My husband and I traveled to St. Jean Sur Richelieu for our son's Canadian Forces graduation . We arrived early but these folks were well prepared (lots of folks stay on Wed & Thurs due to the graduations). The friendly staff processed us quickly speaking both French and English. Our room was clean, bright and included all amenities needed. We found this hotel to be very quiet (smoke free) and would definitely stay again. You can tell this hotell is 'well used' but certainly NOT beat up in any way. The breakfast was copious and staff efficient ,constantley refilling coffee urns, hot dishes and clearning talbes. Yes, this large breakfast WAS included in the price serving eggs, bacon, sausage, omlets, toast, bagels, fresh cinnomon rolls, cookies, fruit ... I could go on and on. Lots of choices for everyone. This hotel IS a wonderful choice, well priced and only about 3 km from the Base.

We stayed at the HI Express in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu for our son's graduation from BMQ at CFLRS Saint-Jean.

Location is good, just off exit 9 from Autoroute 35 and only about 5 or 7 minutes from the Garrison (Garnison in French) Saint-Jean - http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/5gss/g_SaintJean-eng.asp

We booked a king bed but they also have rooms with one or two doubles. Our king seemed to have lost a bit of support in the middle so the two of us tended to role towards the middle, but it was not a concern. This was the only problem during our stay.

The hotel is in a small shopping/dining area with a Boston Pizza just across the parking lot and some fast food places also within walking distance. There is a Home Depot, Wal-Mart and many other stores close by as well.

The best aspect of the hotel is the compliementary hot breakfast. Now, some places that offer a 'hot' breakfast hang their hat on toaster waffles. Not this HI Express, as breakfast included: scramble eggs, omelet, sausage, bacon, bread/bagels/muffins, yogurt (low and non-fat), fruit, cinammon buns (REALLY good!), three juices, coffee/tea/hot chocolate, etc. etc. There was plenty of seating and the staff kept the tables clean and the room tidy.

As a HI 'member' we received a complimentary newspaper (the Globe and Mail) but there were plenty of copies available near the breakfast room as well.

The hotel has compliementary WiFi and there is also a computer available. WiFi was easy to access.

The staff were very gracious in entertaining my attempts at French, but all the front desk staff spoke very good English.

All in all, a very nice place.

This was a standard Holiday Inn Express, take it or leave it. The room was typical and the breakfast was lackluster. We were surprised to find the hotel in the middle of an industrial part of town, a couple of miles from the heart of the town. Parking lots were everywhere, some sort of manufacturing plant was across the highway, and the Home Depot was across the stretch of asphalt as well.

I do give them a gold star for having free Internet which proved handy. I’d recommend finding a hotel downtown instead so at least you’ll be somewhere.

Until last year, this place was a long-standing Comfort Inn. Holiday Inn added a columned portico, a dining area and some mediocre LCD flat panel TV's in their rooms. Still the same microscopic sliding windows (something akin to those openings prison guards slide food trays through to prisoners in solitary confinement). Still the scent of tobacco. No elevators. Still the old window base A/C units that generate as much noise as cool stale air. Basic furnishings and okay beds. Generally, pretty quiet.

The joint was about average as a Comfort Inn. Not nearly so good as a Holiday Inn Express.

The place is within a short walk of Tim Horton's, Boston Pizza, Burger King, Couche Tarde and a Kia or Hyundai dealership. So grab a doughnut and a car some evening.