Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montreal

TRIED AND TESTED HOTEL

- Hannah Brandler

BACKGROUND The Queen Elizabeth hotel first opened in 1958 under the Hilton group, but joined Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in 2001 (an Accor brand since 2016). This property closed in 2016 for a year-long CAD$140 million renovation.

WHERE IS IT? On René Lévesque Boulevard West in Downtown. The lobby is connected to the underground shopping arcade at Place Ville Marie, which is linked to the Central railway station.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The 21-storey hotel is a huge presence occupying almost a whole block. It's not the most attractive façade, with slit-like windows and a beige exterior, but dazzles towards the bottom with a gold sparkling pattern.

The open-plan lobby is vast. During my visit, the hotel was filled with guests attending meetings and events - there are two floors dedicated to events spaces.

My room wasn't ready when I arrived in the morning, but I was able to leave my luggage free of charge - there's a fee of CAD$2 per item if leaving luggage when you check out. My room was ready at 2.45pm.

The hotel's name pays homage to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth who visited in 1959, but far more attention is paid to former guests John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The couple stayed in room 1742 for their famous 'Bed-in for peace' protest in 1969.