Tagged : Hotel Reviews

in Travel

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Vancouver Hotel Review

Overall Impression
Every now and again you get saddled with a limited work travel budget, and while it might sound like I’m whining, I really tried to make the best of this one.

On my recent business trip to Vancouver I had limited funds for hotels and needed a place to stay. I’ve seen the HoJo on Kingsway near Main Street on Travelocity before and it’s always extremely affordable. I like the neighbourhood around 12th and Main (also known as South Main, Mount Pleasant, or SoMa), and have always wanted to stay there, but the accommodation choices are limited to fairly low-rent motels and the HoJo, so for this trip it was the perfect excuse.

I’ll say that compared to a typical business hotel like a Delta or Sheraton the HoJo doesn’t really stand a chance. The beds aren’t particularly comfortable, the rooms are dingy, and the decor severely outdated, but what I did like about the HoJo was the local colour.

The hotel was formerly The Biltmore, and is now home to a couple of different bars, one of which is the namesake of the old hotel. The Biltmore Cabaret is a favourite watering hole of the Main Street hipster crowd and is a fun place to spend a night out and on some nights (Sunday I believe) even catch a classic burlesque show. The noise on Friday and Saturday night could keep you up all night if you enjoy silence, but I didn’t mind the rowdies out on the street below my hotel room.

While I hope to never stay at this particular HoJo again, I would have to say it was an adequate place to stay and I enjoyed the odd mix of people I kept running into in the lobby and the hallways. In that sense it was certainly more interesting than staying at a higher end business hotel where everyone is kind of drab and boring. So if you have the chance stay at the HoJo for the culture, not for the beds.

My Rating: 2 stars

How much would I pay: <$100 USD per night

My Recommendation: On the fence. Not bad as long as you know what you’re getting into.


Location
While there is very little immediately around the hotel other than the Biltmore Cabaret, there are plenty of great coffee shops, lounges, and eateries over on Main Street which is a few minutes away on foot. Downtown Vancouver is a short bus or cab ride away, and about 20-30 minutes on foot. The airport is about 20-25 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Amenities
Not much, but there was an ice machine at the end of the 4th floor hallway.

Service
Not bad for this level of hotel. It was neither here nor there for me.

Elevator Speed
Painfully slow old elevator, but it had those old school huge buttons which I like.

Atmosphere
Low-rent hotel with casino carpets

Bed Comfort
The bed was adequate, but nothing great. They had the crappy coverlet/fleece blanket combo which I loathe.

Internet
Free wireless internet. That is a bonus.

Room Cleanliness
Average.

Toiletries
Suave. No high end stuff here!

Family Friendly
Sort of. This isn’t really the best neighbourhood in which to entertain your kids, but there are interesting family activities close by. Also, the bar-centric nature of this hotel may not be great for all families.

Rates
I wouldn’t pay more than $110 US for this place and that would have to be in peak season.

Other Notes
It wasn’t that bad, but know what you’re getting into beforehand. Website pictures can be deceiving.

Number of Stays
1

When
Spring 2010

Frequent Flyer Miles / Hotel Points
Wyndham Rewards

in Travel

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel – YVR – Review

Overall Impression
The Fairmont YVR is a place to stop over in between flights and rest up. It can be pricey considering, and there is more reasonably priced accomodation off-site, but if you can get a good rate, and have the chance to treat yourself, the Fairmont YVR is a little bit of luxury.

My Rating: 5 stars

Value Range: $175-250 USD per night

My recommendation: Recommended


Location
No need to leave the airport. This hotel has everything at hand.

Amenities
Bar, lounge, fitness centre

Service
Customer service was great.

Elevator Speed
No elevator issues

Atmosphere
Classic airport classy.

Bed Comfort
The bed was great.

Internet
Free internet for Fairmont President’s Club members. It’s free to join, so why not?

Room Cleanliness
No issues here.

Toiletries
Miller Harris from London. Nice stuff. Body wash foams even in washcloth!

Family Friendly
Yes.

Rates
A typical rate here would be in the $200-$300 per night range.

Other Notes
Not much to add here. It’s a great hotel.

Number of Stays
1

When
Winter 2009

Frequent Flyer Miles / Hotel Points
Fairmont points convertible to most airline programs.

in Travel

The Drake Hotel Toronto Review

Overall Impression
The Drake Hotel in Toronto is one of those rare finds in the world of business travel. Although I wouldn’t really classify The Drake as a business hotel, I like to stay here on business because it’s a nice departure from the usual Sheraton and Delta mass predictability. Queen Street West is not likely going to be a favourite spot for many people, but if you like a bit of grunge ala The Plateau in Montreal, or the Lower East Side in Manhattan, Haight Ashbury in San Francisco, and Gastown in Vancouver, than you might like The Drake.

The hotel itself has has a great bar for live bands in the basement, a nice lounge and coffee shop on the main floor, and a great roof top patio for those summer nights. The restaurant is top notch and the place has a nice youthful vibe. The only cons to me are the small rooms and the limited number (22) of rooms available. I have stayed most times in suite 202 which is listed as the XL room on the Drake website. The XL suite is plenty big enough for me, but the other rooms like the Crash Pad are quite small. When I think boutique hotels I think The Drake.

My Rating: 4 stars

Value Range: $175-300 USD per night

Recommended!


Location
The Drake is situated quite far west on Queen Street West, so it is a bit of a hoof from Bay Street or the Bloor and Yonge business area, but it’s nothing a quick cab ride won’t solve. The area surrounding the Drake is filled with hip bars and boutique clothing shops. Particular bar favourites of mine are The Cadillac Lounge and the Beaconsfield. If you are a hipster you might like the Social down the street. There are also a bunch of eateries, coffee shops, and even a laundromat nearby.

Amenities
Restaurant, lounge, coffee shop

Service
I have always had great service at The Drake.

Elevator Speed
The stairs were reasonably quick! It’s a small hotel.

Atmosphere
Hipster boutique.

Bed Comfort
The bed was awesome.

Internet
Free internet!

Room Cleanliness
The room was squeaky clean.

Toiletries
Kiehl’s. Yep. The good stuff.

Family Friendly
Not really. The rooms aren’t really geared for family stays.

Rates
Rates are posted in the $200-$300USD range. Don’t go here for more than $200 per night. Actually make that $175.

Other Notes
This is one of my favourite hotels. Hands down.

Number of Stays
3

When
Spring 2008, Fall 2008

Frequent Flyer Miles / Hotel Points
No.

in Travel

Hotel Petit Palace Opera Garden Barcelona Hotel Review

Contact Info
Hotel Petit Palace Opera Garden Barcelona Hotel Review
C. Boquería, 10
08002 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: 93 302 00 92
View Map

Overall Impression
From the pictures on the website I was keen to stay at the Petit Palace Opera Garden as I had wanted to stay here the year previous, but couldn’t due to budget constraints. This year on a quick trip to Barcelona I had my chance. The building is nice and centrally located near La Boqueria market and Placa Reial just off La Rambla.

While the hotel was totally adequate, I found that it didn’t live up to the website. Yes it is a boutique hotel, but it is a cheaply finished boutique hotel. The cool looking wallpaper decor is actually just printed musical notes on construction paper that is stapled to the wall. Not exactly high end finishing.The hallways were also a bit dark and eerie.

With that said, if you can get a decent deal to stay here I wouldn’t shy away from it I just feel that it is over-represented on the website. Just be aware that it may not be as nice as it looks from the website. Compared to the Eurostars La Rambla though this one loses out, but I would recommend this place on a good deal.

My Rating: 3 stars

What I would pay: $100-150 USD per night

My recommendation: Stay on good rate


Location
This is the best part of this hotel. It is fabulously situated just off La Rambla and close to the Barcelona metro for easy mobility. It is also a reasonably short walk to Barceloneta Beach.

Amenities
Courtyard

Service
The service was very good.

Elevator Speed
No elevator issues

Atmosphere
Cheap boutique. Except for the lobby. The lobby is cool.

Bed Comfort
I had one of those overly firm European twin beds that splits apart. They call this a double sometimes, but it is really two twins squished together.

Internet
Free internet.

Room Cleanliness
The room was clean.

Toiletries
HT Hotel chain toiletries.

Family Friendly
Yes. No waterslides or anything though. Just basic goodness.

Rates
I’ve seen this hotel anywhere from $120-$300 per night, but would only stay here again on the lower end of that spectrum.

Other Notes
The hotel is owned by HiTech Hotels, a European chain. I’m not exactly sure what was high-tech about it though? My internet was a bit slow. Not what I would call high tech.

Number of Stays
1

When
Winter 2009

Frequent Flyer Miles / Hotel Points
Not sure.

in Misc Bin

Sheraton Wall Centre Vancouver Hotel Review

Overall Impression
I have stayed at the Wall Centre Vancouver more than any other hotel in the city. It is not necessarily my favourite, but it just works. The rooms are nice, the service is good, the location is super central, parking is easy, and there always seems to be a good rate. I usually prefer to stay in boutique hotels, but the Wall Centre is just simply good.

My Rating: 4 stars

Value Range: $150-$225 CAD per night

My Recommendation: Recommended


Location
Great location on Burrard and Nelson. Short walk to Yaletown and to the West End/English Bay. Cool restaurants nearby. Wall Centre is almost in the exact middle of downtown Vancouver.

Amenities
Pool and fitness centre are both good.

Service
The service always seems good when I’ve been there.

Elevator Speed
My one pet peeve about this hotel is the elevator. A couple of times an elevator has been out of order which compounds the traffic problem in a tall building like these ones. Expect to wait for the elevator here.

Atmosphere
It is nice and feels like a hotel, but it is comfortable. Fantastic views from most rooms.

Bed Comfort
The bed was great.

Internet
Pet peeve #2 — they charge for internet as do all Starwood hotels. I don’t know why they still do this.

Room Cleanliness
Very clean.

Toiletries
Sheraton toiletries. Nothing special.

Family Friendly
Yes.

Rates
I typically pay about $$160-170CAD when I stay here which is very reasonable all things considered. Factor in parking and internet on top of that.

Other Notes
There are two towers. I prefer the North Tower for some reason. I think it is easier to access the parking garage. The views from the South tower are probably a bit better though. Either way it’s not too bad.

Number of Stays
5+

When
2007, 2008, 2009

Frequent Flyer Miles / Hotel Points
Starwood Points, but don’t book on Travelocity etc, if you expect to earn them. Best thing to do is check rates online and then call the hotel to book. They will match online rates, but only by phone. Then you get your points too.

Contact Information

Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel

1088 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9
(604) 331-1000

Click for Map

in Misc Bin

Riad Clementine — Marrakech

The Michael Bolton rendition of When a Man Loves a Woman plays over the stereo as the first course of my meal arrives. I’m sitting at an elegantly set table sprinkled with flower petals at the Riad Clementine in Marrakech. Riads are the best choice for places to stay in the Medina of Marrakech and are essentially the equivalent of a fancy bed & breakfast in North America.

The ambience is perfect, the food absolutely delicious, the service impeccable. I’m in love — but not with anyone in particular. I’m all alone here in Morocco, I’ve arrived here on a whim with little expectation, but the food, oh the food! My date tonight is a chicken tagine and a plethora of other great Moroccan amazingness.

I plow my way as gracefully as possible through several courses plus desert. It’s probably not pretty to watch, but my enthusiasm for Moroccan cuisine makes me feel like a fat kid on cake.

I am waited on like some kind of royalty. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but this is just how it is done here so I get used to it.

The Riad Clementine was a huge surprise to me. Not only was the food at the Riad simply amazing, but the place was an oasis from the madness and confusion of the Medina. I didn’t expect to relax in Marrakech, but next time around I will book more time to lounge around in the sun. In mid-December it was about 25ºC and perfectly clear and sunny. If I had more time in Morocco I would have spent some time around the rooftop pool at the Riad.

Getting to the Riad Clementine was relatively easy from the airport, and should only cost about 100 Dirhams by taxi. There are a couple of things I would like to have known before I got there though, and that would be where exactly in the Medina the Riad is.

The Riad Clementine is located at the Bab Doukkala entrance to the Medina. This in itself is a delight and is a less touristy part of town with an authentic feel. It is about a 15-20 minute slightly confusing walk to the Jemaa El Fna and the souks, but if you give yourself some time and consult a map it becomes easy to navigate after a few days.

Bab Doukkala is also reasonably close to the European Quarter of Marrakech, but why you would want to go there is beyond me. The cultural richness of the Medina kicks the crap out of the modern section anyday.

If you’re looking for a nice place to stay in Marrakech, definitely give the Riad Clementine a chance. The service, atmosphere, and quality of the rooms will be a pleasant surprise.

Check out the Riad Clementine at Splendia.com

(click to enlarge)