If location means everything to you, this is one of the Ottawa hotels you should consider. It's right beside Rideau Centre and a couple blocks away from the Byward Market.

However, if you're wanting a spacious room with a few extra touches, the Novotel Ottawa is likely not your best bet.

Granted, the minimalist room is pretty modern in design with an LDC TV and a comfortable duvet, but that's about it. The room feels small and cramped and the bathroom is kind of strangely layed out (the shower is weak and the complimentary toiletries are sub-par, too).

Nothing great about this Novotel (well, maybe the pillows), but nothing horrible either. Got to like the location though...

Got a good price at the Novotel for the Labour Day weekend - happy with the location and the size of the room for the price. Staff were at all times extremely courteouos and helpful. Internet sometimes did not work in room (high-speed cable) and TV reception not the best due to the renovation work happening on the floor above (we were on 8, the second to last floor). Both times we called the front desk, servicemen arrived within minutes (though both times were unable to fix the problems!). Our room fairly quiet, though in close proximity to the elevator which we were initially concerned about but turned out no worries. The fact of not being able to use the minibars as fridges for drinks etc purchased outside was a little annoying. The jacuzzi tub was COLD! and we were told that the problem was "being fixed" but that it would take 24 hours (!) for them to completely fix it! The health club facilities were basic but adequate - many kids using these though which should have been more supervised. On the fifth floor (where the pool is) both nights we were there, there was a couple of rooms having a HUGE party - I would have been complaining had I been close to them. Surprised this was allowed to go on.
All in all, a pleasant enough experience, you can tell they are slowly renovating the hotel and it does look nice. For the price, can't be beaten.

Novotel Nicholas St. in downtown Ottawa offers a very competative rate with excellent facilities. For the traveler on vacation who wishes to take in downtown sites or the business person it is primo located for easy access and movement. Rooms comfortable, nicely appointed with coffee machine, hairdryers, in room internet and flat screen satelite tv, staff friendly and courteous. Dining possibilities in the hotel are either non existent or at best limited forcing you to choose one the many options closeby. Overall a very good experience though at reasonable price.

I had a room on the 9th floor.

On May 30th, I entered the elevator to go down. A gentleman stepped out and he appeared bewildered, confused and in a daze. Not really knowing why, I entered the elevator. I was alone.

As soon as the door closed, I pressed the button for the lobby.

The elevator jerked and starting crashing down. The emergency brakes kicked in from underneath to stop the fall. I immediately pressed other buttons, hoping that the elevator would stop at another floor. To no avail, buttons no longer worked. The elevator at that point kept droppping a few feet at a time, and every time it rattled when the emergency brakes underneath kicked in to stop the fall.

I picked up the emergency telephone in the elevator and told the operator to do something as I was not only stuck in the elevator, but that it was falling, dropping or crashing. I assume it was the front desk, as the gentleman just told me to remain calm.

Having gone into the elevator on the 9th floor, my mind was gtelling me if the emergency brakes failed, I would end up dead at the bottom of the shaft.

This drop, rattle and the emergency brakes kicking in lasted at least 10-15 minutes.

The elevator finally made it to the lobby, where two gentlemen waited for me. One introduced himself as the manager.

Panicked, bewildered shaken up, I asked him to see the inspection certificate of the elevator.

It was expiring the next day.

I now understand what happened to the other gentleman who got off on the 9th floor when I entered the elevator. He had probably boarded the elevator on a much higher floor and ran out as soon as it stopped on my floor as it also experienced what I had gone through.

I asked the manager to investigate and to inform me of what happened.

To date, neither their head office in Paris nor the manager has responded to my written letters. I also know that the elevator was out of service for the remainder of the week, as the inspection certificate was expired and the elevator needed to be serviced after it dropped or crashed while I was in it.

I suggest you take the stairs or that you insist that they post their elevator inspection certificates, as it is apparent that they do not maintain them.

Other company employees and I have not stayed there since since they failed to respond.