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by MADELYN MILLER

Do you dream of romantic fantasies in a Polynesian paradise or an adventure in an igloo? Or would you rather shop 12 hours a day? You can do all that and more at the Fantasy Hotel in the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in the world. Whether your fantasy is fun, frolic, or fashion, you'll find it all under one large roof in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And their special Senior packages for those 55 and over make it an affordable as well as memorable fantasy. Take advantage of the "Golden Opportunity" and enjoy a superior room, a breakfast buffet for two, a West Edmonton Mall 2 for 1 submarine ride, pure spring ginger ale for two, plus discounts in the restaurants and coupons from mall merchants. It cost $135 Canadian in High Season (June to September), or $110 in Low Season.

(At press time, the Canadian dollar was worth 20% less than the US dollar, so your price would be lower.)

The fantasy parts of this vacation for non-shoppers are the exotic theme rooms at the hotel and varied amusement areas within the mall. I stayed in the Polynesian room, a mini-tropical paradise. From the moment I stepped out of the elevator and was surrounded by faux palm trees and fond-printed carpet, I knew this was no ordinary hotel. My tropically themed room had a huge Jacuzzi in a rock spa filled by an overhead waterfall. The sky blue walls were splattered with fluffy clouds and my bed was floating in a catamaran at full sail. The ceiling was mirrored and reflected waves painted on the walls as well as the tropical greenery. After four dips in my personal hot tub, I hated to leave this paradise.

For other fantasies, the hotel has many different theme rooms. A receptionist told me that they frequently move guests every morning to another theme room. Imagine experiencing Hollywood, a Victorian Coach and Arabian Knights all in one weekend.

I peeked into an igloo room where a fantasy from the North comes true. You can sleep in an igloo surrounded by the Tundra with your dogs waiting beside your bed. And two sleds make great day beds -- or resting places for children. Bathing in your own personal iceberg is exciting -- but the temperature in the Jacuzzi is easily controlled, so it is not necessarily a chilling experience.

Another family favorite is the truck room. The bed is set in a half-ton truck, and the front seat cab of the truck will sleep children up to 13. Perfect for the family that travels together, the room includes a mirrored hot tub guarded by a policeman. I was charmed by the working traffic signals blinking over the bed and antique gas pumps. When you finally choose to leave your room, you can shop, eat and play on dozens of different "streets" in the mall. The more upscale restaurants are on Bourbon Street where statuesque - characters are complimenting the ambiance day and night and provide great photo opportunities. At the Pacific Fish Company, I shared a Seafood Feast for two that included lobster, shrimp, clams, crab legs, mussels, calamari, and snapper, plus a salad bar with oysters, fruit and banana bread. All we needed was another person to help us finish it. And this feast was less than $40 for two.

The best food bargain was at a Chinese Buffet in the food court. You could choose up to 18 items for $3.75. The variety and quality was great, but after we got our food, finding a seat in the courtyard was a major challenge. And since the mall is non-smoking except for in the food courts, all the smokers gather there, so it's not a haven for fresh-air fiends.

Being totally enclosed means you are unaware of the temperature outside. That means you can be splashing in the water park and look up to see snow on the curved glass roof. The Water Park is a non-stop wave of excitement year round. The Blue Thunder wave pool is the largest wave pool in the world. You can challenge the "Raging Rapids" in an inner tube or body surf in five foot waves.

Landlubbers might prefer Fantasyland, the world's largest indoor amusement park. Reach new heights of excitement on the exhilarating Mindbender, the world's largest indoor, triple looped roller coaster. Or plunge 13 stories on the terrifying Drop of Doom. Just a warm up for bunjee jumping for the really brave.

You can play a round at the Pebble Beach Golf course, which has 18 holes with par 46, gamble in the casino, skate across the Ice Palace, a rink frequently used for practice sessions by the Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers, or ride an authentic submarine underneath the mall's deep sea lagoon with real sharks and exotic fish. This is a dream vacation for shopaholics. You can bring your whole family and the will never even realize how much time you spend shopping because they will be diverted by all the other attractions.

Bargains abound the mall. One of the most unique features is having both an outlet and regular price unit of the same store right in the mall. (You can guess where I went first!)

My first and best purchase was at Reitman's, one of those double opportunity locations. I bought a furry-lined all weather coat from Paris, originally $174 for $43. And the exchange rate was such that it actually cost me less. There were particularly good buys on items from Britain and other parts of Canada, but the mall is very cosmopolitan and international. Europa Boulevard has the most upscale stores like Polo, and the international market has more ethnic offerings. To do this mall in a day, takes the planning of a military strategist and the stamina of an Olympic athlete. But it is really best to extend your trip and enjoy all that the mall and Fantasyland Hotel has to offer.

In fact, I got my husband interested in Edmonton by telling him about the Fantasyland Hotel. After he agreed to a trip for a romantic rendezvous, I just casually mentioned there was a mall attached. My plan to seduce him with a night in an Arabian Nights room or a Polynesian fantasy was an instant success.

No matter what your favorite fantasy is, you'll find it at the West Edmonton Mall and Fantasyland Hotel.
 

TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOUR FANTASY DOESN'T TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE

1. Bring your most comfortable shoes! But be sure to find the "Footsie Wootsie" mechanical massage chair ( the best .25 cents you'll ever spend).

2. Don't forget your bathing suit. You'll need it for the Water Park or scuba diving. And there were no bargain bathing suits sold in the mall.

3. Find your own "markers" so you can remember your way back. The directory helps, and many activities are grouped -- such as the food court.

4. It is not necessary to change to Canadian money. I found American money accepted everywhere except the $0.25 coin slot for Footsie Wootsie. For the best rate, use your credit card, and your charges will come through at the current bank exchange rate.

Edmonton Tourism
http://www.tourism.ede.org/

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