Toronto Advice?

[KYfriedPanda]

A friend of mine and I are going to be visiting Toronto mid-May. We are looking to save some money by booking at a hotel with free parking in the "surrounding area". I'm particularly interested at a couple of them in the Markham area. Unfortunately I can't seem to find any subway stops near the hotels I'm interested in and parking near the Rogers Centre (we'll be going to see the Mets-Jays game) would pretty much kill the amount we'd be saving by staying at a hotel outside the downtown area. Anyone from that area have any advice? If there is a subway station anywhere that has free parking nearby, that would work for me. Thanks!

 

[abdmom]

A friend of mine and I are going to be visiting Toronto mid-May. We are looking to save some money by booking at a hotel with free parking in the "surrounding area". I'm particularly interested at a couple of them in the Markham area. Unfortunately I can't seem to find any subway stops near the hotels I'm interested in and parking near the Rogers Centre (we'll be going to see the Mets-Jays game) would pretty much kill the amount we'd be saving by staying at a hotel outside the downtown area. Anyone from that area have any advice? If there is a subway station anywhere that has free parking nearby, that would work for me. Thanks!

There are no subways in the "surrounding area". There are only subways in Toronto proper. The closest to Markham with free parking is likely at the Scarborough Town Centre or Yorkdale mall. From Scarborough, you would hop on the LRT to Kennedy subway, change to the southbound Yonge subway and get off at Union or St Andrew stations. It would take a looong time although people do it on a daily basis.

I would look at something in North York. I found the Novotel North York which is adjacent to a subway station that takes you directly downtown. There is also a Holiday Inn Yorkdale which is close to a very large mall which has another subway that takes you directly downtown.

 

[goofyintoronto]

A friend of mine and I are going to be visiting Toronto mid-May. We are looking to save some money by booking at a hotel with free parking in the "surrounding area". I'm particularly interested at a couple of them in the Markham area. Unfortunately I can't seem to find any subway stops near the hotels I'm interested in and parking near the Rogers Centre (we'll be going to see the Mets-Jays game) would pretty much kill the amount we'd be saving by staying at a hotel outside the downtown area. Anyone from that area have any advice? If there is a subway station anywhere that has free parking nearby, that would work for me. Thanks!

There are no subways in the "surrounding area". There are only subways in Toronto proper. The closest to Markham with free parking is likely at the Scarborough Town Centre or Yorkdale mall. From Scarborough, you would hop on the LRT to Kennedy subway, change to the southbound Yonge subway and get off at Union or St Andrew stations. It would take a looong time although people do it on a daily basis.

I would look at something in North York. I found the Novotel North York which is adjacent to a subway station that takes you directly downtown. There is also a Holiday Inn Yorkdale which is close to a very large mall which has another subway that takes you directly downtown.

I agree with this suggestion. If your looking to save, this is your best bet. North York or Yorkdale areas are good since its walking distance to the subway. You really dont wanna stay in Scarborough. The travel time wouldnt be worth it. Anything further than that wont make sense since you'd have to take a GO train PLUS the TTC, thats a lot of money.

 

[KYfriedPanda]

Thank you both! That was very helpful advice!! I will definitely look into those places!

 

[MamaLema]

I have to agree with the other posters. I am all for saving money, but Markham is too far, it would take you much too long to get to where you want to go.

What will you be doing in Toronto? Once downtown, it is very easy to get to anywhere you want to go in the downtown core.

 

[KYfriedPanda]

We're not sure what we'd be doing in Toronto yet other than the baseball game(s). I've visited before so I've done most of the touristy things and I'm leaving the "what to do" part up to my friend.

We were mostly interested in Markham because the Monte Carlo Inn has a pretty great price for a suite with an in-room jacuzzi (and free parking).

 

[cabmom]

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/yyzbr-renaissance-toronto-downtown-hotel/
Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel
One Blue Jays Way · Toronto, Ontario M5V 1J4 Canada

This is right at the Dome where the games are played. You can get deals for this hotel. Sign up for TravelZoo newletter.
Enjoy your trip to Toronto!

 

[roxysmum123]

Personally I'd bite the financial bullet and stay right downtown. You won't have to move your car once you're there, and there's something to be said about being right in the middle of it all.

Maybe post this also on the Canada forum, lots of Toronto area users on there!

 

[justjulie]

Markham is a bedroom community approximately a 30 minute (or more) drive from downtown Toronto. Driving in, out and around Toronto when major league sports are on is a bit chaotic. You could have to drive from Markham and attempt to find downtown parking or take public transit from Markham to connect to the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway system which may require more than one transfer and/or fare - Markham Transit operates independently of the TTC and would be over an hour in length.

I travel from Whitby on the GO train and it is 37 minutes by express train or 55 minutes by an all-stop train. There may be a GO station near the Markham hotel but I doubt it so you would have to drive to the GO station around Markham.

I think you would be less frustrated if you found a hotel downtown - there are several that offer weekend rates and you could walk around and see a play or a sporting event with relative ease.

 

[michellev]

Here is an option for a Holiday Inn. It's right on the subway line, but north of downtown (near the trendy Yorkville area). Lots of nice little restaurants and probably cheaper than right downtown.

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/toronto/yyzbs/hoteldetail

 

[lizabu]

Seriously...stay downtown. There are often good deals out there. I've seen rates at the King Edward for $100. You can park at the Market St garage on church st near King st for $17. Just leave your car there until you're ready to leave. You can take the bus to the Blue Jays game. Its like 5-10 minutes and costs $3. Everywhere else you can bus or walk.