Doubletree Santa Monica
Booked: King 1 bedroom suite. Received twin 1 bedroom suite (!)
No water, no letter (HHG), offered breakfast vouchers or bonus points - took the vouchers. Like most US Hiltons, it was continental breakfast only, could upgrade to cooked breakfast for $8. Staff asked me if I wanted coffee, I asked for cappucino - mediocre cappucino arrives, then the bill! In retrospect I should have realised that drip coffee was what they meant, being America, but it would have been nice if they told me the cappucino was extra. It was dreadful and I would have saved my money for a cappucino elsewhere!
Internet complimentary for everyone, apparently.
Location was okay- about3 blocks back from the beach, and 2 blocks from shopping areas in Santa Monica. No idea if there were beach views - my room looked over a school. Is that a "preferred room" to the Hilton??
Embassy Suites Montreal
Booked: King room, Received: King suite (HHG upgrade)
Breakfast and 'Managers reception' included for all guests - managers reception included light snacks (crisps, pretzels, crudites) and I was given vouchers for 2 drinks. Internet free, 2 bottles of water free = although frustratingly these weren't in the room when I arrived, I had to wait for the turn-down service before they appeared.
Location is easy walk from downtown, old montreal, station and shopping areas. Price was about $160 plus tax, which wasn't too bad considering it was the Monday night after Grand Prix weekend.
Booked: King 1 bedroom suite. Received twin 1 bedroom suite (!)
No water, no letter (HHG), offered breakfast vouchers or bonus points - took the vouchers. Like most US Hiltons, it was continental breakfast only, could upgrade to cooked breakfast for $8. Staff asked me if I wanted coffee, I asked for cappucino - mediocre cappucino arrives, then the bill! In retrospect I should have realised that drip coffee was what they meant, being America, but it would have been nice if they told me the cappucino was extra. It was dreadful and I would have saved my money for a cappucino elsewhere!
Internet complimentary for everyone, apparently.
Location was okay- about3 blocks back from the beach, and 2 blocks from shopping areas in Santa Monica. No idea if there were beach views - my room looked over a school. Is that a "preferred room" to the Hilton??
Embassy Suites Montreal
Booked: King room, Received: King suite (HHG upgrade)
Breakfast and 'Managers reception' included for all guests - managers reception included light snacks (crisps, pretzels, crudites) and I was given vouchers for 2 drinks. Internet free, 2 bottles of water free = although frustratingly these weren't in the room when I arrived, I had to wait for the turn-down service before they appeared.
Location is easy walk from downtown, old montreal, station and shopping areas. Price was about $160 plus tax, which wasn't too bad considering it was the Monday night after Grand Prix weekend.
Travelling alone so no real problem; was more frustrated by an inability to get late checkout beyond 13.30 when I'd specified it at time of booking. Not to mention almost missing my airport transfer because the concierge failed to handover my message of "I am sitting in the lobby for the next hour or so while I wait for my airport transfer" to his colleagues at the front door... It's fair to say they weren't winning me over on all-round service!
....but I'm entertaining clients at Southbank. 
