The situation
It is 9:40 PM. You left Toronto later than planned, the 401 crawled past Oshawa, and you are pulling off at Belleville. Here is what is still open at the two buildings on Bell Boulevard, based on the hours each operator publishes.
| What | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel pool and whirlpool | 7 AM to 10 PM daily | Marriott |
| Fitness centre | 24 hours | Marriott |
| Townies Bar | 11 AM to 10 PM daily | Marriott |
| Room service | none | Marriott FAQ |
| Casino live tables, Mon–Thu | 4 PM to midnight | Great Canadian |
| Casino live tables, Fri–Sun | noon to 2 AM | Great Canadian |
| Breakfast next morning | 6:30 to 9:30 weekdays; 7:00 to 10:00 weekends | Marriott |
| Belleville VIA station | 07:00 to 21:45 daily | VIA Rail |
What that means in practice
Arrive after 10 PM and the pool and the bar are closed. If you want a swim, aim to arrive by nine. The kitchen in the suite is the late-night dinner plan. The hotel's own list puts IHOP at 1 km, but it publishes no hours for it. On a weeknight the live tables close at midnight, so a 10 PM arrival leaves time for an hour at most, if you want one. The general opening hours of the casino are not something we could confirm, so check the operator's page before you walk over at 1 AM.
The things to sort out before you leave home
- Late check-in. Tell the hotel you will arrive late. Put it in the notes of our form and we pass it on with your request.
- A taxi from the train. If you are arriving by train, VIA's station page lists Central Taxi, (613) 962-5353, with the words "reserve in advance". The station itself closes at 21:45.
- Food in the car. A suite kitchen is only useful if there is something to cook. The Quinte Mall is on Bell Boulevard, but its hours are not on our list.
- A time to stop. If you are going to the casino, decide your leaving time before you go in, not when you get there.
Why we like this stop for late arrivals anyway
Everything is at one exit. You park once and stay put. Breakfast is included, and the 401 is minutes away in the morning. On a night when the weather turns, that is worth a lot.