Hotel l’Abri du Voyageur

Housed in a building constructed in 1876, the Abri Du Voyageur Hotel has tons of character, with polished hardwood floors, lots of exposed red brick, and contemporary art along its walls. A long, steep staircase leads to the lobby, which has high ceilings, a beautiful brick fireplace, hanging industrial track lighting, and a knotty-pine front desk; a cluster of tan couches and ottomans creates an attractive seating area, and free coffee, tea, and water are available. Wood floors flow through the modern breakfast area, with small black tables, black-leather chairs, and colorful paintings. The room gets plenty of natural light through big windows. That being said, there are a few ways this hotel shows its age, including exposed pipes running along the ceilings, vending machines, and window-unit air-conditioners with exposed cords. The hotel appeals most to young, budget travelers seeking culture and action, and most guests are couples and solo travelers here.

The Abri Du Voyageur Hotel is in downtown Montreal’s entertainment district (Quartier Des Spectacles) on a street that becomes a pedestrian thoroughfare during the summer. The Monument National, Theater du Nouveau Monde, Complexe Desjardins, and Place des Arts within a five-minute walk, along with restaurants, shops, the St. Laurent Metro stop, and Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. McGill University, the Montreal Convention Center, and the Old Port are within a 15-minute walk. Via metro, trips to the bustling Plateau take 18 minutes, and the Jean Talon Market is 30 minutes to reach, while the bus goes straight up Avenue St. Laurent to trendy Mile End in less than 20 minutes. The Eaton Center and Bell Center are about a 10-minute drive away, while Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is about a 20-minute drive (50 minutes by airport bus 747). 

Rooms come in Budget, Standard, and Superior categories, and Budget Rooms share bathrooms, while higher category rooms have en-suite bathrooms. All have air-conditioning, hardwood floors, knotty pine and wicker furniture, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and vivid contemporary artwork, and most have exposed red-brick walls. However, the cheap motel-style bedspreads lack style and furniture definitely veers towards the cheap and simple. Studio Apartments come with kitchenettes, including full-range stoves, microwaves, full-size refrigerators, toasters, and coffeemakers. Rooms can be noisy, though, as this is an old building; floors creak and street sounds reach the rooms, especially during festivals. Private bathrooms have white tile, and brown laminate countertops, magnifying mirrors, and showers or shower/tub combos with homey shower curtains. Shared bathrooms have gray tile, white countertops, and exposed brick, and the hotel provides toiletries in all bathrooms.

Features here are in line with value properties throughout the city, though the massage room, which can be booked by appointment, is an unexpected addition. A computer and printer are available for guests in the lobby, and there is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. A continental breakfast of croissants, breads, muffins, yogurt, and eggs is available for an extra charge. There's no on-site parking, but parking is available nearby, and the hotel's front desk is staffed 24 hours a day.