Review Sheraton Center Toronto, a cathedral in the heart of downtown
If you have never been to North America, the first thing to understand is that everything has a different dimension. [...]
Canada
Marriott
If you have never been to North America, the first thing to understand is. everything has a different dimension. Distances, cars, airports, and even the size of the cappuccino is 3 times the size of the old continent, and this hotel does not betray that rule.
Reservation
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The best bonuses
For family reasons, we planned a stay in Toronto and chose this hotel because the reason we came to Canada was a series of events taking place in the very spaces of this huge hotel.
With a price, including taxes, of about 330€ per night I preferred to book using points, even taking into account the fifth free night the outlay was 195k points Marriott Bonvoy.
Good conversion, but not exciting. The fact is, however, that I did not feel like spending so much money on such a hotel, and so good to be able to use the points to not open my wallet.
Location
The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, on Queen Street at the northern end of what we Italians would call "downtown." It takes at most 15-20 minutes to walk to most downtown attractions and about 25 minutes to walk to the waterfront.
City Hall and Nathan Philips Square with its outdoor skating rink (in winter) and iconic Toronto sign, the famous Art Gallery of Ontario and Yonge-Dundas Square are literally outside the hotel's door.
Check-in
We arrived with a Lyft from Pearsons YYZ airport at a cost of about 50 Canadian dollars. Needless to say, I use Lyft because every ride I take. Generates points on my Hilton Honors account.
I really liked the fact that the hotel has a sort of private, covered entrance. On bad weather days it avoids getting wet, on normal days it avoids having to go crazy to get off/on the cab, let's say a very Asian and non-American entrance.
In the days prior to our arrival I had received an invitation to check in directly at the lounge on the 43rd floor, but given the late evening arrival we did everything at the traditional reception desk.
I did not want to waste upgrade requests, and with a long stay the chances of being "promoted" in peak season are low, if the hotel is hosting an event with thousands of attendees from across Canada and beyond, I did not expect to receive anything more than what we had booked. A room with two queen beds, perfect for a family stay.
The room
When you have low expectations, or perhaps it would be better to say when you have clear ideas with respect to what you will receive, it is difficult to be disappointed.
The room is the classic "made in the USA" room. Carpeting in the USA is a must; in fact, I worry when I don't see it. To quote Roberto Carlino: "Marriott does not sell dreams, but solid (lived) certainties."
Two beds, megas chermo TV, minimal amenities (not even slippers, which you find even in suburban motels). Noisy and empty minibar.
Bathroom with 1970s bathtub and classic shower curtain protagonist of dozens of murders and/or accidents in any self-respecting detective story.
The only thing beautiful was the view. From the 36th floor towards the iconic CN Tower and the skyline of Ontario's capital city.
The structure
The hotel is huge and of course if you are in the area for a meeting or wedding it is perfect, others might suggest that there are better places in town, and they are probably right too, but I liked it mostly because of the pool.
Traveling with my daughter and also needing a place for her to relax, it was the perfect choice.
The pool area is half indoor and half outdoor. This makes it usable in the cold winter due to the wall separating the two areas.
The size is not the classic pond size, which allows it to be enjoyed even with a full hotel, and this is no small detail.
Overlooking the pool is the gymnasium, recently renovated and all equipped with Technogym.
On the ground floor there is a really functional work area, there is a meeting room that can be booked, and finally there are 3 cabins to isolate yourself and work. The classic phonebooths found in airport lounges and in crowded offices. I often used them for calls in the Italian time zone so as not to wake up the family.
This is also where the hotel café is located and this is where breakfast is served, which lo remember in the Sheratons is not included except as a benefit for those with status, but the part included is the "continental breakfast" everything else is chargeable.
Club lounge
On the 43rd floor is the Club Lounge, accessible to those who book a Club room and those with Platinum Elite status or higher.
This Club is spectacular, one of the most beautiful lounges I have ever visited in a hotel, it seems almost in the style of American Express' Centurion Lounges. Of course the container is super, but the content when compared to lounges in M.O. and Asia is not really comparable.
We tried the breakfast, and the minibuffet does not hold a candle to what I found in Singapore or Thailand, but they are also two completely different worlds. The hot offerings change daily, as do other flavors, considering what a dish costs in the hotel restaurant only here we saved a minimum of 60$ per day.
Not to mention that there is a bartender who makes hot drinks on the spot and not an express machine.
What rocks here is the view-the lounge occupies (almost) the entire floor and overlooks both sides of the city with spectacular views of everything surrounding the hotel and beyond, I imagined myself having a meeting in the private room inside the lounge. WOW
Starting at 5:00 p.m. every day, there is happy hour, where you can have a light dinner without much trouble, and I must say that the proposal was good. But where the lounge really excelled was the bar service.
In the evening as in the morning, the bartender makes the difference. Cocktails are paid for, while everything else is free until 10 p.m.
In conclusion
It's not cheap, but the stitches have relieved me of all kinds of suffering, also being able to take advantage of the status I must say I can't complain. Highly recommended for families visiting the city because of the location and especially because of the swimming pool, which is great for letting the little ones relax after a busy day around the skyscrapers.
Pro
- Location
- The lounge
- The view
Against
- The room was elderly