I am taking my family to Toronto next March and am considering the Westin Harbour Castle and the Metropolitan Hotel for lodging. My children are 9 and 13. What opinions can you relate as far as the two hotels go for families?

Never stayed at either hotel although both appear good. Key difference is location. Westin is on the waterfront, few blocks from downtown...not the best in March (summer is a different story). Metropolitan is in the downtown core and probably more centrally located to the things you want to do. In past forums, many families recommended Sheraton which is also in the downtown core.

Pick the Westin Harbor Castle. <BR> <BR>The Metropolitan is behind some office buildings, behind City Hall, and the nearest part of Yonge Street is grungy with strip clubs and discount electronic stores. The hotel itself is excellent for quiet adults, and has a great (expensive) Chinese restaurant, but it's not a place for kids. <BR> <BR>Even in March, the harbor area will have art shows, stores to explore, boats to look at, and more. The hotel itself is big and vibrant and the kids will enjoy the lobby, and watching the ferry boat to Toronto Island, and could even go over by themselves and back on the next boat. There's a bus that goes up Bay Street (very near) into other parts of the city, but it's a fairly short walk to the CN Tower, SkyDome for a tour, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and more. <BR>BAK

I would highly recommend the Metropolitan Hotel. <BR> <BR>I have just recently returned from a trip to Toronto, and stayed in there for 4 nights - and had a tremendous time. <BR> <BR>The Metropolitan is right smack in the centre of Downtown Toronto. You are no more than 15-20 minutes walk from ANYWHERE in the downtown area. I agree that the views may not be as appealing as a waterfront view - but the location in my opinion really makes up for it. <BR> <BR>The staff are very friendly and helpful. And the rooms are very clean and comfortable. <BR> <BR>I will definetely return to the Metropolitan on my next trip! <BR> <BR>

Problem with Westin HC is that they do not have a decent restaurant for <BR>breakfast! Last time we stayed there <BR>we had to have breakfast in the Hotel lobby bar! There is a revolving rest. <BR>but who wants to revolve around @ breakfast? So now we stay @ the Four Seasons!

Forget The Westin Harbour and go for the Sheraton Centre Toronto, the location is excellent, right across from city hall, you can walk to almost everything, it is between two subway stations, lots of bus lines, down the block from the Eaton Center. A lot of places for kids to eat and connected to the underground city. The hotel is great and if you check out their web-site and call them directly you can get very good rates. I stayed there in October and when I go to Toronto again, it is the only place I would stay. If you are coming by plane, the airport bus stops and picks up right in front of the hotel.

And guess what´s right across the street from the ugly sheraton? <BR>The metropolitan. <BR>Take it, its great, although rooms could be bigger.