Ottawa Hotel Tips by pieter_jan_v

In 1907 Charles Melville Hays, General Manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway of Canada took the initiative to build the hotel. The Railroads needed big hotels near their prestigues station and the Chateau Laurier was to become one.

It opened in April 26 1912, but Hays could not witness its opening because he travelled with the Titanic and died at April 14 1912.
The official opening was postponed to June 12, 1912 and was done by Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

The hotel is a real monument build in French Renaissance style using granite blocks for the base, buff Indiana limestone for the walls and copper for the roof. Inside you find brass stair rails, marble floors, high ceilings and the furniture makes you feel walking in a big antique shop.

Although you are surrounded by all this charming history, the hotel offers modern service and quality. I have the best memories of the nice breakfasts.

Unique Qualities: Basement Pool, next to the Parliament Buildings, ByWard area and the canal.

Personal preferences can be entered at the Fairmaont website, once you become a (free) member.

Prices: Corporate from CA$ 179,00 (+CA$ 15.00 for parking; + ~CA$ 20,00 for breakfast; local calls CA$ 1,07).

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: +1-613-241-1414
Address: 1 Rideau St
Directions: By car: 417 highway Nicholas/Hull exit; flow into Waller St and right onto Besserer St.
Take left lane and take a left into Cumberland; select the left lane onto Rideau (pedestrians!). At the hotel take right bus lane & take a right into the parking.
Website: http://www.fairmont.com/laurier/

The Westin is a great hotel and a great location.

If you don't fancy the old grandeur of the Chateau, you could try this hotel in stead.
Sometimes you'll have to, because visiting government representativies from all over the world fill up hotel spaces quickly.

The Westin is an average modern skyscraper with big glass windows, proc=viding you with great look-offs onto downtown Ottawa.

Parking is chaotic if you don't use the hotel's valet parking service. The big parking garage of the Rideau center is not the most attractive to use.

Unique Qualities: Rooms offer great views and real high speed Internet (the fastest I encountered in Ottawa).

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: +1-613-560-7000
Address: 11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4
Directions: If you come by car from the Airport on the Airport Parkway, take the right lane where the road becomes 6 lanes and follow the signs to Colonel By. Take a right and Follow the Colonel by along the Rideau Canal.
Website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1083

I stayed three nights at the Les Suites. Came in on a Sunday, driving from the airport along the Colonel By and taking a right just before the Westin hotel. I was lucky enough to see the indoor Les Suites parking entrance at the left on Daly Avenue. Even more luck: the door was open, so I raced up to stories in the garage and went down with my luggage to the lobby. Quick service and before I knew I was in my room. Excuse me, my appartment: Living room with fully equipped kitchen, adjacent office with desk; room with washer/dryer/iron, bathroom #1, bedroom with bathroom #2 and a balcony.

I had to adjust myself and organise my stuff in such a way, that I was not constantly looking for what was where. 2 TV's, wireless ethernet and some cold water in the fridge.

The only minor point that one of the three elevators was out of service.

Breakfast could be taken at the small internet café at the lobby and charged to the room.

The inhouse parking was about CAD 15 per day. Parking pass at the front desk (there is limited parking space in front; only for arrival/departure).

The staff was very friendly (ever smiling maid) and the frontdesk arranged a WiFi-bridge USN for free for my laptop (yes I had that old Windows 98 monster with me).

Unique Qualities: Great location.

Ideal for a family or when you have to stay some weeks in the city.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: +1-613-232-2000
Address: 130 Besserer St, Ottawa, ON K1N9M9
Directions: East side of Rideau center
Website: http://www.les-suites.com/