I stayed at this hotel for three nights on a recent business/leisure trip to Ottawa and was actually very impressed. Compared to other hotels in the vicinity, the prices here were definitely the best. Furthermore, the free parking is great and very rare in downtown Ottawa. The room was basic but very comfortable and clean, which is basically all you need if you are mainly using the room as a base point and place to sleep. Service was good and the staff was friendly. The hotel is only a short walk from popular downtown areas and I found it surprisingly quiet for sleeping considering it's right on Rideau Street. I would definitely stay here again!

Rooms: Rooms are very large when compared to nearby hotels. Furniture is dated as is the room itself. My room was in a poor state of repair, there was peeling paint in the bathroom, the faucet was leaky, carpets were lumpy and the wallpaper was scratched up. Towels had an odd smell and were extremely rough. As other TripAdvisor Reviewers have noted, the noise suppression is quite poor. Walls are fairly thin, and the doors are very poor quality. You can hear people walking by, or nearby rooms open and close. There is a strange odour which permeates the halls, lobby, and to some extent the rooms. It is kind of like a cheap perfume/room spray.

Service: Check-In was pleasant, staff members were kind and always greeted me with a smile. One exception was the hotel manager, a gruff older man who seemed unconcerned with anyone around him. Otherwise the staff was quite good, it's a shame the hotel is in such disrepair, because they truly are among the better staff I've had in a hotel.

Amenities: Parking is free and is in a fairly secure lot. Anyone can walk in and out but the lot is fairly secluded from the street. Free parking is a bonus when nearby hotels charge $10-20 per night. Staff members even allowed me to park for 4 hours past my check-out time as I had a late meeting. Rooms had wifi, but it was spotty and would cut in and out, on the plus side, it's free. Rooms also had a large fridge, which came in handy. Any outgoing calls cost $0.50

Location: This is the deal-breaker for me. Other reviewers have noted the presence of some shady characters in the neighbourhood. I previously lived in this area and can attest to the fact that it does feel rather unsafe. While I lived nearby for a year and never experienced any real problems, it is an unsavoury area of Ottawa. There are many homeless shelters and soup kitchens in the immediate area. Homeless also tend to congregate near the Metro Supermarket, Liquor Store, and Beer Store down the road. There is a needle exchange across the road, which also brings some questionable characters. While walking to a meeting, an intoxicated female crossed into traffic and caused a fender bender near the hotel.

Nearby there are no tourist attractions, most major attractions in Ottawa are a 20+ minute walk. The Market area which has numerous bars and nightclubs is fairly close by. In the immediate area there are no restaurants, a few fast-food joints, a gas station, and 2 major grocery stores. The University is a 5 minute walk, which is convenient if you're in town for U of O.

Summary:
Pros: Free parking and internet, friendly staff, affordable price.
Cons: Seedy neighbourhood, old, dated rooms and linens, poor noise suppression.

If you're a student or just passing through Ottawa on a budget, this is a reasonable choice. The price is low and parking is included. The hotel itself is safe but the neighbourhood itself is not. If you're in Ottawa as a tourist or are here with a family pay more and get to a nicer part of Ottawa.

this is not a luxury hotel by any means. but it was clean enough, and the rooms were nice enough. the price was very affordable and the location is great. the parking was free as was the wireless wifi--both of which were great.

i agree with the previous comments regarding the strange perfume smell in the small lobby. its not that bad, just strong. also the washrooms were dark and had mildew on the ceilings, but they were otherwise ok.

this is the kind of place for families with kids on a long road trip. there was a class of highschool kids staying there with us. it seems very appropriate for that kind of group of people. its not for business professionals on a conference.

there is also a gym with a basic treadmill and an old weight machine. the gym didn't have any towels--so i'm not sure how you're supposed to clean the machines after use. well the gym didn't look like very many people used it anyway.

lastly, the front desk staff were friendly and helpful.

+Excellent service at nice location. Working AC and Wifi. Great value.
-Didn't like the heavy perfumed smell and could hear the neighbours