For the fourth year in a row, I had a chance to attend Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana. As much as I’ve come to enjoy this show and love the city, finding a hotel at a reasonable price during the massive convention has been an annual challenge. This time, those efforts not only led me to a property I hadn’t been to before but also introduced me to a feature of Indy I had no idea even existed!
With that, let’s take a look at the Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal and my stay.
Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal – 1 Bedroom Suite Review
How I Booked
Since I was in Indy to cover the convention for work, my friend/boss was the one who booked and paid for my stay. And while we’ve experienced some hotels in the area blocking award redemptions during Gen Con, we were able to use Bonvoy points for this booking… but it wasn’t cheap. Alas, since I wasn’t the one to book it, I don’t have access to the total, but I know that it was quite a few points.
Out of curiosity, I did try to look up how much this property charges at other times. Punching up a dummy stay for weekdays in November, I see rates started at $210 per night for a Studio up to $299 per night for a 2 Bedroom Suite. Doing the same in January shows a range between $123 and $211. And, lastly, looking at dates for the 2027 Gen Con shows the property as being sold out.
Location
When I saw the name of this property, I had no idea what the “On the Canal” part meant. Well, it turns out that Indianapolis has a legit canal trail that stretches 3 miles and provides access to a number of attractions. In the bit that I walked, I reached the Indiana State Museum, Indiana Historical Society, a Colts-themed playground, and more. Plus, I found swan paddle boat rentals and gondola rides!
In my past Indy hotel reviews, I’ve discussed the Skywalk, which offers enclosed access to various downtown hotels and destinations. Well, while the Canal isn’t covered, it still makes getting around a bit easier as it’s below street level. This means you don’t have to stop at street lights, which honestly can take up most of your walk time when navigating downtown. For me, getting from the hotel to the Convention Center took about 10 to 15 minutes, as once I returned to the surface, I was only a couple of lights from a Convention entrance.
Of course, as lovely as the walk was, it wasn’t so convenient when bad weather rolled in. For that reason, if I had the choice to stay at a Skywalk hotel or a Canal one while attending a convention, I’d go with the former. Still, a Canal location is a good option.
Parking
After years of coming to Gen Con with valet anxiety, it was kind of nice to pull into a real parking lot and park myself! The Residence Inn actually shares a lot with the Courtyard by Marriott. When I arrived in the middle of the day, there was plenty of parking to be found — although it definitely got fuller later that evening.
According to the Marriott site, parking at this property is $33 per day. Yet, when I arrived, there was no arm blocking the entrance. Furthermore, the ticket machine didn’t even work. I then assumed they’d ask about the car when I checked in and give me a pass to display… but that didn’t happen either. So, I guess my boss may or may not have been charged. I also don’t know whether this is a regular occurrence. I guess I’d say be prepared to pay the fee, but maybe you’ll get lucky?
Elevators
There are a couple of elevators at the hotel, including one that was fairly close to my room. But after taking it up when I arrived, I decided that the concerningly slow ride was not for me. Luckily, since the property is only four levels tall, it was easy enough for me to take the stairs after that. On my side of the hotel, the stairwell even went all the way down to the Canal level, so this worked out quite well. But I’d have to give the elevators a low grade overall.
The Room
Off the bat: I really liked the layout of this room. On the left was a full-sized sofa, while a high table with two chairs was along the right wall. Then, against the window was a sizable desk — and one that had built-in power supplies, which I appreciated.
Backing up, with this being a Residence Inn, there is a kitchenette. In the corner to the right of the door was a large fridge, stovetop, and microwave. Funny enough, I noticed that my microwave was all in French for some reason, but that’s another story. There were also all sorts of plates, flatware, pots, pans, etc., along with a dishwasher.
Moving to the bedroom, there was a Queen bed, a dresser with a TV on it, and a pair of nightstands. Honestly, nothing really stood out to me here (good or bad) — and I actually spent more time in the living area, thanks to the numerous seating options and the useful desk.
Similarly, the bathroom was fine but not that exciting. My room had a tub shower, although it seems that others offer standing showers. Also, the sink area was separate from the toilet and bath, for what it’s worth.
As for downsides, the first is the A/C. When I arrived, I noticed that the thermostat (which I had to duck under the TV to get to) was set really low and would run pretty much the whole time. Well, after turning it up and heading out for a bit, I figured out why. After turning it back down, it was nice and cool the rest of my stay… and I just treated the sound as white noise. However, even with the cool air, it was quite humid in the room — as evidenced by the foggy window that blocked my view of the Canal.
Perhaps that humidity also played a role in my other downside, which involved the door. Every time I opened or closed my front door, the friction between the door and frame would create a loud, annoying noise. Near the end of my stay, I did find that I could pull the door up in such a way that it would reduce this effect, but I wish I didn’t have to do that in the first place.
By the way, looking on the website, it seems that the Studio rooms and 1 Bedroom Suites are actually the same size (492 square feet). The difference is mostly in the layout, with the latter option boasting an actual, closing door to the bedroom. Otherwise, though, they look surprisingly similar. In other words, unless sleeping arrangements necessitate the extra door, you can probably go ahead and save a few dollars by sticking with the Studio.
Dining
The Residence Inn offers complimentary breakfast in the lobby and has a coffee/tea/water station available. Aside from that and the market area, there aren’t any dining options on property (which makes sense since it’s a Residence Inn).
Despite this, you won’t be too far from finding food. The hotel is a short walk from a few different dining options — including at least one that’s on the Canal (Fresco Italian Cafe on the Canal). I also learned that, one “exit” away from the hotel on the Canal, you’ll find a Kroger store. Considering that Residence Inn has a kitchenette, this could be the most cost-effective destination for your dining needs.
Final Thoughts on the Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal
Of the hotels I’ve stayed at for Gen Con, the Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal wasn’t the nicest, nor was it my favorite. However, despite some flaws, this property does have a lot to offer. For one, there’s a ton to do along the Canal, putting this property in a great location. Additionally, for those like me who enjoy the ability to cook in the room, the kitchenettes that are standard in Residence Inns are great. Also, having a true on-site self-parking option in Downtown Indianapolis is great.
The downsides are that the property could use a little bit of love. While I thought the lobby area looked nice, there were parts of the hotel that seemed a bit more worn. Also, I don’t know if the humidity issues are caused by being so close to the water or what, but it was definitely a factor in my room.
Despite those downsides, I would still stay here again — mostly because I’d love to show my wife everything along the Canal and I didn’t see other hotels along the route (not that this means they don’t exist). As I said, this is also a decent option for those headed to the Convention Center, although I think the Skywalk options are superior.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to budget and amenities. So, if you want a hotel that’s still downtown, offers a kitchenette, and is (likely) cheaper than other properties in the area, then the Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal could be a good pick.
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