Toronto- hotel choices- need help please
 

Hi! We are slowly planning our trip to Toronto in September 2001. I am from Canada, but have not been to Toronto for some time. We are looking at hotels in the price range of $80-$135 a night. In my immediate family there will be four people travelling. I am not sure if other family will be staying at the same hotels. Anyways, two hotels I have looked at are: Howard Johnson Selby Hotel and Suites. According to the website picture, it looks like Victorian style $89.00 a night for a room and $170.00? a night for a suite. Also another option is the Howard Johnson Plaza hotel and conference center on Progress Ave. Is this hotel far from downtown. Any opinions on these hotels or any other suggestions? Thank you!

The Selby is a renovated old winos hotel, in a fairly slummy part of town. It's a former giant mansion. <BR> <BR>I would not recommend it for anyone who is not on a very tight budget. <BR> <BR>The Progress Avenue Howard Johnson's is about thirty years old, and is in an industrial area, near a major highway. there are no interesting tourist facilities nearby. <BR> <BR>It, too, would be near the bottom of the list, except for business travellers working nearby. <BR> <BR>Howard Johnson, once an excellent name in the hotel business (I used to work for the Canadian operators) has fallen upon hard times. <BR> <BR>Your price range is really not high enough for nice tourist hotel accomodation in the Toronto area. <BR> <BR>Four that are the low end worth checking out are the Strathcona, on York Street, the Victoria, on Yonge Street, the Bond Place at Bond Street and Dundas, and the Days Inn on Crlton. (Not he one on Queen Street Est)All have much better locations for tourists than the to HJ hotels. <BR> <BR>BAK

Also check out the Novotel located downtown near the market and just a couple of blocks from the waterfront. Very nice hotel, good Irish pub just across the street, and rates are reasonable.

We were able to get a room at the Royal York for $170, even though the standard rate was $220. If you can get a corporate discount or find out what conventions are going to be in town, they can compete on price. Typically, lowerer end hotels do not discount their rooms.

Thanks everyone for your input. I now have another question. In fact I already posted it. I just found out a good rate for the Holiday Inn- Yorkdale on Dufferin. I know most Holiday Inn's to be clean. What is this one like? Is Yorkdale a fairly safe area. I believe this hotel is not far from the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Holiday Inn Yorkdale, is in a suburb of Toronto, called North York. It is approximately 40 mins from downtown, by public transportation. If you stay in that area, you will be across the street from the Yorkdale Shopping Mall. I would suggest you stay downtown. If you budget is no more than 135.00/cdn/nt try the Strathcona or the Best Western Primrose Hotel. Have a good stay in our city.

The Holdiay Inn Yorkdale is surrounded by car dealerships, discount stores, etc., and therereally isno where to walk, etc in theneighborhood. <BR> <BR>Yorkdale is a great shopping center, and the Rainforest Cafe is fun for kids and the food is good. I was there a week ago. <BR> <BR>But other than the shopping center, the area is a long way from anywhere interesting. <BR>BAK <BR>

Here's a second for the Days Inn on Carlton. The rooms are small, but the location is good and the price is right.

Stay away from the Inn on the Park. It used to be nice, but now it is horrendous.

Go to the website Toronto.com and put in hotel and then downtown. All the hotels you have suggested are not very good ones. Here is a some I have stayed at and I would recommend. Mariott Eaton Centre, Chelsea Inn, Royal York, Skydome Hotel, Holiday Inn on King. Good Luck on your search.

We have suggested to following to clients when they have come with their <BR>families (I'm assuming kids, please correct me if I am wrong): Novotel in North York - on the Yonge St. Subway line, next to a complex that has an incredibe pool, major library, across from a theatre complex, near a main hwy <BR>(the 401); Bay-Bloor Executive Apts; Westin Prince Hotel (York Mills & the Don Valley.