Downtown Toronto

[tiecollector]

So, from Sept 4 - 8 I will be staying in Toronto, Canada. Looking forward to it and am trying to book my hotel room. I have been looking at hotwire and the rooms in the west side of downtown cost twice as much as the east side. Is there much of a difference?
Hotwire considers the east side to start a few blocks east of University Ave it looks like.

I'm looking to have a hotel pretty close to a lively, younger part of town. Hotwire doesn't seem to let you pick the exact hotel, just the area. I've never booked a hotel using one of these services but I hear good things about hotwire so that is why I'm using it.

I will be staying at the Westin Harbour Castle my second two days and have already booked.

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

I started a thread about Toronto that included some good information about a month ago, if you're at all interesting in eating/shopping advice.

 

[TheHoff]

I'm in Toronto a few weeks later and it seems for most of September, if you book a 4-star on Priceline, you're getting the Sheraton for $70 / night.

 

[imageWIS]

Check out the BCE Place for its architecture and eat at Le Marche – Movenpick.

Don't miss looking down on the glass floor of the CN tower:

Jon.

 

[EL72]

That week is probably the busiest one of the year in Toronto because of the film fest (see http://www.tiff07.ca/) and hotels are booked and expensive - especially in the Yorkville area. You can see some nice movies and party with Hollywood stars

If you can stay at the Westin for your entire stay, do it. It's nice and by the water and a short cab ride (20 min walk) to most downtown hot spots. Be careful how far East you go with hotels. East of University is fine but not much further than Yonge which is probably the boundary hotwire uses and is essentially what bisects Toronto along East/West for street numbers...

I would be wary of hotwire because I know how busy that week is. Feel free to post questions about specific hotels and I'll try to answer as best I can.

Here is a nice view of the CN tower:

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by TheHoff

I'm in Toronto a few weeks later and it seems for most of September, if you book a 4-star on Priceline, you're getting the Sheraton for $70 / night.
Okay, good to know. Right now I am actually booked at the Sheraton downtown and it is $350!!!! a night. So I want to cancel that reservation with something else. Maybe I'll live it up a little though. I'm already getting a discounted rate at the Westin for a night and a free night the other night. I tried staying there the whole time but there weren't any reservations available.

 

[TheHoff]

Yea, seriously, if you have the ability to cancel, you can get back in at the Sheraton for 1/5th the price. It sounds like you have a suite though so if that is your preference, keep it. I debated using Priceline (first time) but booking something better than the Sheraton would be at least $250 per night compared to $70. If you have the patience, check out http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=162 And you can see exactly what hotels Priceline and Hotwire are booking but I can pretty much tell you Priceline is offering the Sheraton in September.

 

[EL72]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

Maybe I'll live it up a little though. I'm already getting a discounted rate at the Westin for a night and a free night the other night. I tried staying there the whole time but there weren't any reservations available.

If you are staying there first, I would say there is 99% chance you won't have to leave if you don't want to. It's a big hotel and there will be a room. I've done this many times.

Don't forget that hotel prices during the film fest (Sep. 6-15) are orders of magnitude higher than other times due to the traffic in town so you won't get the same prices as Hoff for the Sheraton.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by EL72

If you are staying there first, I would say there is 99% chance you won't have to leave if you don't want to. It's a big hotel and there will be a room. I've done this many times.

Don't forget that hotel prices during the film fest (Sep. 6-15) are orders of magnitude higher than other times due to the traffic in town so you won't get the same prices as Hoff for the Sheraton.

I didn't realize the film festival was going on when I booked an appointment in Toronto 3 months ago. I am actually getting the room paid for at the Westin one night and a 50% off the second night, so I guess it will balance out.

 

[gj555]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Check out the BCE Place for its architecture and eat at Le Marche - Movenpick.

Jon.

Except BCE Place is now called Brookfield Place and Le Marche Movenpick is now called Richtree Market

 

[jabney]

Originally Posted by gj555

Except BCE Place is now called Brookfield Place and Le Marche Movenpick is now called Richtree Market

I will second eating at Le Marche (apparently now called Richtree Market)! I'm from Western Canada, but I get out to the east atleast once a year and whenever I'm in Toronto or Montreal I always eat there. Have a good trip!

 

[taxgenius]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

So, from Sept 4 - 8 I will be staying in Toronto, Canada. Looking forward to it and am trying to book my hotel room. I have been looking at hotwire and the rooms in the west side of downtown cost twice as much as the east side. Is there much of a difference?
Hotwire considers the east side to start a few blocks east of University Ave it looks like.

I'm looking to have a hotel pretty close to a lively, younger part of town. Hotwire doesn't seem to let you pick the exact hotel, just the area. I've never booked a hotel using one of these services but I hear good things about hotwire so that is why I'm using it.

I will be staying at the Westin Harbour Castle my second two days and have already booked.

I was there. It's a great hotel except for some reason their indoor heated pool isn't so heated.

 

[Piobaire]

I'm going to be in GTA in about three weeks, just for the day. I'll be arriving on the VIA in the morning. Plan to hit China Town for some food and maybe some shopping. After that, we have some time on our hands, then we need to get over towards the CN Tower as we're meeting up with a husband and wife attorney team for dinner at the Tower. I am a tad dubious of the Tower restaurant, but they think it is a good spot to meet.

Any good clothing shops located amongst other general shopping I could hit between China Town and the CN Tower?

 

[GQgeek]

The tower restaurant isn't bad. It's market cuisine using ontario ingredients. It won't win any awards for creativity, but it's a cool place to eat because of the view, especially at night. The food shouldn't disappoint you unless you go in there with overly optimistic expectations.

TieCollector: The Harbour Castle has two towers. One of them has been recently renovated and the rooms are quite nice. Call and make sure you have one of those rooms.

 

[doink]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Any good clothing shops located amongst other general shopping I could hit between China Town and the CN Tower?

Since you'll be in China Town (Spadina) take a detour into Kensington Market (just west of Spadina, go in off of St Andrew's or Baldwin).

In the Market check out

Tom's Place - mens wear job shop - suits, pants, etc. Can sometimes find good prices on mid level end lines (Corneliani is the "best" brand I've seen there for about 60% off retail), but also carries lots of "off brands"

On Kensington St there are vintage shops as well as indy designers as well as a great cheese shop (Global Cheese)

On Augusta there are a few vintage/shabby chic and ethnic specialty stores.

Between China Town and the CN Tower is Queen West, the shopping aimed at younger people. In terms of clothing, nothing special there, but check out Silver Snail (if you are into comics and collectibles) and Pages Book Store on Queen Street.

Other advice, since you are going to be mostly in the core, get TTC day passes, lets you on and off as much as you want.

If you have a specific interest, please post and I'll see what I can think of.