Cartier Place Suite Hotel

The rooms meet American standards for amenities and cleanliness, and I have only good memories from my time here. I stayed for over a month, found the location good, and would happily come back. A reliable option for a longer stay.

The rate was reasonable and the location was good, but the parking garage felt intimidating. The rooms were spacious and geared toward business travellers staying longer, though dated and a bit worn. It’s odd that the hotel still uses brass keys you could lose. The lock took a particular jiggle to work, and staff had to show us how. They were prompt and courteous about it.

The staff were super nice, and our room was extremely quiet and very clean, with no smell or overlooked dusty spots. The shower had good water pressure, the curtains blocked light completely, and there was loads of storage, including a pharmacy in the bathroom. We also had a French door and balcony. The location, just off Elgin St, was excellent for our two-night fall weekend getaway. The kitchenette was fully equipped, with a real 24' stove, microwave, tiny fridge, kettle, coffee maker, and toaster. The decor and amenities are very dated, so it’s not the place if you want an Instagram-ready room. The electrical setup was odd too: neither the first switch by the front door nor the one by the bedroom turned anything on. There wasn’t a desk, so we used the dinette table for our laptops. Natural light was limited. That didn’t bother us much since we mostly slept and showered there and spent the day visiting, but it could be a deal breaker if you plan to stay in during the day. Parking is very nearby, though expensive. Nothing really bad to report.

I booked three nights to visit my grandma because the hotel claimed to be dog-friendly, seemed affordable, and had decent reviews. I couldn’t cancel through Expedia, or I’d have left after the first night. My large dog has shoulder issues, and at check-in I was told dogs couldn’t use the elevator and I’d need to take the stairs. They put us on the sixth floor. I explained that my dog couldn’t manage six flights, and the annoyed front desk clerk moved us to a lower floor. The stairs were open between levels, and my dog was terrified. As a professional dog trainer, I know few dogs would be comfortable on stairs like those without being specifically desensitized to them. I went back to explain that we needed the elevator. The clerk was clearly irritated, but agreed. When we reached the room, it smelled so strongly of old cigarette smoke I almost gagged. The same person at the desk dismissed my concern and insisted the building was non-smoking. It used to be an apartment complex, and I suspect the smell had sunk in over years of someone smoking there. They moved us again, acting like I was being difficult. That set the tone for the stay. I noticed some staff giving my dog dirty looks when I used the elevator. One rainy day, two female staff members looked at him and said, “Ugh, he’s all wet,” in disgust. One woman on staff was friendly, the only positive part of the experience. Otherwise, the hotel’s attitude toward dogs felt unwelcoming and misleading. Despite the “dog-friendly” sign in the window, I wouldn’t stay here with a dog. My dog is very well-mannered and clean, so the treatment was disappointing and unfair. I can’t help wondering if they put us in that gross, smoky room because I had a dog.