Hôtel Champ-de-Mars

Whew! A lot of complaints registered here, but I have to wonder if maybe it is a bit of cultural misunderstanding both ways. This is a simple hotel with the basic necessities...bed, bath, closet and maybe a desk and tv. Not fancy but ours was clean and safe. (again the major construction is all over Montreal)We arrived 3 hours later than supposed to (cell phone problems) due to the construction. The door is closed at 10 pm and locked...patrons have key, but the lady waited for us until 11 pm thank God just as our taxi driver who led us to the hotel ..again 2 hours of wandering due to construction and bad signage..... I told her my husband had had a stroke and she said she would put us on the first floor ( second floor to Americans who may not know so there are steps and no elevator.....) for the night and move us in the am which they did while we were touring. Later we found out her 20 minute drive home had turned into 1.5 hours due to the traffic and by God she was back at her post at 8 am the next morning. She told my husband to park around the corner in the parking garage and we could walk everywhere.....and this was true. Most walking tours will begin in the vicinity of Notre Dame....10 minute , safe walk. Our package included breakfast from a menu......we did not pay for extra coffee and our breakfast was enough to keep us going... We usually were back from touring at 8pm and the restaurant always had people eating dinner...other travelers I am sure....not an attraction to locals....but they seemed attentive. This hotel is a 10 minute safe walk to Notre Dame ( most tours, especially walking and bus) will start there. I will say when we checked out, the man said "I hope you left a tip for the maid"...I found this rather pushy but was later told and I believe this that a lot of cultures/tourists claim they do not know the "tipping etiquette" in Canada and the USA to avoid tipping the room maid who did nothing wrong. I would say this is sort of bare bones in the room....but we are gone 12-15 hours a day (70 years old) and don't want to spend money on a hotel for $300 a night when we are not there. Again, mind the fact there are no elevators and first floor means "second" in a French auberge......the parking was $18 for 24 hours paid by you. Hope this helps