I had the opportunity to spend an unexpected night in Toronto so that has enabled me to do the Sheraton Toronto airport hotel review. The official title of the hotel is Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International airport.
Having flown from Bangkok via Narita to Toronto on Air Canada there was a delay with the flight onwards to Dallas so I had to spend the night and fly out the next morning. It was a Wednesday night and the hotels didn’t seem overly busy.
Booking process:
There were quite a few hotels in the area with prices ranging from 22,000 points up to at least 40,000 points for the one night. I have status with multiple hotel brands so I eventually decided to book the Sheraton by Marriott which is connected to Toronto Airport terminal 3. There is also a train linking terminal 1 with terminal 3. That station is linked to the bridge connecting the hotel to terminal 3 so the ease of use is great.
I stopped at the check-in desk and asked if I could book there with miles. “No, only on the website” was the reply. I had the app open and ready so I stepped aside, selected and pressed confirm, and had a booking number within 30 seconds. I spent 35,000 Marriott miles which was higher than I had planned but I decided that the ease of use of the trains was a good enough reason for the splurge. The Sheraton Toronto airport hotel review was on.
The USP Express train service is available to whisk you into Toronto from terminal 1 (one stop away from the hotel). I always try to go to the highest point in any city I visit so once I had checked in I caught that train to Union Station and went up the CN Tower. The Tower is less than 10 minutes walk from the station under a covered walkway, but my story of that visit is for another time.
Hotel room:
I was given a room on the 4th floor. I was offered the opportunity to upgrade to the Sheraton Club Lounge. For about $60 extra you have access to a private lounge, a hot breakfast buffet, all day refreshments and evening hors d’oeuvres. It seemed like a good deal but I knew my schedule would not allow me to enjoy the facilities much. Once I got off the elevator the first thing I did was look for the ice machine. A room temperature soda is just not for me so ice is an important part of any hotel stay. The room itself was rather pleasant and large.
Hotel room – picture courtesy of Marriott.com
I had no problem powering up my computer as well as recharging my phone and iPad as there is a power and usb plug point next to the bed with 2 of each power point.
My ice bucket got filled with ice as soon as I had put my bags down. A Keurig coffee machine with coffee and tea bags was also supplied. In the morning I love a hot cup of tea so I filled up the Keurig, boiled the water without a pod, put a cup with tea bag under the spout and there it was. A steaming hot cup of tea just the way I like it.
2 complimentary bottles of water were also available along with the already in service ice bucket.
I used the safe on the top shelf of the cupboard to lock up my computer and iPad when I left to go downtown. The cupboard also contained an iron, ironing board and hangars.
The view out of the window was pleasant, at least there were no warehouses or parking garages blocking the view.
Bathroom facilities:
The bathroom was average size with some really pleasant toiletries. They were Gilchrist and Soames brand. There was body wash, conditioner and shampoo in squeeze bottles in the shower which also had a nice hand shower. On the counter was Gilchrist and Soames body lotion, hand wash and soap. I splashed all of those products on when I showered in the morning, I smelt rather glorious when I left the room.
Hotel facilities:
Interesting to see the top class fitness facilities available at this hotel. There is a comprehensive fitness center that is open 24 hours a day. It has weights, exercise bikes, treadmills, as well as sauna room and steam room. There is also a newly opened Peloton Bike and Studio for hitting your cycling goals. Then there is the indoor heated swimming pool available 24 hours a day too. The hotel seems proud of these facilities as it gives a prominent place to these details on their website.
Hotel take out dining:
I got back from downtown Toronto at around 9pm and so decided to order take out from &More by Sheraton, the lobby bar / food venue.
I heard the glorious chatter before I saw the bar. It was absolutely bustling at 9pm, I think mostly as a result of it being the closest hotel to the airport. There were people checking in, sitting at the bar, eating at the tables, just a nice and busy area.
I ordered sweet and sour wings and fries. There were many options on the menu but I was in the mood for a safe choice. To quote the hotel website it prides itself on “reflecting all of what Toronto has to offer, highlighting locally sourced ingredients from our new cuisine.” From what I could see the guests were throughly enjoying the “new elevated food and beverage philosophy”.
The order took about 15 minutes to prepare which gave me enough time to go upstairs, refill the ice bucket, pour a cola and get the room ready for dinner. The food was really tasty, the wings that I did not finish that night became a breakfast snack before I left my room in the morning.
Conclusion:
The room itself was rather pleasant and large. Great bathroom amenities as well.
All in all this was a very pleasant stop on my trip. I don’t often stay at Sheraton when I use the Marriott brand but this hotel was a nice surprise and I will be on the lookout for more Sheratons in future.
This Sheraton Toronto airport hotel review ended up being a happy event.
Good to know as we are going to Toronto in the coming months,,
Glad I could help Dee, enjoy your trip.