To the point
Here's my review of the Hilton Lac-Leamy, nestled on the shores of Lac Leamy in the heart of the Gatineau/Ottawa agglomeration.
Nestled on the shores of Lac Leamy in the heart of the Gatineau/Ottawa agglomeration, the Hilton Lac-Leamy is an exceptional retreat that promises a one-of-a-kind experience. Surrounded by waterways, woodlands and recreational trails, it offers the ambiance of an urban resort in an enchanting environment.
A destination in itself, not only because of the multitude of activities and services available at the hotel (restaurants, spa, sports center, swimming pools, etc.), but also because the establishment is connected to and integrated with the Casino du Lac-Leamy, the Théâtre du Casino and the Conference Center. Don’t be surprised if during your stay you don’t feel the need to venture off-site.
The Hilton Lac-Leamy has been a 5-star hotel with a 4-diamond rating since it opened.
Hilton Lac-Leamy - Roundabout and lobby
As soon as you arrive at the hotel roundabout, you’ll notice the artwork, inspired by a snow sculpture created by three casino employees who won the prestigious international snow sculpture competition in Valloire, France, in January 2015. The team had created a curved, harmonious sculpture, entitled Cycle of Life, fashioned from a huge block of snow. Their ephemeral sculpture was recreated in concrete in the hotel roundabout.
Outdoor parking for your car is free and ample enough so that you won’t have any trouble finding a free space.
Upon entering the hotel lobby, visitors are literally dazzled by the four blown-glass chandeliers created by artist Dale Chihuly, and by the six islands of red flowers displayed on the wall at the back of the reception area. In addition, a serpentine of small works of glass surrounds the column of the grand staircase leading to the hotel’s upper floor. Just as the same artist did at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, the result is stunning!
Hilton Lac-Leamy - The bedroom
Each of the 349 rooms offers exceptional views and bright decor. I weigh my words: no room has a bad view. Half the rooms face north on Lac Leamy and the other half south on Lac de la Carrière, the casino fountain and downtown Ottawa. If you want to watch the fireworks from your room, like those at the Grands Feux Loto-Québec or Canada Day, ask for a room on the south side.
Did you know that the artworks that have begun to be installed in the rooms as part of the hotel’s revitalization plan are made from old slot machine tokens? In fact, over 13,000 pounds of tokens were used to create these artworks.
Hilton Lac-Leamy - Swimming pools and outdoor activities
Summer and winter alike, you can take a dip in the heated indoor or outdoor pools. It’s even possible to enjoy the outdoor pool in the middle of winter, by accessing it indoors from the warmth of the pool, without having to get out of the water.
Are you a tennis player? Swap a few serves on one of the two outdoor asphalt tennis courts.
| The hotel’s best-kept secret is bike rental, which is now available at the hotel’s sports center at no charge to guests… helmets included! The hotel has direct access to the recreational pathways of Parc du Lac-Leamy, which connect to the rest of the Gatineau and Ottawa bike path network. |
Hilton Lac-Leamy - Marina and luminous fountains
Normally, if you have a boat and sail on the Ottawa River, it’s possible to go up the Gatineau River and take a marked channel to dock directly at the casino marina. Since the pandemic, the marina has unfortunately not yet been reopened.
Reminiscent of Geneva’s water jet, there’s also a majestic 60-metre-high water fountain in the middle of the former quarry, right next to the marina.
Four luminous fountains are also placed in the central aisle leading to the casino and hotel. The largest reaches 15 metres in height.
Hilton Lac-Leamy - Conrad lounge
Reserved exclusively for Executive Room guests aged 18 and over, the Conrad lounge serves sumptuous continental breakfasts, as well as hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and mignardises in the evening.
The lounge occupies the top three floors of the hotel (18th, 19th and 20th). Executive rooms have access to a panoramic staircase in a glass cage offering breathtaking views of Lac de la Carrière. If you’re lucky enough to be staying on one of these three floors, don’t miss the opportunity to use this staircase to visit the Conrad lounge on the 19th floor.
If you’re not afraid of heights, take in the view from the Conrad lounge’s small outdoor terrace.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - Restaurant Arôme
- Dining room and cellar: 120 seats
- Outdoor terrace: 100 places
On the second floor, let yourself be welcomed by the Arôme grill and seafood restaurant. With a magnificent view of Lac de la Carrière, the restaurant offers guests a memorable experience. A special feature of the menu: dry-aged meat, which appeals to epicureans and meat lovers alike. L’Arôme was the first restaurant in the Outaouais to offer this high-end meat. In summer, enjoy excellent cuisine on its large outdoor terrace by the water.
Hilton Lac-Leamy - Bacchus / Cigar lounge
The elegant Bacchus bar with its leather armchairs, where the smells of port and cigars go hand in hand, remains one of the last places in Quebec where cigar smoking is permitted indoors. The room overlooks Lac de la Carrière and the view is breathtaking.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - Amerispa
Get away from it all at the luxurious Amerispa. There are 17 treatment rooms ready to welcome you. Everything for relaxation and well-being: massages, facials and body treatments, manicures, pedicures and men’s treatments.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - Loto-Québec Collection
The Loto-Québec Collection is one of the most important collections of contemporary corporate visual arts in Canada. Of his 4,300 works, 274 are on display at the Lac-Leamy complex in Gatineau. Jean-Paul Riopelle, Tom Hopkins, Lauréat Marois and John Carl Heywood are among the artists you’ll have the pleasure of discovering here, not to mention American artist Dale Chihuly and his famous glass creations.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - The casino
If you still have some free time, the Casino du Lac Leamy is a world of its own to discover. A long interior passageway provides easy access between the hotel and the casino.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - How to find the best rate at Hilton Lac-Leamy?
Is your travel date flexible? Hilton has an excellent feature on its website that allows you to find the best deals in just a few seconds!
This technique is ideal for finding off-peak, less busy periods at any of the hotels in the Hilton family. With this method, you can confidently book the cheapest night of the year at the Hilton hotel of your choice. It’s perfect for a great-value getaway at a Hilton hotel near you.
Let me show you the “Calendar” method with flexible dates using the hilton.com website to find the lowest rate at the Hilton Lac-Leamy. For this particular method, I use the English version of the hilton.com website, as it works better than the French version.
1- On the www.hilton.com website, enter “Gatineau” as the search city, but leave the date blank, and click on “Find a Hotel”.
2- Choose the Hilton Lac-Leamy and click on “Select Dates”.
3- A calendar with the prices for each night is displayed. By displaying each month in turn, the lowest price of the year is easily identifiable, in a matter of seconds.
For the hotel of your choice in the Hilton family, using the “Calendar” method is the best way to 100% guarantee finding the date offering the lowest price of the year.
Remember that hotel prices are dynamic and can fluctuate daily. So, if you’ve booked a fully refundable fare, it may be worth repeating the above technique a few times before the date of your stay. If a better offer appears, be prepared to cancel your booking and replace it.
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - Save at Hilton with flexible rewards points
The Hilton Lac-Leamy is part of the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
Unfortunately, no credit card in Canada allows for directly accelerating the accumulation of points within this program. The traditional (and slower) way is to collect points by staying at a Hilton hotel. Don’t forget to also charge your hotel restaurant expenses to your room to earn more points.
Fortunately, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to the Hilton Honors program. You can also earn Hilton Honors Gold status by holding the American Express Platinum Card® or the Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Alternatively, many flexible rewards programs offer you the option of converting your points into an account credit and applying them to travel expenses charged to your card. Popular flexible programs include :
Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel - Conclusion
The Hilton Lac-Leamy is definitely one of the top two hotels in Gatineau/Ottawa, offering an unrivalled range of services for both business and leisure travellers. The experience has everything to please and exceed expectations!
A 5-star resort in the heart of a capital city, with such a wide range of services, no resort fee and free parking, is simply an unparalleled product!
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