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Topic:
Need your help please on where to stay.
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GIMER
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
7/16/06 7:38pm
Subject:
Need your help please on where to stay.
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Hello!
My family and I are trying to plan a vacation to Toronto.
(Me, wife and 2 kids under 8)
We've been looking at all sorts of books and websites of places to stay, and have gotten mixed opinions from people on where to stay and where not to stay.
What places in the city should we avoid? What places would be good to stay at?
We are looking for reasonably priced hotels, but hopefully in a good neighborhood.
If we stay outside downtown, how do we find parking when we go to attractions downtown?
What can you recommend for us to do?
Thanks!
-----signature-----
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein (Room #320) My Store: http://cgenes.atspace.com Sometimes smarter than a Lemming! Discounted Day-Old Manager of Pancakes and Waffles
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Styrofoam_Guy
Title: FF City Rep Toronto, ON Canada
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
7/18/06 5:45am
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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Driving downtown can be insane at times.
I know some people part at Yorkdale Mall and take the subway downtown. (http://www.yorkdale.com/)
Definately avoid the Jane & Finch area. I am not sure how you feel about University residences but they are fairly easy to get during ht esummer.
(ie University of Toronto) http://www.utoronto.ca/ucres/summer/docs/sumoccnon.pdf
University of Toronto is right downtown as is Ryerson.
Very neat web page with loads of info. Lists quite a few hotels and their prices too
http://chapters.marssociety.org/toronto/TO-Mars-2000/Tourism.shtml
Not a hotel but fairly cheap
HTH
Alex
Styrofoam Guy
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GIMER
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
7/19/06 6:31am
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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Thanks for the info.
After seeing no repies for 2 days, I thought they might have closed Canada. 
-----signature-----
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein (Room #320) My Store: http://cgenes.atspace.com Sometimes smarter than a Lemming! Discounted Day-Old Manager of Pancakes and Waffles
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Nyla
Registered:
Apr '02
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Date Posted:
7/19/06 5:01pm
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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Hi,
Not sure if you've come across it or not yet... but here is the tourism section of Toronto's official website: www.toronto.ca/visitors/index.htm
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GIMER
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
7/20/06 5:13am
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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I think we've been to all the tourism sites and hotel sites, but I wanted some real people's opinions on what areas are safe and clean and what areas to stay far away from.
The tour books and sites don't really give you that, and the hotel comments sections have conflicting reviews in them.
-----signature-----
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein (Room #320) My Store: http://cgenes.atspace.com Sometimes smarter than a Lemming! Discounted Day-Old Manager of Pancakes and Waffles
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Lobot_Omy
Title: Moderator Emeritus
Registered:
Jul '01
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 2:41pm
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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We've got a spare room in our house. You and your family could stay with us. 
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GIMER
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
7/24/06 5:45am
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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How much do you charge for parking?
What do you make for breakfast?
-----signature-----
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein (Room #320) My Store: http://cgenes.atspace.com Sometimes smarter than a Lemming! Discounted Day-Old Manager of Pancakes and Waffles
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Lobot_Omy
Title: Moderator Emeritus
Registered:
Jul '01
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Date Posted:
7/26/06 10:52am
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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Parking? Breakfast?! What do you think we're some sort of a 5-star hotel?!
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Absolut_Kaos
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
7/30/06 2:24pm
Subject:
RE: Need your help please on where to stay.
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Realistically there are no neigbourhoods in Toronto that are going to cause you any major issues if you're travelling through them during daytime hours, most problems occur late at night and only in a few areas, Jane & Finch area, Malvern, and a few other areas in Scarborough (one of the east end bouroughs of toronto).
Parking downtown is easy & ample on weekends, unless you're going down on a day the Blue Jays or Argos (CFL team) are playing then it is a bit more busy. During the business week its obviously hard to find parking but it can be had. Look for the "GREEN P" signs, just a green circle with a P in the middle, which always leads to a nearby parking lot. Usually between $10-25CDN.Parking is also available on most side streets, and depending on the street there can be different rule for duration of parking. Always look for the parking signs/rules if you're on a side street.
Safety isnt a major issue downtown at all, as long as you act normal people will not bother you, other than the odd homeless person at a bus terminal or something. Toronto by in large is a very safe city, just like anywhere, if you look for trouble you can find it, but it will leave you alone if you're not. Toronto is also a very clean city, although there are some areas within Chinatown (ie Kensington Market, an excellent shopping & cultural experience) that, due to the small cramped shops store garbage on the sidewalks, which could be suprising to some.
As the other poster also said, you dont have to drive all the way downtown & pay for parking, as the drive on the Gardnier Expressway can be busy & chaotic at times, especially not being familiar with the exits. The GO TRAIN or the TTC are excellent forms of transporation and the main station downtown UNION STATION services both options. Its also very clean & cheap transport in & out of the city if you are staying a bit outside of the city core. All of the major attractions are accessable via either one or the other. Although it may be easier & shorter to drive to some attractions (ie. the Science Center).
As for the hotels, i mean just like anywhere in the world you're going to get what you pay for. I've had excellent service at the Royal York (a Toronto skyline legend,one of the older hotels downtown, very nice), I've also stayed a the Radisson, (reasonably priced, close to the Eaton Center & downtown (good shopping), balconys available).
The biggest thing that i'd recommend you prepare for is the traffic. I believe the 401 is the busiest highway in the world (i swear i read this somewhere), and it can get very hectic during rush hour, best to avoid the 401 between 6-9am & 3:30-6pm. Familiarize yourself with the different highways that you would use around the city, mainly (401, 410, 427, QEW, Gardiner Expressway, Lakeshore Boulevard) These are the major routes that can get you around the city easiest if you decide you are going to be driving.
I hope this helps you out, and walking around downtown is also another great option, as long as its not too hot out.
Have a good time
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