On my recent trip to Toronto for the Travel Blog Exchange, I was faced with a choice of Toronto area hotels. Since I’m such a big fan of the Westin Hotel chain, I decided to book one of the hotels that was discounted for the conference – the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
I arrived in Toronto via Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is just a $10 cab ride from the Westin. Although I was there well before the check-in time, I was pleased to see that my room was ready. Unfortunately, it was located right near the elevator, which proved to be a problem in the evenings. The walls and doors at the Westin Harbor Castle are thin, and I woke up several times due to noise – surprising, as I’m usually a heavy sleeper. There’s a lot of construction going on right outside the hotel, but that didn’t affect me at all.
The Service at the Westin Harbour Castle
The service at the hotel was great – when we encountered it. The concierge stand was surprisingly closed at dinnertime on a Saturday evening, although other employees were happy to offer restaurant suggestions. I was also surprised to come back to my room at 6pm on Friday to find an uncleaned room, but a quick call remedied the problem immediately. The front desk staff was very friendly and helpful, offering maps and other information about Toronto.
Location and Amenities of the Westin Harbour Castle
The hotel is large, with a huge porte-cochere and entry. There are also two separate towers for rooms, and a big conference center across the street. The road outside the hotel is currently under construction, which blocks the exterior, but it’s in a beautiful spot right on the harbor front. The hotel also offers several restaurants and bars.
Rooms at the Westin Harbour Castle
I’m a big fan of the Westin chain because I love their heavenly beds and showers, and the Westin Harbour Castle Toronto didn’t disappoint. The room was standard sized but very comfortable. I didn’t spend much time in the room, but did appreciate the large desk area. The Westin Harbour Castle does offer internet access for a separate fee, but it was included in our special conference rate. As a Starwood Preferred Guest, I received two complimentary bottles of water per day – great because the tap water didn’t taste good at all.
I’d definitely recommend staying at the Westin Harbour Castle, although I’d suggest requesting a room as far away from the elevators as possible.
You can check rates at Hotels.com.
Article and first photo by Jodi Grundig of Family Travel Magazine. Second photo courtesy of Christy Matte.
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