Canadian hotels, eh?

February 24, 2008 6:53 PM

My boyfriend and I are entertaining the idea of a Canadian roadtrip this March but need a place to stay in Montreal and Toronto.

We might be able to crash with friends, but if not, I'd like to get an idea of the hotel situation. I assume we want to be in the center of things as much as possible, but neither of us know the cities in question. I'd like to keep it close to $100USD/night if possible. Funky over sterile, but we don't want a hostel, either. Private bath = good. Is this feasible?

posted by youcancallmeal to travel & transportation (16 comments total)

Yes, though, a hundred dollars US buys a lot less than it used to. Still, there are several relatively downtown hotels in Toronto where you can get a room for $100 a night. Mostly not the interesting ones, but there are definitely some.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:12 PM on February 24, 2008

Toronto, I think for sure. Not funky, but central, clean and in your price range is the Bond Place Hotel. It's a block east of the Eaton Centre and five or six blocks north of the Gardiner Expressway. I stayed there for a few nights in 2003 before moving back to Toronto. Most of the other guests seemed to be AARP busloads up from the states to see a musical. It was fine.
posted by dismitree at 7:18 PM on February 24, 2008

We stayed at L'Appartement Hôtel (455, rue Sherbrooke Ouest) in Montreal back in the fall of 2006. Not so funky but well-located. From the web site, $120CDN in mid-March.
posted by yqxnflld at 8:31 PM on February 24, 2008

In Montreal, I often stay at the St Andre, a family-run place which is $75ish and in the heart of a nifty cafe/culture neighborhood, within easy striking distance of everything, even on foot.

It's small, simple, clean... I spend no time in my room, though, so I don't need or expect much. The staff's always been amazing. Private bath, wifi, all the usual stuff.
posted by rokusan at 8:38 PM on February 24, 2008

This place, in Montreal, is a diamond in the rough.

Really rough, but comfortable, in a great neighborhood, cheap, and close to everything.

Have fun in Montreal!
posted by John of Michigan at 8:40 PM on February 24, 2008

Here's a funky and yet frugally priced B&B in downtown Montreal: Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins.
posted by Blue Buddha at 8:43 PM on February 24, 2008

2nding les bon matins in mtl. nice, clean place. duvets. omlette and cafe au lait in the morning (or whatever you want) and a glass of wine in the evening. (but i think most rooms are a bit more than $100USD)
posted by kamelhoecker at 9:02 PM on February 24, 2008

Here's another funky and frugal Montreal B&B on Avenue Laval that my fiancee and I stayed at last weekend. (which we heard about through AskMe!). Nicest proprietors, low-key with eclectic decor. A private bath would run you a little more, but the shared baths aren't terrible!

Apparently, Avenue Laval has a number of great B&Bs.
posted by themadjuggler at 9:06 PM on February 24, 2008

If you have a car, you can stay at one of the many motels on the west end of Toronto's lake shore (near the Humber River).

I stayed at one during a cycling trip last summer. It was pretty clean and had good privacy, but the bed was squeaky, the ground was hard, the bathtub was tiny, and the high pressure shower head felt like a thousand stabbing needles.

They go for about $75/night.
posted by BeaverTerror at 9:32 PM on February 24, 2008

Sign up for the travelzoo.ca top 20 newsletter – it's a weekly newsletter with last minute deals that always seem to include a few Toronto and Montreal hotel deals in each blast.

(I have no affiliation with travelzoo beyond newsletter subscriber.)
posted by avocet at 9:54 PM on February 24, 2008

Toronto, I think for sure. Not funky, but central, clean and in your price range is the Bond Place Hotel. It's a block east of the Eaton Centre and five or six blocks north of the Gardiner Expressway. I stayed there for a few nights in 2003 before moving back to Toronto. Most of the other guests seemed to be AARP busloads up from the states to see a musical. It was fine.

I know from making Traveller's Aid reservations that it is the lowest-price decent non-sketchy hotel in downtown Toronto. There's a bit of construction going on around the hotel right now but it shouldn't be too bad.
posted by avocet at 9:57 PM on February 24, 2008

2nding L'Appartement. Though I haven't been there since 96.
posted by dobbs at 10:23 PM on February 24, 2008

Thirding "petite auberge" in montreal. Reasonably priced, conveniently located, amazing decor, the breakfast is delicious, there are free *cookies* at all hours, access to computers in the lobby to look up more places to see and things to do.... it's a very romantic and stylish B&B.
posted by moxiedoll at 10:46 PM on February 24, 2008

I've stayed at Le Gîte du Plateau Mont-Royal three or four times, which is right off Rue St. Denis. It is a hostel, but they have private rooms that are quite nice (with bathroom ensuite), and it's got a LOT of character. Not the fanciest place, but you could do worse. The building is also very cool, and as I remember they've got a stuffed maine coon in the lobby.

http://www.hostelmontreal.com/english/default.htm
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:21 AM on February 25, 2008

Montreal seems to have no shortage of what you're looking for. I stayed at Manoir Ambrose a couple of years ago. It's more sterile than funky, but still pretty classy, and a good deal in a great location (just west of the McGill campus). It's probably worth putting on your list in case the funkier options don't work out.

I can't tell you much about Toronto hotels because of the ol' I-live-here syndrome. Good luck!
posted by DrJohnEvans at 6:57 AM on February 25, 2008

For Toronto, I'm not a fan of the Bond Place Hotel due to a bad experience there a few years ago. When I overnight in TO I usually stay at the Days Inn on Carlton Street, just off Yonge - $99 CDN a night, very convenient to the subway and the College St. streetcar, and a good selection of restaurants nearby. It's not exactly "funky" but it's clean, cheap and reliable.

If you want funky and hipsterish, check out the Drake Hotel on West Queen West, although at the current exchange rate it will be above your budget.
posted by Gortuk at 11:18 AM on February 26, 2008