Guelph's BEST Hotel? Delta Marriott Conference Centre Review!
Delta Hotels by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre: A Review That’s Honestly Exhausting (But Hopefully Helpful!)
Okay, okay, buckle up folks. I've just emerged from the Delta Hotels by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre, blinking in the sunshine, and ready to tell you everything. Seriously, the amount of stuff crammed into this place is frankly… impressive. And maybe a little overwhelming. So, here's the deal, a super honest review, warts and all, because let's be real, travel isn't always perfectly Instagrammable.
First, The Broad Strokes: Accessibility & Safety - It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint (But Mostly Okay)
Let's start with the nitty-gritty because, frankly, it's important. Accessibility: The hotel generally tries. There are elevators (praise be!), and they claim to have facilities for disabled guests. I didn't personally need those features, so I can't vouch for their full effectiveness, but it looked promising. Wheelchair accessible? Seems like it, but double-check specifics before booking if you rely on it.
Cleanliness and Safety: They’re Trying Hard (Really Hard)
Okay, so they're bombarding you with safety measures. Like, seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Hand sanitizer everywhere? Double-check. Staff trained in safety protocol? They’re probably dreaming about it at night. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Mostly enforced, though the breakfast buffet… well, we'll get to that. Rooms sanitized between stays? I certainly hope so. The feeling of being perpetually watched for hygiene breaches is…an experience. I did appreciate the room sanitization opt-out option – a small sign of acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, we're all sanitizing-fatigued.
The whole setup feels… a bit like living in a sterile lab. But hey, I'd rather err on the side of caution, right?
Rooms: Cozy, But… Where’s My Soul?
My room? Standard fare. Non-smoking? Absolutely. Sounds proof was great and I couldn't hear the conference mayhem outside. Air conditioning was a godsend, because, Guelph in the summer? Brutal. Free Wi-Fi in the room was a lifesaver (more on that later). The bed… ah, the bed. Comfy enough, all things considered. You get the usual suspects: bathroom with a tub, coffee maker, TV with on-demand movies, a little desk, and a safe. Nothing particularly exciting. It served it’s purpose. On the quirky side, I couldn’t for the life of me find a reading light that actually worked. Am I becoming an old man? Maybe.
Internet: Wi-Fi Follies and LAN Lamentations
Okay, this is a MAJOR area of contention for me. Let's be clear: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!! Great! But the speed? Let's just say it was… deliberate. Like, I could practically hear the internet connection sighing with exhaustion every time I loaded a webpage. Seriously, it was painful. And forget about streaming anything larger than a cat video. I think I spent more time staring at buffering circles than actually using the internet.
Now, the really frustrating part? They offer internet access – LAN, which promises a more stable connection! But I couldn't figure out how to use it and it seemed pointless. So, I was back to the awful free Wi-Fi. My productivity plummeted, my patience wore thin, and I nearly chucked my laptop out the window. This internet situation is a colossal fail.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Mostly Just Average)
Right, let's talk about food. They’ve got restaurants. They’ve got a bar. They’ve got a coffee shop. The breakfast buffet was a chaotic mix of eager guests and masked staff awkwardly attempting to keep things sanitary. Breakfast buffet? Yes! Buffet in restaurant? Yes. Coffee/tea in restaurant? Yes! But here's a tip; Get there early. Otherwise, you'll be wrestling for the last sausage and dodging the rogue hands of the hangry.
Alternative meal arrangement? Not really, but there were some okay salad and soup options. They do offer room service [24-hour], which might be your best bet after a long day of conferences and Wi-Fi rage.
The Poolside bar and the bars and restaurants served what you’d expect – standard hotel fare. Happy hour offered a brief respite, but the drinks weren't exactly memorable. The prices? Well, they're typical hotel prices. Prepare to open your wallet.
Things To Do & Relax: Pools, Spas, and the Unfulfilled Promise of Bliss
Okay, they have a gym/fitness center and a swimming pool (indoor and outdoor). But honestly, I was so exhausted from the conference and the internet, I barely took the time to use any of these. The pool looked inviting, though. The spa? The spa promised a Sauna and Steamroom and I just didn’t have the energy to make the effort. Maybe next time.
Services and Conveniences: A Mixed Bag
They offer the usual suspects: Daily housekeeping. Laundry service. Dry cleaning. Concierge. A gift shop. Cash withdrawal. Standard, expected stuff. Car park [free of charge] – a definite plus. The elevator was a workhorse.
They also have a business facility, with meeting/banquet facilities, audio-visual equipment for special events, and all the standard stuff. The staff were generally pleasant and helpful, though occasionally a little spread thin. I'm sure they're all worked to the bone!
For The Kids: Babysitting Needed?
I'm not personally in the market for babysitting or kids meals, but the hotel seems family-friendly – at least in principle. I saw some kids running around (and not because they were escaping from the hotel, which, honestly, I understood at times).
Getting Around: Driving is Your Friend
Car park [on-site] is a major convenience.
Overall Impression: A Solid (But Slightly Soul-Crushing) Option
So, is the Delta Hotels by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre "the best" in Guelph? It's certainly… a large hotel, with lots of features. If you need a place that's clean, safe, and offers standard amenities, it's a decent choice. However, it's not somewhere that I'd particularly go to unwind. The pervasive focus on safety feels a bit clinical, the Wi-Fi issues are infuriating, and the food is… well, it's there.
My recommendation: Go armed with an abundance of patience, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and a healthy dose of humor. And maybe bring your own reading light. You’ll survive. I did!
Montgomery Coliseum Getaway: Days Inn's Unbeatable Deal!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted itinerary. This is life – Guelph edition, Delta Hotels by Marriott style. And honestly? After the week I've had, I need this damn trip like I need air.
The Absolutely Maybe-ish Guelph Getaway: A Stream of Consciousness Journey
Day 1: Arrival and the "Conference Chaos" (or, Why I Hate Hotel Elevators)
1:00 PM: Arrival at Delta Hotels by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre - Okay, first impressions… the lobby smells vaguely of chlorine and ambition. Not a bad combo, I guess. But seriously, the elevators? Are we still using technology from the 1980s? Felt like I was trapped in some kind of slow-motion, claustrophobic purgatory on the way up to my room. Grrr.
1:30 PM: Check-in Debacle (or, The Saga of the Missing Luggage Tag) - Found my room, thank God. But the desk staff? Sweet as pie, but a little… scattered. Took about ten minutes to figure out I did indeed have a luggage tag (hidden ninja-style on the back of my passport… who knew?). Small victories. Small victories.
2:00 PM: Conference Welcome (aka "Avoiding Eye Contact") - Ugh, the conference. The reason I'm here. It's… fine? So far. Lots of PowerPoint slides, lots of name tags, and way too many networking opportunities (my social battery is already on 10% and plummeting). I swear I saw a guy in a navy suit with a name tag and a soul-crushing smile. I’m keeping my distance.
4:00 PM: Coffee Break - The caffeine is calling! - I spotted the coffee station. Bless. I’m basically surviving on caffeine and the faint hope of decent wifi.
6:00 PM: Dinner – "The Buffet of Existential Dread" (or, My Quest for a Decent Salad) - The buffet. Oh, the buffet. It’s… a battleground. Mountains of lukewarm chicken, sad-looking vegetables that have seen better days, and a dessert table that's both tempting and terrifying. I finally found a salad. Score! But the dressing? Generic. It all felt a little… hotel-generic and the room had way too many people.
8:00 PM: Evening Session – "Pretending to Be Interested in Marketing Strategies" - Back to the conference. Now, there’s a very nice gentleman from the marketing department, and I’m sure his presentation is super informative, but my brain feels like mush. I'm pretty sure I drifted off at some point and dreamt I was a squirrel hoarding nuts. This is what conference life is, I guess.
9:30 PM: Room Service! (or, The Price of Comfort) - Okay, I have to be honest, I ordered room service. Because, well… comfort. And because after the buffet, I deserved it. The pizza arrived, lukewarm, but I’ll eat it anyway. Guilt be damned.
Day 2: Guelph Adventures (or, The Day I Tried To Be a Tourist… Kinda)
7:00 AM: Alarm Clock Meltdown (or, Why I Hate Hotel Pillows) - Ugh. The damn alarm. And the pillows! Hard as rocks. I thought the mattress would swallow me whole, but, I feel strangely rested after a good sleep.
8:00 AM: Breakfast – "The Scramble to Scramble" - More buffet. But this time… eggs. They aren’t great, but they’re warm, and I’m starving. Made a mental note to pack trail mix next time.
9:00 AM: Conference Sessions (again, or, The Art of Nodding and Smiling) - Back to the torture. But the topics are getting a little better, to be fair.
12:00 PM: Lunch (same buffet, different day) - It appears lunch is as bad as dinner. I did see a group of people laughing. Good for them, I suppose.
2:00 PM: Taking Advantage of Guelph: The River Walk - I felt like I needed to breathe. So I took a quick walk along the river. It was lovely. The air was fresh, the water was nice, and it felt like I was actually alive. It was a nice contrast to the sterile conference environment and it brought me a sense of calm.
4:00 PM: Back To the Conference - My head is pounding. More presentation… it all started blending in a blur. But the coffee station stays open, so there's that.
6:00 PM: Dinner - Another Buffet - I'm beginning to hate the buffet. I need to find a proper restaurant. Maybe I'll look on Yelp later.
8:00 PM: Drinks with Colleagues (or, The Slow Descent into Forced Camaraderie) - I decided to go against my nature and try to network. I swear the hotel bar is haunted. Awful conversation about who's doing better and how to stay more competitive.
Day 3: Departure and the "Post-Conference Hangover" (or, The End… At Last!)
7:00 AM: Awful, Awful Alarm - The last day!
8:00 AM: Breakfast - Ugh, the buffet remains.
9:00 AM: Final Conference Session (or, The Light at the End of the Tunnel… Hopefully) - Pretty sure I am out of mental stamina. I am not sure I'll get anything out of this last one.
12:00 PM: Goodbye Lunch - I am so glad this chapter is coming to a close.
1:00 PM: Check-Out and Escape! - Got out without a hitch.
2:00 PM: Drive Away from Guelph (or, The Sweet Taste of Freedom) - On the road, and already planning my next solo trip to a cozy cabin in the woods, far, far away from name tags, and lukewarm chicken.
Quirks, Rambles, and Random Thoughts:
- The Conference Centre: The acoustics in the conference rooms are… interesting. Sometimes I could hear the speaker perfectly. Other times, it sounded like they were speaking underwater.
- The Staff: Honestly? The staff were lovely, always smiling, even at 6 AM. They deserve a medal.
- The Room Service Menu: Seriously, whoever designed that menu… needs a lesson in culinary creativity.
- Me I'm not cut out for conferences. Never will be. But, hey, at least I'm getting paid. And hey, I made it. I'm a survivor! Now, about that cabin… Let's start planning…
- Final Verdict: Delta Hotels by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre is a solid, if somewhat unremarkable, hotel. The conference? Well, let's just say it gave me plenty of material for my next therapy session. But hey, at least I'm out of the office! And that, my friends, is a victory.
Delta Guelph Conference Centre: My Brain Dump of a Review!
Is this place REALLY the "best" in Guelph like some say?
"Best"? Oh, the eternal question! Look, it's… complicated. Honestly, I think "best" is a subjective term. Depends what you value, right? Do you value a perfectly spotless room? Because, and I'm being transparent here, I *did* find a lone, rogue french fry hiding under the desk. A lonely soldier! Fighting the good fight! (Against boredom, probably). So, is it 'best' in terms of spotless perfection? Maybe not. But if you value a generally pleasant experience with a decent gym and a location that doesn’t involve a 45-minute trek to a decent coffee shop? Yeah, maybe. It's like… a solid B+. Or, a C+, depending on the day and how many elevators are out of order.
Okay, seriously, what's the DEAL with the elevators?!
Oh, the Elevators. God, the elevators. This is where things get… *personal*. Let me tell you a story. So, picture it: I, tired, laden with luggage (and existential dread, naturally). Press the up button. Wait. And wait. And wait. Finally! The doors open. I stride inside, relief washing over me. DING! It's going... down?! Wrong direction! The sheer *audacity*! I'm on the 10th floor, right? This is a small rant. I pressed UP, but I'm being taken DOWN. After the elevator goes down, it's another wait to go back up. Eventually, I get to my floor. Seriously, what is the elevator's problem? Anyway… they are slow, seemingly temperamental, and at one point, felt like they were plotting something against me. I swear, I saw a flickering light in one – a sign of its evil machinations, I'm sure. Moral of the story: pack a good book (or a very long podcast). And maybe some emergency rations. You might be there a while.
The Rooms - What's it REALLY like in there?
The rooms… are mostly fine. They're clean-ish, the beds are comfy-ish (I’m a princess and the pea kinda person, FYI so that's high praise), and the view… well, the view is Guelph. Which, let's be honest, isn't exactly the Swiss Alps level of breathtaking. I looked out and saw a… parking lot. And a strip mall. But hey, at least there was functional air conditioning, which, in the peak of summer, is basically a blessing from the gods. The decor? Think: tastefully beige. Not offensive, perfectly… adequate. They do have a small desk. Perfect for, you know... not working (unless you're *me*, trying to crank out a hotel review at 11 PM. Because, deadlines). The bathrooms? Standard hotel fare. Sufficiently stocked with whatever generic brand of shampoo. That I end up taking home for some reason. Because, free stuff!
The Pool and the Gym - Worth a Dip (or a Sweat)?
The pool? Look, it's a pool. I swam in it. It was… wet. It had a decent temperature, which is always a plus. I'm not a huge pool person, I'll be honest. But I saw some kids having a blast, so that's a good sign. The gym, however… now *that* was interesting. It was small but had enough equipment for a decent workout. I'm a gym rat, mostly. You could find me on the treadmill, running and watching some show. But someone had left a towel on the elliptical machine, and it sat there... mocking me. Just mocking me! So I avoided that. But generally it's one of the better hotel gyms I've seen, honestly. Plus, there was a water cooler. Hydration is key, peeps.
And the Food? Dining Experiences?
Ah, the food. Let's just say the breakfast buffet was… an experience. Think: scrambled eggs of questionable origin, bacon that could double as a construction material, and a waffle station that required a PhD in engineering to operate. I went for the toast. Can't mess up toast. Right? Wrong. The toast was… okay. The coffee, however, was strong. I am a coffee lover. I think it's important to have a good coffee to wake up with, so it was a win there. The restaurant, "The Green Room," I think it was called? I had a burger. It was… decent. Better than the eggs certainly. Nothing to write home about, but edible. And they had fries. Fries are the universal language of comfort food. So, again, a B. Or maybe a C+. My expectations were low, to be honest. I went in with my eyes open.
What's the Vibe? Is it good for a conference? Or a romantic getaway?
The vibe? It's… conference-y. Let's be honest. It's built for conferences. There are meeting rooms galore, people in badges, and a general hum of business-y activity. Romantic getaway? Hmm. Depends on your definition of romance. If you and your beloved consider elevator malfunctions and beige decor romantic, then absolutely! If you're looking for candlelit dinners and moonlit strolls… maybe look elsewhere. It’s functional, clean, and generally fine. But it's not exactly oozing with, you know, *passion*. Unless your idea of passion involves PowerPoint presentations.
Any Hidden Gems or Things to Avoid?
Hidden Gem: The little shop in the lobby with the… well, things. I got a candy bar there. It was good! Also, the location isn’t terrible. Close to, I believe, a movie theater. The parking is easy. Things to Avoid: Overthinking the elevator situation. Just… accept your fate. Pack patience, and maybe a snack. And maybe avoid the scrambled eggs at breakfast. Trust me on that one.
Overall, would you stay here again?
Hmm. Honestly? Yeah, probably. Despite the elevator issues,Best Stay Blogspot
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