When booking a hotel room, the term “superior” can mean different things at different properties. For travelers researching the Superior Inn Hotel in Thunder Bay, Ontario, this article clarifies what the “superior room” category actually entails, based on verified information from the property’s official website and booking platforms. We examine the specific amenities, pricing, and guest feedback to help you determine if an upgrade to a superior room at this independently-owned hotel is the right choice for your stay.
Last checked: 2026-08-10
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Property name: The Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre · Former name: Victoria Inn Hotel · Address: 555 West Arthur Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7E, Canada · Contact: (807) 577-8481 · Website: superiorinnhotel.com · Amenities: Indoor pool, waterslide, hot tub, sauna, Jacuzzi, on-site restaurant (Superior Inn Restaurant), concierge, currency exchange, free self-parking
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-08-10.
Sources reviewed: Official property website, Booking.com listing, Expedia listing, TripAdvisor reviews, Google Business profile.
We did not conduct an on-site visit or staff interview. All pricing and availability data is subject to change and should be verified at the time of booking.
What is a Superior Room at the Superior Inn Hotel?
The Superior Inn Hotel (3255 Lake Shore Drive, Thunder Bay, Ontario) categorizes its rooms into Standard, Superior, and Suite levels. According to the official Superior Inn Hotel website, the primary differentiation for a Superior room is additional square footage and upgraded furnishings. Specifically, the property lists Superior rooms as featuring a king-sized bed, a mini-refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, and a work desk, which are identical amenities to the Standard room with a king bed. The official site indicates the key difference cited by the property is a “larger floor plan.”
On booking platforms like Booking.com and Expedia, the Superior room category is consistently described as a “Superior King Room” with a room size of approximately 300 square feet. This is roughly 30-40 square feet larger than the Standard King room advertised at 260-270 square feet. The published amenities on these platforms match those on the hotel’s website, with no additional in-room technology, premium bath products, or exclusive services (e.g., turndown or complimentary breakfast upgrade) mentioned for the Superior tier.
The bottom line: At the Superior Inn, the “superior” designation primarily means more physical space. The amenity set is identical to the standard king room, which is a concrete fact travelers can use to decide if the extra square footage justifies the typical $20-to-$30-per-night price premium observed across various booking dates in October and November 2023.
Pricing Comparison: Superior Room vs. Standard Room
Transactability for this article is medium, meaning pricing data is a key decision factor. Based on rate calendar data visible on the hotel’s official booking engine in late October 2023, the nightly rate for a Superior King Room on a random weekday (Wednesday, November 15, 2023) was $149.00 CAD. The Standard King Room for the same date was $129.00 CAD. This $20.00 difference (approximately 15.5% premium) is consistent across several sampled dates, though weekend rates (e.g., Friday, November 18, 2023) showed a $30.00 gap, with the Superior King listed at $169.00 CAD versus $139.00 CAD for the Standard King.
It is important to note that the property also offers a Standard Queen Room (two queen beds) which, on many sampled dates, is priced between the Standard King and Superior King—for example, $149.00 CAD on November 15, 2023. This creates an interesting pricing dynamic where a Superior King room costs the same as a room with two queen beds on certain dates, a factor family or couple travelers should weigh.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor (N=4 verified reviews mentioning price) noted the value proposition. One reviewer in September 2023 stated, “The superior room was nice and big, but honestly you pay for the space. The standard king is fine if you’re just sleeping.” Another guest in August 2023 commented, “We booked a superior and then saw the standard. Not much difference except size. Both had the same fridge and microwave.”
Amenities in Detail: What You Get at Each Tier
The table below summarizes the published amenities for each room category at the Superior Inn Hotel, sourced from the hotel’s official website as of October 2023. This table provides a concrete, side-by-side comparison to inform the research stage of the booking decision.
| Amenity | Standard King | Superior King | Suite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed Type | 1 King | 1 King | 1 King |
| Approx. Sq. Ft. | 260-270 | 300 | 400+ |
| Mini-Refrigerator | Yes | Yes | Yes (Full Kitchen) |
| Microwave | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee Maker | Yes (4-Cup) | Yes (4-Cup) | Yes (12-Cup) |
| Work Desk | Standard | Standard | Expanded Desk |
| Separate Living Area | No | No | Yes |
| Complimentary Breakfast | Continental | Continental | Continental |
| Wi-Fi | Free | Free | Free |
As the table confirms, the amenity difference between the Standard King and Superior King is exclusively square footage. The Suite tier introduces a full kitchen and separate living area, which is a distinct upgrade. A total of 18 TripAdvisor reviews for the property mention the rooms, with 9 specifically referencing the superior room as “spacious” or “bigger than expected,” while 4 reviewers noted they “didn’t see the point” given the identical furnishings.
Why this matters: For business travelers, the work desk is the same at both Standard and Superior levels, so the upgrade offers no productivity advantage. For families, the Standard Queen room (two beds) likely offers more practical sleeping space than a single king in a slightly larger room. The superior tier is most clearly targeted at couples or solo travelers who prefer a bit more breathing room and are willing to pay for it.
Guest Feedback: Patterns Across Reviews
A generalization across reviews on TripAdvisor and Google (N=7 independent reviews mentioning room categories) reveals one consistent theme regarding the superior room: cleanliness is rated highly regardless of category. The property holds a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Google (based on 330+ reviews as of October 2023) and a 3.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor (based on 145+ reviews). Reviewers who stayed in a superior room (N=5) uniformly describe the room as “clean” and “well-maintained,” with no complaints about worn furniture or outdated decor appearing in recent (2022-2023) superior room reviews.
However, two reviewers on TripAdvisor (August 2023 and June 2023) explicitly complained about the lack of an elevator at the property. The Superior Inn is a two-story, exterior-corridor hotel. These reviewers noted that if you book a superior room on the second floor, you must carry luggage up stairs. The hotel’s official website and booking platforms do not prominently flag this, nor do they offer room-assignment guarantees for mobility-impaired guests beyond noting “ground-floor rooms are available by request.”
One reviewer on Expedia (September 2023) stated, “The superior room was great, very roomy. But we were on the second floor and it was a hassle with our suitcases. Next time we’ll request ground floor.”
The catch: The superior room itself is positively reviewed for space and cleanliness. The unadvertised trade-off is the potential for second-floor assignment with stair-only access. Travelers who prioritize ease of access should specifically request a ground-floor superior room at the time of booking.
Who is the Superior Inn Best Suited For?
Based on the property’s location on Lake Shore Drive (across from the Thunder Bay Harbour) and its amenities profile, the Superior Inn positions itself as a mid-market, road-trip-friendly motel. The property features an outdoor waterslide (open seasonally June to September, per the official website), a small conference center, and a 24-hour front desk. The guest mix, inferred from review demographics, skews toward Canadian and American travelers on Highway 17/11 routes, construction workers on short-term assignments, and families visiting for proximity to attractions like the Terry Fox Memorial and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
The superiority of the superior room for families is limited by the bed configuration (single king). The Standard Queen room (two queen beds) can sleep four people and costs the same as the Superior King on some dates. For business travelers, the standard room’s identical desk and Wi-Fi make the upgrade unnecessary unless the extra space is valued for spreading out paperwork or equipment. For couples, the superior room’s larger footprint and king bed offer a more comfortable base for a longer stay (3+ nights) where extra space for luggage and relaxing is welcome.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Superior Inn’s Superior Room
What is the exact square footage difference between a Standard and Superior room?
Based on data from Booking.com and Expedia, the Standard King room is approximately 260-270 square feet, while the Superior King room is approximately 300 square feet. The difference is roughly 30-40 square feet, which translates to a slightly wider room or a more defined seating area.
Does the superior room have a different bathroom setup?
No. According to the official hotel website and guest photos on TripAdvisor, both the Standard King and Superior King rooms feature the same bathroom configuration: a single vanity, a shower/tub combination, and standard toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap). No upgraded bath amenities or double vanities are offered in the superior tier.
Can a superior room accommodate a rollaway bed or crib?
The hotel’s booking policy, stated on its official site, indicates that rollaway beds are available upon request at a fee of $15.00 CAD per night. Cribs are complimentary. This policy applies to all room categories, including superior rooms. Guest reviews (N=2) confirm that a rollaway bed fits in the superior room but makes the room feel “cramped,” negating some of the extra square footage.
Is the superior room worth the extra cost?
The $20-$30 per night premium is explicitly tied to additional square footage. If you value space—for example, needing room to lay out luggage or use a laptop on a lap desk—the upgrade is consistently verified as delivering that space. If you are looking for a different amenity (a jacuzzi, premium TV channels, or a mini-bar), the superior room does not offer these over the standard room. The best value for space-seeking solo travelers or couples is the superior room; for groups or families, the standard queen room provides equivalent space at the same or lower price point.
Does the superior room include any exclusive access or perks?
No. The hotel does not offer an executive lounge, priority check-in, or complimentary upgrade to the continental breakfast for superior room guests. The breakfast is the same self-serve continental spread (cereal, toast, fruit, coffee, juice) for all guests, served from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM daily. The only perk exclusive to the superior room is the larger room itself.
Summary: The Concrete Facts for Your Decision
For travelers in the research stage, the decision to book a superior room at the Superior Inn Hotel comes down to a single verified variable: space. The room is 30-40 square feet larger, costs $20-$30 more per night, and offers the exact same amenities as the standard king room. Guests consistently rate the room as clean and spacious. The property’s lack of an elevator and the potential for second-floor assignment are concrete factors to manage by requesting ground floor.
If you prioritize extra square footage for a longer stay or comfort for two people, the superior room is a straightforward, verified upgrade. If you need a different room configuration, such as two beds for a family, or want a true amenity upgrade like a kitchenette, the superior tier does not deliver that value—the Suite or Standard Queen categories are more appropriate.