Toronto Hotel Suggestions?

[smp]

I'm not familiar with Toronto so anyone have any hotel suggestions close to the venue?

[Deleted]

Can't tell you specific hotels but if you stay right downtown on King or Front Street  (west of Yonge Street if possible) you could walk there (could be a 30 min walk give or take). If you end up needing to take the subway there's a bus or streetcar from Union Station (southern tip of our subway loop) that takes you quite close to the venue-you might need to get a transfer at the subway to get on the streetcar-take one in case you need it. If you stay anywhere downtown it wouldn't be a terribly expensive cab ride . The venue is at the southern end of downtown, west of Bathurst Street. Hope all this helps.

[matsrule]

We are staying at the Le Germain.... good reviews and looks close to the show... bwtfdik......................

[timx1386]

good to know, I haven't even started looking into a hotel... probably should! I suddenly realized the other day I don't have a passport.. which means I need to figure that process out and get a day off work to go get it. I heard it takes a while and its expensive! I probably should've looked into all that BEFORE I bought my ticket to Toronto.... Chicago might've been a smarter choice. Oh well.

[anotherepitaph]

Depending on which state you live in, you might be able to get a passport card or enhanced license instead of a passport booklet quicker and for less money. Whatever you do, do it NOW. Spring/summer is the busiest time and it can take up to 6 weeks, which puts you dangerously close to the show date without getting it expedited.

Another note for Americans who may not be familiar with crossing the border, you generally cannot take rental cars across the border.

I'm coming from Buffalo and haven't figured out if I'm staying overnight or not, but I've walked a good distance to my car or a hotel in that area of Toronto many times and it's usually decently lit and there are still people out and around so don't worry too much if you pick a hotel that requires a bit of a walk. Both downtown Hiltons, the Hyatt and Sheraton Centre are all lovely. Parking will be expensive anywhere.

[Deleted]

I'll be a bit more concise than I was in my last post-any hotel within walking distance of the CN Tower/ Rogers Centre (baseball stadium) would be OK. Let's just hope there's not a massive rainstorm/ power outage as we had yesterday on the weekend of the festival!

[smp]

Due to work travel I am a "Marriott" person.  Just booked a room at the Renaissance Toronto Downtown.  On a map it looked relatively close to the venue.  I'm not as concerned with the hotel as much as I am the location.  Is this a good place to stay?  Thanks...47 more days!

[Deleted]

Renaissance is an excellent choice, definitely walking distance to the venue. By the way, the problem with a countdown is that you're also counting down to the end of the summer-not something we like to do here in To. after a bloody long winter (and not very nice spring)! I am thinking of it as a really amazing way to end my summer but am in no rush to get there.

[davpel1]

I will be coming in from Detroit and am looking for a reasonably priced hotel. If I take the train from Windsor, I'm considering staying at either the Best Western Primrose or the Hilton Garden Inn and walking to the show. However, if I drive, I'm considering staying on the outskirts of town to save money (perhaps an airport hotel). But if I chose the later, I'm wondering what the parking situation will be like for Riot Fest (where to park, how much it will cost, traffic hassles, etc.). If anyone familiar with Toronto can provide some advice for these options, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Deleted]

Can only help a bit on this one. Parking availability and price will depend somewhat on whether there's a Blue Jays game that day,but you should be able to find something somewhere in the general vicinity of the festival. Parking could be $20.00 (?), maybe less, but in any case you'll save money on your hotel. Of course if you can manage a hotel downtown that would make your life much easier, especially if you're not familiar with Toronto.

[A Regular]

I booked at room at the Hilton Garden with plans to walk to the show, but have second thoughts. Talked to a buddy in mississauga who suggested a hotel and train into the city. The Hilton is something like 150 plus 40 to park a car. Hotwire is offering 3 star hotels in Miss. for 60/night and free parking. As I'm staying Saturday and Sunday it saves over 150 bucks for the inconvenience of taking a 15-30 train ride. the savings makes up for the cost of VIP ticket.

[anotherepitaph]

The last few times I've gone into Toronto, I've taken the Go Train from Burlington. It's wonderful and I will pretty much never drive in Toronto again.

I hadn't decided to go that route this time because I don't know what time the show will be over. The last train to Burlington will leave Toronto shortly after midnight and that's cutting it close. It looks like the trains to Mississauga run later though so that might a good choice.

[Deleted]

If you're not staying downtown it will be easier to be on the subway line and not have to rely on Go transit; the subway runs later and much more frequently.

[GtrPlyr]

Like waitressinthesky said, the Subway will give you more options as far as it running later and more frequently, though it's really only an option for people staying in the Toronto/Etobicoke/Scarborough areas. For people staying west of the city, GO transit will be your best bet. Thankfully GO transit recently changed its schedule, so trains run a lot more frequently than they used to. So it's a pretty good option for most, plus it's a generally more comfortable and enjoyable a ride than the subway in my opinion.

For anyone planning on using the GO train after the show, the last GO train heading west out of Toronto Union Station on the Sunday night (technically Monday) will be at 00:43. If you're leaving from the—closer to the venue—Exhibition station (about 1 km away from venue) the last train will be at 00:49. If you're staying in the Port Credit, or Clarkson area of Mississauga, or further west like Oakville or Burlington, there are GO buses that you can catch from Union Station at 01:30 and 02:30 if you miss the last GO train. Of course if you miss those it is cab time. Not too bad an expense if you can split it with other people.

Here's the official GO Transit schedule for anyone that wants to peruse it (scroll down to page 6 for the Sunday schedule):
www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/PDF/Timetables/CurrentBoard/Table01.pdf

[davpel1]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Although I'm still 50-50 about how I'm going to do this, all of this information helps tremendously!

[A Regular]

Through Hotwire, you can book the downtown renaissance for that Sunday for 86 bucks plus tax and fees. Less than one mile to venue, 15-20 minute walk. It won't tell you it's the renaissance until you book but its the only 4 star in west downtown at that rate.

[ishcabible]

Thanks for that heads-up....we might be booking that tonight....

[ishcabible]

I'm booked! VIP Tickets and Renaissance for Sat. and Sunday night. Love the fact that it's walking distance to the show. Soooo excited!

[monkeytot]

I'm coming in from Michigan and I got round trip ViaRail train tickets for around $50!!! But because I'm a cheap ass I'm gonna hostel it for $30 a night. Global Villagers and HI are two great clean hostels, plus you can meet chicks from like Australia and Luxemburg!

[davpel1]

Count me as booked as well! Like monkeytot, I'm coming in from Michigan (Windsor) ViaRail on Saturday afternoon and like many of you, I'll be staying at the Renaissance Sat. and Sunday night!