Background
I was spending two days in Montreal and ended up deciding that the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain looked like a nice property to try for my first visit to the city. The M Club Lounge at this property looked quite sleek in the pictures, and with my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status, I would get access to the M Club. That sealed the deal for me, and it was booked!
The Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain was recently renovated in 2021. It originally opened in 1967 and it was the tallest hotel in Canada at the time. The hotel offers 596 guest rooms, as well as 19 suites. The unique half-sphere-shaped windows have led some to nickname the hotel the “cheese grater”.
The arch-shaped windows were made to complement the Romanesque Revival arches of the nearby Windsor Station. One of the architects, Roger D’Astous was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Marriott Chateau Champlain’s arches have also been cited as being similar to the ones in Lloyd Wright’s last commission (Marin County Civic Center).
Rates for the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain start at approximately 300 CAD per night or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points but can vary depending on the specific date. I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post if you have any inquiries.
Takeoff Points
Pros: Amazing fitness center, nice guest room shower, central location, and a pretty M Club Lounge
Cons: The room door needs some fixing, there was elevator noise, and the M Club hors d’oeuvres could be improved upon.
Takeoff Point: A nicely appointed Marriott property, that seems fancier than the average domestic one in the states. Minor (fixable) quirks, but overall, it is not a bad choice.
Arrival & Location
After getting off my VIA Rail train from Quebec City to Montreal, my friend and I walked to the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain. I chatted with the front desk via the app to see if we should take the Underground City, or walk on the streets and they recommended just walking on the street. It was a quick and easy walk (about 5-10 minutes, depending on the exit you take from the station), and since the weather was good, there was no need to take the Underground City, as I do feel like we would have gotten lost in the Underground City as it’s a bit confusing (and could take longer with going up and down, etc).
The location of the property is quite central, being a short walk from the Central Station and just a 5-minute walk to the Centre Bell (where the Montreal Canadiens hockey team plays). It’s also about a 25-minute walk to the charming Old Montreal.
I arrived around 10:30 pm and was quickly checked in by a friendly associate. They let me know that I’d have M Club Lounge access and granted me the Platinum 4 pm late check-out. I found the lobby to be quite nice, and it’s probably one of the prettiest Marriott lobbies I’ve been to.
The elevators have been modernized to high speed, and you select your floor on a touch panel before entering. Then, it assigns you an elevator to go to.
The Room
Our room was on the 32nd floor, and coming off the hallway seemed a tiny bit dated. Perhaps the painting could have a new frame, and that would make it feel more modern.
Once you enter the room, the dated sentiments go away, and the room feels quite modern and tastefully designed.
You’ll notice the open closet area which is in a hallway before reaching the bathroom which I found to be nice. There is an umbrella in the room, as well as robes and slippers.
There is also a mini fridge for personal use, a Nespresso Machine plus a separate hot water maker which helps make teas. Two complimentary large water bottles were also provided.
I’m surprised by the amenities offered as they rival more upscale properties. Perhaps I just stay at too many Marriott’s in the U.S. that seem to be quite basic?
In terms of the main area of the room, there are two double beds with a nightstand in the middle. There is also a JBL combination speaker/alarm clock provided. There is a desk space with a chair in front of the TV and a small sofa-style chair near the window.
Unfortunately, the pillows were quite flat for both me and my friend. For the second night, we requested firm pillows on the app, and they were better. The service was pretty good and the staff were responsive on chat. The bed was also on the firm side, but it was alright.
The windows are very interesting and feels like you’re kind of in a fishbowl. We had a view of the city and the nearby skyscrapers.
The AC worked well and had multiple controllable fan settings. I normally like keeping the fan on at a medium setting at night for airflow and white noise. Plus there are plenty of power ports, and USB A/C charging in the room.
Cons of the Room
A con of the room was that even though we were directly facing the elevator entrances, the elevators were at the center of the floor, and they had been upgraded to be high-speed. We were just across the side of the rightmost elevator, so perhaps a room towards the corners would be quieter. The con is that they are extremely noisy, and you can hear a whooshing noise whenever the elevator passes by. It didn’t ruin my sleep, but it was annoying to hear.
Additionally, the door to our hotel room seemed to not align with the door frame and was extremely hard to open & close. Our neighbors had the same issue, so there was a lot of door slamming during our stay.
Bathroom
The bathroom was a standard three-piece, with sink, shower, and fancy bidet style toilet. There was nice, ample counter space, but a bit more distance from the toilet to the shower would have been appreciated.
The water pressure in the shower was great, and it had a fancy showerhead device. There was a wand, a standard waterfall feature, a rain shower, and a 3 jet feature. I loved this!
There were heated floors which could be helpful in the winter. Interestingly, an old scale was provided as well.
Toiletries were provided by Thisworks, and there was shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner in refillable bottles. There was also hand lotion and a bar of soap. Other toiletries provided included a dental kit, shaving kit, and cotton swabs/balls, which is more than you would expect from a Marriott in the U.S.
Cons of the restroom included that the sliding door had no lock and it was hard to open.
Overall, I liked the features of the bathroom and found it to be quite technologically advanced for a Marriott.
M Club Lounge
The M Club Lounge is located in the middle of the lobby, next to Lloyd’s restaurant. It looks quite fancy, and I believe that Marriott is working to make these lounges in public spaces so that customers will be enticed to figure out how to access them and be encouraged to be more loyal to the brand to get higher status.
I think it’s one of the most sleek M Club Lounges I’ve visited and I liked the design. There are plenty of different types of tables and chairs, and power plugs/USB ports are implemented throughout the lounge. The M Club staff were attentive as well.
The back section is closed outside of breakfast and the hors d’oeuvres, but offers a buffet counter and additional seating for breakfast.
At the entrance, there are bottles of water and prepackaged snacks.
In the central section, there is a Nespresso Machine, teas, and sodas.
It’s a nice place throughout the day to grab some refreshments (which you can do anytime).
Breakfast in the mornings is decent for a club lounge, and there are “hot options” like bacon, eggs, sausage, and potatoes, though during both nights of my stay, they were unfortunately lukewarm. Cold cuts (cheeses, ham, smoked salmon) were also available.
Fresh fruit was offered which I enjoyed (passion fruit, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, grapes). Also, pastries and cereal as well.
I tried the hors d’oeurves one night and was a bit disappointed. They literally just had one hot dish of Canadian ham, and then a few little desserts. On the other counter, they had cheeses, vegetables, and cold cuts.
There was an honor bar, with some alcoholic options for purchase.
Dining
Lloyds Restaurant
In a nod to Roger d’Astous being the student of Frank Lloyd Wright, the main restaurant at the property is called Lloyd’s. The cuisine is a mix of Oceania and Québec for a tropical flair mixed with local ingredients.
Terrasse Belvu
Located on the 3rd floor, the Terrace wasn’t open during my stay, but now it seems to be open all week, and offers an Asian-inspired cuisine with curated cocktails in a nice outdoor setting.
Fitness Center
There’s a huge fitness center just for hotel guests called Physique. I wish I had time for a workout because this place was nice! There was even a full sauna in there.
Additionally, there were changing rooms, towels, and “water on tap” for sparkling water, cold water, or room temperature water.
Subway Access & Montreals Underground City
The hotel has an elevator that directly leads you to the Bonaventure Subway Station. This is part of the very cool Montreal Underground City, which spans over 32 kilometers (20 mi) of tunnels over 12 square kilometers (4.6 sq mi) of the most densely populated part of Montreal. It connects office buildings, shopping malls, the subway, and more. And, it’s very helpful during the cold Montreal winter. I found the Underground City to be quite fun, but I also got lost in it a couple of times, so definitely not the best option if you’re in a rush!
The Verdict
Overall, I had a decent stay at the Marriott Chateau Champlain. I found the location to be quite convenient and enjoyed hanging out in the M Club Lounge. I also loved the fitness center and wish I had time to utilize it. If they could fix my hotel room door, and perhaps if the new door would insulate the elevator noise, I would consider staying here again.
Have you stayed at the Marriott Chateau Champlain before? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
