Le St-Martin Hôtel | Montreal, Canada

Trip Advisor – Certificate of Excellence 2013

Prior to visiting Montreal, my biggest challenge was deciding whether to stay in Downtown Montreal or Old (Vieux) Montreal.  Bars, nightlife, shopping, and restaurants are just a few keywords that encapsulate the area of Downtown Montreal, whereas cobblestone streets, cafes, French restaurants, and buggy rides epitomize the area of Old Montreal.  Which one’s better?  Well, that depends on what you like to do.  My personal favorite was Downtown Montreal since there were other cuisines to choose from aside from French, in addition to there is more to do during the evening hours. 

Old Montreal is quite small, cultural, and would appeal to families as well as those looking for a romantic getaway.  On the other hand, Downtown Montreal is more modern, lively, and would most definitely appeal to singles as well as those looking for some nightlife.  That’s the best I can sum it up. 

Once I narrowed down the location, deciding on a hotel was the next challenge.  With so many good hotels in the vicinity to choose from, I finally decided on the Le St-Martin Hôtel based on its proximity to Rue Saint Catherine and Rue Saint Crescent, beautiful luxury rooms, and overall value.  Aside from a few issues mentioned below, my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful stay at this tasteful boutique hotel.


Lobby & Fireplace


Breakfast A La Carte… part of our hotel rate at restaurant L’Aromate


Grand Lux Room Entrance


Comfortable Bed w/Down Comforter


Grand Lux Room w/Fireplace


Love the sliding shutter doors between the bathroom and bedroom, fyi… you can close them, but they aren’t sound proof.


Bathroom w/standup shower, tub, & flat screen TV
 




Double Sink


Tub


Other Details


LOCATION
980 Boulevard de Maisonneuve West
Montreal, Quebec  H3A 1M5
(downtown – 1 block from Saint Catherine)


WEBSITE
Le St-Martin Hotel


RECOMMENDED STAY in Montreal
3 to 4 nights


VERDICT: 4 / 5
This lovely boutique hotel is close to Rue Saint Catherine and Rue Saint Crescent, hence it is the perfect location for shopping, dining, and clubbing.  The spacious rooms are contemporary and have a warm and cozy feel.  The bathrooms are spacious, but only certain rooms have a stand up shower – make sure you read the details prior to booking.  We walked into the room to sounds of soft classical music playing, this was a really nice touch since I am a fan of classical music.


My issues…
1. The walls are too thin.  Despite being on the highest floor, you can hear doors slamming.  The sound of the AC/Fan blocked out the noise at night.
2. The customer service is okay, by this I mean the service at the front desk is not particularly welcoming, but very matter of fact.  Having said that, I found the bellboys to be much more friendly, attentive, and helpful than the folks at the reservation desk. 
3. The service at the restaurant where I ate breakfast each morning was painfully slow.  Now although the restaurant at the hotel is under a different management, I did eat breakfast at the restaurant, and so I need to mention this.  The restaurant next door seems short-staffed during breakfast hours.  We waited almost 10 to 15 minutes just for our “first” cup of coffee, every morning.  Additionally, the Brioche Banana Bread that was on the menu was sold out each day, and yes I showed up for breakfast 1/2 an hour prior to closing, but still.  Apparently, everyone wants Brioche Banana Bread for breakfast in Montreal, and I’m thinking if it is so popular, just make a little extra. 

Aside from the issues mentioned above, overall I was extremely happy with my stay at Le St-Martin.  The room was spacious, cozy, and comfortable, and not to mention the unbeatable location in Downtown.


Pros:
Centrally Located in Downtown – 1 block to Saint Catherine and 3 blocks to Saint Crescent.
Old Montreal – 20-30 minute walk or $12 CAD one way cab ride.
Warm & Cozy Lobby w/Fireplace.
Beautiful Comfortable Rooms.
Spacious Rooms & Bathrooms.
Keurig Coffeemaker
Hear Classical Music upon walking into the room.
Room w/Fireplace, although we didn’t use it summertime. 
Cordial and Helpful Bellboys.
Complimentary Wifi.


Cons:
Walls too thin.
Nonchalant Front Desk Staff.
Service at restaurant for breakfast is painfully slow.

Location: Excellent | Value: Excellent | Sleep Quality: Good | Rooms: Very Nice | Service: Average




Other Good Options: 
Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile (downtown)
Le Germain Montreal (downtown)

TELL ME: Have you been to Montreal?  If so, where did you stay?  Do you recommend staying in Downtown or Old Montreal?