2 nights in Toronto - please help with less expensive hotels!

[U2_rocks!]

A friend and I want a hotel in the downtown area - preferably near the King St. entertainment area with easy access to the subway (say, max 5 minutes walk). We just don't want to pay as much as $180/night! Even the Strathcona, which I thought was very reasonable last time I was in TO, was showing rates of $175! This is for Sep 20 - 23. We'd be happy with any decent, safe hotel or B & B, with 2 beds in the room, where we can walk to the restaurants and bars on King St., walk or subway to Eaton Centre, get into PATH easily if it's raining etc. As we are 2 women, I guess safety is a big issue for us. Luxury isn't - as long as it's clean and maintained properly (i.e. everything in the room works!), we don't care about room service, pool or any other amenities.

Please help! I've looked at several potential places, but it's hard to know if the lower star hotels are really what they look like on the internet, or if they are dumps! Also, places like Trip Advisor have so many mixed reviews, it's hard to know what to believe.

Thanks!

 

[laura001]

Try Expedia.ca. I just looked up rates for that time and Strathcona is 126.33, Delta Chelsea is 155.67 etc. There are a lot to choose from. Why book so early though, you may be able to find a better deal if you wait a little.

 

[kmmum]

We always stay at the delta chelsea, we really enjoy it there.. close to the Easton's center.. and we usually pay around 100 a night... It has a water slide there, but if your not interested in swimming, no need to worry about that. Its located in a very convient location.. Good luck

 

[DisFan2]

Gotta go with Priceline. I usually pay between $50-60 US to stay at the Sheraton (across from City Hall) or Westin Harbor Castle.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I usually like to make a booking directly with the hotel - those can always be cancelled anytime. Then if I find a better deal nearer the time through Expedia etc., and I know for sure I'm going, then I grab it and cancel the direct hotel booking.

Even if I wait until nearer the time and see what I can get through a discount place, I'm still not sure which hotel to choose unless I see one of the better hotels selling for cheap! 2 Septembers ago I spent a couple of nights in TO, and some of the places I was looking at were completely sold out by the time I went to make a booking. I just want to make sure that if I find the "perfect" place, I can get a room there! I remember last year liking the look and location of the Holiday Inn on King, but it was full. This year I checked and they have room, but way too expensive!

Just in case the better hotels don't work out, I'd like to know if there are any undiscovered 2 stars that really deserve a higher rating.

Yes, I'm an overplanner - why do you think I joined the DIS in the first place?