Hotel Question for hobbyists and companions

[Jason5150]

Marriott SpringHill Old Montreal?

I did a search on this suite-style hotel located in Old Montreal but didn't find any comments. It's rated very highly on tripadvisor.com, but has anyone stayed there? If so, was it sp friendly?

Also, I see Donbusch mentioned the 2 Residence Inns (downtown & Westmount), but has anyone used these hotels to see an sp?

 

[JoeD]

Omni

Another consideration about the Omni vs. the other 4* hotels

No Pay-Per-View Porn

 

[donbusch]

Originally posted by Jason5150
I did a search on this suite-style hotel located in Old Montreal but didn't find any comments. It's rated very highly on tripadvisor.com, but has anyone stayed there? If so, was it sp friendly?

Also, I see Donbusch mentioned the 2 Residence Inns (downtown & Westmount), but has anyone used these hotels to see an sp?

I think it's safe to assume that all Montreal hotels are SP-friendly unless you hear otherwise. So far, my impression is that problems stems mainly from keycard elevators, for eg, the Loew Vogue (24 hrs) and the Best Western Europa (after 10 or 11 pm). If you want to be sure, just call the hotel and ask about that.

For those into apartment style accomodations, I believe Chateau Royale is offering it's one-bedroom apartments at CAD100/night (ask for "Best Available Rate") and CAD95/night for AAA/CAA members through 6th May, subject to availability. While far from the classiest place in town, it's not a bad deal considering that it's a one-bedroom suite in a central location with no prepayment obligation.

http://www.chateauroyal.com

 

[Doc Holliday]

CR can be obtained on Priceline for approximately $30 US. Bid on the 2.5 star.

A boutique hotel is also now available through Hotwire, for $107 US. It's a 4.5 star, the highest rating available in Mtl. I still do not know which hotel it is. I'll post the info as soon as i find out from my source.

JaJ

 

[donbusch]

Originally posted by JustaJohn
CR can be obtained on Priceline for approximately $30 US. Bid on the 2.5 star.

A boutique hotel is also now available through Hotwire, for $107 US. It's a 4.5 star, the highest rating available in Mtl. I still do not know which hotel it is. I'll post the info as soon as i find out from my source.

JaJ

JAJ,

When did you obtain the USD30 rate for Chateau Royale on Priceline?

I think given the seasonal fluctuations for hotel rates, it's important that we specify the dates when writing about winning bids on Hotwire and Priceline where prices are even more time sensitve. For example, the Holiday Inn Select and DeltaMontreal were going for as low as USD28-30 over a year ago and the Holiday Inn went for USD30 last August for those bidding in May '03 due to the SARS scare. However, such data isn't of much use to current bidders. This winter on Priceline/Hotwire, the Holiday Inn has increased it's rates and so has the DeltaMontreal although to a lesser extent. In addition, the 2.5* category has been quiet with very little signs of the CR and only a few winning bids for other 2.5* hotels ranging from USD45-60 as seen on www.biddingfortravel.com. We're also now entering the Spring/Summer season and hotel rates are creeping back up.

I have reservations about the 4.5* Boutique hotel and in fact the entire 4.5* category on Hotwire since their pricing and ratings can be skewed. The DeltaMontreal is a 3.5* on Hotwire but a 3* on Priceline and the Sofitel is a 4.5* on Hotwire and 4* on Priceline. Also, I often found the DeltaMontreal to be priced above the Novotel (3.5*) on Hotwire and despite being a recipient of a USD35 winning bid for the DeltaMontreal last year coupled with a complimentary room upgrade, it seems like the Novotel is a nicer hotel than the DeltaMontreal. The Sofitel also is often overpriced on Hotwire compared to Priceline.

For the boutique hotel on Hotwire; at USD107, the after taxes and fees (all non-refundable) rate would be about USD129 (107 X 1.21) and if one compared that to booking through a hotel website and factored in the refundable GST, the equivalent before tax rate on a hotel website would be about CAD159. I'm pretty sure if one shops around on the websites of Hotwire's "4.5*" hotels or their equivalents such as the Intercontinental, the Sofitel, Le Meridien Versailles that one would be able to get a comparable or even lower rate for the corresponding time period with no prepayment obligations plus be able to add those nights to the respective hotel's frequent guest programs.

However, while the 4.5* category is suspect, this is not to say that Hotwire is always overpriced. There have been times when I have gotten great deals on the 4* and 3.5* category through Hotwire and given enough information, it can be easier to guess the hotels than Priceline. It just makes sense to compare prices with the hotel websites and services like Priceline, Expedia, etc.

In any case for those interested in the 4.5* Boutique hotel on Hotwire, see the relevant discussion on http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?act=ST&f=165&t=3851&

 

[Doc Holliday]

My contact got the CR for $30 US in June 2003. Not the greatest place to hobby, but great location to party.

I agree regarding your views on Hotwire and Priceline. One advantage Hotwire does have over Priceline is the fact you have a pretty good idea which hotel will be available at a set price, and i've also noticed that some hotels regularly available on Hotwire are rarely offered on Priceline (Sheraton Center, Sofitel, etc).

Bottom line, you have more choices with Hotwire, although the rates are highter than Priceline. Priceline usually have the same hotels available on most times (Delta Mtl, Hilton, Omni). Yes, other hotels pop up once in a while. But not that often.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Sofitel and CR

EB, I second you on your statements. Regarding the Sofitel, it was available on Hotwire for $79 US last fall.

As for the CR, i'd recommend any serious hobbyist coming into town to avoid it. Not only is it very loud, but it's not exactly a very discreet place to receive 'guests'. Many ladies claim to have been embarrassed by the doormen by their stares or juvenile comments whenever they'd enter the premises. I do remember some ladies mentionning they'd refuse to see clients at that place for these reasons mentionned and because of the type of clients that hotel seems to attract, even though the suites do look great (for the low price).

 

[donbusch]

Oddly enough, I have been told by a hobbyist who has actually stayed there that he likes it a lot and that the suites, not facing Cresent Street don't have the noise problem.

I have also heard rumors of CR's doorman or frontdesk being unfriendly to the escorts. But, to be fair, there are similar rumors about the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Loew Vogue and Best Western Europa. Perhaps the hobbyists and escorts on this board might be willing to offer first hand accounts.

Given my preferences, I wouldn't stay at the CR. On the other hand, there's a pretty long list of hotels that I would not stay at either. As with most things in life, there are tradeoffs and for some; the CR may very well suit their needs and for the other budget conscious people, there are other hotels available on Priceline and Hotwire.

BTW, has anyone stayed at the Day's Inn Montreal Downtown? The pictures look quite interesting.
http://www.daysinnmontreal.com/

 

[Clemenza]

Originally posted by donbusch
I have also heard rumors of CR's doorman or frontdesk being unfriendly to the escorts. But, to be fair, there are similar rumors about the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Loew Vogue and Best Western Europa. Perhaps the hobbyists and escorts on this board might be willing to offer first hand accounts.

BTW, has anyone stayed at the Day's Inn Montreal Downtown? The pictures look quite interesting.
http://www.daysinnmontreal.com/

I stayed at the Vogue recently and had no problems at all with the staff. Because of the elevator card system, it's necessary for you to meet the lady and escort her to your room. There is a small sitting area on the 2nd floor, accessible via a stairway near the bar, which is a perfect place to meet.

BTW, I found the elevator security system less than effective. On several occasions I entered the elevator with a crowd of other people, and whoever was closest to the keypad would swipe his card. There's no way of knowing that the other people in the car are actually guests. I could have been Jack The Ripper for all they knew.

I stayed at another Days Inn, at the corner of Rene Levesque & Guy, last summer. A nice 3 * place if you don't mind a short walk to the main downtown area. The view of the railroad tracks was less than inspiring, however. Since I didn't hobby on that particular trip, I'm not sure how SP friendly they are.

I do have a question about parking. Since I always drive to Montreal, I need a secure place to park my car for the duration. It seems that most downtown hotels have parking facilities, but some websites are vague about this. Can anyone think of a downtown hotel that doesn't offer parking?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Parking at the Vogue

I've stayed at the Vogue many times, and i still don't have a clue where they've parked my car. I believe they park it a block away at some outdoor parking lot, but i'm not certain of this. I'm certain it's not underground, though.

Maybe i'll ask the valet or doorman next time around.

 

[Clemenza]

Re: Parking

Originally posted by EagerBeaver
The parking fee at Sofitel is extremely expensive.

I was charged $ 26.99 CAD per day at the Vogue. This is an increase of at least a couple of dollars over last year. How does the Sofitel compare?

 

[Special K]

Re: Parking

Originally posted by EagerBeaver
Clemenza,

I do know that the Sofitel has valet parking and they actually park your car at some underground lot "a few blocks away" from what I was told. The parking fee at Sofitel is extremely expensive.

Eager,

The Sofitel parks your car in the garage under the hotel. I had forgotten something in my car of a personal nature and asked to go down to get it. Was taken down in an elevator to a very nice garage below the hotel and was able to retrieve my property. I also exited the garage myself in my car, and if I remember correctly the exit comes out onto the street next to the Sofitel on the left hand side if you're standing at the front door looking at the hotel. So no need to worry, your car doesn't go far at all.

SK

 

[Special K]

Re: Parking at the Vogue

Originally posted by JustaJohn
I've stayed at the Vogue many times, and i still don't have a clue where they've parked my car. I believe they park it a block away at some outdoor parking lot, but i'm not certain of this. I'm certain it's not underground, though.

Maybe i'll ask the valet or doorman next time around.

JAJ,

The Vogue does park your car at an indoor garage, though I'm not sure exactly where. Each time I've retrieved my car in the winter the temperature would still read about 70 degrees fahrenheit and there was no snow on my vehicle in a storm. Hope this helps.

SK

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by StripperLover
SpecialK,

The Vogue parks the cars inside accessable by the lane on the southern side of the building. The lane goes from Mountain St to Drummond St.

Thanks SL,

That would be the alley where the murderers took off after the ax job?

SK

 

[Clemenza]

Booking Through Travel Sites

When booking a room through one of the internet travel sites (Priceline, Hotwire, etc.) is it better to book far in advance (when there could be more rooms available and therefore more price competition) or at the last minute (when hotels might be trying to dump their unreserved rooms)? Or is it impossible to generalize?

 

[Medic_565]

Marriott Springhill Suites in the Old Town (my new fav area).

Not the cheapest @ $120 with AAA discount but I only make it up to Montreal once a year now so I can afford to splurge a little.

http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage.mi?marshaCode=YULSH

 

[Clemenza]

Booked the Novotel in mid-June for $62 USD per night through Hotwire. Never stayed there before but the location is perfect and the price seemed quite reasonable for the summer period.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Novotel

A close friend of mine recently stayed at the Novotel:

He got the room through Hotwire for $49 US. The room wasn't that big. Two double beds. The computer he used was located just past the elevators on the main floor...it's one of those that are seen at airports, malls, and at the train station....run by Bell. The elevators now require a room card after 6pm !!!!! Change of policy: "They do not want the escorts or hobbyists", it seems. The girl at the reception kind of smiled and nodded affirmatively when my pal asked her if this was the reason, in a matter-of-fact-way. He also mentionned that the rooms looked old.

The only advantage: it's greatly located.....between St-Catherine street and the Bell Center.

 

[gohabsgo]

Re: Novotel

Originally posted by JustaJohn
A close friend of mine recently stayed at the Novotel:

The elevators now require a room card after 6pm !!!!!

That sucks, its not even dark at 6 !

 

[richman927]

L'appartement

Any info on L'appartement ?