Ottawa Embassy Hotel

The Executive King Suite was clean and fairly roomy, and being just a block from Elgin St was convenient. But working there was a problem. I was on the 10th floor, with loud drilling and hammering for hours while construction was underway upstairs. No one had warned me. My room was also directly opposite the elevator, despite my request for somewhere farther away. I only found out at arrival that they couldn't accommodate it, and I kept hearing people in the hallway and elevator. I stayed because finding another hotel at the last minute wasn't realistic, and paid for the room. Afterward I emailed about both problems and never got a reply.

The location was fantastic, and the staff handled the small issues we ran into right away and with a smile. We spent five days here and were pleased with how clean and comfortable the unit was. It's an older property and not especially luxurious, but it worked well for two people working during the day, with both a desk and kitchen table for workspace. We'd definitely come back.

The kitchen was the main reason we chose this place for our family's Winterlude trip, and the price worked for us. The Rideau canal was a 10-minute walk for skating, while Byward market and the museums were under a 20-minute drive. Nearby, there's a Dollarama, and Farm Boy is the next closest grocery store, though it's higher end. The hotel restaurant costs extra and seemed pricey, but having our own kitchen made that less of an issue. We were missing forks and anything to wash dishes with in our unit. The small gym has a treadmill and weights, which I used, and there's also a sauna, though I didn't try it. From outside the hotel looks a little old, but inside it seemed recently renovated. Not a bad stay for four days and three nights, and I'd consider it again.

The balcony was a nice spot to sit and look over city hall through the large patio door. Inside, the room was huge, with seating for ten and room left over, plus a dining area off the kitchen where four could eat comfortably. The bed was comfortable, and the shower stayed very warm during the coldest days of the year. I'd come back.