Sure Kristin, here's a few points to ponder about Toronto:
Point Person: JohnSweden (live and work right downtown, book conferences for work)
Likely Hotel Rates: $70 -170
Pros:
Open, cosmopolitan, safe, clean multicultural city.
30% Discount. US Dollars will exchange at a 30-45% premium anywhere in the city.
Excellent public transportation. Toronto Transit Commission
Weather in high 60's, low 70's with little humidity in late May. (Some like it cool.)
Drivable from MI, upstate NY, OH, IL, IN, Western PA. Bit of a hike driving from NYC, Chicago, Boston, Philly, St. Louis (12 hours).
Wide variety of quality restaurants and food at all price ranges.
World-class theatre scene, currently running plays like The Producers, Pygmalion, Urinetown, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray.
Great shopping, all within easy walking.
Some attractions:
Art Gallery of Ontario
Toronto Zoo
Royal Ontario Museum
Ontario Science Centre
Black Creek Pioneer Village
Casa Loma
Huh. Bargoon. CityPass
Cons:
Flights from west coast will likely be expensive.
Actual foreign country. Passports required for ID when flying and advised for driving. Refugee claimant application forms will be available in the hospitality suite.
Weather in high 60's, low 70's with little humidity in late May. (Some like it hot.)
We ended up in, I think Sex World at one point (the three story tall sex store?).
That would be the one. With peep shows on the first level.
Mmmmm, Toronto.
Refugee claimant application forms will be available in the hospitality suite.
I like this part.
I'm going back to NO this weekend, so I'll have some much harder numbers and stuff. I did want to mention that while trying to find a spare hotel room for two extra people who are coming down to play, I found a nice (not luxury, but not Super 8 either) hotel for 188.10 for 3 nights. Definately deals to be had.
For scoping purposes, is the general consensus that we want something in the quarter, garden district, or slightly out (maybe the business district or uptown)?
For scoping purposes, is the general consensus that we want something in the quarter, garden district, or slightly out (maybe the business district or uptown)?
My opinion would be avoiding CBD, and there really aren't that many hotels uptown big enough to accomodate us. I'd also say to try to stay close to St. Charles, so that the streetcar will be accessible.
Will look around St. Charles then- which is where that hotel I found the deal is. Cool.
I believe Dana mentioned O'Flaherety's - I know they have a party area, so perhaps I'll look into that too.
Heather, if you've got time, could you also check out Maison St. Charles? I remember it being nice, but feel kind of funny reccing it unless someone else has looked and said it would work out.
Passports required for ID when flying and advised for driving.
Has this changed? It used to be just proof of citizenship (for which birth certificates also count).
The Toronto zoo has short beaked echidnas and naked mole rats!
Sure I will! Also, I know there are quite a few on St. Charles next to each other, so perhaps that might work for people who don't mind spending more/need to spend less.
