The Westin (A Marriott Group Hotel), Calgary, Canada

Westin Calgary is located in downtown Calgary.

I stayed in this hotel in April 2019, during my business visit to Canada.

Positives:

1) This hotel is around 1Km (10 Minutes) from Calgary tower and 2.6 km from Calgary Zoo.

2) The breakfast was excellent, and I really enjoyed the Omelette.

3) Always there will be a couple of taxi’s waiting outside the hotel. So the transportation will not be a challenge.

4) All the staffs were helpful and friendly.

5) Most of the buildings in Calgary is connected via the elevated walkway. You have a similar walk way from the hotel aswell.

6) Location of the hotel is excellent.

7) There is a Starbucks within the lobby of the hotel.

8) There are some big conference rooms available in this hotel.

9) Seems underground parking is available.

Negatives:

1) Gym is small, considering the number of rooms in the hotel.

2) Swimming Pool is small, considering the number of rooms in the hotel.

3) Number of Channels in the TV was less.

4) No snacks or Mini bar in the room.

Summary:

1) Its around 18 Kms from Calgary International Airport.

2) For full restaurant option, you will have to visit Keg Steak House. Bar is also within Keg.

3) This is more like an Business hotel than a Luxury retreat hotel.

Fairfield Inn & Suites (A Marriott Group Hotel), Ottawa, Canada

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

Anonymous

As a part of a Business trip to Canada, I had stayed here in this Hotel in July 2019 for 3 Nights.

This was my first stay in the Fairfield brand of the Marriott hotels.

This hotel is near to the Ottawa International Airport.

Seems this is relatively a new hotel. There are around 232 rooms available in this hotel.

There is a bus stop available in a 100 meters distance from the hotel.

You can get bus (Number 97) to city center (coming from airport) from this bus stop.

Advantages:

  1. There is a 24 Hours Airport shuttle available.

2. The reception area is quite spacious.

3. Lot of parking is available (seems its free)

4. Breakfast spread was good. I believe they don’t have a full fledged restaurant as lunch and dinner is not available.

But I think the Hilton hotel (in the same campus) have a restaurant.

5. The room was huge (tall ceilings) with a sofa, 2 large flat screen TV’s, kitchenette including fridge, Oven and coffee maker, king sized bed and fitted wardrobe.

6. The en-suite bathroom was also absolutely massive with separate bathtub and shower plus toilet and basin.

7. The rooms had a wonderful view of the Ottawa airport runway (no much noise from the airport nearby).

You can watch planes from your hotel room.

8. There was free wifi available.

9. Proper gym is also available.

10. They also have a luggage baggage room where you can keep you luggage on safe custody (if there are challenges with early check in or late checkout)

11. The indoor pool was nice and clean.

Disadvantages:

  1. Don’t have much negatives with this hotel.

2. Its around 30-40 minutes (in bus) from the city center.

3. They dont provide free water bottles. I think its common in Canadian Hotels.

But they have a mini snack shop within the hotel near the reception from where you can buy the

water bottles.

Holiday Inn Express Stellarton – New Glasgow, Canada

“The journey not the arrival matters.”

T.S. Eliot

As a part of a Business trip to Canada, I had stayed here in this Hotel in May 2019 for 5 days.

Positives:

Its in a convenient location, just off Highway 104 (near the Trans-Canada highway).

There is an indoor swimming pool with an 80-foot water-slide (children would love this place), a whirlpool and a Fitness Centre.

There is an ATM available inside the hotel (Please note that American express Card was not working in that ATM, not sure why).

There is a gym facility available.

A complimentary basic breakfast is available (Hot and Cool food options).

Decent parking space is available.

The room was spacious (with a Microwave open, Kettle, work table).

Check-in was friendly and helpful.

There are some conference rooms available within the hotel and seems to be booked always.

The Nova Scotia Museum of Industry is 0.7 mile from this hotel.

Negatives:

Hotel doesn’t serve Lunch and Dinner (You can check with reception for getting some Pizza delivery contacts and some restaurant numbers).

No much TV Channels are available.

You will have to pay for the water bottles (but this seems to be common with all canadian hotels)

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Halifax Airport, Canada

“I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met”

John Green

As a part of a Business trip to Canada, I had stayed here in this Hotel in May 2019 for 5 days.

Positives:

Halifax hotel is conveniently located near the Robert Stanfield International Airport (5 km).

There is also a free shuttle service which runs throughout the day (in a gap of 20-30 min).The driver was very nice and helpful.

There are multiple meeting rooms available within the hotel.

Lot of parking is available.

There is an ATM available inside the hotel.

The breakfast buffet items were fresh. The front lobby cookies plus a fruit bowl in the dining area were very much appreciated.

The room was spacious.

There is a gym facility available.

There is an indoor swimming pool.

Check-in was friendly and helpful.

Have heard that they have a ‘Park and Fly’ option.

Negatives:

Hotel doesn’t serve Lunch and Dinner (you can check with reception for getting some Pizza delivery contacts). Also, there are no much restaurants nearby (seems there is one inside the Hilton Hotel which is in the same compound).

No shops nearby.

No much TV Channels are available.

The Halifax city centre is around 1-hour (30+ Kms) journey in bus from the hotel. The bus (320) operates every 1 Hour only. You can check with the Hotel reception for the bus timing. Fortunately, there is a bus stop in front of the hotel.

You will have to pay for the water bottles.

Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport, Canada

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” Anonymous

Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport lies at a distance of 15 minutes ride (in hotel shuttle bus) from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). This property is surrounded by highways 27, 427 and 401.

While staying at Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport, visitors can check out Multi-faith Chapal (3.1 km) and SVBF Sarada Temple (3.1 km), some of Toronto’s top attractions.

As a part of Business Trip, I stayed in this hotel for a day in September 2019.

As my flight to Sarnia from Toronto was cancelled due to some technical issues, Air Canada had booked this accommodation for me (for an overnight stay). As a part of the complimentary accommodation, Air Canada also provided a food voucher that I could redeem.

Pros:

They have a 24 Hours (with a duration of 15-30 Minutes) free airport shuttle available from the Pearson Airport. Sometimes the waiting time for shuttle is more.

The shuttle driver was very helpful and nice person.

They have a proper restaurant with a good variety in the menu.

There are also some restaurants available outside like Keg Steakhouse & Bar (1.8 km), Sushi-Ya Japanese (0.2 km), and Chop Steakhouse & Bar (1.1 km).

There is a Tim Hortons just in front of this hotel.

There is ample parking space available. Not sure if there is a fee for the parking.

The rooms are very spacious.

There is a small Bar available.

The hotel is just 15+ minutes away from the airport (in Hotel shuttle), but sometimes the waiting time for shuttle is more.

There is a 24 hours snacks shop available in the ground floor.

Cons:

No complimentary water was provided.

We cannot still consider this as an Airport hotel as its 10 minutes in shuttle from the airport.

Since this property is near to a Busy airport, there might be some disturbing noise by the aeroplanes.

Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Belgium

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

Anonymous

As a part of a Business trip, I visited Brussels in August. Had stayed in Renaissance hotel (4 star property) for 4 nights. This was my first stay in a Renaissance hotel of Marriott group.

The Marriott executive apartments European Quarter is the building next to this hotel.

Pros:

1) The Luxembourg Square (Place du Luxembourg) bus stop is nearby. It’s around 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel. You can catch Bus 21 to reach the Luxembourg Square from Airport.

2) There are some small restaurants nearby:

Kebab House (Jut opposite to the hotel))

Bombay House (Snack / groceries shop)

Star of Asia (Indian Cuisine)

3) The European Union Parliament is at a walkable distance.

4) Front desk staff was pleasant and helpful in giving out maps and helping with directions. They helped me in planning my day trips.

5) There is also an indoor pool.

6) City centre is also nearby (may be around 2 kms). One evening, I walked from city centre to this hotel after having dinner at an Indian restaurant.

7) All the toiletries were good along with all the other items like comfy bed , A/C in good working order, coffee/tea facilities, in room safe, refrigerator, strong free wifi and so on.

8) The Gym also had a lot of equipment’s.

9) Very little noise from the street carried into the room.

10) Although located in a busy neighbourhood the hotel is calm and silent.

11) The hotel surroundings were clean and safe.

12) There is also a taxi stand near the Luxembourg Square bus stop.

13) They allowed me to do an early check – in, free of cost (3 hours before the actual time)

14) Lobby and restaurant are impressive. They have a full-fledged restaurant.

15) There are many hangout points / Pubs near the Luxembourg square.

Cons:

1) Airport is around 13 Kms.

2) Train station is little far away from the hotel.

3) The minibar was empty.

4) There was some major renovation happening in the hotel (not a real negative, though)