GLOBALSTAY. Luxury Rideau Apartments

The rooms are brand new, clean, modern, and nicely equipped. My family enjoyed the room, but the experience around it was stressful and disappointing. Simply Comfort seemed much more focused on collecting money than making sure guests were happy. Booking took a lot of back-and-forth emails, ran on, and involved four different invoices. They asked me to email my credit card details, which I refused, and to pay $500 in regular and pet-damage deposits, on top of the room rate, cleaning fee, and pet fee. I had paid nearly $800 before even staying. Getting in was confusing, stressful, and slow. We waited outside the building for 15 minutes for someone to let us in, and I had to call Simply Comfort several times beforehand to find out how check-in worked. Not luxurious at all. Our toilet clogged during normal use. We called the 24/7 concierge, who isn't in Canada, but were told nobody was available to help. We eventually bought a plunger and fixed it ourselves. The person who could help did arrive later and apologized, which I appreciated, but it was still a hassle. I understand this is a new hotel and that its systems may need time to run smoothly. For Hotel Rideau and Simply Comfort to become a great place to stay, they need to pay much more attention to guest service.

I don't get the bad reviews. Our room was very clean and quiet, and the access instructions were clear and easy to follow. There are a few restaurants nearby, and we'd happily come back and recommend it. It's more like an Airbnb than a hotel, so don't expect hotel service. The bed wasn't the most comfortable, which is why we gave it four stars.

We were delighted with this rental for our two-night trip to visit small towns nearby. The apartment was absolutely spotless, stylish, and had everything we needed. It felt special, with high ceilings, lovely moldings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and contemporary decor. Communication was prompt, and a friendly, helpful woman met us when we arrived. Why squeeze into a tiny hotel room when you can stay in an apartment this lovely? Highly recommend.

We had a decent stay in the Presidential suite, and the location works well for getting to Ottawa or seeing a concert at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata. The lockbox bank is around the back, useful to know at check-in. Email communication is amazing, but get in touch 72 hours ahead because they need a few extra items that standard hotels don't ask for. Going with a friend? The two-bedroom suite could save you from booking two hotel rooms elsewhere.