It is really quite amazing that you can stay at a hotel two times and have completely different experiences each time.

I stayed at the hotel 3 nights. First night, I had a bed as hard as Fred Flinstone. Right next to the ice machine, very noisy! NOT IMPRESSED! Second night I got to switch and they mixed up my rooms and sent me on a wild good chase. I ended up in a room right next to the elevator on the pool floor. I was starting to think they were dumping all the crappy rooms on me? I complained that I had already had one very noisy room and could I have something even average? They finally moved me to an awesome room - top of the line. Lesson learned? This hotel has alot of different rooms, of different upgrade levels. You never know what you are going to get!!

They are also going throu renovations. Not really a nice environment to stay in.

Also, I was told by several people, this is a part of town that is not safe to walk in? YIKES!

The good thou - the one gal at the front desk tried really hard to help me. The Elephant is an awesome restaurant. The pool and whirlpool are so nice too!

The hotel was clean, and beautiful though obviously not in it's prime. The rooms were old fashioned (big tube t.v.'s not flat panel etc) but the room was clean and comfortable, and you could tell that the quality had been really good. The conference rooms and lobby are beautiful, I was there for a conference, which was great, but it would also be ideal for weddings. We booked our rooms almost a year in advance and got a really fantastic deal, so I have to say it was great "bang for your buck". It's the location that sets it apart though. Right in the centre of downtown, with pedways to city centre Mall, Canada Place, and the Shaw conference centre. We didn't have to set foot outside unless we wanted to.. which is great for those cold winter days.

I used to stay here on business trips a couple of years ago, and now I need to make regular trips again. This hotel is right on the outskirts of the core - a good location. Check in was easy. My new work colleague, who has been making a habit of staying here, was given an upgrade and said his room was decent. If my room was also an upgrade then it was disappointing. Good size room, dated furniture, and old tube TV. You don't see too many of those in business class hotels anymore. My towels were pretty dry/crispy and the toilet tissue was sandpaper - something like you I guess you might find in a Motel 6 in the U.S.. The continental breakfast is mediocre and that is being nice. Don't try to find any protein, just breads and fruits. The place was quite nice just a few years ago including the breakfast. Anyway, this week coming I will try another downtown hotel and in two more weeks I'll try another one again. Watch for those reviews in order to get an apple to apple comparison.

I paid way too much for a very mediocre hotel room. Would never stay there again. Avoid at all costs.
Brian S.