Auberge Universal

The food was a mixed bag. The Spaghetti Bolognese was a generous portion, enough for two, and a solid choice. The Meat Lasagna had more sauce than noodles, so it’s for anyone who likes swimming in meat sauce. The Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken was surprisingly fresh, with capers and nicely grilled chicken. My daughter, our resident burger critic, rated the Cheeseburger with Fries 7/10. The cheese was missing, and the fries were limp and cold, like Costco fries left out too long. The bill came to $126 with tip. Our two-day, two-night family stay was okay, but I probably wouldn’t return as a first or second choice. Check-in was quick and painless. Parking was another story, limited because of construction, with cars packed in like musical chairs. We left ours there the whole stay, worried that if we moved it, we’d end up in some sketchy, overpriced lot. They gave us two tiny tubes of shampoo and conditioner for three adults. That felt like rationing, especially since most hotels have dispensers now and I hadn’t brought my own. Lesson learned, bring your own shampoo unless you enjoy playing Survivor in the shower. At least the shower itself was fantastic, like a back massage and a machine gun to the head. There was only one pillow per person, but the extras we requested did arrive.

There was a hockey tournament during our stay, and the hotel was managed well. The hockey parents seemed to enjoy themselves responsibly, and things were quiet by 8:30 each evening so guests could get to sleep early if they needed to. Staff were very friendly and quick to respond to every request.

The new renovated rooms are much better, and the people here are awesome, really friendly. I talk to them every time I come. It’s a 4 star hotel with 1-star wifi, though. It can’t even keep messaging connected.

Really disappointing. Parties were going on in three different banquet halls, and it was very loud until 11 pm. The parking lot was packed because of the parties, and I waited 25 minutes trying to find a spot. If you’re looking for a relaxing stay, this place is too busy and traffic is bad.