En path to Europe, I made a rapid pit cease in Montreal, the place I stayed at Le Méridien Versailles.

After shuffling my outbound flights, it made sense to squeeze in a one-night layover, which was nicely spent catching up with buddies.

Le Méridien Versailles – Reserving

I booked my keep at Le Méridien Versailles utilizing an eligible company price for $165 per evening.

Utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors, the property goes for round 30,000 factors per evening. With metropolis resort costs normally by the roof, staying on factors can at occasions be an honest worth proposition.

I opted to pay money for my one-night keep. Typically you’ll discover that this resort is extra inexpensive than others round downtown Montreal – and it reveals, as you’ll see.

Le Méridien Versailles – Location

Le Méridien Versailles is within the Golden Sq. Mile, a bit exterior the vacationer and monetary core of downtown the place many motels are concentrated, however nonetheless nicely inside vary for a customer to get pleasure from themselves.

The resort is on Sherbrooke Road not too removed from Montreal Basic Hospital, and a brief stroll to the guts of Concordia College’s city campus.

You’ll have quick access to discover the park at Mount Royal to the north, or the ornate houses of the municipality of Westmount to the west. To the south, take within the full of life Crescent Road.

It’s fairly straightforward to achieve the resort, lower than two blocks from Man–Concordia metro station. I travelled to and from the resort through the 747 airport categorical bus to Lionel–Groulx metro station, adopted by a brief switch on the inexperienced line. For an extended layover, two airport journeys match inside a single 24-hour STM fare for $11.

Le Méridien Versailles – Examine-in

Arriving on foot, the constructing jogged my memory of the stark brutalist structure from my days on McGill campus simply down the road. It seemed prefer it had been there eternally, frozen in time together with the adjoining residence buildings.

There’s a set of flags above the awning, giving off stylish vibes that jogged my memory of the resort aesthetic in New York or Western Europe.

The foyer is minimally designed each for type and performance, making use of playful lights and geometric shapes in a compact and useful house.

There’s a small sitting space to the left flanking the restaurant.

To the suitable is the entrance desk. Examine-in was very environment friendly, however no much less pleasant. The valet was proactive in providing to rearrange a journey to the airport the subsequent day, which I politely declined.

To my delight, I had been proactively upgraded to a Junior Suite with out even asking! I had seen this within the Marriott Bonvoy app two days prior once I went to examine my reservation.

The Junior Suite is the second-highest room sort and the best accessible for a free improve, so I took the win and didn’t push my luck. With out hesitation, I headed to my suite to get on with my jam-packed layover.

Le Méridien Versailles – Junior Suite

Stepping out of the elevator on the eleventh flooring, I discovered the hallways to be fairly sparse, to place it kindly.

I used to be in Room 1157, which shares an alcove with 1158 in lieu of an adjoining door.

Getting into the room, there’s a staging space to place your baggage.

The small shelf is appropriate for keys and equipment. There’s an fascinating stool beneath – fortunately this perch is for placing in your footwear, as it might be insufferable as a desk!

Beside, there’s a kettle with customary espresso, tea, bottled water, and a mini-fridge, in addition to a closet with an ironing board.

The toilet is well-lit, with a neat touch-activated mild swap constructed into the mirror.

Sadly the bathe temperature was scalding scorching in any respect however the slowest trickles.

Shifting into the primary room, a king mattress awaits.

The bedside lamps are nearly the one options of the resort expertise that confirmed any character. On the far aspect of the mattress, there’s a cool old-time radio with an analog clock.

Alongside the inside wall, there’s a sprawling desk with a snug workplace chair. I discovered this to be a straightforward place for some fast mild work.

The TV is mounted right here above the desk, placing it at an angle to each the mattress and the couch.

The couch’s aesthetic matched the remainder of the constructing’s aged construction. It was extra comfy than anticipated, although removed from inviting.

Whereas the room is spacious sufficient and has a snug entryway, it lacks any distinctive separation inside the dwelling house to present it a “suite” really feel. The couch can maintain company, however there’s no espresso desk or different seating round which to congregate.

I used to be visiting on the tail finish of the east coast’s humid summer season season, and let me inform you – I’d forgotten how brutal it may be. I used to be sweating by clear shirts inside 5 minutes, simply standing within the room!

I used to be disenchanted that the previous constructing’s air con was extremely ineffective. I swear it was colder and drier within the hallways than in my suite. Plus, it was difficult to refresh successfully within the scorching bathe, including insult to harm within the Montreal humidity.

To finish this part on a excessive observe, I loved the nice peekaboo view of Mount Royal, roughly north-facing on Montreal’s skewed grid.

Le Méridien Versailles – Breakfast

Free breakfast was included as a Platinum Elite profit with my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite standing. With no lounge on the property, breakfast is served within the restaurant beside the foyer.

I used to be stunned to see that the restaurant supplied a glorified continental breakfast – and to name it wonderful can be far too beneficiant.

I snacked on fruit salad and orange slices.

Onerous-boiled eggs, ham, and cheese had been additionally accessible, none of which appetized me.

Self-serve espresso and tea can be found from kettles.

There’s additionally a bread station and toaster, particular person packets of peanut butter and jam, and single servings of yogurt and cereal.

The saving grace was the croissants – go away it to the French baking custom to get this one proper.

Dissatisfied, I ended up grabbing a second breakfast over espresso down the road with a buddy at Cafe Aunja. The unassuming Persian cafe is a improbable hidden gem. I wouldn’t hesitate to eat there once more over Le Méridien Versailles if I’m again on the property.

Le Méridien Versailles – Different Services

The resort restaurant Maiolo incorporates a lunch and dinner menu, which you’ll be able to browse within the room.

There’s additionally in-room eating accessible.

The health centre is kind of small, with few cardio machines and a meagre set of free weights.

Whereas the cramped, gray health room is about as unmotivating as I might think about for a exercise, I did get a chuckle out of the calorie-counting chalkboard.

Lastly, the resort is pet-friendly, permitting two pets per room for $20 per evening.

Conclusion

If I might sum up my keep at Le Méridien Versailles with a single impression, it might be “room for enchancment.”

Primarily based on my observations, I wouldn’t have believed that this property was lately renovated in 2016. It’s truthful to say this resort overstates its glamour. General, I wouldn’t say I used to be sad to be there, however I used to be completely unexcited.

The constructing is noticeably dated, the services are sparse, and there’s no purpose why a scorching breakfast can’t be supplied. Furthermore, regardless of the hospitable employees, I discovered little to entice Marriott Bonvoy Elite members to remain right here, because the breakfast and suite hardly sparkled.

As well as, I anticipated a bit extra persona from my first go to to a Le Méridien property. As an alternative, the old-world attraction that I anticipated from the model used Montreal attraction as a stand-in, which, for anybody who actually is aware of and loves the town, is sophisticated to say the least.

I selected the resort for its value and site, each of which suited the aim of my go to. I’d think about staying once more for these causes – however for these causes alone.