After doing research on the hotel's website, TripAdvisor.com and on the Hotels.com website, I booked through Hotels.com. Just for reassurance, I called the hotel (after I booked with Hotels.com) to ask direct questions about the Novotel Montreal Center a/k/a Novotel Montreal Downtown. I was told with effusive enthusiasm by a staff member that I would be staying in a renovated room called a Novation Room. When I arrived during the holidays, I was not impressed with the room, which looked to me like it had received a cookie-cutter remodeling.

The mini French doors to the corner bathroom were cute but could not hide the dirty floors and vanity. There was hair on the floor and sink as well, which I found unacceptable. The bed was comfortable but nowhere along the lines of the bed I had at L'Hotel XIXe siecle earlier in the year.

With the exception of two staff members, service was poor at this hotel. I will always remember the snootiness of one staffer and the reluctance of another staffer in looking at my phone bill. I needed that person to check my bill because she had cited an alarmingly high amount that made no sense because I was using a phone card (purchased on rue St-Catherine on my first day of arrival). After rereading some reviews of this Novotel here on TripAdvisor and seeing that others were automatically billed for simply opening the minibar door or touching the water bottles, I now figure that maybe that's what happened to me. I didn't touch the water bottles, but, sure, I opened the minibar door just to see what was in there. I shouldn't be billed for curiosity. No one should. Anyway, I spoke with the reluctant staffer face to face, and she straightened everything out.

The hotel's restaurant was this Novotel's best feature, despite the high prices. But then again, nearly all hotel restaurants have exorbitant prices. The meals at the Novotel's restaurant -- I can't recall its name -- are delicious. The host and server were friendly and bilingual during my stay. And, by the way, if you really like the service in the restaurant, let your tip reflect that. Don't be cheap. If you are trying to save money, don't eat at a hotel restaurant. Go out and find a diner, pizzeria or a cafe. There are plenty within reach of the Novotel, especially nearby on rue St-Catherine and rue Crescent.

In fact, please keep in mind that there are many restaurants in Montreal, period. Not just in Centre-Ville , a/k/a downtown Montreal proper. Why not venture out farther into the city, to Plateau Mont-Royal, Miles End, Chinatown. etc. Warning: If you ever stay at this Novotel or any downtown Montreal hotel on Christmas day, either dine at the hotel's restaurant or venture out to Old Montreal, where many restaurants are open and practically beg you to come in. Why? Most restaurants and other establishments are closed on Christmas.

By the way, I do not agree with one reviewer that Old Montreal is an easy walk from this Novotel. When I needed to travel to Old Montreal on one day of my visit, I took a taxi and paid $8 -- and I had my eye on the meter. If you don't want to take a cab, take the metro to Old Montreal and then take a taxi back to your hotel, especially if you are dining late into the night. The taxis are always frequent in Old Montreal, so you will not have a problem. The reason I would not recommend you take the metro to return to this Novotel is that the area is quite desolate at night. With the lots adjacent to the hotel, it can be dreary and spooky.

If you have young children in tow or are a solo traveler and need to get to Old Montreal at night, I strongly would advise asking the Novotel front-desk staff to call you a car. Or just walk one long block (that is, rue de la Montagne) up to rue St-Catherine, where you can hail a taxicab. Then, again, I strongly urge you to catch a taxi after you finish dining and/or touring in Old Montreal at night so that you can return safely to the Novotel. For those folks staying five days to a week at the Novotel and buying an unlimited metro card, be aware that it must be used for three consecutive days of travel. So you will find yourself needing to use a taxi here and there, anyway. On my past visits to Montreal, I found it easier to take the metro to a destination (unless I was traveling there really late at night, in which case I took a taxi), and then I would take a taxi back to whatever hotel I was staying at.

I forgot to mention room service at the Novotel Montreal Center a/k/a Novotel Montreal Downtown. Oops, sorry -- I never got a chance to HAVE room service. The prices were expectedly high, so that wasn't the reason I didn't have room service. Instead, the door tag showing my choices for room service was never removed from the door, and I had left my room in the morning and returned late that night. It was so late that it was actually the next morning.

Booking this Novotel has taught me a lesson. Next time, I will not stay there. I do not blame Hotels.com; that company cannot possibly keep up with every little renovation at all of the hotels around the world. Next time, I'd rather pay a bit more money and stay at one of the boutique hotels in Old Montreal, where the service never fails to be personal (almost intimately so) and superior. You do not need to stay at a big-chain hotel downtown or elsewhere in Montreal to have a decent breakfast, lunch or dinner at the on-site restaurant, either. Or to have the concierge help you plan a last-minute day trip. At a boutique hotel, you might find a hospitality desk rather than a concierge because the staffers tend to wear different hats. But you surely will not have a motel experience as I did at this Novotel, which is really great at offering barebones service (every iota of sarcasm intended, here).

My wife, son, and myself stayed there primarily for the location. It is a very short walk to the Bell Centre where the Canadiens hockey team plays. The people in the hotel were very helpful and the proximity to the shopping areas and restaurants was great. The only shortcoming is parking. Few spaces underground or you can park in the open lot across the street. The room was large enough for the three of us. Did not eat there so I cannot say as to the food there.

I was not impressed with this hotel at all. I was there for two nights
on a weekend and each morning, I was waken up at 6:30 am by construction in the building. I told the reception that I was not impressed with this. If they had to do the construction, it could it wait until later in the morning, I asked. The reception reassured me it would not happen again. It did however. I told them again the next morning and I even wrote a letter of complaint. I heard nothing. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.

Spent five nights at the Novotel Montreal Centre while on a business trip. The location was perfect for me - and is great in general being downtown close to businesses, restaurents, and across the street from the home of the Montreal Canadians!

I had an "executive room". It was excellent, large, and the bed uncommonly comfortable, however three minor things bothered me about the room: One, as in many hotel rooms, the room is dark, even with all the lights on; two, there is only one phone and it is on the desk - there is no phone beside the bed; and three, the water pressure in the shower is very low, making a shower a bit of a chore.

There is one point though that is more serious. The fridge and the small water bottles on the desk are alarmed so that you are automatically charged if any items are moved. Pretty chincey for a good hotel, especially with the water bottles, which are in the way if you use the desk. Nonetheless coffee and tea service are free.

On the good side, reception is wonderful and friendly. You are even warned on check-in about the alarmed water bottles. Special mention must be made of Kaela who always had a welcoming smile for me and was very helpful in suggesting restaurents etc.

The in-house restaurent is fine, but pricey, and service is warm and friendly - you may be given a complimentary drink on check-in for use in the restaurent - mine was the first Long Island Ice Tea the waitress had ever made - and it was excellent.