Assessment: Courtyard Toronto Downtown | Prince of Journey

I lately went dwelling to Toronto to reconnect with my household for a short weekend sojourn.

It was necessary for me to discover a lodge that had a superb price-to-quality ratio, particularly since I hardly wanted luxuries corresponding to free breakfast or full service as a result of brevity of my keep.

Thankfully, the well-situated Courtyard Toronto Downtown fulfilled all my wants at a good value, and had surprisingly fashionable and engaging facilities for a limited-service lodge. 

Courtyard Toronto Downtown – Reserving

I used to be fortunate sufficient to attain an trade fee for the Courtyard Toronto Downtown, which drastically lowered the price of my keep. Nevertheless, I’ve seen that costs at this location are likely to hover across the $210–300 (CAD) mark, relying on demand and seasonality.

On weekends in the summertime, costs can surge precipitously, so ebook early when you can.

For a limited-service lodge, this could appear a little bit steep, however the primary value level is within the location, which we’ll deal with in due time.

For those who’re trying to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors, then anticipate nights to return in at round 25,000–30,000 factors. Which means that you would realistically surpass our goal objective of 0.9 cents per level, making redemptions a good worth when in comparison with money charges the Courtyard Toronto Downtown. 

As nights price lower than 35,000 factors, this additionally makes the lodge a good alternative for a Free Night time Award, corresponding to these granted by yearly renewing loyalty bank cards such because the Marriott Bonvoy American Categorical Card.

As a result of Toronto isn’t a city identified for its lack of expense, be at liberty to additionally use any and all company codes to which you’ll be entitled to additional scale back the influence to your pocketbook.

Courtyard Toronto Downtown – Location

As its identify would recommend, the Courtyard Toronto Downtown is situated within the coronary heart of town, proper subsequent to the historic Maple Leaf Gardens (now an ultra-premium Loblaws), in addition to a slew of different companies, eating places, and experiences.

I grew up on this neighbourhood, and my childhood house is only some blocks away in neighbouring Cabbagetown, so please excuse my biases in favour of the locale.

The lodge is situated on the crossroads of Yonge and Faculty Streets, two main thoroughfares in Ontario’s capital.

It’s additionally a mere block away from the Faculty Park plaza, an underground community that connects to the arterial Faculty TTC station, which runs alongside the Yonge–College line.

A mere two stops to the north is Bloor–Yonge station, the main connecting hub for Downtown Toronto. One cease to the south is the enduring Eaton Centre, which homes the nation’s flagship Hudson’s Bay Firm showroom, amongst different procuring locations.

All of those are additionally simply walkable from the Courtyard Toronto Downtown, and you may wash down any exhaustion incurred with dinner and drinks at Kinka (previously Guu), my favorite Japanese-style izakaya in Canada.

Additionally inside strolling distance is the well-known Phoenix Live performance Theatre, an icon of the Toronto music and performing arts scene, which has hosted nearly each well-known act the thoughts can fathom.

To sum up, the situation is way of what you pay for whenever you select to remain at this lodge, and it’s great when you’re in search of the Bohemian bon-vivant picture Downtown Toronto aspires to.

Courtyard Toronto Downtown – Verify-in

I arrived late at night time attributable to my night flight in from my new dwelling of Edmonton in freezing Alberta. Whereas I used to be aggravated at having misplaced two hours attributable to time zone variations, I used to be very completely satisfied that the lodge’s entrance desk workers had been extremely attentive to my entreaties through the Marriott Bonvoy app.

The entrance desk workers additionally suggested me that as a result of the lodge is within the downtown core, its entrance doorways could be locked to all individuals besides visitors between 9pm–8am. Additionally they knowledgeable me that they’d be on standby to open the doorways as quickly as I arrived, which was true.

Once I arrived, the entrance desk workers had my room keys prepared for me, and went out of their solution to make my check-in course of fast and painless. This was lucky as a result of I used to be drained, hangry, and barely sore from sitting on a airplane for 4 hours.

They had been additionally completely satisfied to let me know that the entrance desk was normally quiet on Saturday mornings, so I may delay taking photos till then. I used to be additionally thanked for my Titanium Elite standing, and supplied a alternative of 500 Bonvoy factors or a $10 meals and beverage credit score.

I used to be solely staying for a short while and had no intention to dine on the lodge, so I went for the factors, and didn’t thoughts the shortage of point out of a collection improve.

Subsequent to the entrance desk space is an open seating space. Through the day, it has a concierge desk for visitors trying to discover out extra data concerning their environment, and offers a very good place to take a seat and watch for an Uber or taxi to reach to take you to the airport or elsewhere.

There have been additionally some public-use computer systems out there.

The lodge has two separate towers, a south tower and a north tower, that are related by separated diverging hallways. I used to be within the south tower, so I made my method down that hallway to the Marriott Bonvoy-branded elevators.

Then it was as much as my room on the fifteenth flooring, and I made my method down the hallway to room 1516.

Courtyard Toronto Downtown – King Visitor Room

Although I had a mere base-level room, I’m not afraid to confess I used to be impressed by its modernity, consolation, and, above all else, measurement. Area is at a premium in Downtown Toronto, and this room had it in spades.

The format was attention-grabbing: a hallway led into the room, with a half-bathroom on the left-hand facet. This lavatory contained the bathroom and bathe.

Nevertheless, the sink was in a separate, open house on the right-hand facet of the hallway subsequent to the room’s closet. The sink space additionally contained all of the towels.

I’ve solely ever seen this open idea at ultra-chic W-branded resorts, and by no means at a Courtyard. Personally, I like open-concept dwelling.

Many don’t, so maybe this room isn’t for you must you want to keep away from it. All the pieces was additionally meticulously clear, which must be anticipated on the value level however was good to see, regardless.

Shifting on to the bed room, there was a big king mattress. The linen was crisp, and I slept with out grievance.

The paintings was a pleasant bonus, too, as was the seating space which featured an opulent armchair. 

The seating space additional ignored the downtown core with a useful balcony, although there wasn’t a lot in the best way of a view from my explicit room.

Throughout from the mattress had been the same old facilities, corresponding to a flat-screen tv and occasional maker, in addition to a desk and workplace chair.

As soon as once more, the tv was a more moderen mannequin, and even featured streaming capabilities out of your cellular machine, so no want to make use of cable or overpriced lodge pay-per-view in your leisure wants.

My one critique of the setup could be the espresso, which was nearly undrinkable. Then once more, it did include a considerable amount of caffeine, which may be stated to have deserves of its personal, no matter flavour.

Additionally of word is that full turndown service is out there each day on request; nevertheless, it is advisable to depart the room to ensure that cleansing to be accomplished.

Courtyard Toronto Downtown – Different Services

I didn’t have the prospect to partake in any breakfast meals on the Courtyard Toronto Downtown as a result of my itinerary was full of household visits, which regularly included dim sum.

Nevertheless, the lodge is dwelling to a restaurant the place elites can use their $10 meals and beverage credit score, must you want to forego the five hundred Bonvoy factors in its favour.

The restaurant seemed to be a mixed counter-service providing that additionally sells Starbucks espresso. Because the restaurant is licensed, you too can order beer, wine, and spirits between 11:30am and 8pm most days.

There’s additionally a grab-and-go fashion collection of choices out there 24/7. I didn’t wind up shopping for something, however I can’t think about costs are low as a result of comfort issue.

A phrase to smart late-night snackers: the Courtyard Toronto Downtown is correct throughout the road from each a Buyers Drug Mart and a Pizza Pizza, that are open late. Whereas these could not include probably the most palatable foodstuffs, their choices are equal or superior to something within the lineup on the lodge.

So, be at liberty to pop throughout the road, must you be hankering for one thing to eat.

Conclusion

The Courtyard Toronto Downtown is an satisfying place to remain, and I don’t remorse selecting it for my household go to wants.

The room was neat, contemporary, and fashionable in its inspiration, and I genuinely loved its open-living idea and sheer measurement, which was glorious for Downtown Toronto.

I even have many optimistic phrases to say in regards to the entrance desk workers, who helped to expedite my check-in and made each facet of my keep, from requesting turndown service to testing shortly, that a lot simpler.

Then again, the lodge lacks luxurious facilities corresponding to an Govt Lounge or a significant elite breakfast, and the meals on the grab-and-go market appears uninspired contemplating the wealthy variety of Toronto’s culinary scene.

However then once more, who amongst us can declare to remain at North American Courtyards for his or her transcendental gustatory experiences? For what I wanted – a cushty mattress, an ideal location, and glorious service – I obtained greater than what I desired, and would keep once more with out hesitation.