Radisson Hotel Sudbury

The staff were the best part of our stay. The two men in the lobby helped us when we arrived around 10 pm after booking that same day, and the receptionist patiently explained the connected garage and how to get back into the hotel. Parking was free, with a card, and there was a marked area for hotel guests. The two women at checkout were kind too. I had lots of questions as we were new to the area, and everyone was patient with me. We picked this place because Service Canada was within walking distance, despite the negative comments. I only needed somewhere to sleep while we took care of things in Sudbury, so I wasn't expecting a grand hotel. The building is old and dated, but okay for the price. Our queen room had a sofa, a clean bathroom, and comfortable beds and pillows that weren't too high. We didn't use the closet. My kids and I didn't get any rash or red itchy spots, unlike our experience at another three-star hotel. Breakfast was open around 6:30 to 9:30, I think. The restaurant staff were nice, especially the Asian guy. They had eggs, potatoes, waffles, sausage, bread and muffins. Nothing special, just a typical three-star breakfast, but it was included and fine for us. We had a good stay all in all, though the hotel needs a renovation.

The front desk staff were polite and tried to help, but the condition of the hotel overshadowed that. Our room was spacious, though dated and worn, with tired furniture, an early-2000s look, and cleanliness below average. The TV was small, the air smelled musty, and that odor made it hard to relax. The hallway carpets smelled unpleasant as soon as we stepped out of the elevator. The property needs serious attention to maintenance, ventilation, and renovation. We were in Sudbury for business. The downtown location is handy for restaurants and beside a small shopping mall, but the surrounding area felt rough. There were quite a few homeless people nearby, which made it feel uneasy at times. For the price and the Radisson name, I expected things to be cleaner and fresher. It could work if you need to be downtown and want a larger room, but it wasn't comfortable enough for me to recommend without major updates.

The fire alarm was going when I got back from dinner on the second day. Guests were in the lobby and outside, but I couldn't see any staff to explain what was happening. The fire department arrived and gave the all-clear about 20 minutes after I got there. Later, at 11:30 pm, dripping from a ceiling leak woke me. I was worried about damage or waking up to a shower at 3 am, so I called the front desk. The receptionist said they'd look for another room and asked me to give them five minutes. After 15 minutes with no update, I called again. They told me to come down for a new key, and I had to carry all my things myself. Nobody offered to bring a luggage cart. The replacement was a conjoined room on the basement level that smelled of cigarette smoke, and I immediately found a hair in the bed. I was there for two nights on a work trip. On the first night, the room seemed poorly cleaned and maintained, and the bathroom smelled of cigarettes. I thought I could put up with it for a couple of nights, though I also noticed water damage on the ceiling and one wall. The hallways had musty, dirty carpets, and doors kept slamming through the night and waking me. At Pestos, dinner didn't meet my expectations and the service was inattentive despite only three tables being occupied. Breakfast was mediocre, and the yogurt was warm by 7:30 am. As a woman travelling alone, I didn't feel safe. The area is known as one of the worst in Sudbury, and I didn't like being on the main level with a patio door leading outside, given how many homeless people were around. I considered sleeping in my car in the garage instead of staying the second night.

Kids were banging hockey sticks on my door, running into walls, screaming, knocking on doors and playing mini hockey in the hallway right outside my room. I complained, and they said they'd send security, but nobody came. When I went out for some Tims, the children had spread through the lobby and hallways. Their parents didn't seem to care, and the hotel did nothing to stop it. Apparently this is normal there, which is completely unacceptable. On top of that, the bathroom light in half the rooms apparently turns on all the lights in the room, so a late night trip to pee can wake everyone. This was the worst hotel stay I've had. I won't come back, and neither will my friends and family. I get that the hotel may make a lot of money from hockey families, but people who were there that night won't return after seeing children and parents take over the place. Save your money and sanity and stay elsewhere.