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With my friend Brigitte from the Milesopedia Facebook group, we went to the Renaissance Montreal Downtown Hotel, part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, to rediscover the world of hotels in these times of virus.
The Renaissance Montreal Downtown Hotel is located on the corner of Boulevard Robert-Bourassa (formerly University Street) and Cathcart, in the shadow of Place Ville Marie. Many shops and restaurants are in the area, but you still need to confirm with each one whether they are open, as some are still closed.
Adjacent to the hotel, the Asian cuisine restaurant East was delicious. In addition, since it is considered “Shop Small” with American Express, we benefited from the promotion that was running at the time ($5 credit on purchases of $10 or more).
Upon entering the hotel, there is a contemporary style with eclectic decoration, where lounge music is king. A note from the hotel management at the entrance strongly recommends disinfecting your hands, and a plexiglass window protects the reception.
The recording took place in accordance with social distances and was quick.
As a Platinum member,I got an upgrade and ended up with the key to a Loft including a King bed and a couch bed. In addition, as a member gift, I received a coupon for breakfast the next morning at East restaurant.
The room was large and located just above the lobby, 4 floors higher.
The decor is unconventional and funky.
We even have a surprise when we open the wardrobe and the corner of the Nespresso coffee maker. There is also a mini-refrigerator.
1 or 2 more people can sleep on the sofa bed.
As for the bathroom, it was bright and streamlined.
However, my only negative comments come from this room. Throughout the hotel, measures were taken to comply with new sanitary standards, but the bathroom fell short.
When trying to use the toiletries, I noticed that the seal on the mouthwash bottle was broken and that the bottle had already been used. The lotion bottle was half empty. Someone had used the body wash bottle.
Then a doubt settled when looking at the rest of the room. If this had been overlooked, what else had been? Just to be sure, I used the four disinfectant wipes given in the room and cleaned the items I was more likely to touch during my stay.
When I reported the incident to the front desk, they apologized but reassured me that each room was left in “quarantine” for at least 24 hours before being rented to someone else.
The front desk officer was still waiting for a follow-up from housekeeping when I left. I had no further follow-up from the hotel afterward. I did not have any compensation or offer to replace the products. **Updated July 08, 2020. Marriott heard my complaint and resolved it to my satisfaction. **
Before booking, I had called the hotel to find out what was open or not. The gym and East restaurant were open. But not the pool and the roof terrace. They will be in early July. Until then, everything is on hold.
The pool looked more like a water basin for lounging only. Excuse the housekeeping!
Large panels of durable fabric separated the inside from the outside and could be removed during summer. You could still easily imagine the size and festive atmosphere of the terrace in summer.
As for the gym, it is located on the 2nd basement level.
Without windows, it has a gloomy side and has inspirational messages on the mirrors.
And if you needed even more motivation, there are benches from the old Forum signed by Guy Lafleur and Patrick Roy, as well as a jersey signed by the Montreal Canadiens players from the 2016-2017 season.
Downtown also means noise. Until late at night, a few car drivers had fun with their engines at the intersection and emergency vehicles drove with their sirens. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room at the back of the hotel that does not face the street or bring your earplugs.
This hotel is next to a variety of shops, restaurants, offices, and tourist attractions within walking distance.
Apart from the history of the toiletries already used, our stay went well. Confidence was certainly shaken, but that will not stop me from heading to another hotel for a getaway in the coming days. I’ll just keep a more open eye.
To maximize your stays and your points accumulation, consult our complete guide to the Marriott Bonvoy program as well as our ranking of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. For your personal purchases, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For your business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card accumulates points on all your business expenses. And if a points purchase promotion is underway, take advantage of it via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.
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