| Hotel Rating: |   | | Satisfaction: |    | | Reviews: 18 | Photos: 16 | | 900 Blvd. Rene Levesque West |
 | Montreal Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Reviews | 1 - 10 of 18 |  |
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 | Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth: Give Peace a Chance
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 Courtesy of the CBC archives by jadedmuse
The QE is perfectly positioned in Downtown Montreal so that if you stay there during the winter and it's bitter cold out, you never have to set foot outside. It has access to the wonderful "underground" city of Montreal which is a shopper's delight. And even if you do want to venture to rue St. Laurent or maybe have a meal on Bleury or Crescent St., it's a quick and easy cab ride away.
There is plenty that sets apart this amazing hotel, but for me, perhaps the most noteworthy aspect is this: The John Lennon/Yoko Ono Suite!
That's right - the famous weekend "Bed-In" took place in none other than the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal in May of 1969! Protesting the Viet Nam War, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged a peaceful demonstration via their hotel suite which is where Lennon wrote the lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance".
Today, you can purchase the "Bed-In for Peace" package for $500 a night which includes an overnight stay in their famous suite, a souvenir photo of the 1969 event, breakfast for two and a bottle of sparkling wine.
OR you can do what I did (it's kind of unorthodox but I say go for it anyways): ask to speak with the Sales Manager. Express interest in seeing the suite because you are considering staying in it. If the staff isn't too busy and the suite is unoccupied at the moment, you'll be escorted through the suite where you'll see all kinds of memorabilia including photos of the Bed-In, how the room was arranged (Lennon and Ono pushed their king size bed directly under one of the windows facing out over the street where below, thousands of fans and fellow protestors kept a vigil), news articles and all kinds of stuff relating to that crazy weekend.
My husband is a huge Beatles fan so this was a real treat when we spent a weekend in Montreal a few years back. We were completely stoked and even chatted with one of the older bellhops who gave us further details of that weekend - he was on duty when it happened....a living, walking piece of history! Theme: HotelPrice: US$120-180 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averagePhone: 514-861-3511Directions: Right across from Place Ville St. Marie and the Eaton Centre, in the heart of downtownWebsite: http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Hotels/AboutHotel/CDHotelHomePage/0,1143,code%25255Ftype%253DMEET%2526property%25255Fseq%253D100101,00.html Other Contact: queenelizabeth.hotel@fairmont.co
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| Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth: The Grande Dame of Montreal's downtown hotels...
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 Queen Elizabeth Hotel - view
frm Rene Levesque Blv by appaloosy
And the location of the QE puts you right smack dab in the centre of downtown Montreal - close to shops, theatres, restaurants, cafés and boutiques!! Plus it is connected to a vast underground shopping network which is VERY convenient in case of inclement weather!
And check out the "Beaver Club Restaurant" while staying there - it's a rather high priced venue, but it's has wonderful rustic decor and ambience, and a unique menu featuring wild game.
(Check web site for specials, bed & breakfast packages, rates, etc )
This is the grande dame of Montreal hotels, and she was recently taken over by the Fairmont Hotels consortium, who gave the old lady a facelift, with new and improved facilities that now includes indoor swimming pools, excercise rooms, and dataports in each room for your travelling laptop!
The rooms are generous, clean, and service is impeccable, yet friendly.
And don't forget.. John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed here during their famous "bed-in" during the late 60's (Suite 1742), where the song "Give Peace a Chance" was recorded! Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averagePhone: (514)861-3511Directions: If arriving by train (AMTRAK or VIA RAIL): can be accessed right from the train station underneath. If arriving via Dorval Int'l Airport: about a $25.00 - $30.00 (Cdn) taxi ride from the airport.Website: http://www.fairmont.com/QueenElizabeth/ Other Contact: Email: queenelizabethhotel@fairm
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usually I stay with a friend however I have stayed at the Best Western in Dorval by the airport and Queen Elizabeth Hotel on St. Catherines Street.
anywhere from 120.00 canadian to 260.00
Its a beautifully old building yet with modern qualities surrounding it and easy access to anything downtown or oustide with the metro in the same building. Theme: HotelComparison: more expensive than averageDirections: Queen Elizabeth is located right downtown on St. Catherine's Street and the metro is directly under it.
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| Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth: Great Hotel for Many Reasons
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What can you say? It's a Fairmont after all. That name is the one I turn to first whenever I visit Canada. This hotel has it all. The location cannot be beat. It sits on top of the metro line and the ViaRail line and a connection to one of the larger sections of the Underground city (RESO). It is situated almost evenly between the east and west parts of downtown and it is situated almost evenly between Vieux (Old) Montreal and the St. Catherine and Sherbrooke areas. You can walk or catch the metro just about anywhere. The hotel decor in the public areas was simple elegance - not overdone but still very well appointed. There's a health club, pool, sauna, and spa on the floor just below ground. The legendary Beaver Club restaurant is in this hotel. There is also a business center that I did have reason to use and it was sufficient. The room I stayed in was well maintained and showed no signs of aging. The views from our room faced Mount Royal but most rooms face the river and Old Montreal. I would offer 2 observations about this property that are not negatives but just things to be aware of. The first is for those who have stayed in some of the more "castle" like Fairmont Hotels (Quebec City, Ottawa, Vancouver), this is a more business-like type architecture. There is nothing wrong with that but it would be a stark difference if you were expecting the castle. Also, the entry level price rooms are not equipped for four people. We were only two and it worked fine for us and three would get by. However, for four people, you might want to bump up to the next category. Again, not a bad thing necessarily but something you would want to know in advance.
Location, connnection to most of the Underground City and metros, the Beaver Club restaurant. Theme: HotelPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageDirections: Downtown but close to Old Montreal
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