Hello!
We will be visiting Ottawa for the first time this July. We need a hotel with two bedrooms and two baths and like having breakfast included. I have narrowed the choice down to the Residence Inn or the Minto Suites hotel (their bed and breakfast pkg.). The Minto Suites looks fabulous but I was concerned about the location. Being in a "business section", is it too far from the tourist highlights? How is the area of each hotel at night? We do not stay out very late, but I don't want to feel uncomfortable walking back to our hotel. Walking will be our main mode of transport. Thanks for your input. I know I will have more questions as my planning progresses.
Ottawa hotel advice
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The two hotels are several blocks apart and you should not worry about the area at night. It is very safe to walk at any hour of the day or night.
Both are within walking distance of the tourist highlights, although the Residence Inn is slightly better in this regard as it is a bit closer to Parliament Hill, the Byward Market, the Canal and is just off Elgin Street with its many restaurants.
However if you prefer the Minto Suites the location is perfectly acceptable as a base for touring. Although I have't stayed at either (I live here) my sense is that the majority of the clients of the Minto Suites are business travellers--not that this should make any difference to you.
Thank you so much for your reply,laverendrye! It is so hard to know when we've never been there. Right now I am leaning toward the Residence Inn just for proximity to everything. They both are the same price.
I have another question for you! How easy is the public transportation? (I will check their website.) My son wants to visit the aviation museum. I need to do further research but it sounds like it's a short (?) distance out of downtown.
Public transit in Ottawa is very easy to use and most major routes go through downtown, very close to both hotels.
You can get to the Aviation Museum by OC Transpo buses. From downtown, take a transitway bus (95 is the most frequent, every 5 minutes or so during the day) to Blair Station and transfer to a 129 bus which will take you right to the Aviation Museum.
For more information on public transit, here is the OC Transpo website:
http://www.octranspo1.com/
And here is the Aviation museum link:
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/
Well I'm glad you are going to Ottawa! Definitely check out the Aviation museum, well worth it and inexpensive.
Thanks so much for the bus information to the Aviation Museum!
I've been in the Minto suites and think they are quite nice as apartment style hotel rooms. That's where the gov't often puts people transferred from out of town. They are a few blocks from the main attractions but within walking distance and on a very good bus route. MintoPlace where the suites are is surrounded by tall government office towers and close to a few other larger hotels and about four blocks from the Parliament buildings. It is very quiet at night in that area after government workers go home. There are not too many restaurants or coffee shops close after work hours in that immediate area, however there is a chain, Baton Rouge. I hope this helps.