Not Quite the Budget Room

by Angela Sanford

   With my son Wyatt boxing in Montreal last week, my husband and I made our regular trip to catch his event. We often book a room at the same hotel as Wyatt in downtown Montreal; however, on this most recent adventure, that proved impossible, as that hotel—and many others in the area—were already sold out, when we planned our trip, back in April.

   And it wasn't just one room we were looking for, but two, as another couple was joining us on this trip. It seemed hard to believe that nothing was available for a Wednesday and Thursday night in early June, but it was what it was. We ended up booking a room at an outrageous price for one night—more than we would normally spend for our entire stay in Montreal. We continued searching over the next few days for a more reasonably priced alternative and finally landed on a hotel around the corner from Wyatt that seemed much more budget-friendly.

   We booked two studio rooms at this new venue rather than the "budget rooms" they also advertised. In hindsight, the mere existence of "budget rooms" should probably have been our first clue about the experience that awaited us.

   Upon our arrival, we stood outside our hotel, adjacent to a store offering what appeared to be somewhat “questionable services.” That should have been our second clue. Nevertheless, we pressed on, through the front door, up the stairs, and into the lobby to check in.

   The building itself dated back to the 1800s and was clearly in need of some repairs. To be fair, it generally looked clean—at least upon first inspection. It wasn't particularly well finished, though. The water heaters in the bathrooms were exposed, taps protruded from walls and that connected to absolutely nothing, and the blinds didn't quite cover the windows. There were a few other noticeable defects, but overall, it seemed clean enough – and yes, we checked the bedsheets before settling in.

   Down the hall, our travel companions' room came with a couple of bonus features ours did not. Most notably, their window opened directly onto a rooftop that had clearly served as an encampment at some point. A pair of rats were now conducting what appeared to be an archaeological dig through the remnants left behind. Fortunately, those particular amenities remained outdoors.

   With an early start on Thursday morning, we were greeted at the front entrance by a young woman followed closely by a police officer who was in the process of pulling on black latex gloves before entering the building. Over the next half hour, as we strolled the streets, a second police car arrived. Naturally, our conversations turned to all sorts of possible scenarios that might warrant such excitement.

   When we returned to the hotel later that morning, the police had departed, and we had the good fortune of overhearing another couple discussing—in rather colourful terms—their "budget room" and its many shortcomings. To access the communal bathroom, they literally had to leave their room, go outside, cross an open-air terrace, and then re-enter another part of the building. She had apparently made this journey in the wee hours of the morning, only to discover that the toilets didn't flush properly. At that moment, we felt considerably better about our decision to splurge on the studio rooms.

   We spent most of the day downtown and returned to our rooms mid-afternoon to prepare for the boxing event. That's when the excitement level rose once again. A few unwelcome creepy-crawlies made an appearance and, with admirable determination, our travel companions ensured they met an untimely demise.

   When the front desk was approached, they did offer a different room. But by then, we weren't entirely convinced it would have improved matters.

   I will say that the following day, when our companion spoke with the manager, she was much more accommodating and did offer a partial refund for the stay, which was appreciated.

   By Friday evening, the four of us had returned safely to our clean, well-crafted homes, leaving behind a hotel experience that will no doubt live on as an urban legend among family and friends for years to come.