ARC The Hotel

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 10 Oct 2011 rated 8 out of 10.

The hotel was all you could ask for in an overnight stay - elegant and clean with professional and helpful staff.

Positives: Great location, very clean and professional.

Negatives: Overnight parking very expensive at $26 plus tax plus valet charge.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 13 Sep 2011 rated 6 out of 10.

The hotel is great on the inside. While the rooms are small, they do look nice and are comfortable. The two biggest problems with this Hotel is the lack of public parking (only valet was available for about 30$), and the front entry was blocked by the local city buses (all the way down the road actually).

Positives: Very nice looking and comfortable.

Negatives: No parking. Entry blocked by local transit buses.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Apr 2011 rated 9 out of 10.

Great, bed super comfy, rm was clean. Great place to stay. Close to everything.

Positives: Great room decor.

Negatives: Rooms were a little small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Apr 2011 rated 9 out of 10.

Excellent hotel; reasonably priced and first-rate service.

Positives: Modern, extremely helpful staff and attractive room.

Negatives: Would've liked to have been able to bring pet and window opened.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 12 Apr 2011 rated 5 out of 10.

I would not return.

Positives: The bar was nice, the staff was very attentive.

Negatives: The room was tiny, the view was of an adjacent building under construction, (50 feet away.)

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 01 Jan 2011 rated 8 out of 10.

Elegant and comfortable boutique hotel in downtown Ottawa. Excellent service & food. Rooms and bathrooms are very small, and the views of the adjacent office buildings are a bit oppressive. Excellent for short stays when you don't spend much time in the room.

Positives: Elegant lobby & lounge, comfortable beds, great food & friendly staff.

Negatives: Rooms are tiny and the obstructed views of office buildings makes it feels claustrophobic.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 15 Dec 2010 rated 4 out of 10.

We had a bad experience at this hotel as there was a dirty pair of underwear in the bed. We had upgraded the room for a king size bed and the hotel waived the charges for the upgrade for us. The room was small and did not feel like an upgraded room to us. You also have to pay for Internet access in the room.

Positives: It was in a good location, close to all amenities.

Negatives: There was a pair of dirty underwear in the bed.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 07 Dec 2010 rated 1 out of 10.

I have rarely, if ever, been so critical of a hotel. To start, there is no Business centre! What passes for this is a corner with one (1) wireless keyboard! Having exclusive use, I was about an hour into a document when an abrasive lady interrupted, to access her airline Boarding Pass. Long story short, my document was lost! Other than that, the rooms are very dark! My room (413) faced a brick wall! No view whatsoever! the restaurant was closed for a private function - no fallback! That's enough. I have to put this experience behind me!

Positives: It offered apples and chocolates as treats.

Negatives: Most everything!

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Oct 2010 rated 9 out of 10.

This is a great hotel for adults. Clean rooms and comfortable atmosphere.

Positives: Bed was comfortable and shower had perfect water pressure.

Negatives: Elevator is very slow.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 17 Sep 2010 rated 9 out of 10.

This is a sophisticated Euro style hotel in a great location downtown.

Positives: Great location and sophisticated design/decor.

Negatives: Rooms are a bit small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 16 Sep 2010 rated 2 out of 10.

Good downtown location. Small but clean rooms. Staff nice but useless - locked me out of my room on my second day because they didn't swipe credit card properly first day, and forgot to call me with wake up call (don't worry - set a backup).

Positives: Clean

Negatives: Poor service - didn't call me for wake up call!

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 06 Sep 2010 rated 8 out of 10.

Very pretty hotel in down town Ottawa. Close to were you want to be.

Positives: Friendly staff, looked & felt nice. Very small room, however worked well for a couple nights.

Negatives: Very small rooms. As well could of been cleaner.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 16 Aug 2010 rated 8 out of 10.

The ARC is a great little hotel right in the heart of downtown. Nice amenities, quality linens, excellent friendly accommodating staff. The only problem is the extreme congestion on Slater Street due to the transit rush hour buses (aggressive bus drivers by the dozens!) and the next door construction zone. There was only enough room for two or three cars in the valet drop area, and often taxi drivers would block the spaces without regard for the needs of the hotel guests. The hotel management needs to petition the city to remove the "taxi stand" in order to allow for the guests better access and eliminate the use of much needed space by taxi drivers who are just "on break" in the middle of the parking area!

Positives: Comfortable, classy boutique hotel and great location.

Negatives: Parking and Valet drop off area.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 25 Jul 2010 rated 4 out of 10.

Poor non-existent welcome. Front desk (actually off to the side desk) staff was not very friendly. Restaurant menu too 'frou frou'. No diners is always a good indication. Cold reception for the "Zen" experience. Didn't offer to help me with my bags. I had to park my car behind 2 cabs with the back end of my vehicle over the line in towards the traffic. No chatty recommendations.

Positives: It was clean, centrally located.

Negatives: No staff. No pool. No little chocolate or signature apple on bed/in room. Closet but no chest of drawers. etc.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 20 Jan 2010 rated 9 out of 10.

Great location, easy walk to Rideau Centre and most downtown attractions. Room was clean and has cool contemporary design. Only negative was the room was extremely small, probably the smallest I've seen, but for two people it was fine.

Positives: Clean, hip contemporary decor, friendly service, and excellent location.

Negatives: Extremely small room.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 15 Jan 2010 rated 9 out of 10.

Modern, great service, conveniently located downtown, close to amenities, rooms can be on the small side and a little cramped for a couple.

Positives: Convenient, good service, clean, people helpful.

Negatives: Room was too small for 2 people.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 17 Dec 2009 rated 9 out of 10.

Very nice if traveling for business or a couple. Very friendly and helpful. I would stay at this hotel again. I don't think it would be too hard to ask if you want a single or double beds in the room or if you want a hotel with a pool on the Internet.

Positives: Clean & friendly.

Negatives: Extra cost to go from a single Queen to 2 double beds.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 18 Nov 2009 rated 7 out of 10.

While the Arc Hotel is in an excellent location and I had no issues with any of the amenities, it seems not quite at the same level as the other downtown hotels.

Positives: Front lobby is very inviting, rooms are small but well appointed, European flavor.

Negatives: Only valet parking, although the valet service was great.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 06 Aug 2009 rated 4 out of 10.

Rooms are too small even for one person.

Positives: Location was good for tourists.

Negatives: No parking rooms are very small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 19 Feb 2009 rated 2 out of 10.

This hotel was terrible at fixing their mistakes and taking accountability for them.

Positives: The staff at check in were very nice and the glass of champagne was a nice touch.

Negatives: The management failed to adequately rectify an unhappy guest; valet parking took an hour.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 13 Feb 2009 rated 7 out of 10.

Seems to be an older hotel that was nicely renovated & redecorated. Staff is attentive. Room/bathroom spotless with lots of fluffy towels. Enjoyed the turn down service (but only 1 chocolate, 1 apple & 1 bottle of water for the 2 of us). But, could hear every word spoken in the next room and hallway (neighbors came in at 3 am). And bed was not that comfortable - a pillow top mattress would have been more in line with the rest of the facilities.

Positives: Location; customer service, staff; amenities of room.

Negatives: $21 for valet parking; walls are thin -no soundproofing!

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 21 Oct 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

Would not stay at this hotel again.

Positives: The bed.

Negatives: No pool, tiny room, bathroom didnt seem clean.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Aug 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

This is an older hotel which has been updated so you will find some of the rooms small and the plumbing old (had to wait about 1/2 hour on arrival to get hot water.) but that being said this hotel strives to make you as comfortable as possible. Nightly turn down with fruit/chocolates and water. A lounge with coffee/tea and local papers and magazines. Sparkling wine at check in. very nice touches.

Positives: Location was great. Staff very helpful and friendly lounge with coffee and tea a nice added touch.

Negatives: The room was very small. With TV on had to climb over bed to get out.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 20 Aug 2008 rated 8 out of 10.

Very nice hotel, beautiful modern decor, but our room was tiny and unlike some of the other hotels we had the option of visiting there was no complimentary breakfast. As well the breakfast we could get from the hotel was at the cheapest $14 for a continental. So very nice if you aren't on a budget, or aren't planning on eating in the hotel.

Positives: The decor was very modern.

Negatives: Room was tiny; breakfast wasn't included restaurant prices very high.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 07 Aug 2008 rated 6 out of 10.

Room was too small, hotel offered to upgrade room for $30 - we should have done it.

Positives: Great location.

Negatives: Room was too small, needs to be more accessible (stroller).

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 10 Jul 2008 rated 6 out of 10.

PROS: The room was very clean, the bed was comfortable, and the staff was courteous and friendly. The hotel's location is very convenient. CONS: The room was tiny, with a very loud air-conditioner, and a bad, nauseating cigar odor. It took almost 15 minutes for the coffee machine to produce one cup of coffee. Water pressure in the shower was too low. The elevators are extremely slow. $4.50 for one hour of Internet access is just ridiculous. The staff could not think of more than two (mediocre) places to recommend for Sunday brunch.

Positives: Cleanliness, courteous staff.

Negatives: Loud AC, tiny rooms, extra slow elevators, Internet connection charges.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 21 Feb 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

The hotel was clean and modern. The hotel is a close distance to Elgin Street and the main attractions. This room is usually used for those who want an adjoining room for their suite.

Positives: Clean and modern.

Negatives: Room was tiny. We got the smallest room in the hotel.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 21 Feb 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

The hotel was nice, but the room I was put in was small. For the price point, it is not worth it. When making star ratings, amenities should be considered more heavily and this hotel should not have made the cut.

Positives: Staff was friendly. Liked the champagne when arriving.

Negatives: Room was small with no view or real windows. Expected more for price.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 01 Feb 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Even though our room was a little small, we really enjoyed staying there. We even got an invitation to the manager's cocktail party. All the staff at the hotel was very friendly and helpful. Place was very clean and chic.

Positives: Clean, convenient location, friendly staff, good restaurant.

Negatives: Our room was a little small as our trip was business/leisure combination with spouse.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 15 Nov 2007 rated 6 out of 10.

I was very disappointed and it ruined my trip to Ottawa!

Positives: Staff was friendly.

Negatives: Rooms very dim and dark and small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 02 Oct 2007 rated 3 out of 10.

The hotel room was very small with minimal clearance to walk around the bed, and go between the TV cabinet and the bed. The TV cabinet doors could not fully open as the bed was in the way, and you had to close one door to walk around the bed. The bathroom was quite small and had poor water pressure. Elevators were very slow. I only stayed one night so did not see restaurants or other areas of hotel. Staff was friendly, and hotel did offer nice linens, robes, and two free bottles of water at the bedside, but I would have sacrificed that for a larger room.

Positives: Good location, complimentary wine served on check in, thick towels.

Negatives: Rooms extremely small, poor water pressure, elevators very slow.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 01 Oct 2007 rated 9 out of 10.

I loved everything about the hotel except some minor things. There was no cream for my morning coffee so I had to call down for it and by the time it came, it was too late. The bathroom didn't have enough shelf space, and the having to pay for internet service was very annoying. I have stayed at much less expensive places and the internet was always free. This is expected now. Otherwise, staff was very friendly and the hotel rooms, hallways and lobby were stunning. The elevators were very slow though. The exercise room was the nicest that I have seen in any hotel.

Positives: Beautiful modern interior design of the lobby and rooms.

Negatives: Annoyed that I had to pay for internet service. Other less expensive hotels have free internet.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 30 Jun 2007 rated 7 out of 10.

Has no pool or access to one.

Positives: Well located.

Negatives: Restaurant was too pricey for what we got.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 20 Jun 2007 rated 9 out of 10.

Hotel is excellent overall. Our only complaint was the size of the room. It was very small and awkward to move around in.

Positives: Very clean great staff very quiet.

Negatives: Our room was extremely small.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 16 May 2007 rated 3 out of 10.

Okay hotel but not so good for young children.

Positives: Nicely decorated.

Negatives: Extra charge for leaving early.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 May 2007 rated 8 out of 10.

Great location, friendly staff, with an upscale contemporary decor.

Positives: I was offered sparkling wine and chocolates at the desk when I arrived.

Negatives: The room was small with a small window.