Toronto to Guelph - train and car
 

My husband and I will be arriving in Toronto by train from Quebec City on the May long weekend. It will be late at night and we would like to literally roll our luggage over to a hotel. We just need a comfortable place to sleep, then will be heading out the next morning. (No, we won't be spending much time in Toronto at all.) Would the Royal York do? I understand it is across from the train station.

Then we can either take the train to Guelph and rent a car there, or rent a car in Toronto (although we would rather not return it to Toronto). There is a reason for visiting Guelph. We are considering staying at the Fairfield Inn and Suites for a night before driving off to visit family in other towns in Ontario.

Any thoughts, Fodorites, before I book this? Any thoughts at all are appreciated.

The Royal York is a gigantic, fancy, expensive, big-time hotel. A landmark.

This may be fnacier than you wish. But it is a great hotle., and would be a fine place to rest your heads.

Almost as close is The Strathcona, seveal notches down the fanciness scalle, but still a good hotel. It is on York Street, which is the same street as the side door of The Royal York.

The third choice, rollable,, is The Hotel Victoria, on Yonge Street, betweeen Wellington and King. One block along Front, walking est, to Yonge, and two blocks north on Yonge.

As for car vs. train. If you rent a car in Toronto, you have lots of flexibility abouthaving breakfast in Toronto, it is easiey to cope with luggage, you can see a bit of Toronto on your way out of town.

The drive to Geulph is easy.

Probably the real deal-maker/breaker would be what time the train for Guelph leaves.

BAK

My vote would be for the Strathcona. An easy walk from the station and half the price of the Royal York. I think it is around $120 a night. Google it to find out.

Thank you both. I will check out the other options.

A train leaves at 11:00 am so one could still have breakfast in Toronto and be in Guelph just after noon.

Does anyone know though if there are car rentals near the train station in Toronto?

Update: We can get the Royal York for $160 a night. They tell me that a walkway connects the train station to the hotel so you don't even have to go outside.

In Guelph, I would check the rate at the new Delta. It is very nice and we have been able to get excellent rates there.

Yes there are many car rental agencies in or near Union Station. I suspect tht the Royal York would be the most memorable of your hotel choices.

Some attention neds to be paid to days of the week.

Some car rental offices are open during the week but closed on the weekend.

Anyway, thre are car rental offices in Union Station itself, including, lst time I looke,d Hertz, right near the entrance to the tunnel to the Royal York.

And there are car rental offices in the Royal York itself.

Half a block from the Royal York is Brookfield Place, which used to be BCE Place, and there's an Avis office there, I believe.

BAK

Thanks all.

I will look into the Delta. If prices were the same would you choose it over the Fairfield Inn and Suites?

We can take the train from Toronto to Guelph for only about $20. I'm a little afraid of driving in Toronto, but now that you mention rental agencies maybe being closed on weekends, BAK, I wonder if trying to rent a car in Guelph would be a problem.

I'm sure that if you decide to stay at the Delta in Guelph, you could phone the hotel and ask it about car rentals. The staff there will know about local rental agencies, what will be open, etc. Plus, chances are very good there will be a rental company near the station. Just what one, and what it's rates are, is open to question.

As for drivingin Toronto -- yes, it can be scary, even for us.

But if you stay at the Royal York and rent in the immediate vicinity, it is easy to get to Lakeshore Blvd. and then head west down beside the lake. (skip the giant raised Gardiner Expressway)

From there, you've got a couple of choices, one being to get onto a giant highway and the other to stay on quieter roads.

Once you are past rush hour, and away from downtown, the highways are easy enough to deal with.

BAK

Yes April. The beds are divine at the Delta!

Priceline it. You can get Toronto hotels for great rates on priceline.

I recently got the Marriott Bloor Yorkville (very nice) for $50 (US) per night and the Delta Chelsea (nice, but busy like an airport terminal) for $45. Just choose the downtown Toronto zone. You won't be that far from Union Station no matter which you choose.

Thanks again. You've all given me something to think about.