Toronto, ON: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

Best Time to Visit

Toronto experiences four distinct seasons, which means it also has distinct tourist seasons. Autumn is a great time to visit because you'll enjoy sunny skies and a brisk temperature, but the cultural scene is in full swing, which can mean increased hotel prices. The closer you book a room to wintertime, the lower the prices will be. In fact, if you don't mind being chilled, November and early December offers some of the best prices, but avoid holidays.

Another great time to visit Toronto is from March to late May when the temperature is just warming up. As with the fall, you'll experience some of the city's best prices without having to battle snow and ice. Keep in mind, though, that the city occasionally experiences snow until April.

If you intend to visit Toronto during the peak summer season, don't forget the sunscreen. Summers in Toronto can be scorching, so bring a hat if you plan on enjoying the outdoor attractions.

Best Discounts

Planning your trip in advance allows you to look for special deals and discounts on attractions and accommodations. Many hotels offer discounts for military families and seniors, so be sure to ask when booking. Certain hotels like the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel offer special online rates, AAA member discounts, and early bird specials, so be sure to book your room at least three weeks in advance to take advantage of the savings.

If you're unable to plan your trip in advance, it's a good idea to inquire about any last-minute deals. Hotels that aren't fully booked may be willing to offer a discount rather than let the room remain empty. While it's not an ideal situation to be traveling without a concrete plan, you can use this situation to your advantage.

Also, visiting The Official Website of Tourism Toronto allows you to search package deals based on when you plan to be in town. These deals can include some of the city's best attractions as well as a CityPASS, helping you save more than 40 percent on select offers.

Best Value Options in Toronto

Toronto can be a pricey place to stay, but it's nice to know that the city is packed with mid-range accommodations that give you a great value for your money.

The Grand Hotel & Suites is located just two blocks away from the subway station, and is an upscale, all-suite option that won't break the bank. The property itself is best described as having an understated elegance, and guests will enjoy the hotel's state-of-the-art conveniences and personalized services. These include The Grand Spa, a luxury SUV shuttle service, concierge service, 24-hour room service, a two-story indoor pool, rooftop patio garden, and fresh, local cuisine.

Chelsea Hotel Toronto is a classic high-rise within walking distance of Ryerson University. Enjoy downtown convenience with a club lounge, pet-friendly rooms, artwork displays, underground parking, and event spaces. With its unique Family Fun Zone, Chelsea Hotel Toronto is a great place for families. The Family Fun Zone includes a family pool, Kid Centre, and an exclusive Teen Lounge, making it suitable for all ages.

Dating back to 1903, The Omni King Edward Hotel downtown is an elegant mid-range choice with 301 oversized guestrooms and suites. The hotel boasts custom bedding, marble bathrooms, vintage crown moldings, and fine furnishings that demand an extended stay. In addition, the hotel features two dining establishments, Victoria's Restaurant and Consort Bar, which are staffed by an exceptional team of chefs who use local, seasonal ingredients that tantalize the palate.

Other great mid-range options include The Westin Harbour Castle, InterContinental Toronto Centre, Cambridge Suites Hotel Toronto, Hilton Toronto, and Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel.

Explore Toronto Like a Local

Visiting Toronto's top attractions like Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, CN Tower, and the Royal Ontario Museum are a must, but there's something to be said for exploring Toronto like a local. When debating between the city's dining options, be sure to check out Toronto's ethnic neighborhoods. Little Portugal, Greektown, Koreatown, Little India, Little Italy, and each of the five different Chinatowns offer authentic international cuisine you simply won't find anywhere else.

Getting around Toronto is easy thanks to the city's extensive public transportation system, but avoid the streetcar stops and subway stations downtown between 5 p.m. and 6:30 pm. Rush hour can result in major traffic jams, so you're better off hitting a restaurant, doing some shopping, or taking a stroll to your next destination. Also, the streetcar system in Toronto is unlike any other, which can throw out-of-towners. Streetcars stop in the inner lane of traffic, which means you have to wait until all other vehicles are clear before walking out to the center to board a streetcar.

If you plan to get around using the streetcars during your stay, you can save money by buying an unlimited weeklong TTC pass.

Take the time to get to know Toronto before visiting. Explore your accommodation options, research districts, and stick to your essentials list when booking to ensure you get a hotel that meets all your needs. Whether you're hoping to find an indulgent high-rise, a modest boutique hotel, or a low-cost budget accommodation, Toronto offers a variety of price points to suit every travel budget.

Toronto, ON summarized

For a city with a nickname like Toronto The Good, you can expect the unexpected. Far from its reputation as a bastion of morality, Toronto makes for an engaging travel experience as Canada's largest metropolis beckons with marvels appearing from every corner of the city. Lording above the city is CN Tower where one can enjoy a sumptuous meal and exhilarating views from the revolving restaurant. Walking around downtown will likely lead you to a grand palace in the heart of the city. Casa Loma is a historic castle that has fantastic grounds and fountains. Fun family recreation is provided at Ontario Place, a huge theme park standing along the banks of Lake Ontario. Go to Cabbagetown not to indulge in vegan delights but to admire the impressive well-restored Victorian houses that define one of Toronto's oldest districts. Toronto offers big ticket items in its cultural calendar. It enjoys a bustling theater scene, next to renowned stages of New York and London. Art thrives in the city with regular events like Festival of Authors and the Toronto Film Festival, the biggest of the big-screen fetes in North America.

'When I think of myself, I think of Toronto. My music wouldn't have been the same if it had not been for Toronto.
Drake, a multi-million record selling and multi-platinum album recording hip hop artist, expressed his affection for his home city in these candid words. Not too many Toronto residents would disagree with the sentiments, and most would be willing to share their versions of their love tangles with Toronto in more eloquent words. That's the true spirit of this beautifully windy city “ a city perched amidst jungles and mountains, rivers and waterfalls, wildlife and humans. 

The cultural fabric of Toronto is much unlike any other city in the world. It is a city, in spite of being among the best in the world, has always loved to lurk somewhere in the background, while other Canadian competitors like Vancouver take the center stage. In short, it is a city that is lost unto itself “ too busy to care about world's perception of it, and certainly too preoccupied to have a perception of the world. 

Toronto also happens to be the cultural capital of Canada “ a city with a thriving music, movie and art scene. Even today, it would not be too difficult for visitors to find an odd hippie “ like a rundown version of now anachronistic specimen of the 60's “ quietly playing a banjo by some busy pavement. That, dear readers, is Toronto for you! 

So, if you are planning on actually going ahead and visiting this beautifully quiet city, you should pat yourself on the back, and promptly make your plans materialize “ there's really no time to lose, is there? 

Cheap Hotels in Toronto 

Being among the few Canadian cities that can be called ˜global cities', Toronto boasts of a number of various classes and grades of hotel and resort establishments that tourists can avail of. 

Many of our readers who are veteran tourists themselves would agree that the best “ perhaps the only “ way to bring your tour expenditure down to a manageable minimum is to stay at cheap hotels. Hence, the first step of the algorithm to finding a suitable accommodation in Toronto would be to look for such cheap hotels that allow you to spend the minimum required, while also allowing you to enjoy to the fullest! 

Best Western Plus Hotel Toronto ranks the highest among all the budget hotels in Toronto because of its impeccably attractive building and great location. Travelodge Hotel near the airport is another great pick of a budget hotel, made even more appealing due to its proximity with the airport. 

Brand Palace Hotel allows visitors to stay in safe, sound and homely ambiance, while not charging them hefty room tariffs. 

Luxury Hotels in Toronto 

There are over three dozen luxury hotels in Toronto that are known to make the stay of their guests a grand affair to be remembered for lifetime. 

Call it a stiff competition or the sheer pressure to please their patrons, such Toronto hotels do not leave any avenue unattended while hosting their esteemed guests who do not bat an eye while signing heavy checks or swiping their credit cards. 

Among such establishments of extreme luxury and opulence, Trump International Hotel and Tower at Toronto is an automatic top choice. Built by Trump Corp. “ the group owned and operated by Donald Trump “ this hotel is fully given to hosting the guests of the highest social stature and aura of riches. 

Also famous in Toronto are Ritz-Carlton Toronto and the Ivy at Verity. 

Sightseeing in Toronto 

Toronto opens up countless options of sightseeing and adventure to those who do not mind spending their whole day outdoors. In fact, Toronto is perhaps the best place to be for adventurous and outdoorsy of tourists. 

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada should be your first stopover during your Toronto sightseeing forays, particularly if you have young children accompanying you for your trip. This aquarium, the best in Canada, offers great learning experiences along with entertainment to kids and adults alike. 

The CN Tower is also a monumental place to visit. For photo enthusiasts, there is a special selfie gallery where you can click your selfies with the panoramic view of Toronto in the background. 

Shopping freaks can turn straight to St Lawrence Market in the evenings, to cool their heels off from a long day of sightseeing in Toronto. The market offers a number of local artefacts and stylised souvenirs that are perfect for home decor and gifting purposes. To make the deal sweeter, prices here are fair enough to make you want to buy more than you can possibly carry! 

More About Local Transport in Toronto 

Local transport in the city of Toronto is in the pink of its health. Canada is often considered to be a country that loves to be on time, and lead a disciplined life. 

In that sense, the public transport of Toronto does not and will not disappoint you. Trains and buses running along the designate routes with clockwork punctuality is a given in these parts of the world. If you take some time off to study the bus and train schedule, you won't even be required to hire a cab even once during your stay in Toronto! 

The best way to actually enjoy everything that Toronto has to offer you is to see various sights on foot as much as possible. And while you are at it, do not overlook all those food trucks loaded with deliciously spoiling delicacies! 

Most Suitable Time to Take a Trip to Toronto 

Toronto in winter, being so close to the Arctic Circle, is arguably not a place for tourists who are looking to have some balmy, sunny fun. 

That said, summer does bring an air of respite for Toronto residents as markets and street get filled up with enthusiastic faces all over again. May to September is considered to be the period of most zealous tourist activities here, promptly accompanied by most Toronto hotels taking their room tariffs from the nadir of the winter to the zenith of the summer!