Hi to all Toronto locals, please could you give me some advice...my husband and I are flying to Toronto from Boston to "land". We only plan on spending 3 days (we are relocating to vancouver next year) and want to set up a bank account, etc. We have been researching places to stay and are coming up with wither VERY cheap hostel type accomodation or amazingly expensive hotels. We want something relatively central as we don't plan on renting a car and want to be able to access the downtown area, etc. We have found what appears to be an in between hostel/budget hotel and have reserved it. Reading reviews of the place, it seems that others have either LOVED it or HATED it. I was wondering if anyone on here knew of the place or had opinions. It is the Toronto Budget Hostel (also known as the Dundas Square Hotel). I have found the webiste and it looks fine. I have never been to Toronto so don't know the area as to believe whether its central, etc. The website claims that its in the heart of Toronto's Times Square (not sure if thats good or bad). Anyways, any input would be appreciated..
we only put down a 10% deposit and have no problem with losing this..

Tracey

A decent downtown hotel will cost at least $150 per night these days. You might luck up on $100 if you find a sale, but it is just very expensive to stay downtown. I never went with hostels so I can't say how they are, but Dundas Square is right in the middle of downtown.

The few times I stayed downtown before I moved up here I always used the Novotel. It is a bit off the main drag but easy walking distance to the subway or bus lines and there are 3 nice pubs right across the street. Once I stayed at the Royal York which was nice but is VERY expensive if you didn't have a special coupon or package.

I am not familiar with the hotel, but Dundas Square is about as 'downtown' as you can get.
It's a *very* busy square right on the corner of Yonge St and the Eaton Centre and yes, I guess it could be compared to Times Square. It certainly has plenty of advertising hoardings, TV screens and neon signs.
I imagine it will be very noisy though as occassionally they have concerts in the square. There is also a streetcar running past 24 hours a day and the square is always busy, even at night.

www.priceline.co.uk is your friend. I got 5 nights at the Bloor Intercontinental for 40 UKP per night from it last year

HTH

Sarah

Is that the one on the Esplanade, opposite Scotland Yard?

Yes, that is the one.

Thought so. I stayed there a couple of times before moving to Canada. It was also my first home when I landed.

The last time I saw dbd was in The Yard.

I liked the Novotel enough to live there for five years, hence meeting all sorts of people at the Yard.

Dundas Square is horrible. It was an abandoned lot with bums and has been worsened by "architects", still it is central.

Five years? It's a nice-enough hotel but there are limits.

I like it down there, it's a real neighbourhood and being near the market is wonderful. Alas, I'm banished to the 'burbs.

You can also try www.expedia.com. Sometimes, they have better deals than what the actual hotels they feature can give you. Many hotels are also rated by the customers who stayed there, and you can get a pretty good idea of what the place you're considering is like.