Hello. My boyfriend and I will be staying in Ottawa for a couple of nights in mid-December. We're interested in an economical small hotel or bed & breakfast ... nothing fancy (<$100C) ... just safe, clean, and comfortable. Since we won't have a car, we wish to be within walking distance of the main attractions (Parliament, Rideau Canal, Byward Market, etc.) Being from Chicago, the the idea of walking a mile or so in the cold won't deter us!

Does anyone have any suggestions and/or testimonials? I've narrowed down a few options (Alexander House, Allante, Allure, Auberge King Edward, Home Sweetland Home, Voyageur's Guest House) and wondered if anyone had feedback or new ideas altogether. One question that begs asking is: Is the Voyageur too cheap to be good?

Two places that I've heard mention of but haven't been able to find too much info online are The Urban B&B and Haydon House. Their locations seem to be wonderful, but I can't find rate information. (I will be calling both of them but thought I'd ask for personal impressions here in the meantime!)

Thanks in advance for any replies!

I live in Ottawa, so no personal experience with any of these. I would say that the A Voyageur's location, right behind the Bus Depot, and price, define the market it is going after. Anytime I have walked past the Haydon House recently, my impression is that it is no longer in business, or at least not being taken care of. It is a wonderful location and it had a great reputation when Mary and Andy Haydon ran it, but...

My first choice, if I wanted a B&B in Ottawa, would be McGee's. But perhaps it is above your price range.

Thanks for the quick reply! From the online photos, I thought Voyageur looked a little worn and also wondered about the bus depot location! And thanks for the update about Haydon House as well.

Regarding McGee's, I had checked it out; and while $118C a night isn't shocking or isn't going to break the bank, it is a little more than we had hoped to spend. If we have to spend that much, then that's what we have to do. But if we're able to find something comparable for $100 or less, that's ~$20 a day that we'll be able to spend elsewhere. According to their web site, they're under new management. This could either add to or detract from their good reputation.

Thanks so much for your input. It's much appreciated!

I also live in Ottawa so I don't really know any of the B&B's. However, except for the Voyageur, they are all well situated. Most are in Sandy Hill, which is an old residential area, close to the University of Ottawa. It's a very nice area and certainly within walking distance of most attractions. There's probably a bit more traffic by the Auberge King Edward than with the others, but it's not bad (unlike King Edward north of Rideau).

Have you looked at the Olde Bytown B&B? Again, I only know it from walking by and thinking, what a nice looking place. It's at the eastern edge of Sandy Hill, between the Russian Embassy and the Cordon Bleue cooking school and restaurant. Nice location, a bit farther away than some of the others, so you would get your one mile walk to the market, etc.

If I were to re-write my earlier response, I would say the Voyageur seems more like a rooming house than a B&B.

We always stay at Arosa Hotel. www.arosahotel.com
It is very basic, but comfortable. The location is great, and within walking distance of all the downtown sights.
It is a suite hotel, so you have a full kitchen, which could save a bit of money, if you wanted to keep snacks, pop, etc in the fridge, or eat breakfast in the room.
It isn't intimate like a B&B would be, but it's comfortable and the price is right.
Good luck.

Last year I stayed at the Bostonian - it is within reasonable walking distance of downtown and about $100 a night (when I stayed there that included breakfast). The studio rooms have been renovated and include a kitchen. They cater to business travellers (long term stays) so it's safe, clean and comfortable and in a residential neighbourhood. Their website is www.thebostonian.ca

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!

After gathering up info and weighing our options, we've decided to try L'Auberge du Marche. It's in the Byward Market area. We'll have a sitting room, bedroom with queen-sized bed, private bath, and full breakfast for $109C a night (that includes taxes).

I'll post a review after we return. Thanks again!

That sounds great! Have a good time!

Hi Meyerinc,
I am a bit late reading your message, but it seems like you made the right choice. I stayed at l'Auberge du marché 3 years ago. We had the ground floor suite with a sitting room, bedroom and private bath and we were very pleased with this quiet and affordable place. It is a short walk from the Art Gallery and the Byward Market. Have a great stay in Ottawa!

Priceline and Hotwire have very good rates for many Ottawa Hotels - well under $100 per diem.

Well, we've returned from a fabulous trip to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa! What fun we had! Everyone we encountered was friendly and hospitable. We'll be back!

Okay, okay ... I know that's a tad off topic for this thread ... back on track here ...

Our stay at L'Auberge du Marche was absolutely wonderful. As stated in an earlier post, we had a two-room suite with private bath. The accommodations were clean, comfortable, and cozy. They have only three rooms available, so it's quiet. Nicole, the owner, is very friendly and helpful. She gave us a map, made dinner suggestions, and ordered us a taxi for the airport. Breakfast (yogurt, fruit, eggs, toast) is served at a single dining table. We ate with a delightful couple from Tours, France. I love being able to share a meal with the other guests. It's such fun to swap stories. I would highly recommend L'Auberge du Marche to anyone.