STAY MONTREAL: BOXOTEL
I’ve decided that when it comes to hotels, there are ultimately 5 things that really truly matter to me, and I hope to you as well:
Location
Cleanliness
Value
Design
Service
So let’s get into Boxotel.
Location: Boxotel is a new hotel, just opened earlier this year in Montreal. It is located a stone throw’s away from the Quartier du Spectacle/ Place Des Arts, this is the heart of Montreal and the very center of all things Jazz Fest. It was that first reason that Boxotel came to my attention. Being located close to Quartier to Spectacle means that most all the things I love to do in Montreal are also wihin walking distance and sometimes in the immediate vicinity. From Old Montreal, to Chinatown to St. Catherine and Montreal’s Mile end.
Cleanliness: I’m a neat freak , bordering on obsessive when I go to hotels. It can really make or break a hotel stay. Boxotel gets a 5 out of 5 for cleanliness. While it might be expected that a newer hotel be clean, I can assure you, it’s not always a given- so I was extremely excited to see how spotless it was. Be forewarned though- this is not a 5 star hotel (it is 3.5 star hotel), and so in some aspects you get limited service. For example- housekeeping is available upon request only. We didn’t know that on our first night and were a little surprised to return to a messy room. I believe this is how Boxotel is able to keep costs down.
Value: Which brings us to value. Over 2.5 million people descend upon Montreal during Jazz fest which means demand for hotel rooms go through the roof and prices soar. Boxotel is definitely a bargain with many rooms averaging around $150. For that you get free wifi, a lovely cafe downstairs, spacious rooms, high end toiletries and more.
Design: I love design that not only looks good but is also functional and makes sense. The space was very well thought out- it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I like modern and minimal. Storage was plenty, the full kitchen made it possible for us to make a few meals ourselves and the room was tech loaded. From heating, ventilation, lights, window curtains, to TV, everything was teched out- a very smart room indeed.
Service: And to close out, Boxotel is not a fussy space but everyone we interacted with was kind, courteous and very personable. The kind of people you find yourself just having an everyday casual conversation with. The kind you instantly feel comfortable with and very much at home with. Kudos to them.
Note: This is not an ad and I was not paid for this review.