Residence Inn Downtown Toronto a 7 Hotels In 7 Days Review
August 14, 2013
The Residence Inn Downtown Toronto, a Marriott hotel, is a great place to settle into for a few days. This one night during "7 Hotels In 7 Days" became 4 due to a conference at the Toronto Convention Center. They offer guests the option of a small or large studio room or 1 & 2 Bedroom Suites.
Lobby staff is helpful and efficient. The lobby area was often busy but everything flowed well. Note to Marriott management: Give your property managers offices that are large enough for meetings with staff. The lobby lounge is not the proper place for a 4 person staff meeting. Your business should be yours, not shared with every guest within earshot. That is, unless you want our input!
Room 2113 is a One Bedroom Suite and very comfortable with a queen in the bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room. The dining table for two was comfortable when pulled a few inches away from the wall.
The living area is a great spot for a nap or to entertain a small group. The lounge chair with ottoman was especially comfortable. I can't say the same for the sofa bed. An HDTV had plenty of clear channels.
The small kitchen had many of the items you would use for basic food preparation and serving with plenty of pots, pans, plates and glassware. Appliances included refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, microwave, coffee maker and a two-burner electric range.
Having a separate bedroom is nice when there are two guests but even with one I found it so nice and normal to be sleeping in a bedroom like this while on the road. Being separated from the rest of the suite makes it feel more secure and private. A desk in the corner had a comfortable office style chair along with a much appreciated hard-wired Internet connection. The WiFi signal was strong and fast. Note: For more Toronto property reviews see my 7 Hotels In 7 Days feature.
Another HDTV in the bedroom made this feel even more like home. Marriott also advertises this property for extended stays but a larger chest of drawers would be needed if two guests were spending more than a few days. The bathroom was very standard and utilitarian. There were plenty of towels, a safe in the closet that could hold a medium-sized laptop, iron & board.
This Residence Inn suite has windows looking out at Toronto in two directions. One looked at an office building and the CN Tower while the other had a nice view of several newer Toronto high-rises. You can find more info on the hotel website.
Everyday a swim was on my agenda but I didn't get the time. A small but well-equipped gym is adjacent to the pool. At times I wished I was staying closer to the Toronto Convention Center. Now after the fact, I appreciate not being in the same hotel with hundreds of travel industry conventioners. The three block walk to the Residence Inn allowed me time to decompress, clear my head and enjoy my free time in Toronto.
The property offers 4 meeting rooms, the largest seating 80 guests. In a pinch you could have a party event here but it has much more of a business vibe. Having a meeting at a Marriott-related hotel does wonders for your Marriott Rewards point balance!
Several small grocery stores are located nearby as are some excellent restaurants just 1 block away along King Street. But they have a small snack/grocery shop just off of the lobby.
Having a hot breakfast buffet all set and ready to go each morning makes it so much easier to get to those early events or meetings. The meal was very basic but well presented in a clean comfortable area.
This has been the first time I have included a Residence Inn as part of a "7 Hotels In 7 Days" feature. It isn't the normal "boutique" or "upscale" hotel I would include. It is indeed a mass market design and operation but if you want a place for a few days in downtown Toronto that feels like home, this is it.