Toronto Hotel Tips by Kaspian

We stayed at the Delta Chelsea in downtown Toronto from February 12 -13, 2005. I guess when they rated this hotel a four-star it must have been absolutely empty of people, because if you like waiting in a line-up for check-in, waiting to get into a crammed elevator, waiting to get down to the garage, and then waiting an hour-and-half in a car line-up to get out of the parking garage--this is for you! Fancy pools or not, screw this place!
The rooms were small and average for a hotel--good towels, (one) bathrobe, etc., but as a whole not excessively clean and the furniture is a little worn. Nice view of Yonge Street from the 22nd floor.
The pop machine was empty our whole stay--over two days. The only pop left that we were able to get out of it was "Mellow Yellow". All the hallways on our floor smelled of reefer the whole night. (And they promote this as a great place for kids to stay?)
The adult pool area on the 27th floor was the only redeeming quality to this hotel--not very deep but clean and well kept. The sauna was also fine and hot, but the jacuzzi wasn't very powerful. The pool and front desk staff were both very friendly, no complaints there.
The cheapest room service breakfast is a coffee, juice, and croissant for $13... a little steep if you ask me.
It can take up to 20 minutes just to get down to the lobby because the elevator is always so packed, people getting on at all the floors, and pushing the wrong button. (They always push "2" instead of "Lobby.") There are way too many people in too small a space--if a fire ever broke out here everybody would be trampled to death.
Don't waste your time--there has to be a better hotel in Toronto's core with a pool. (And believe me, you'll be wasting lots, and lots, and lots of time.)

Unique Qualities: 130-foot heated indoor waterslide. Kids pool, adult pool (on a different floor).

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-595-1975
Address: 33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G1Z4
Directions: Gerrard at Younge St.
Website: http://www.deltahotels.com

I probably paid too much for this hotel at about $110 a night, but at the time I couldn't be bothered scouring the Net for better deals. The bonuses of the Clarion Selby is that it's in a great old historic Victorian building, it's located right across from the Sherbourne subway station, is close to the intersection of Bloor and Younge streets, and you get free local calls. My room was very nice, clean, had a high ceiling, and a giant sparkly tiled bathroom. I loved the old windows that actually opened up to let a lot of air into the room. The oddity for me in this hotel was definitely the elevator, which looked like it was one of the earliest ones ever invented. It's about the size of a closet and I nicked my finger pretty badly one night (after some heavy drinking) trying to close the metal gate inside it. The downsides include "the breakfast room" (which is in the basement, has low ceilings, no windows, is very hot, two of the slowest bread toasters in the world, and has a whole bomb-shelter feel about it), the ironing board in my room had some stains on it which transferred onto my shirt, it's easy to get lost in some of the mazelike hallways, and you do run the risk of getting an interior room that has doesn't have any windows (that would freak me out).
The staff was very friendly and quick every time I had dealings with them (especially compared to other Toronto hotels). I would stay here again as long as I had a "window room", but next time I'd be more careful using the elevator and inspect the ironing board before using it.

Unique Qualities: The building was originally home to Gooderham family (distillers) who lived in the house from 1894 to 1910. It was designed by the same architect who did Toronto's famous "Flatiron building" on Front Street, David Roberts Jr. Over the years the Selby has served as a private girls' school (Branksome Hall), a residence for WWII veterans, a brothel during the 1970s, and a seedy bar. Ernest Hemingway lived at the Selby with his wife Hadley in the 1920s while he wrote for the Toronto Star newspaper. (Ask for the Hemingway suite!)

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (416) 921-3142
Address: 592 Sherbourne Street
Directions: Exit Sherbourne subway stop, cross the street, and go left (south on Sherbourne).
Website: http://www.choicehotels.com

All the reviews I'd read about the Suites at 1st King West raved about "the spectacular view". Well, let me tell you--the view isn't so spectacular if they put you on a lower floor--the fifth floor, in my case. And the check-in girl, God! Things are always slow when you're in a rush, right? I'm supposed to meet some people at a pub in about half an hour. It was although she'd never seen a computer before. She kept having to go find somebody to help her. Check-in took over 20 minutes. That left me less than 10 to drop my bag off, rinse my face, and run to a pub 6 blocks away.
The room is smaller than what I'd seen in the advertised photos. Despite all the amazing appliances built into the cupboards--washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, it's really just a one room mini-bachelor. Is that really "a suite"?
In the bathroom there's a tub with no shower on one side of the room and on the other side of the room there's a standup shower. I find that kind of odd. Why couldn't they just go with the standard tub/shower design?
But the bed is amazing! The bed is a giant, fluffy, cushy white cloud that enwraps you when you lay down. A giant marshmallow, if you will.
Over the next two days I get more used to the hotel and the room. It's pretty nice. I think it's supposed to be incredibly fancy place, but it doesn't completely pull that off with all the scaffolding on the building's facade. An unmanned window-washer platform keeps going up and down in front of my window one morning. My companion and I find it disturbing at first, but later howl with laughter each time it passes.
The maids who cleaned our room did a great job each day. I tip my hat to them.
The hotel's in a great location--right across from a subway stop and within easy walking distance to everything important downtown. There's also a Starbucks directly across the street and a Tim Horton's down the road.
Verdict? Nice. But kind of "Twilight Zone" weird at the same time. Oh, but the bed! Designed by angels!

Unique Qualities: This is a completely smoke-free hotel. A small pool and fitness centre.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 1-866-470 KING (5464)
Address: 1 King West
Directions: Corner of King West and Yonge Street. (King subway stop.)
Website: http://www.onekingwest.com