Ottawa
 

I have to overnight in Ottawa on route back out west later this month. Will fly in around 8pm and depart around 6am on a Monday night. Can anyone recommend a good place to stay as far as nightlife and also economical?

Ahm, tripadvisor.com?

Depends on what you are interested in.

Two options come to mind:

1. Stay at the closest airport to YOW, Holiday Inn, Hilton, etc... You can get there probably with a shuttle that most airport hotels provide (ask for it). There is nothing spectacular to see in in this area. Good place to sleep.

2. And what I would suggest...take route 97 to downtown airport, cost: $4 (takes around 40 minutes), or take a taxi, cost: $25-30 (takes around 20-25 minutes). It's safe, sunset is not till 9pm or later, and people are usually walking in the evening with the warm weather. Walk around Parliament Hill, etc..., stay somewhere downtown. Take taxi in the morning, not sure if OC Transpo (Ottawa transit) operates at 4am.

Either way, you would have to head back to the airport by 4-415am.

Also, with nightlife, what are you looking for? Dinner?

Ottawa overnight?
 

I know I would not go downtown for a 10-hour overnight!
The Hilton is the only hotel @ the airport. Rates aren't great ($145?) but the shuttle is free.
IF you do decide to go downtown, I recommend 2 properties within easy walking distance of the By-Ward Market (a k a night-life):
- Fairmont Chateau Laurier;
- Westin Ottawa
Allow 15 minutes for airport commute via taxi, 30 minutes via public transit.

Agreed; take the 97 downtown, if there is no hotel shuttle.

Only thing-- you really just need to get to YOW before check-in closes an hour before departure. Ottawa is a small airport.

I arrive Dec 20th from YYZ at 9pm and I have a flight to catch to Varadero at 5:30am, so Hilton or sleep on a couch in the airport?

Hilton Ottawa Airport
 

There are no couches at YOW, so the Hilton it is. (YOW is NOT an overnight airport) I would give the Hilton a call and determine when the shuttle begins - or - is it all night?
Who is the carrier to Varadero? I know the MLL lounge opens at 04:30 but their first flight is at 06:00 am so it must be a charter?

Its AC, I think they changed the flight from 6 to 530am.

Hi I recommend you to choose Quality hotel. It is located in dowtown Ottawa. The cost is about USD 80 and the service is very convenient.