c2Paris

Don't laugh, but I'm looking for an inexpensive hotel in downtown Toronto. Or maybe I should word it, what would be the least expensive of all the hotels. I used to stay at the Strathcona by Union Station, but it looks like they have undergone a remodel and raised their prices.

Any suggestions for a centrally located, clean, safe (woman travelling alone) hotel?
Thanks.

BAK

Hotel Victoria, on Yonge Street south of King; One King West (condo / hotel combination) is offering rooms at $130

BAK

almcd

They don't come any cheaper than the Strathcona. I have stayed there several times and I find it very pleasant if all you are looking for is a bed. I was last there in the winter and I arrived by train. The price to Via travellers was $88 then. In the summer it is $122 for train travellers.

Brahmama

Please do not be offended, but is Hotel Guru reliable and safe? I have not heard of it before.

Were you able to get a Deluxe room? When I looked at it, a Standard Twin is all that came up.

Thank you.

BAK

81 dollars, even in US currency, is a bargain for that hotel.


But we keep hearing here of some real deals via internet reservation systems. I used to be in the hotel business, and I do know that a lot of real deals are, in fact, real deals. Better to get 80 for the night than to leave the room empty.

BAK

tozzman

I have found this website from Google. I also see them when I search in MSN and Yahoo. I love to seek the cheap price in the internet and try the website.

Brahmama

I did try to book this hotel with hotelsguru on the 12th. I didn't hear back with a confirmation, so I emailed customer service last night (13th) and they said it was sold out at this price. The new price is $219 USD. I said "Thank you, but NO thank you!"

I guess there are just limited rooms and you have to act quickly to get one at the low low price.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention Tozzman; I'll keep searching and Googling!

GeoNit

Author: GeoNit
Date: 06/10/2006, 03:08 pm
Why not bid for a room at www.priceline.com .

Here's a link for BiddingFoarTravel,a website where Priceline bidders share their winning bid information and bidding strategies:

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...abiddingfrm211

Brahmama

Actually, I did check out Priceline and Better Bidding and one comment was made that the Strathcona was listed as a 3* and it's more like a 2* - and that really messed up the bidding. The Fairmont York doesn't participate in Priceline, by the way.

C2Paris,
Try the Victoria. I have booked a room there and they are very easy to deal with. We asked for a discount and got it.

www.toronto.com/hotelvictoria

Songdoc

Using Priceline I got the 4 star downtown Sheraton Centre Hotel -- for $65/nt (U.S.). It looks great! By the way . . . why hasn't anyone responded to my post "One Day in Toronto"? (And by the way -- I may wind up having two days!)

rkkwan

Just go take a look at biddingfortravel.com. People are getting 4* DT for ~$68, 3* for <$50 and 2.5* for <$45. Where else do one need to look?

GeoNit

Brahmama, the BetterBidding hotel list is incorrect regarding the Strathcona.

Priceline rated the Strathcona as a 3* until late '03 or early '04, when it downgraded the Strathcona two quality levels to a 2*.

The BiddingForTravel website correctly lists the Strathcona at Priceline's 2* quality level.

Brahmama

THanks for the up-to-date info. I'll take another look. I should have checked on the date that the comments were made.
Carol

miscrapper

I just booked the Marriott courtyard for $89 can with AAA discount for Aug 8 and 9. This is for a double queen room. I got this rate by calling 1-800 marriott. The rate on internet was $224

We are also using some points for 2 free nights so we will have a cheap fournight stay in TO!

JJ5

You can get downtown and 3 or 4 star on Priceline. I stayed at the Sheraton City Centre with great views for $66 a night, and it was a Sat., Sun., Monday. That was much less than 1/2 of the rack rate. They have huge (17% on my bill- taxes on all levels) so if you want clean, safe, central- I would heartily suggest www.priceline.com

You pick your area and level- so you won't be unsafe. Don't forget- you can not cancel and your credit card is billed completely.

And another perk I got from don't this and never even realized it until the vacation was over is this.

All this pre-booking this way from OUTSIDE of Canada (if you are) will not be direct to the hotel and therefore most of those 17% taxes are not added. The days I booked in Canada direct, all have 17% plus added in taxes.

Pick your exact area, your star level (if you do a 4 you are going to be happy you did) and start at say $55 and see what happens.

JJ5

That shoud be, "the perk I got from doing this"

JMWF

JJ5 - Ontario currently has a 15% tax rate and it is reducuing to 14% in 4 days.

All the more incentive to travel to Toronto

JJ5

Adding all the taxes together from the Brock Plaza bill at Niagara- the stated tax level is 17% added taxes on the base room rate. I don't know which come from where or what municipality or province- but that's a bunch of money on say a $200 a day room.

My point was that if you buy through Priceline, the vendor is USA/Priceline and as such you do NOT get all the added tax. There are a lot of details on tax quite hidden- until you see the print out.

I did NOT get the second day at Brock on Priceline and as such the taxes were much, much greater.

And this has nothing to do with Ontario or Toronto itself, but I am appalled that so many big cities (especially my own Chicago) are adding these kinds of taxes onto tourist hotel bills. They just added another specific category in Chicago.

GeoNit

JJ5, note the following Priceline and Canadian Tax (GST) thread: http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...cID=2484.topic

JJ5

Wow, I just saw this now. I bought that Priceline room quite earlier than the trip. I just got in under the wire on NOT getting all the added tax. So Priceline has tightened the loopholes now!

Sorry, it's not just a "few" extra dollars. Obviously some of us work for every single one and physically at that. I remember one of my kids saying that exact line used abouve, and then he spent a summer laying concrete foundations for tuition. He doesn't think in that mode any longer.

You should not be gouged on 3 levels of tax, nor should any hotel price anywhere be taxed at the rates we are seeing 2006. Parking fees, taxes and hidden costs/charges are gouging when they are these present levels.