OverviewThe Novotel Ottawa is located on 33 Nicholas Street, which overlooks the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. This property is a five minute walk from the University of Ottawa and about a 10 minute walk from the Rideau Centre (shopping complex).
This hotel has 282 guest rooms, including 9 smoking rooms. LCD televisions, coffee makers and free in-room coffee, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, desks, cordless phones with voice mail, individual climate control, windows that open, free wireless Internet, in-room safes, express television-enabled check-out, MP3 alarm clocks, and choice of pillows (feather, foam, or ergonomic). This is a pet-friendly property (pets stay for free) and on-site indoor parking is $15.50 per night.
On-site amenities include 6 meeting rooms, an indoor pool and whirlpool (6:00am - 9:30pm), 24-hour fitness facility, dry-cleaning service (extra fee applies), and fax, copy, and printing services (extra fee applies).
The on-site Trio Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hours of operation are 6:30am - 10:00pm daily. Breakfast is free for children 16-years old or younger dining with their parents.
Attractions on the west side of the Rideau Canal, such as the National Arts Centre (orchestra, opera, and ballet performances) and Parliament buildings can be accessed from this hotel via the nearby Laurier Avenue bridge. The National Arts Centre is a 13 minute walk from the hotel, while the Parliament buildings are about 17 minutes away on foot. The Ottawa International Airport is about a 25 minute drive from this hotel (walking and driving time estimates: Google Maps).
The GoodThe location of this hotel received the most compliments among the reviews used for this analysis. Many guests found the property within walking distance to downtown tourist attractions, such as the Byward Market and Parliament buildings. A few guests mentioned that they did not need to access their vehicle for the duration of their stay, while a few other reviewers mentioned finding the hotel easy to locate from the 417 highway.
Many guests agreed that their rooms were clean and well appointed with modern furniture. Several reviewers also found their rooms to be quiet and the beds and pillows to be comfortable. A few guests also added that the lobby was well furnished.
Several reviewers commented that they found the room rate reasonable and thought that the hotel offered good value for the money they spent. Some guests also added that given the location and cleanliness, they were likely to stay at this hotel again in the future and recommend the property to others.
The Bad
Of the reviews used for this analysis, positive reviews outnumbered negative reviews. However, there were several common concerns.
Several guests complained that the parking fees were not included in the room-rate. A few reviewers found the parking garage entrance difficult to locate and noted that there was a lack of signage. A couple of guests also complained about the height restrictions of the parking garage that resulted in some guests, who were driving SUVs, to find alternative parking elsewhere.
The room size was frequently described as small or cramped. Several guests also added that the in-room closets were small and that there were no clothes dressers or drawers available in the room for storing personal items. A few reviewers also complained that the bathrooms were separated from the rest of the guest room with a sliding door that did not lock or provide much privacy.
There were several concerns about the customer service at this hotel. A few guests described the staff as unhelpful and disinterested. One reviewer described the front desk agents as "rude". A couple of guests expressed frustration because they were not compensated for inconveniences such as elevators not working or fire alarms sounding in the middle of the night.
A few guests complained about the older equipment in the on-site fitness facility. A couple of reviewers were unable to maintain comfortable temperatures in their rooms, and a few guests found the neighbourhood immediately surrounding the hotel dilapidated and unwelcoming.
Expedia.ca gave this hotel an average score of 4.2 out of 5.0, with 91% of 437 guests recommending the property.
TripAdvisor.ca ranked this hotel #19 out of 62 properties in Ottawa, based on 332 guest reviews.
Hotels.com gave this hotel an average score of 4.3 out of 5.0, from 270 reviews.
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Analyzed by Tammy B.
Writing chose Tammy from the moment she could hold a pencil. The stories may have changed through the years, from creative fiction to television news reporting, but Tammy's passion for words (and fondness for pencils) continues on.
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