sbtinme

I hear you. From where I'm sitting, it's a perfectly okay hotel, but it is a little different than the standard North American Starwood offering.

It feels really more like a blend of a chain hotel and a boutique hotel from 1985 to me. I like some of its charms, but it has a terrifically small lobby (lobbyette?) that can make one's arrival to the property seem very frenetic if there are more than 12 folks in the lobby area.

I think a lot of FTers are so used to airport Westins and suburban 350-room-Sheratons that it's easy to forget that not every hotel fits that tried & true model. If one is seeking an enormous hotel with a lobby environment in the middle of things, look no further than the Sheraton not far away from this place.

SoccerJock

I agree. This property definitely has an intimate (small) feel to it. It's very friendly, charming, and professional.

The lobby and the restaurant are really nice-looking. And the staff took every opportunity to be accommodating. The location is at the edge of the fashionable Sherbrooke shopping strip, and just one block off Guy/Concordia metro station.

However, the place is definitely due for an upgrade! The couch in the room looked very unclean, the curtains were hideous and hadn't been washed in a while.

Plus, my Platinum upgrade to a "Junior Suite" was just an upgrade to a larger room. There was nothing "suite" about that room - perhaps just the fact that the couch unfolded into a bed.

thomas3633

So I am writing this from the Le Meridien. And I have to compliment this hotel on the personal service. We arrived without any luggage due to Delta losing our bags. The front desk staff (Derek) that helped us went above and beyond, including getting us setup with extra toiletries (shave kit, dental kit etc), checking up on us and even suggesting a different jr suite when he found out that we would be using the sofa bed. We continued to have lots of needs and each one was met.

They assisted us getting a hard to get restaurant Reservation.

I can see why some people may have some negative Comments As the hotel is due for a renovation that seems to be scheduled for 2013. But our executive jr suite was more than adequate. Having stayed at the Westin Montreal earlier this year I agree there are hotels with newer furnishings, however, the advantage with this property is the more intimate and personal service touches.

Starwood Lurker

This property is offering a Limited Time 40% offer on their promotional offers page:

Employee Rates from $109 – Book by September 28
Awaken your imagination with the ultimate fall escape. Enjoy a boutique hotel experience in the cosmopolitan heart of Montreal and pay what we pay! Book by September 28 and receive our employee rates from $109 for a Classic or Deluxe Room – 40% off normal rates.

Available for arrivals October 8-10, 15, 20-22, 28-31

Upgrade to a luxurious Junior Suite for only $40 extra per night, or to an Executive Room with complimentary continental breakfast for only $80 extra per night

No pre-payment required; regular cancellation policies apply
Book online or call 866-716-8101 and mention rate plan EMPPROMO. Hurry – only 60 rooms are available at these rates.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

NBSPGMEMBER

How can one enjoy this promo if he's not a Starwood employee?

Starwood Lurker

Book it. Is this a trick question?

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Here2There

Here's the email I received. Looks like everyone gets the employee rate.

HomerJ

...in the hospital that used to be the nunery.
Its hilariously 1950's in that you tear the envelope/receipt in half, and pay $8 day x how many days you want to stay, and put the corrusponding receipt half in your window.
In and out parking for $8 in a major city...I love it.
I like their brekkie that you get as a PLAT as well.
You will just have to walk a few extra blocks to get in the action.
Overall this is a neat property (although in room wireless was spotty on my last visit)...but for that price its hard to beat.

Braindrain

What's the Plat breakfast now? Last time I was there, it was an uninspired cold buffet with very few choices. At least in years past, they had a hot option that one could upgrade to.

clublounger

Still the same "uninspired" buffet, with miserly offerings and sometimes rude service. The restaurant is not run by the hotel, and the difference in staff attitudes is remarkable, and disappointing.

cfpmcleo

Any recent stays here? I am scheduled for 2 days here to attend a nearby professional event but now my SO is coming "to enjoy montreal". I was here 5 years ago and it was a bit rogh in terms of service. How is the hotel holding up? Is it currently under renovations?

cleo

canalskater

Front desk staff is great.Housekeeping staff is the rudest in the continent and rooms can be dirty.
It still needs a renovation.Platinum upgrade is to a junior suite which is a corner room with a couch.
Breakfast is poor continental and not much variety.Staff in restaurant are hit and miss. Some are really nice and some extremely rude.
Great location.
It used to be a fantastic deal for C+P until changed category this week.

dcstudent

I stay here quite often, but I also lived in Montreal for awhile so just need a place to sleep, and take all of my meals and spend the day out and about.

To me, this hotel is the worst as far as *wood options go as far as amenities. When the price is similar I stay at the Westin or Sheraton (in that order).

Basically, I have one question for you: Do you plan on doing anything else in the hotel other than sleeping and showering? If yes, you may well be disappointed and should probably look at another option. If no, this hotel is quite acceptable.

Antonio8069

Adding a bit more "context" to the above comments.
Le Meridien Montreal is an old, unrenovated hotel in a very nice part of Montreal. Located on Sherbrooke Street, it is ideal for vists to the Musee des Beaux Arts, McGill, etc. In the same area, there is the renovated Ritz-Carlton, worth a visit just to see the lobby (we went there for afternnoon tea):
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...ps&pId=rztbppc
The Meridien's special deals were a very good way to accumulate SPG stays, until........
The Sheraton Montreal was renovated. The Sheraton (on Rene Levesque) has smaller, newer, renovated rooms and a fabulous SPG lounge. They often have special rates of $129/139.
My personal preference (for the time being) is the Sheraton.

cfpmcleo

Just finished a stay at Le Meridien Montreal.

The location is good for McGill university and Concordia campus off St Catherine. It sits at the west end of the higher end shopping district of Sherbrooke. It is walking distance to the interesting restaurants on Notre Dame Ouest as well the bars on Guy and the Bell Centre.

The hotel is easy to find with the unloading area on St Mathieu. Lots of metered parking all around. The self park lot is a block further west on the north side at 2065 Sherbrooke. It is actually the public lot of the hospital. The NEW parking rate is 20$ for 24 hours with an electronic meter. Gone are the days of 9$ in an envelope. Check-in staff did say a new parking management now operates the lot.

I was greeted in french and english by FDC. The valet sat off to the side. Check-in was easy (though I did not arrive til 10 pm), plat amenity was offered and given the standard plat upgrade to the "junior suite". It is simply a larger room with a pull-out couch. Elevators were small but fast. Each floor has about 9 rooms with the "suites" in the corners. I had a south east view. It was good.

Much has been made of the physical wear and tear. The room was well laid out. Colours and lighting seemed to follow a W style vibe. And more importantly, the room was very clean. The bed was comfortable. Good wifi. Bathroom shower\oversized tub showed wear but water pressure was very good. On closer inspection, one can see paint bubbling along window frames, chipped vanity, water stains in the ceiling. Bathroom products were high quality. Received 2 bottles of water every night with chocolates(turn down service?), and Globe&Mail in the morning.


The attached restaurant(The Ridout) was empty any time I ventured in for a drink or breakfast. The continental breakfast was very limited and seemed to be only to serve plat guests.


This is a smaller boutique style hotel which is in need of renovations, but do not let this put you off. The service was good, the style of the hotel was very charming and afforded a good stay.

cleo