Cheaper Places to Stay in/around Toronto

[gr82bart]

OK, so I have had a bunch of requests for cheaper accommodations in Toronto for the APUG Conference. So here's a list based on my search. I can't vouch for any of these.

Motel 6 Toronto East-Whitby
About 60 minutes to/from the conference.
Book online directly at http://www.motel6.com/

Knights Inn Toronto North
(905) 884-1007
Cheapest listing on Dead Link Removed

Monte Carlo Airport Inn
http://www.montecarloinns.com/
Cheapest (cheaper than booking directly) listing on http://www.destina.ca, Dead Link Removed and http://www.hotels.com

Comfort Inn East
Cheapest accommodations as part of the Choice Hotels Brand. Dead Link Removed

Centennial College Residence & Conference Centre
Call directly at (416) 438-2216 or book online at http://www.residenceconferencecentre.com/

Global Village Backpackers
http://www.globalbackpackers.com/

Hostelling International Toronto
http://www.hihostels.ca/

Regards, Art.

 

[Dinesh]

Don't forget this place. Always free, never pleasant!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Jail

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Don't forget this place. Always free, never pleasant!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Jail

So at least now we know where to look for Blansky and Mr. Callow on Monday morning!

 

[gr82bart]

Just wanted to remind people that the best value for your stay in Toronto is at the Best Western Roehampton Hotel

This hotel is located at Mt Pleasant and Eglinton. It is very close to many shops and restaurants and is a couple city blocks from Yonge and Eglinton which has many more shops and places to go. And it is one easy bus ride (TTC Bus #56) away from the conference.

$119CAD (about $100USD) APUG rate. Mention the APUG Conference. Call 416-487-5101 or toll free at 1-800-387-8899 to make reservations directly with the hotel. This rate is good until April 2 or until the 30 reserved rooms are booked.

Regards, Art.

 

[jon]

I can recommend a nice B&B near Wellesly and Jarvis, the Homewood Inn. $65/night single, $75 double. My mum stayed there a few years ago and the rooms were decent enough and the staff was nice. It is also fairly central, only a short walk from downtown. Definately a nice alternative to a hostel or staying way out in 905 for those on a budget.

http://www.homewoodinn.com/

 

[Dinesh]

"a nice B&B near Wellesly and Jarvis"

You are kidding right?

 

[sanking]

Has anyone posted a map showing the location of the conference center in relation to some of the hotels and motels that have been listed? I certainly don't want to wind up out of ignorance in a hotel an hour from the center if it can be avoided.

Sandy

Just wanted to remind people that the best value for your stay in Toronto is at the Best Western Roehampton Hotel

This hotel is located at Mt Pleasant and Eglinton. It is very close to many shops and restaurants and is a couple city blocks from Yonge and Eglinton which has many more shops and places to go. And it is one easy bus ride (TTC Bus #56) away from the conference.

$119CAD (about $100USD) APUG rate. Mention the APUG Conference. Call 416-487-5101 or toll free at 1-800-387-8899 to make reservations directly with the hotel. This rate is good until April 2 or until the 30 reserved rooms are booked.

Regards, Art.

 

[gr82bart]

Has anyone posted a map showing the location of the conference center in relation to some of the hotels and motels that have been listed? I certainly don't want to wind up out of ignorance in a hotel an hour from the center if it can be avoided.

Sandy,

Here is a link from the APUG recommended hotel to the APUG Conference. Showing directions and distances to/from every other possible hotel is a lot of work. If I had time, I'd volunteer do that for you guys, but I can't promise it right now. I am about to leave to the airport. Maybe when I get back to the hotel and some time, I can do that for some of the hotels - but which ones?

Just a note that I am NOT an APUG organizer, I'm just helping out as a volunteer to answer questions about Toronto. I think it's reasonable for the conference organizers to assist with the APUG recommended hotel, but if you want to stay somewhere else, I'd say you're on your own in researching.

Like I said, I'll help (volunteer) where I can. Did you have a specific hotel in mind?

Regards, Art.

 

[Dave Wooten]

So far there are 3 of us staying at the Roe Hampton and riding bus # 56...so there is still room on the bus.

Dave in Vegas

 

[gr82bart]

Here are my guesses on driving times through traffic.

Motel 6 Toronto East-Whitby

60 minutes

Knights Inn Toronto North

60 minutes

Monte Carlo Airport Inn

45minutes in traffic

Comfort Inn East

30 minutes

Centennial College Residence & Conference Centre

30 minutes

Global Village Backpackers

30 minutes

Hostelling International Toronto

30 minutes

the Homewood Inn

30 minutes

Regards, Art.

 

[sanking]

Well, organizer or not I appreciate your help.

Sandy

Sandy,

Here is a link from the APUG recommended hotel to the APUG Conference. Showing directions and distances to/from every other possible hotel is a lot of work. If I had time, I'd volunteer do that for you guys, but I can't promise it right now. I am about to leave to the airport. Maybe when I get back to the hotel and some time, I can do that for some of the hotels - but which ones?

Just a note that I am NOT an APUG organizer, I'm just helping out as a volunteer to answer questions about Toronto. I think it's reasonable for the conference organizers to assist with the APUG recommended hotel, but if you want to stay somewhere else, I'd say you're on your own in researching.

Like I said, I'll help (volunteer) where I can. Did you have a specific hotel in mind?

Regards, Art.

 

[gr82bart]

"a nice B&B near Wellesly and Jarvis"

You are kidding right?

That's what I was thinking. Wellesley and Jarvis, especially at night is full of characters. I would NOT recommend this area if you are not an astute and seasoned traveller <---Not tourist, traveller.

Regards, Art.

 

[avandesande]

If you don't like throwing your money away...

http://www.hostelsweb.com/cities/toronto.html

 

[Dinesh]

That's what I was thinking. Wellesley and Jarvis, especially at night is full of characters. I would NOT recommend this area if you are not an astute and seasoned traveller <---Not tourist, traveller.

Regards, Art.

Unless the thought of "John school" is appealling!

 

[Dinesh]

I actually live quite close to the conference, so if you have any questions about a specific location, PM me and I will try to get you some details.

\

 

[Bob Carnie]

I still am recommending the two conference hotels. The Roe Hampton is in a very nice area of Toronto with lots of shops nearby and on a bus and walking route.
The other , Crowne Plaza, as Art has pointed out is more out of the way, But it is on the citys bike path and I have stayed in this hotel and it is very nice.

You cannot go wrong with either.

Any hotel downtown: is within easy reach of the Toronto Transit System.
Yonge train line north to Eglington Station, any bus east to Laird , 10 min walk from Laird to the conference site.

When John Callow and his wife visited me, a year ago they toured the city with no trouble from early morning till late evening on the transit, with all Johns photo gear. Helen is a saint.

 

[jd callow]

This is true (Helen being a saint). If you stay anywhere near public transportation you won't be too far from the conference. Toronto mass transit is really excellent -- clean, cheap, timely and all over the the place.

 

[Craig]

That's what I was thinking. Wellesley and Jarvis, especially at night is full of characters.

That's a polite way of putting it, but I suppose the crack whores do have character. It's odd how gamey Jarvis is, yet a block over Church is pretty good. Of course, it's different charachters there!

 

[gr82bart]

If you don't like throwing your money away...

http://www.hostelsweb.com/cities/toronto.html

I would book directly with the Hostels and not through a third party agent. There's no adavntage to booking through a 3rd party. In fact special rates and sicounts, in the case of Global Backpacking Village for example, is available only by booking directly. Just a suggestion.

Regards, Art.

 

[brimc76]

If you don't mind the 40 minute drive there are also a number of hotels at Hwy.404 and Hwy.7 area just north of the city in Markham. Hwy.404 becomes the Don Valley Parkway and you would exit at Eglinton Ave.
There you will find the Hilton, Sheraton, Howard Johnsons, Mariott and some others. I wouldn't class them as cheaper but if you are looking for something other than already posted it gives you a bit more choice.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

Brampton, on the NW side of the city, is on the GO Train line. There are a variety of lower cost options there, e.g. Motel 6 for about $62+tax.

 

[Jordan]

There are a number of cheaper hotels downtown. If anyone has any questions, you're welcome to PM or e-mail me. I live in Toronto, literally just a few minutes' walk from the Roehampton.

 

[Jordan]

I've been asked to make a few suggestions, so here goes.

(1) In a post earlier in this thread, Jon recommended a B&B near Wellesley and Jarvis. People knocked it due to its location, but I would trust the guy. He lives not far away. In particular, the Cabbagetown area, which is not far from Wellesley and Jarvis, is pretty gentrified and has a bunch of B&Bs.

There are a lot of bed-and-breakfast type places in Toronto. I Googled and found a few lists:

http://www.bnbinfo.com/
http://www.canadianbandbguide.ca/ontario-bed-and-breakfast-citytown.asp?NearCityTown=Toronto

A couple of the places listed on that second link aren't really in Toronto. Avoid the ones whose postal codes do not start with "M".

(2) There's a Days Inn in downtown Toronto -- Dead Link Removed -- I stayed there a while ago. It was fairly basic, but okay. It should be more reasonable than some of the other downtown hotels. It's a quick subway ride up to Eglinton (closest stop to the conference site).

(3) http://www.hojotoronto.com/ -- could be an option for some people. It's a little far from the conference site, so this is for those who are driving. I've heard it's a good place. It's not far from the area I grew up in.

(4) http://www.precisionreservations.com/ph-aspx-hotel_id.1288-db-hoteldatabase/HotelDisplay.htm -- this one is near Jarvis and Queen Streets, I think. Not too far a walk from the subway (which will take you up to Eglinton).

If anyone has hotels they want info on, post or PM me, and I can give you an idea of the location, travel times, etc.

 

[jon]

Lightweights

My mistake, it's actually at Wellesley and Sherbourne -- but then again I guess that's too close to St. James Town, so I suppose you guys'll get too frightened by all of the little old Filipino ladies carrying their groceries. You folks must be pretty timid if you can't handle a little downtown colour.

Sixty-five bucks for a nice room and brekkie is a deal, as not everyone on a budget wants to bunk down at a hostel or has sufficient transport (or tolerance for commuting) to stay in some far-flung suburb. It's not like we're even talking about such over-hyped "scary" places like Regent Park or even Jane/Finch-- this is Cabbagetown for cryin' out loud.

Besides, you'll have a far more fulfilling photographic experience staying somewhere colourful downtown than in the middle of nowhere like Brampton.

sigh

 

[gr82bart]

You folks must be pretty timid if you can't handle a little downtown colour.

Remember that we Torontonians are USED to Toronto. Many people coming to the conference are not like you and me, so I think it's important that we give them accurate information that is devoid of what WE would be willing to stay at.

Sixty-five bucks for a nice room and brekkie is a deal, as not everyone on a budget wants to bunk down at a hostel or has sufficient transport (or tolerance for commuting) to stay in some far-flung suburb.

To the first part, I completely agree, this is a good deal for those that like B&Bs and have a bit of experience travelling, not being a tourist. As this neighbourhood can can get a bit colourful at night.

I will keep stating, that the recommended APUG Conference hotel - The Roehampton Inn - is the best value for this event.

It's not like we're even talking about such over-hyped "scary" places like Regent Park or even Jane/Finch-- this is Cabbagetown for cryin' out loud.

Like I said, Cabbagetown for you and me is fine. It's fine for many of my non-Toronto friends. I don't think it's fine for EVERYONE. That all we're trying to say - and that's eveident by some of the posts here. As a proud Torontonian, I just want to ensure that everyone attending the conference has a great time in Toronto.

Besides, you'll have a far more fulfilling photographic experience staying somewhere colourful downtown than in the middle of nowhere like Brampton.

You and I agree here. I personally wouldn't stay there if I am going to Conference. I wouldn't stay downtown either, not because I'm scared or anything, but because it's just unecessarily far from the Conference. If I were to come earlier or stay later and want to explore Toronto, then I would definitely stay downtown.

I can't state enough to everyone that the best value and most enjoyable place for your stay during the Conference will be at the Roehampton Inn.

Regards, Art.