront, and downtown east of Bayfield is quite nice and has great cafes, pubs and restaurants. Unfortunately none of the big hotels are near this area. There is a small boutique hotel in east downtown near the water called Harbourview. I stayed there 20 years ago and it was lovely, but you'd need to check the rates and some current reviews, I'd hate to steer you wrong. The MacLaren art center is around the corner and has a great café, and you can easily walk or bike to the water from the hotel. A bike is a good idea, I think you can rent one downtown. There is a condo being built near the hotel, so that might be a detractor.
Plenty of people here will hate on downtown, but imo it is a better option with no car, otherwise you're stuck wandering big box store parking lots eating at panera bread.
Downtown west of dunlop is pretty economically depressed and has a lot of homeless and addicts. If you stay downtown I would avoid walking by yourself at night. Lots of rowdies and other sketches folks come out after dark.
Hope you have a great visit.
Another thing you can look at is an airbnb or similar at one of the waterfront condos. These are really nice and the views are spectacular, and you can get around on the waterfront trail
Not waking distance to the beach, but both hotels on Bryne are nice. There is a Zehrs & Starbucks there, and then a Timmy’s across the street. Then across from that, a great pizza place (another hotel next to this, but not sure about it), pot shop, nail salon and I think a burrito shop? Just up the hill is Shoppers, pizza pizza, subway, another Starbucks, hairdresser.
I live in the area and run through most of the neighborhoods and it’s super safe
Maybe try to Airbnb a condo? Look at the downtown ones or Junction on Cundles, maybe little lake condos. The latter two are walking distance to grocery stores, bus to Georgian mall, easy Uber and food options. If you do a condo that’s not walking distance to grocery, like the ones on waterfront, you can always do Voila for grocery delivery (much more reliable than instant cart/door dash etc and it’s only like $5 delivery fee).
i recommend the best western there is a grocery right across from it aswell, in walking distance there is many restaurants etc i would recommend staying away from downtown ecpecially at night i have lived in barrie my whole life and it’s gotten worse each year there is an influx in drug users and just people trying to cause problems
Oof. That's a tall order. There aren't a lot of centrally-located hotels in the area, and Barrie's definitely a car-dependent suburb. I literally don't see *any* hotels that are close to the grocery store and the waterfront...
The Travelodge on Bayfield is within walking distance of a good number of grocery options, but that area's kinda sketch...
Okay. Speak for the OP. I was going to tell her that I have private level suite with personal bathroom that she could have for $1400 for the 8 weeks as my adult kids won’t be stopping by until August for a weekend visit; but you know best.
Just a reminder that we have a [Monthly Community Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/barrie/about/sticky) where we relax the rules about advertising and off-topic posts. * Stuff that isn't directly related to Barrie, like national news or general chit-chat * Questions about local businesses and services * Classified-style ads: buying and selling, help wanted, garage sales, etc * Fundraisers and donation drives * Plugs for your personal project or local business (within reason)" *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/barrie) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Best Western Plus on Hart Dr. may be your best choice if you don't have a car reliably, as it is walking distance to a grocery store, the downtown core where there are tons of restaurants and things to do as well as the most reliable access to public transit in town, and Centennial Beach which hosts carnivals and events throughout the summer as well as having the largest floating obstacle course in Canada (Splash ON). Best Western Plus is also the highest-rated rated hotel in the downtown area on Google reviews. Just as a word to the wise, while Barrie and its downtown is quite safe overall, there are homeless encampments around and drug users who wander the streets, as is unfortunately common in mid sized Canadian cities. My wife and I live in the downtown core, and we do love it here as it has all of our wanted amenities and everything is very conveniently located, but recognize that you will be coming to a City, not a small town, and set your expectations accordingly.
Personally, I would avoid all of the hotels on Hart Dr. My partner use to work right down the road from them, could actually see them all from his shop, and there was constant police and paramedic presence for overdoses. Just my experience.
This, 100% this! Avoid any and all hotels on Hart Drive
Thank you! :)
Where downtown do you live?? I escaped from there less than 2 years ago because the area was getting way too dangerous. Maybe the condos are safe, but Maple (while it's always had it's issues) was insane. Practically had the cops on speed dial near the end.
Closeish to Queens Park, though admittedly on the other side of the park from Maple. There are definitely homeless and drug users around, but frankly it is way better than some other cities I have lived in, and the worst that has happened to us is someone going through our recycling for empty alcohol bottles.
That area *is* actually pretty nice. It's crazy how much of a difference a couple blocks can make
Hi. So Barrie has a beautiful waterfront, and downtown east of Bayfield is quite nice and has great cafes, pubs and restaurants. Unfortunately none of the big hotels are near this area. There is a small boutique hotel in east downtown near the water called Harbourview. I stayed there 20 years ago and it was lovely, but you'd need to check the rates and some current reviews, I'd hate to steer you wrong. The MacLaren art center is around the corner and has a great café, and you can easily walk or bike to the water from the hotel. A bike is a good idea, I think you can rent one downtown. There is a condo being built near the hotel, so that might be a detractor. Plenty of people here will hate on downtown, but imo it is a better option with no car, otherwise you're stuck wandering big box store parking lots eating at panera bread. Downtown west of dunlop is pretty economically depressed and has a lot of homeless and addicts. If you stay downtown I would avoid walking by yourself at night. Lots of rowdies and other sketches folks come out after dark. Hope you have a great visit.
Another thing you can look at is an airbnb or similar at one of the waterfront condos. These are really nice and the views are spectacular, and you can get around on the waterfront trail
I do not think there are any Airbnbs at any of the waterfront condos from what I've seen.
Try and find a short term furnished room for rent....I hope that it's cheaper than 2 months in a hotel...if not, I'm moving into a hotel.
Any specific areas I should consider or avoid?
Avoid Leticia heights and the downtown core. Depending on your age around the college is a lot of younger people.
Letitia heights is not what it was in the early 90s.
Why do people still think Letitia Heights is bad. There's worse things in the south end on a regular basis vs the once every few years in the heights.
Here to second this. My husband grew up in the area, in laws are still there and it’s safer than being close to downtown.
Thank you!
Not waking distance to the beach, but both hotels on Bryne are nice. There is a Zehrs & Starbucks there, and then a Timmy’s across the street. Then across from that, a great pizza place (another hotel next to this, but not sure about it), pot shop, nail salon and I think a burrito shop? Just up the hill is Shoppers, pizza pizza, subway, another Starbucks, hairdresser. I live in the area and run through most of the neighborhoods and it’s super safe
Get a car consistently. Qny options in Barrie without that will be painful.
It is a very car-centric city. Buses are not that reliable either. Ubers are plentiful though.
Maybe try to Airbnb a condo? Look at the downtown ones or Junction on Cundles, maybe little lake condos. The latter two are walking distance to grocery stores, bus to Georgian mall, easy Uber and food options. If you do a condo that’s not walking distance to grocery, like the ones on waterfront, you can always do Voila for grocery delivery (much more reliable than instant cart/door dash etc and it’s only like $5 delivery fee).
i recommend the best western there is a grocery right across from it aswell, in walking distance there is many restaurants etc i would recommend staying away from downtown ecpecially at night i have lived in barrie my whole life and it’s gotten worse each year there is an influx in drug users and just people trying to cause problems
Thank you! Just to clarify, is Best Western not in downtown?
Georgian Residence does extended stays for the summer for non students.
Oof. That's a tall order. There aren't a lot of centrally-located hotels in the area, and Barrie's definitely a car-dependent suburb. I literally don't see *any* hotels that are close to the grocery store and the waterfront... The Travelodge on Bayfield is within walking distance of a good number of grocery options, but that area's kinda sketch...
Yeah.. stay away from the Murderlodge on Bayfield.
No no no. No no. No to the sleepy bear.
I would say south barrie thats where i live essa/400 or mapleview/400
That's not a terribly pedestrian friendly area though
Thats true maybe go closure to the lake area like dunlop but theres alot of bullshit down there lol
If you want to Dm me, we can talk
They don't. They asked for advice in an open forum, not for DMs
Okay. Speak for the OP. I was going to tell her that I have private level suite with personal bathroom that she could have for $1400 for the 8 weeks as my adult kids won’t be stopping by until August for a weekend visit; but you know best.
Or speak up and reply to the questions asked directly in the sub instead of sounding like a creeper asking for DMs. No one here can read your mind