I’m becoming a big fan of the Marriott Residence Inn here in Halifax.

It’s central — across from the Neptune Theatre, down the street from the Metro Centre, a short walk to Barrington St. and Spring Garden Road, only a few blocks from the waterfront, and surrounded by many excellent restaurants. You can walk almost anywhere downtown easily, and there are buses running everywhere else leaving from the next block over.

It’s relatively inexpensive — in the winter a “junior suite” (think “studio apartment with small kitchen, couch, easy chair, desk and queen bed”) is in the $139 range and there seem to be several deals that can bring this down lower. For example, we’re staying here this week with the “Cars Eat Free” promotion that gets of $75 worth of Petro Canada credit for gasoline and free indoor heated parking.

Breakfast is included in the rate, and it’s a good breakfast at that — a lot more than the “toast and juice” that passes for many hotel breakfasts. They even have a “make your own waffle bar” that was the hit of the visit when Oliver and I stayed here in 2004. And Uncommon Grounds, in the same building, is a coffee shop serving excellent cappuccino.

Staff are pleasant and helpful without being overly perky. Rooms are very clean and well-appointed. High-speed Internet is included (via Ethernet cord, which is provided).

We’ll stay here again.