Looking for an inexpensive hotel (rates ~$100 USD) that is in a good location to explore Toronto. The Marriott Courtyard or Days Hotel and Conference Center both appear to fit the bill. Any comments on them in terms of location and the hotels themselves? Any other suggestions of places to stay? Thanks!

Location is a toss-up.

One is about a block east of Yonge and College. One is a block north of Yonge and College.Marriott is part of a chain where almost everytihgn is nice, or really nice.

Days Inn is far and away the best Days Inn in Toronto, part of a chain with a lot of poor locations.

I'd pick the Marriott.

To reduce confusion: Yonge Street is the main north-south street in Toronto.

East -West Streets, (Like King Street Est and King Street West) change at Yonge.

But where the Days Inn is, the street east of Yonge is called Carlton and the same street west of Yonge is called College. The "College" subway is very close to the Days Inn door.

If you don't have acar (parking is a little awkward) the Hotel Victoria, on Yonge Street and the Strathcona Hotel, on York Street, are good bets.

PRICELINE -- I don't use this, but there are frequent reports here ofpeople gtting great bargains, including the Sheraton Centre, via Priceline.

BAK

You might also check out the recently rebranded Holiday Inn Toronto Midtown, on Bloor St West near Spadina. It used to be a Quality Inn. It's in a somewhat nicer neighbourhood than your other two choices - in what is called the "Annex" (i.e. annex to the University of Toronto). It's very close to both the E-W and N-S subway line, very close to museums (e.g. ROM, Bata Shoe Museum), close to high end shopping in Yorkville and funky shopping and restaurants to the west (where university students, profs and young professionals tend to live). It's always lively because of the student population.

Your other two hotels aren't in a bad location, but I find Yonge Street and Carlton to be a bit seedy and tired. Yonge Street used to be the main commercial and shopping street; now it's full of discount shops, cheap restaurants, a scattering of sex shops, etc, as well as chain stores. There's a somewhat higher proportion of down-and-outs (although, unfortunately for them and for others, there are lots of such people everywhere in Toronto).

I've lived within a few blocks of both neighbourhoods and was comfortable in both. I wouldn't want to scare you off the Yonge and Carlton Street locations - I just wanted you to know that they are a little more run down than the area around the Annex and that the Annex offers a funkier vibe.

BAK--thanks for the good info on the directions and the alternate suggestions onplaces to stay. Will look into them. Thought about using Priceline, but we need 2 adjoining rooms, so that might not work.
Kate W - appreciate the insights into the neighobrhood and the Holiday Inn suggestion. Like the idea of staying somewhere there is stuff going on. Sounds like a good possiblity too.

It's hard to find decent hotels in Toronto that are not near interesting places.

If you work within an area bounded by a few blocks north of Bloor on the north, Jarvis on the East, BAthurst on the West, and the Lake on the bottom, you'll be within walking distance of lots of interesting things.

Are there children involved in this project? That makes a little bit of a difference. And the time of year makes a little bit of a difference, too.

Hotels cost more in the summer. this is a big city, although not as expensive as New York and London, it's more than most mid-sized US cities.

Holiday Inn Lombard and Jarvis; Holiday Inn on King. Novatel on Esplanade (not the ones in North York or Mississauga)Travelodge on King Street West.

One King West is a combination hotel and condo and you might negotiatite rates, and end up with a two bedroom apartment. It's half way between the Royal York and the King Edward, two of Toronto's best hotels.

Soho Metropolitan is on the edge of interesting places and I think is looking for customers so may be open to negotiation.

Delta Chelsea is the favorite hotels of visiting children.

I would not trust any Howard Johnson; I was part of the launch of this chain in Canada, and it has gone very downhill. You might be lucky, or you might not be.

Toront's arranged so that if you stay in the south west, there's stuff to do, and then you leave theneighborhoor. South east; same thing. North west, same thing. North east (within my previous boundaries) there are not many hotels, but there's still stuff to see, and you then go elsewhere.

BAK

The trip is at the end of April and there are no children involved. First time to Toronto. I will look into the many suggestions you provided. Do you know the Ramada Hotel and Suites on Jarvis? any opinion on that? Really appreciate all your information.

Jarvis is a bit scuzzy - prostitution is an issue. I think the other options you're considering are better.

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions. You've been very helpful!

About Jarvis ... it's a mixed area.

I've got friends who live near there, and used to cross jarvis myself while on the way home every night. That said, I'd put it on the list but near the bottom.

The exception is the Holiday Inn at Jarvis and Lombard, which I'd put closer to the top.

BAK

Really appreciate everyone's advice. I think we will go with the Holiday Inn Midtown. Now we just need to find decent airfares!