tokidoki

Suggestions for hotels, places to eat, places to see for first timers in Toronto, a taste of Toronto to lure us back. Not big time spenders but would like safe/clean. Enjoy local beers, food and good coffee (wouldn't mind taking some coffee beans home). Thinking of end of Sept. unless there's a better time to be there.

BAK

For your list:
Steam Whistle Brewery tour
Lunch at beer bistro
Visit to Distillery District
Ferry to Toronto Islands
Decide between Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario
Walk from Queen and University along Queen to Bathurst
Walk from Bloor and Yonge west to Bloor and Bathurst

Lots of hotels to pickfrom. Can you give us some idea of style, mood, etc. For instance, I like big hotels with lively lobbies, or smallboutiques. I'd rather be sitting in a lobby watching the passing scene than be in a luxury room.

BAK

BAK

tokidoki

thanks. not too particular about hotels, except clean, preferably in safe area, close to public transportation or walking around. Looked at Marriott Eaton Centre or another Marriott in Entertainment District. any thoughts? doesn't have to be Marriott, but we get points.

garyt22

That Mariott at Eaton Centre is in a very busy Tourist area and can be fun for access to shopping, theatre, food and wandering around... it has a NY City feel..

For more of a Toronto experience, there's an Intercontinental as well as a Marriott in Yorkville or perhaps the Hyatt on King St. ... both of these areas are a bit more toronto and in good locations to explore restaurants, museums and boutiques...

the Toronto Film Festival is September 8 -18 so be aware to either avoid those days or participate if interested... lots of celebrities, but also harder to get rooms and restaurants...

Good luck in your planning...

tovarich

Take the trolley.Visit the islands with ferry.Go up the CN tower.Try the Strathcona hotel.Visit the museum

mat54

Have stayed at the Marriott in (actually near) Yorkville - good location for walking to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) which is excellent and for browsing the shops of Bloor and boutiques and bistros of upscale/trendy Yorkville. If you're an avid walker, could also walk to "Greektown on the Danforth" from here (I've done it) where there are many restaurants (although no longer all Greek) with outdoor seating.

I like the Harbourfront/Queen's Quay area on summer weekends when they have music and cultural festivals, craft stalls, water views, islands and sailbboats to gaze at while enjoying a beer on an outdoor patio but that would involve a July or August visit, maybe into early September (for the festivals at least). Ferry to the Islands is here.

Closer to the Distillery District and Harbourfront are the Cosmpolitan (a boutique style suite hotel, I've also stayed here) and the Novotel. These are also walking distance to the St. Lawrence Market which is popular and vibrant, especially Saturday mornings (great breakfast sandwiches at Carousel Bakery).

I've also stayed at the Radisson Admiral Harbourfront which is walking distance to the CN Tower, the Entertainment District and Harbourfront. Some rooms and their outdoor pool/patio area have views overlooking the water and islands. The Westin Harbour Castle has a great waterfront location here also.

ParisAmsterdam

Go to the Casa Loma
Take a Segway tour in the Distillery District

Get familiar with Priceline's NYOP, Hotwire and
http://betterbidding.com if you'd like to save a pile on hotels. We've stayed at the Sheraton across from City Hall for $65 and the Sutton Place for $110 lately.