This past July, I was able to stay at the newly opened TownePlace Suites Hotel in Petawawa which opened in the Spring of 2020. This all suite hotel is excellent for short or long-term stays while visiting Petawawa and the Ottawa Valley.
The TownePlace Suites Petawawa is part of the Marriott group of hotels and so, you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for a stay. The number of points required for a stay depends on the hotel category. This hotel is a category 1 hotel which requires between 5,000 and 10,000 Bonvoy points per night depending if it’s off-peak or peak season.
For my stay, I choose to redeem Bonvoy points since Marriott had a promotion where most of their hotels would have off-peak pricing for the month of July 2020. Thus, the price was only 5,000 points per night!
Plus, Marriott has a special benefit that your fifth night is free when you redeem points for a stay. So, my 5 night stay only cost 20,000 Bonvoy points instead of having to pay the regular price of $845.
For Canadians interested in earning Bonvoy points, consider applying for the Mariott Bonvoy Amex card. This credit card offers the possibility of earning 50,000 Bonvoy points after spending $1,500 in the first three months.
Location and front desk
The TownePlace Suites Hotel is located on Town Centre Boulevard in Petawawa. It’s conveniently located close to various restaurants, fast foods and a grocery store all within walking distance. Plus, almost everywhere in the city is about a 5-10 minute drive (including CFB Petawawa) from the hotel. Also, there is free parking for guests.
As I was visiting during the Covid-19 (corona virus) pandemic, there were certain health and safety measures in place at the hotel. For example, it was necessary to wear a face mask inside the public areas of the hotel. Most guests and staff I saw during my stay were being compliant and wearing a mask indoors.
Also, hand sanitizer was available at the front desk and there was social distancing markers on the floor to keep guests 2m or 6 ft apart while waiting at the reception.
I arrived at the hotel around 6 pm and made my way to the front desk. I had already checked in for my stay online on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app so my encounter with the cheery receptionist was brief. She confirmed that my room was ready and indicated the way to the elevators to reach the fourth floor.
Mobile Key
During check in, I opted for a mobile key instead of a regular hotel keycard. This allowed me to unlock my room door and the hotel’s exterior doors using the Marriott app on my smartphone.
To use this feature, I first would have to turn on Bluetooth on my phone and then open the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Next, I would tap the key icon and hold the back of my phone to the door lock. If successful, a green check mark would appear on my phone and I could open the door.
It didn’t always work the first time, so sometimes I had to try multiple times before the door would unlock. Nevertheless, it was useful feature to use during my stay.
Hotel Room
The TownePlace Suites Petawawa offers studio or 1 bedroom suites with either 2 Queen beds or 1 King bed with a sofa bed.
I was assigned a large studio suite on the 4th floor with a king sized bed. Beside the bed, there was two lamps each with an electrical plug and a USB port to charge your electronics.
There was also in the room a large TV, sofa bed and red lounge chair. Plus, there was a roll-away table and office chair to serve as a desk if you wanted.
Near the front door was a large closet with shelves, coat hangars and iron & ironing board. The light inside the closet would sometimes flicker so it was a minor inconvenience specific to my room.
Kitchenette
As you entered the room, there was a kitchenette furnished with a refrigerator, micro-wave, 2 burner induction cook-top and even a small dishwasher!
Also, the kitchenette was well equipped for two people with bowls, plates, mugs and glasses found on the top shelves.
Plus, there were some utensils, measuring spoons, a peeler and a can opener located in the top drawer. The middle drawer had a toaster and the bottom drawer had some pots and a frying pan.
Finally, one pack of dishwasher detergent was provided as well as dish soap and towels if you rather wash your dishes by hand.
Bathroom
The bathroom was modern and decently sized with a large shower. It was supplied with soaps and toiletries from the Paul Mitchell brand.
Smart TV & WiFi
As for entertainment, the smart TV in the room had regular cable channels in addition to both Netflix and YouTube. I simply had to press the Netflix button on the remote and log in with my account info to enjoy my favorite streaming shows.
In addition, free WiFi is provided to all guests and it’s fairly easy to connect your device(s) to the WiFi. During my stay, Internet speeds were incredibly fast at 102.30 Mbps download and 132.57 Mbps upload. So, I could easily watch YouTube and stream shows on my laptop without any buffering issues.
But when I did connect to the hotel Internet, I made sure to use NordVPN to protect my online data and privacy. Read more about the benefits of using a VPN service with my NordVPN review.
Grab and Go Breakfast
The TownePlace Suites Petawawa offers complimentary breakfast to their guests from 6:30 am to 9 am Monday to Friday and 7 am to 9:30 am Saturday & Sunday.
Ordinarily, the hotel breakfast is served buffet style with seating in the lobby. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic, breakfast was served differently in a “Grab and Go” format. Items were wrapped up individually in brown bags which you could take to eat in your room.
Breakfast items included muffins, bagels, English muffins, apples, oranges, yogurts, and bottled juices. There was also free coffee available.
Hotel Facilities
Many of the hotel’s facilities compliment a long-term stay. For example, there were two outdoor BBQs available for guests to enjoy grilling their favorite meats.
Nearby to the BBQs were some Muskoka chairs and what looked to be a fire-pit.
Also, there’s a large rectangular indoor swimming pool with some lounge chairs. Hotel staff informed that they were limiting a maximum of 8 people at a time in the pool area because of Covid-19 regulations.
Plus, there was a pool lift so guests with a physical disability could also enjoy the water.
Plus, there was a small heated pool nearby but unfortunately, it was empty and sealed off from guests. It was most likely closed to help with social distancing procedures during the corona virus pandemic.
Finally, there is a gym present at the hotel but it was also closed to guests due to Covid-19 provincial restrictions.
Summary
Overall, I had a very pleasant stay at the TownePlace Suites Petawawa. My room was quite spacious and I enjoyed that there was a kitchenette available to cook my own meals. Also, I slept well in the king size bed and was able to get some work done with the fast Internet speeds.
Since I stayed during the Covid-19 pandemic, I found the hotel had in place adequate safety and health measures. This included wearing masks in the public areas of the hotel, placing social distancing markers and providing hand sanitizer at the front desk.
Plus, I found the daily “Grab and Go” breakfast items were satisfactory considering the circumstances of my stay.
I wouldn’t hesitate to return and I can definitely recommend it to others visiting Petawawa and the Ottawa Valley.
A reminder that if you also want to stay at this hotel for FREE, consider getting the Amex Mariott Bonvoy card.
This card provides automatic Marriott Silver Elite status and a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points every year for an annual fee of $120. Also, it allows you to earn 5 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties. Plus, by clicking through this application link, you’ll be able to earn a generous 50,000 Bonvoy points after spending $1,500 in the first three months.
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Affiliate disclaimer: This review is based on my own personal experience with the TownePlace Suites Petawawa Hotel and is not sponsored by them. My blog contains referral or affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support.