Review: Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East | Marriott Bonvoy

The Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East, a hotel that belongs to the Marriott chain, is a category 2 property in Marriott’s “select” mid-range segment. Customers give the establishment a 4.5/5 rating and TripAdvisor its 2021 Recognition Award.

The hotel retails at the time of booking in November 2021, between 10,000 and 12,500 points/night or from $144 for the member rate.

Courtyard Ottawa East Factsheet

The hotel has 15 floors, 330 rooms including 64 suites. This means that the Marriott member has a good chance of getting a suite upgrade when requested. This is more difficult to achieve when a hotel has only a few. I inherited an executive suite by using the hotel’s chat option, which becomes available 48 hours before arrival.

The Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East is a ten-minute drive from downtown Ottawa. In addition to the conference and events center to which it’s attached, you’ll need to use some form of transport to reach the city’s main points of interest. Bus #9 passes in front of the hotel and takes you to, for example, the BY Market in 20 minutes.

Personally, I like to take advantage of free parking outside the downtown core, as was the case here at the Marriott Courtyard Ottawa East. But you can of course take your car and return to the hotel’s indoor parking lot after the day.

The reception desk

The lobby at the entrance of the hotel is spacious. In addition to the four reception desks, there are several transitional or waiting areas for hotel guests or conventioneers.

The executive suite

So I had the opportunity to be upgraded to an executive suite when I requested through the hotel chat. And I enjoyed the room.

The first thing you notice when you enter a suite is the retro ’70s decor, in shades of orange and brown. However, these rooms have all been recently renovated. It must be the new taste of the day.

After the hallway, you enter the living room with TV, sofa bed, two armchairs and small tables that also serve as dining areas. The kitchen is well-equipped with a counter for preparing meals, a dishwasher, a microwave and a fridge. In the same room is the office area with its ergonomic chair. As both elements are on castors, they can be moved around the room at will, depending on the desired light or view.

Throughout the suite, there are power and USB outlets to charge whatever a family needs to charge. In addition, high-speed Internet is offered free of charge to all guests.

Then, in the back bedroom, a very large bed, two bedside tables, the wardrobe and a second TV.

The bathroom has a combined bath and shower and all the usual necessities. However, I was surprised by the smell of the mint shampoo in Paul Mitchell’s “Tea Tree Special” products. Do you know it?

Benefits and services of Courtyard Ottawa-East

Le Bistro

This ground-floor bistro, affiliated with the Starbucks café, comes in very handy. It offers quick but good food. The bill goes up very quickly and we soon ate up our two $10 coupons handed to us at check-in, thanks to our Platinum status.

Well, the meatballs in their pomodoro sauce with ricotta and parmesan cheese did the trick for me. As well as the generous burrito for breakfast the next day.

Swimming pool and fitness room

The pool and gym are small, but the view of Ottawa from the fifteenth floor is well worth the effort. At the time of my visit, the whirlpool was closed.

Other

A laundry room is available, ideal for a small load when needed.

Finally, a word about personnel. I particularly appreciated being addressed in French, with a nice English accent. The effort is a pleasure, especially when we are only a stone’s throw from Quebec.

The same employee explained to me that Courtyard hotels did not offer water bottles in the rooms while handing me one. Finally, we had a discussion about how easy it would be for the brand to replace the “powdered tea and coffee dyes” that contain everything but milk, with the Nestle-type liquid ones that contain at least one milk substitute. In short, a responsive employee who makes a difference in the customer experience.

Conclusion about Courtyard Ottawa East

There are approximately 10 Marriott hotel offerings in the Ottawa area. The Courtyard Ottawa East is the only category 2 and the least expensive of all in points. Perfect for a weekend in February during Winterlude or in March during spring break. It would then only cost between 20,000 and 25,000 points for two nights’ accommodation.

Free indoor parking and a kitchenette make up for the lack of free breakfasts. These can be taken in the room with our own food. There are also options to have meals delivered from local restaurants and to use the bistro, which is open until 11:00 pm every day.

The swimming pool also helps you relax at the end of the day.

Finally, if you’re a train enthusiast, why not take the train to Ottawa? The train station is just 1.5 km away, a 5-minute cab or Uber ride from the hotel. The price of these Via Rail tickets can be offset in whole or in part with AIR MILES Cash (now Blue Rewards).

You can reach the hotel via a footbridge from the station, which crosses the motorway. And you’re just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.

The world of points and miles offers something for everyone. Your turn?

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