Review : Delta Hotels Montreal | Marriott Bonvoy

The Delta Hotels Montreal is a category 5 Marriott Bonvoy hotel. A night paid for with points can go for between 30,000 and 40,000 points depending on the season.

Since there was a 30% discount for the second night and I could use the senior rate, it was much better for me to keep my points and earn them by paying for my stay with my Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card.

So I went through the Milesopedia link to book and offer myself a nice weekend for Mother’s Day.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points to stay for free at over 7,000 hotels worldwide is to be a Marriott Bonvoy American Express (and/or Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express^MD Card) cardholder.

In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations.

And each year, you’ll earn a free hotel night certificate (35,000 point value) as well as 15 Elite nights towards your Marriott Bonvoy status.

Alternatively, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points with American Express Membership Rewards credit cards. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points at a rate of 5:6 (50,000 Membership Rewards points = 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points).

For example, with the American Express Cobalt^MD Card, you earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar of purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, bars, convenience stores and home delivery. It is one of the best credit cards in Canada for travellers. Find out why here.

Check out this page for all the welcome offers on cards that earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel is a stone’s throw from Ste-Catherine Street and its Phillips Square, which is, let’s face it, undergoing major work. It is also close to the entertainment district with its Museum of Contemporary Art. To the west of the hotel, on Sherbrooke Street, is the National Gallery. The exhibitions can be visited by booking in advance.

The closest metro station is Place-des-Arts. It can be reached on foot in a few minutes. There were several people walking down Ste-Catherine Street that Saturday.

I arrived by car. The hotel has a paid parking lot at $27 per day that lets you come and go as you please. However, since it is not accessible due to renovations, the hotel has made an agreement with a nearby underground parking lot under the same conditions.

But I knew that the city of Montreal was offering free parking until September on weekends in the Ville-Marie district. After about ten minutes of wandering, I found a free place on City Councillors Street, right next to the hotel.

The hotel lobby is large and definitely designed for conferences and business meetings. I could easily imagine a lively 5@7 in this large space. Several tables and high chairs on one side, armchairs and low tables for our drinks on the other. The hotel reception is also located here.

I particularly liked the frames that were reminiscent of Montreal icons.

The reception is at the front of a long corridor that leads to the sports club. We come across a SPA, a car rental office and a grooming salon for men. All closed in time of pandemic.

Check-in is very quick, immediately after the Lufthansa team of flight attendants and pilots have gone upstairs.

As requested on the phone the day before, I was able to get a room upgrade. On the 18th floor, a so-called luxury room with a balcony.

I chose my pool time slots for the next day and the day after that, and they gave me the menu since the hotel has recently started offering breakfast and dinner in the room during the weekends.

I gave my Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card as collateral and to pay for my stay there.

With the Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card, you earn 5 points per dollar for all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

This is the best credit card to have if you stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels frequently.

The so-called deluxe room, with a view of the city centre, is spacious. We first arrive in a small hall with mirrors, hooks and wardrobe.

In the main room, there are several lamps, a work area, a small table near an armchair for eating, a sofa and the very large bed.

The bathroom invites relaxation but does not stand out. A glass shower without bath, a single sink and good hygiene products. The dryer is located there as in all hotels.

The Delta Hotel Montreal has a very large sports centre on the ground floor: a weight and cardio room, a swimming pool and a jacuzzi.

Three people can be in the room at a time and bookings are offered in one-hour increments.

There were few people at the sports club this Mother’s Day weekend.

A well-equipped children’s playroom, closed due to the pandemic, caters to the needs of parents who want to exercise while their children play.

A window allows young and old to see each other at all times.

One of the most popular benefits for Marriott Platinum members is free breakfast.

But the Delta Hotel Montreal does not offer any. Surprisingly, to make up for the closed lounge that offered drinks and snacks, Delta chose to only offer 750 points per night as compensation, a value of about $6 according to Milesopedia.

I ordered an omelet for about twenty dollars and the next day bought the bowl of granola and yogurt in the little market for $5 plus dinner.

If you make purchases in the bars and restaurants of your hotel, do not forget to charge these expenses to your room bill. So you’ll earn up to 17.5 points per dollar based on your Marriott Bonvoy status!

And when you check out, pay with your Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card to earn 5 points per dollar!

The Delta Hotels Montreal represents good value in the Marriott Bonvoy program because of:

• its downtown location where everything can be done on foot or by public transport
• its complete sports centre with training room, swimming pool, jacuzzi and adjoining children’s playroom.
• its view of the city centre from the balcony and its spacious room.

Classified in the category 5, a night can be booked from 30 000 points (count between 120 000 and 160 000 points for a stay of 5 consecutive nights thanks to the option “Stay 5 nights at the price of 4 using Marriott Bonvoy points“.

However, I was left speechless by the phone call from the customer service manager following my satisfaction survey. He wanted to know why I was giving my stay an 8. So far, so good.

But he was not very sensitive to my remark concerning the absence of breakfasts(these should have been back since July 1st 2021) and the poor 750 points granted per night as compensation. Instead, I was reminded of Marriott’s general policy that had ruled on these terms.

Having been to other Delta’s, I know that each hotel has some leeway in this regard. We are asked for our opinion, but they don’t want to hear the answer. I therefore keep my rating of 8.

Of course, the days will return when lounges will reopen and Platinum members and above will be able to enjoy their status more.

Here is my breakdown of the costs and earnings for this trip: