Gatineau's BEST Hotel? 🤫 Four Points Sheraton Review WILL SHOCK You!
Gatineau's "BEST" Hotel? 🤔 Four Points Sheraton Review WILL SHOCK You! (Spoiler: It's a Rollercoaster)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just survived a stay at what Gatineau, Quebec apparently considers its 'best' hotel – the Four Points by Sheraton. And lemme tell you, it was less a luxury getaway and more a… well, we'll get to that. Let's dive in, warts and all, because honey, this review is raw.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Like My Emotions Right Now.
Okay, first off, accessibility. I'm not disabled, but I do understand the importance. And honestly? It felt patchy. Wheelchair accessible? Checked, at least in theory. I saw ramps and elevators, which is applause-worthy. But then… the details. The narrow hallways? The slightly awkward placement of some fixtures? It's like they tried, but maybe didn't fully commit. For the kids? They certainly had cribs advertised, but I'm not sure the vibe is particularly kid-centric. More on that later.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: I didn't exactly see a whole lot.
Internet: Free Wi-Fi! Hallelujah! (Mostly).
Good news! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Amen to that. And in the public areas too, thankfully. The Internet [LAN] situation? Don't know, didn't check. I’m a Wi-Fi warrior, and it held up, mostly. Until the evening I needed to upload some massive files and then… well. Let's just say my temper was a tad shorter than the Wi-Fi signal strength.
Cleanliness and Safety: Pandemic-Era Paranoia, Level… Adequate?
This is where things got interesting. Anti-viral cleaning products: Claimed. Daily disinfection in common areas: Ditto. Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. You’d think you were in a hospital waiting room, which… maybe I felt like I was sometimes. Rooms sanitized between stays: Supposedly. Room sanitization opt-out available: Nope, not that I saw. The whole set-up gave me the feeling of trying really hard to look safe. But… there's always a but, isn't there?
I requested that they skip cleaning my room, but they still came in. Not sure if they didn't know about this or were just overwhelmed with requests. The Staff trained in safety protocol? Probably. But the constant, nervous energy of some of the staff told me they were as stressed as I was about…everything. Thankfully I didn't need the First aid kit or the Doctor/nurse on call, I'm getting off on a scary thought.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Sometimes Good, Sometimes… Not So Much).
Okay, let's talk food. Restaurants: Yes, there was one. Bar: Yep. Coffee shop?: Kinda. Breakfast [buffet]: They said "breakfast buffet". What I got a couple of days was a pale imitation. Okay, maybe the sausage was better than I thought, but I did think a breakfast buffet was supposed to be the one safe space in the morning. It wasn’t. And the one time I opted for Breakfast takeaway service: it was a sad, soggy sandwich.
Room service [24-hour]? Blessedly, yes! Though I suspect the quality might have declined a little at 3 AM. A la carte in restaurant? Yes, which at least offered me some decent options for dinner. International cuisine in restaurant: Well, they tried. The menu was ambitious, but the execution… let’s just say it ranged from "surprisingly good" to "huh?"
One particularly memorable (or traumatic, depending on my mood) experience involved what they called a "chef's special." I won't go into details. Let's just say, I think the chef needs a hug, and perhaps some professional training.
Services and Conveniences: The Usual Suspects, Plus a Few… Quirks.
Okay, the usual services: Concierge? Present. Daily housekeeping? Yes, a little aggressively at times. Elevator? Yep, working. Laundry service? Available, thankfully. Luggage storage? Check.
But here's where it gets quirky. The Indoor venue for special events looked strangely empty, like a forgotten ballroom. Don’t see too many Proposal spots or Shrines, or even Meeting stationery, which I found odd. It is a hotel, and some people are going to be using it to work, or celebrate something, right?
For the kids: Meh. I’m not sure what the Kids facilities were; it wasn’t exactly Disney World. Babysitting service? I didn't see it advertised. This place is more "business-casual" than "family-friendly," if you ask me. I'm not convinced this is a family-friendly place.
Available in all rooms: I'll be honest, I'm not going to go down the list here. Let's just say it had the basics. Free bottled water? Yes, which was a godsend. The Air conditioning? Sometimes. Coffee/tea maker? Yep. The desk and laptop workspace? Fine.
The Pool and Spa: Where Dreams Go to… Well, I Don’t Know, Actually.
Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yep, it was actually quite nice. Swimming pool: The indoor pool looked okay, if a little clinical. Fitness center: It existed. Just enough equipment for a solid workout for all hotel guests. Sauna? And Steamroom? And Spa? Yes, but honestly I didn't get to experience them fully. One of the spa experiences needed a bit of… TLC.
Things to do, ways to relax?
This is where I found myself most conflicted. The hotel has a lot of options. There's a Massage place… but is it good? A Body scrub? A Foot bath? It sounds lovely, but given my experience with the "chef's special," I'm hesitant.
The Big Picture: Would I Go Back?
Here's my honest take. The Four Points by Sheraton in Gatineau? It's… fine. It's not terrible. But it's definitely not the "best" hotel I've ever stayed in. There are moments of genuine effort, and there are moments that make you question the management's choices.
If you need a place to crash while in Gatineau, it'll do. If you’re looking for a genuinely memorable, luxurious, or exceptionally relaxing experience? Maybe look elsewhere. This hotel is the friend who’s always trying, but sometimes misses the mark. And honestly? That makes it all the more… human. But is that a compliment? I’m not sure. It's a complicated relationship, this hotel and I. So… maybe? Maybe not.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Mithos Apartment in Crete Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is surviving the Four Points by Sheraton Gatineau-Ottawa, and frankly, thriving (hopefully) on a tight schedule and even tighter budget. Here goes nothing…and everything…
The "Help Me, My Suitcase is Screaming" Itinerary: Four Points Edition
Day 1: Arrival & "Oh God, That Smells Like Chlorine!"
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Arrival & Check-In Nightmare (Semi-Joking, Mostly Serious). Alright, landed at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. Easy peasy, right? WRONG. The car rental line was longer than a CVS receipt. I’m pretty sure I aged a year waiting. Finally snagged the keys to a beat-up Corolla that smelled vaguely of stale fries (a foreshadowing taste…of things to come?). Road trip to Quebec… or Ontario… or whatever side Gatineau is on, is it French or English? Whatever it is, my stomach is rumbling so hard, its shaking the car. Pull up to the Four Points. Check-in. Pray to the travel gods for a decent room.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Room Reconnaissance & The Chlorine Conundrum. Okay, room's… fine. Standard hotel beige. The bed looks fluffy enough to maybe, maybe, cancel out the sadness of the fluorescent lighting. But then… the scent. That chlorine. It hits you like a tidal wave of indoor pool chemicals. I swear, they're using industrial strength to keep the ghosts out. I swear it. I open the window, immediately regretting it because now there's city noise, but at least it's fresh air (or as fresh as you can get in a concrete jungle. I have to find a way to get into the pool, which is a goal of mine.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Snack Attack & Panic Grocery Run. (My Blood Sugar is a Liar). Hotel has a little "market," but it's basically overpriced granola bars and sad, pre-packaged sandwiches. I need REAL food. I NEED a supermarket. Google Maps to the rescue (again). Find a grocery store. Grab snacks: crackers, chips, cheese, maybe some beer (research purposes, of course). I grab a bag of chips, a bag of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a carton of juice.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Unpacking & Emotional Regulation (aka Avoiding the Meltdown). Unpack. Try to hang up that one nice dress that I'm convinced I'll wear. Realize I brought way too many outfits, and the closet is smaller than my kitchen pantry at home. This trip is already looking different than what I had envisioned. I start to worry about the future and how this trip will hold up, then I think about the people. I'm going to miss my people.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Great Gatineau Search & "Where's the Culture?" (aka, getting hopelessly lost and loving it). Okay, enough moping. Time to explore! Google says there is a lot to see around these parts, but where do I even start? The hotel provides some brochure, so I take it. I walk the perimeter and try to get my bearings. I'm pretty sure I spotted an interesting landmark, and try to make my way there by foot.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner Debacle. (Or, Finding the One Decent Restaurant and Sticking to It). I went to the restaurant they recommended me. It was nice, but I am not gonna pay what they asked me for. Back to the hotel.
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Pool Time! (Maybe). It's time, I've been waiting for this moment all day. I walk to the pool and plunge in the cold water. It took a few minutes for me to adjust to the temp, but soon I was swimming! What an amazing experience!
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Shower, Netflix, and Existential Hotel Thoughts. Shower. The water pressure here is… lacking. Watch a terrible rom-com on Netflix. Think deep thoughts like, "Why do I always pack too many socks?"
Day 2: The "Almost Got Run Over by a Moose" Day
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet Bonanza (or, the Scramble for Scrambled Eggs). Breakfast at the hotel: the usual suspects. Scrambled eggs. Cereal. Rubbery bacon. I am going to miss this! I take the day in stride.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: National Gallery of Canada (Art's Good, But I'm Hungry). I have to say it. I love art. My day trip to the National Gallery of Canada was worth it. I am such a tourist!
12:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch (Soup, Salad, And Regret). Lunch near the gallery. Soup, salad, and regret that I didn't order the burger.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Stroll Along the Ottawa River (Nearly Drowning Edition). Nice walk. Almost fell in.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Souvenir Shopping Spree (Spending All My Money on Bad T-Shirts). The shops are awful. Nothing catches my eye.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back to the Hotel (Desperate for a Nap). What a day. I am exhausted, which is why I need a nap.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Naptime & Hotel TV Terror. I wake up and decide to check the TV. The TV is filled with commercials.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Dinner (Leftovers & Existential Dread, Part 2). I have some leftovers from dinner. I look outside the window and realize that the night is approaching.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Write In My Journal & Reflecting Upon My Life. I open my journal and write, reflecting upon my life. Life is hard, but exciting at the same time.
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: The Eternal Quest for Quiet (Attempt Two). Back in my room. The noise is still here, but I'm used to it.
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Pool Time, Electric Boogaloo. Let's dive in the pool again. I'm still not tired of the pool. But tonight, the pool is empty.
Day 3: "Going Home (But Feeling Like I Never Left)"
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Farewell to Breakfast (and Its Rubbery Bacon). Breakfast again. This time I have a lot less to eat.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Check-Out & The "Final Chlorine Blast." Sigh. Check out. Breathe in one last lungful of chlorine as a going away present.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: The Great Disassembly: What do I do with all of the things that I found? I have to unpack everything I've bought.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Long Drive Home (aka, The Soundtrack of My Life). Driving again.
12:00 PM Onward: Home Sweet Home (aka, The Laundry Mountain). I come home and collapse. Tomorrow, I begin again.
Disclaimer: This itinerary is a work of fiction, fueled by caffeine and a healthy dose of cynicism. Your experience may vary. Do not expect a Michelin-starred chef in the hotel restaurant or a moose encounter. And for the love of all that is holy, bring your own air freshener. You've been warned.
Fjalar Salo: Finland's Hidden Hotel Gem - You HAVE to See This!
1. So, like, what *is* life anyway? (Besides a total crapshoot, I mean.)
Ugh, don't even get me STARTED. You know, that existential dread that creeps in at 3 AM when you're staring at the ceiling, wondering if you remembered to feed the cat? Yeah, *that's* life. Or maybe it's that feeling when you accidentally buy the wrong size pants online AGAIN. I swear, algorithms are out to get me. Seriously, though, it's a confusing, beautiful, annoying, and wildly unpredictable mess. Kind of like my sock drawer. You try to organize it, it *seems* okay for a few days, and then BAM! Chaos, mismatched pairs, and that one rogue sock with the hole in the toe. That's life.
2. What's the deal with relationships? They're supposed to be nice, right?
Oh, relationships. Prepare for the feels, folks. Okay, so, I once dated this guy who swore he saw the "good" in everyone. Bless his overly-optimistic heart. Me? I see the potential for a LOT of things. Mostly, it’s a rollercoaster, isn't it? The highs are *exquisite*! You’re floating, butterflies, every cheesy rom-com cliche you can imagine. Then... the lows. Oh sweet Jesus, the lows. Arguing over whose turn is it to do the dishes because you're both emotionally exhausted. The silent treatment. The realization that you actually, genuinely don't have *anything* in common with someone. I've been through it all, and let me tell you... it'll test your patience, your sanity, and your ability to make a decent pot of coffee at 6:00 AM when you haven't slept. And sometimes, it's also incredibly, wonderfully, worth it.
3. Okay, on a lighter note, what's the best food ever? (And I MUST have an answer.)
This is a *serious* question. There is no one singular answer. But I have to say, a perfectly ripe avocado. Seriously. That smooth, creamy, green goodness... it's like a hug for your taste buds. I remember this one time, I was *starving*, and I had to go to a new grocery store, and I was just feeling so hangry. Then, I FOUND the avocados, and I just looked up and thanked the heavens for avocados. I remember I bought a whole bunch, and made avocado toast. And it was the most perfect thing I had ever eaten at that moment. Seriously, it's like, *zen*. You gotta wait until it's just right, though, or it's a mushy, gross disappointment. Like waiting for a text message. (Side note: the worst feeling EVER.)
4. What's the deal with work? Is it just… work?
Okay, so about work... I've had more jobs than I have socks, and the sock drawer theory... it's true for work too. You think you've got it all sorted, the perfect career trajectory, the ideal boss, enough coffee to run a small country... and then BAM! Layoffs, toxic coworkers, and the crushing realization that you're still not sure *what* you want to do when you grow up. It's tough. The pressure to always be "on" and productive, and not to mention, making enough money to survive!? Sometimes, I fantasize about opening a bakery and making bread all day. Probably won't pay the bills, but at least I'd smell like yeast. And if you don't like your job, quit. You're allowed. It's hard, and takes guts, but you deserve to actually be happy. I could talk about this all day. Probably I should work at a bakery
5. How do you cope with, like, the *hard* stuff? Anxiety, sadness, all that jazz?
God, this is the meat of it all. It's tough. Okay, so my first reaction? Denial. And then, a lot of screaming internally. Then, probably chocolate. And then, once I've calmed down a bit, I try to remind myself that everyone struggles. Seriously, everyone is a mess in some way. Sometimes, it means reaching out to friends, even when I want to be a hermit. Sometimes, it means admitting I need help. And sometimes, it means just… letting myself feel. It sucks, it's awful, and it's part of being human. I'm still figuring it out, honestly. Therapy is a godsend. So is finding that one friend who just GETS you. Seriously, find that person and treasure them! And remember, you're not alone in it, okay?
6. Okay, so what *is* the meaning of life? I need to know this now!
Oh, you want *that* answer? Haha, yeah, same. I've spent countless hours pondering this. I've gone through phases where it was about achieving goals, building something, contributing. Other times, it was about finding joy. Learning the guitar, traveling. Right now? I’m leaning towards the idea that it's constantly evolving. It's about trying new things, making mistakes, learning from them, and finding moments of connection. It's messy. It's confusing. It's probably not some grand, preordained plan. But hey, that leaves room for *amazing* surprises, right? And... maybe feeding the cat. Yeah. Feed the cat. That's a pretty good start, honestly.
7. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you? (Spill the tea!)
OH. MY. GOODNESS. *Gathers myself.* Okay, so, this one time... I was at a job interview, a REALLY important one, for a job I *really* wanted. My palms were sweating, I was talking a mile a minute, and feeling like I was crushing it. Then, I stood up to leave... and my skirt ripped clean up the back. Like, split-from-waist-to-hem ripped. Completely mortified, I froze. I was just stuck. I was bright red. The interviewer, bless his heart, tried to act like he didn't notice. But I knew. He knew. Everyone knew. I just wanted the earth to swallow me whole. My hands were just so cold all of a sudden. I mumbled a goodbye, practically ran out of the building, and vowed to never wear that skirt again. And yes, I still didn't get the job. The END (of talking about that. Please.)
8. Okay, last one. What's your advice to people?
