The Westin Ottawa Review: Great Location, but Not a Perfect Stay
Updated: Sep 29
The Westin Ottawa was one of my first hotel stays that I decided to write about, and since then I have actually stayed at the hotel twice.
There is a lot to like about this hotel, especially its location in downtown Ottawa. However, both of my stays also had a few issues that kept the experience from being as good as it could have been.
The Westin Ottawa Location
One of the best things about The Westin Ottawa is definitely its location.
The hotel is right in the heart of downtown Ottawa and directly connected to the Rideau Centre, which is particularly convenient during an Ottawa winter or when the weather isn't cooperating.
Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and many of Ottawa's major attractions are also within walking distance, making this a great location if you want to explore the city without constantly needing your car.
Arrival & Check-In at The Westin Ottawa
When you enter The Westin Ottawa, you arrive in a large, bright lobby, with the check-in desks located off to the right.
Unfortunately, check-in was one of the disappointing parts of my stays here.
During my first visit, there was only one staff member working at the front desk when I arrived. Several guests were waiting to check in, so what should have been a fairly simple process took much longer than expected.
First impressions can make a big difference when arriving at a hotel, and this wasn't the best start to my stay.
The Westin Ottawa Lobby
The lobby itself is very nice.
It's a large, open space with high ceilings, plenty of natural light and several comfortable seating areas. It's a good place to sit for a few minutes before heading out or to meet someone before exploring the city.
There was a welcome message waiting for me in the room along with some chocolate, which was a nice touch and always makes arriving at a hotel feel a little more personal.
My Room at The Westin Ottawa
For this stay, I was assigned Room 1719 on an Elite Floor.
Queen Beds
One of the things I generally like about Westin hotels is the beds, and these were no exception. After spending the day walking around Ottawa, having a comfortable room to return to was certainly appreciated.
The Westin Ottawa Bathroom
The bathroom was fairly typical of what you would expect from a Westin property and had everything I needed during the stay.
Toiletries included Westin's North 39° body soap, shampoo and conditioner, along with White Tea soap and body lotion.
The View From Room 1719
One of my favourite things about the room was the view.
From Room 1719, I had an excellent view over Ottawa. Being high up in the hotel gives you a completely different perspective of the city and was definitely one of the highlights of the room.
The hotel's central location also makes sightseeing very easy. Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and attractions such as the Royal Canadian Mint can all be reached without having to travel very far.
For someone visiting Ottawa for the first time, this is one of the strongest reasons to consider staying here.
A Few Problems During My Stays
Unfortunately, both of my stays at The Westin Ottawa had issues.
As I mentioned earlier, check-in during my first stay was frustratingly slow because there was only one staff member working at the front desk when several guests were waiting.
My second stay had a different problem.
There was a wedding taking place on the hotel's top floor, and the music from the DJ was extremely loud. The sound travelled several floors down and made it difficult to enjoy a quiet evening in the room.
We contacted the hotel about the noise and were told that the DJ responsible would not be returning. Unfortunately, that didn't do much to help us that night, as the noise continued until around 2 a.m.
I completely understand that hotels host weddings and other events, especially on weekends. However, guests staying several floors away should still be able to enjoy their rooms without having to listen to loud music until the early hours of the morning.
That experience definitely affected my overall impression of the stay.
Final Thoughts on The Westin Ottawa
There are several things I really like about The Westin Ottawa.
The location is probably its biggest advantage. Being directly connected to the Rideau Centre and within walking distance of Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and many of Ottawa's attractions makes it an extremely convenient hotel for exploring the city.
The room was comfortable, I enjoyed the view from Room 1719, and the welcome amenity was a nice touch.
Unfortunately, the slow check-in during my first stay and the late-night noise during my second stay made both visits less enjoyable than they could have been.
Would I stay at The Westin Ottawa again? Yes, mainly because the location is so good. However, based on my two experiences, I would hope for a smoother check-in and, if there were a large event taking place, I would probably ask for a room as far away from it as possible.
The Westin Ottawa has a lot going for it. With a few improvements to the guest experience, my next stay could hopefully be a much better one.
This review reflects my personal experiences during my stays at The Westin Ottawa. All views and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.
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