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| - 3-3.5. I'm not *not* a fan, but I wouldn't go out of my way to cheer and shout for this hotel. I've stayed here twice now, first in November 2009 before its much-needed lobby renovation, and again in November 2011. The lobby used to be hideous, but the updates have given it a sleek, modern look.
The staff here are friendly. However, on my most recent trip here, I needed to shift my stay by one night on either end, and was charged a cancellation fee of $187 CAD, which I thought was rather steep. Of course, my company was paying for it, but still, I'm the one managing that budget.
Wifi is expensive in your room, IMO, but really I suppose on-par with prices elsewhere. There are ample AC outlets: both in the walls, with extras at the base of most desk lamps. Old-school alarm clock; they need to upgrade to the iHomes to which I have become accustomed during my frequent business stays at four-star hotels.
The rooms are tidy and spacious enough, with a ridiculously comfortable bed and pillows. The view is okay, and the building curves in such a way that you can see into other rooms' windows, which works out well for exhibitionists and voyeurs alike. I appreciate the mini fridge in the room, although mine smelled funny (could benefit from some baking soda, methinks) and did not get particularly cold. Still, better than a mini bar (I absolutely loathe them because I come in tipsy and eat all the stale, expensive snacks out of them!).
The bathroom is larger than in many big city hotels. However, the Portico toiletries smell like a spinster aunt's powdery perfume, which makes me rather nauseous (it's that Miss Havisham smell---long-dried flowers, decomposed wedding cake, spiderwebs, and regret over missed opportunities---and, while I know I, too, may very well smell that way one day, for now I'd like to smell a bit fresher, livelier). I also find that Portico lotion doesn't moisturize worth a damn, particularly in these frigid and dry Montréal winters, and the shampoo and conditioner leave one's hair limp and lank. Blah! Luckily, there are two Body Shop locations nearby: one in Eaton Centre, and a second at 1008 Rue Ste.-Catherine. Still, I don't feel that I should have to provide shampoo, conditioner, and lotion for myself when I'm paying this much a night.
I only used the pool once in the wee hours of the morning, because I'm self conscious and it is on view to the lobby! The gym is decent: a row of treadmills and elliptical machines, plus some Nautilus-style strength training equipment, free weights, a weight bench, a stability ball, a Bosu balance trainer, and some yoga mats. The dropped ceiling is so low that I can almost touch it with jumping (I'm tall, though), so the room feels a tad claustrophobic.
And I have a sordid tale to share with you: on my second visit to the gym on this most recent trip, a maintenance guy working at the hotel---on his break or something, who knows---came in to go through the motions on one of the weight machines and watch me doing weighted squats and lunges for an awkwardly lengthy period of time. I thought perhaps I was imagining his ogling---I have an unfortunate history of not always being the best judge of this type of behavior---until the next day my colleague (also female), who'd been on the treadmill during this guy's visit, brought up "that creeper maintenance guy." So, my instincts were accurate. Gross, you guys. GROSS. I regret now that I didn't report him, because lord knows how often he does creepy shit like that.
The conference rate here is decent and its proximity to the Complexe Desjardins and Palais des congrès de Montréal is a huge bonus. On freezing cold or rainy days, head down to the Complexe Desjardins level (this elevator is around the corner from the main lobby elevators), et voilà!, you're in the Underground City that will take you all the way to the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
As others have mentioned the elevator situation is rather stupid. The lobby is on the sixth floor of the Complexe Desjardins, and to get outside, you have to take a separate elevator down. During busy conferences, this is a real pain. And I'm from North Carolina, where people are courteous, which is decidedly not the case here. Dudes will squeeze past your ass in a heartbeat, no matter how much you're carrying, no matter how quickly and efficiently you're moving. And I absolutely deplore being manhandled. But, you know, shake that off, and no problem!
All told, I may stay here again, just because of its convenient location. Or I may consider the W Hotel, at Rue du Square-Victoria, on the other side of the Palais des congrès. But there may very well be creepers lurking in the gym there as well, you just never know!
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