OTL Gouverneur Sherbrooke
My husband and I are from Montreal, but a few weeks ago, we had an event to attend in Sherbrooke and decided to stay at the OTL Gouverneur Hotel because it seemed to offer the best value for our money in the area, and the pictures looked nice, this is a 5-star hotel. We weren't disappointed. The hotel was easy to find. It is situated close to the highway but not too close to be loud. There is free parking available. There is also a business center for business travelers, which I saw but didn't use. The hotel offers an on-site restaurant, breakfast room, spa, pool, whirlpools, a small self-serve boutique with a microwave, and a state-of-the-art gym. There is also free internet access, including breakfast in the room's price. As the weather was cold and rainy, we decided to make it a cocooning weekend.
The Lobby
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As shown in the above picture, the lobby is very modern and open. There was always a basket of fresh, delicious green apples (crunchy and juicy) at the reception desk for guests during our stay. The hotel staff was very courteous and helpful - from the reception staff to the chambermaid, it was also immaculate. At check-in, we noticed that there was 20% off access to the spa for hotel guests, thermal baths, and treatments, so we decided to advantage of the promotion.
he rooms
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We booked a superior king room. The room was like the rest of the hotel - clean, modern and fully loaded with amenities. There were different cables in the room to charge your devices, so no need to ask the front desk or run out to buy a cable or, even worse, be stuck without your phone because you ran out of power and forgot the charging cable! There are also charging stations on the nightstands. It was very cool that instead of your typical alarm clock and binder for hotel info, there was a fully functional iPad. We found that the bed and the linen were crisp, white, and very comfortable. Our room was tranquil as well. Amenities included a mini-fridge, Nespresso coffee machine, two bottles of water, wine glasses, and a bottle opener. The only thing missing (and I’m picky here) is if, in addition to the teas (which were terrific) and coffee, there was also hot chocolate for adults who don’t drink tea or coffee and children. There was a reasonable size in-room safe as well.
If like me you enjoy soaking in a bath you would be out of luck, as there was no bathtub in our room, however, there was a beautiful, large shower. Bathrobes and slippers were also available and if you like them enough you could purchase them. Other bathroom essentials included a hairdryer, iron, and ironing board.
The facilities
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Gym
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In the morning before breakfast, I decided to go for a training session at the hotel’s state-of-the-art gym, with lovely area views. Equipment included modern cardio machines, machines to train different muscle groups, free weights, Swiss balls, equipment to work on your balance, etc. - the whole nine yards! Small towels, cleaning wipes, and a water fountain are also at your disposal. I certainly enjoyed my morning training session. The only drawback is that there is no toilet close by. You have to either go back to your room or down to the main floor.
Self-serve boutique
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You will find snacks and items that you might have forgotten at home in the boutique. They also sell the hotel bathrobes here. In this area, you will also find a microwave. Just around the corner from the boutique is a unique feature - a wine dispenser selling red, rose, and white wine by the glass. It is temperature-controlled to make sure you have the optimal experience. There are eight wines to choose from. The dispenser is like what you can now find at some SAQ stores for wine tasting. You can select the size of your glass as well. Prices differ depending on the wine you choose and your glass size. The dispenser is available from noon to 3 am.
Restaurant
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If you are staying at the hotel, you have many options for dinner in addition to room service and the Boefish hotel restaurant. If you have a food intolerance or vegan, there is an Avril supermarket about a block away, while No. 900 Pizza, which offers gluten-free, vegan pizza on the freshly made dough, is right across the street. We opted to eat take-out in our room from No. 900 Pizza, as we had spa treatments around dinner time, and it would have been a very early or late dinner otherwise. There are also other restaurants in the area, such as a St-Hubert within walking distance to the hotel.
Breakfast room
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The hotel offers a full breakfast, not the continental breakfast you sometimes find when breakfast is included in the room price. It was great and offered a wide range of options. An egg and waffle station, and the cooks prepare them to your liking. If you are vegan or have some food intolerances, your options may be more limited. They don’t offer vegetal milk, but they do let you bring your own (e.g., from Avril). They have an excellent choice of fruit platters, cereals, and bread. The only thing missing was nuts as an alternative source of protein for people who don’t eat meat.
Pool
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You will find the pool at the same level as the spa reception area. It has the same kind of atmosphere as the rest of the hotel. The swimming pool is large, so ideal for swimming lengths. The area also has two small whirlpools (38 C) with different light colours for effect.
Spa
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We have traveled the world and visited many spas, and we were delighted with this one. The spa services are reasonably priced, and with the discount for hotel guests, even more so. However, you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy this pampering experience.
Final thoughts
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Whether you're visiting Sherbrooke for business or pleasure, OTL Gouverneur Sherbrooke is a wonderful way to rid yourself of the stress of the world. There are many activities to do around the Sherbrooke area. This hotel would make an excellent base to explore the Eastern Townships' wonderful region. I highly recommended it!