Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown

The service blew me away. I had asked for a quiet room so I could study for my exam, and they had a study package ready for me. It was the kindest personal touch I've ever experienced. The hotel is central, in a great neighborhood, with a nice communal lounge and a convenient water station and cafe downstairs. My room was very clean and bright. The window didn't offer much of a view, but it brought in good sunlight. I spent many hours studying there, and the noise was fine. Around 11pm to midnight, I could hear people talking in the hallway and doors closing loudly as people turned in, but it soon passed.

A fresh vibe from the moment I arrived, with an extremely friendly, professional, and helpful welcome, a quirky room, and what I think is a coffee shop. The front desk team answered my questions and gave me great restaurant recommendations. There's a lovely 24-hour café with a lovely server. The location is very good, close to the main sights and plenty of restaurants.

Customer service needs work, and there seem to be communication problems within the team. No slippers or water bottle, either. It's an average hotel, maybe three stars, with small rooms and bathrooms. The windows are tiny, so the rooms get little natural light.

The hotel has a beautiful modern design, a great lounge, and a lovely atmosphere and service. A few quirks, though. Parking is in an off-site garage a block away, and the spaces reserved for hotel guests are only on its fifth floor. About half the rooms don't have a refrigerator. We found out after reaching our room, but to their credit, they switched us easily to another room with the same layout and a mini-fridge where you'd expect it. Why not put one in every room? In the bathroom, there are just two small hooks for full-size towels, and nowhere else in the room to hang anything despite plenty of blank wall space. The shower has no handheld head or place for a washcloth, and there's a long tub spout sticking out an inch above the floor that's useless except for stubbing your toe on. More hooks would help!