Just got back from a WONDERFUL (again) weekend at the Fairmont in Ottawa.

Took the YOW Shuttle from the airport to the hotel (and back) .. decent timing and not bad ride.

Hotel. Small checkin area and a roped off line for President's club ... the Concierge and Bellmen share a desk on the right.

Got an 'upgrade' to a deluxe room courtesy. Room 600. WAY at the end of the halls (several turns) and wondered if it was worth the walk. YES YES YES!!! A corner room (bed and sofa and work desk) facing the lake and the canal/Parlinment building. The desk was in the 'turret' area of this top floor room and had two long narrow windows again facing the lake and canal. FABULOUS VIEW and could not complain on the room at all!!

Bathroom decent sized .... the tub was strange that its bottom seemed lower than the rest of the floor ... kinda a step down into it... but plenty of hot water and pressure!

Room service was nice .. and fast. No complaints there.... tho should have ordered the Table De Hote menu vs a sandwich!

Concierge made suggestion of Gray Line tour .. city by hop-on/off bus and then a lake cruise tour. There was not much other choices .. the 'ducks' looked a bit confining (no open deck space). The stops that were available were nice and interesting enough, but you had to dedicate one hour to the process as the bus dropped you then the next bus an hour later came by again. If you wanted to do two tours it was a long day tho I understand the tour purchase allowed you two days of bus access. Did not do anything else .. a bit of shopping!

The hotel recommended an Indian restaurant (my choice and there were MANY other ethnic choices as well as seafood) in the historic area (historic=touristy) that was VERY VERY good. The rest of the area did have street markets (veg and clothes) as well as many trendy shops.

Hotel was VERY good by Fairmont standards .. GREAT staff and wonderful location. No Fairmont doggie tho!

A word the the Cross-Border travelers (back to the US) about the airport tho. You pre-clear US Immigration/Customs at YOW and then are in a secured area... the gates (like 1-12). There is ONLY one restaurant in that secure area (ok bar and carry out) and the food was POOOOOOR. I had seen a Tim Horton's (ok I am a tourist but like it) on the way in at the airport (must have been the arrivals side) and wanted breakfast there. No such luck .. and not a decent breakfast! If you want food .. DO NOT check your luggage in at the airline as they said once you check in with the carrier you MUST go thru Immigration.

Off to the Royal York in Toronto next month as a tourist .. and will report back. Stayed there for months on business (ok slept there working 10-12 hour days) so need to see the 'real' side of the hotel.