tdmort

Ok, well I am officially staying downtown Toronto for our upcoming visit. Yay. The hotel wouldn't have been my first choice....but it's doable. And I am happy about staying downtown instead of facing a 30-40 minute drive each day!

garyt22

what hotel?

goddesstogo

td, just about any hotel downtown is going to be better than doing that drive and paying for parking. I'd be interested in knowing what hotel too.

tdmort

Well, I couldn't get the price that I wanted on Priceline and felt that I couldn't relax until I had a hotel booked. So, lacking patients as usual, I booked a room at the Bond Place hotel. No, it's not going to be luxury, but it looks like the location cannot be beat. They recently renovated the hotel and it's got that funky modern look. I have loved the Hotel Indigo and Kimpton rooms I have stayed at in the past so I'm hoping it's somewhat similar.

goddesstogo

It's definitely a great location, td, and it gets good reviews on Trip Advisor. If your reservation at the Bond is cancellable you can keep trying Priceline too. But I think you did just fine with the Bond.

garyt22

Although I have not seen the renovations, as goddess says the location is perfect... everything on your original list can easily be reached by either a healthy walk or using Toronto transit... you have gone from being far in the desert to right next to the Pyramids... other than the ride for leaf-peeping, I would leave the car in the hotel... you done good!

tdmort

Thank you both so much. I do consult Trip Advisor and find the reviews are right on target, and the reviews did look good for the Bond Place. Using Google maps I looked at dining near the hotel and wow....there are literally hundreds of places within walking distance. I am pretty excited.

Do either of you know about discount theater tickets?

goddesstogo

There's a discount tickets booth at Yonge/Dundas Square, right near your hotel.

tdmort

Thanks so much. I wish we were going this weekend. I think I have enough planned to keep us busy for 2 weeks!

tdmort

Gary...in another thread I saw you chime in on dining options in the NOTL region. If you were looking for a nice lunch to take out of town friends, where would you go?

garyt22

In Toronto or Niagara on the Lake?

tdmort

Oh sorry, in NOTL.

garyt22

For Fancy and very Pricy... Escabeche at the Prince of Wales... Peller Estates Winery

one notch down but worth it... Hillebrand Winery... Penninsula Ridge Winery... Inn on the Twenty (jordan)...some like Ravine Winery... Vineland Estates Winery

great food but no view... Strewn winery ... Old Winery restaurant... Stone Road Grille....

fun and a bit different... Zooma Zooma in Jordan village... the Harp Irish Pub... Olde Angel Inn Pub

They are listed in sort of a price down order, but all of the food is excellent and about half of them have some cheaper options... I can be more specific if you have any questions and others may have their favorites....

tdmort

Thanks so much. I have eaten at Olde Angel Inn - love the history and had a good shepherds pie. I will check out some of the wineries. Do most of them have restaurants that will be open mid-October?

garyt22

Many have Fall and Winter Hours that restrict hours on slow days... most have web sites ... enter the restaurant name and the word Niagara and they usually pop up...

goddesstogo

Hi td,
I don't know if you're here yet but I just got this offer on TravelZoo. I'm also not sure if you can use it from your end but here it is. It's worth a try.

http://www.travelzoo.com/ca/hotels/o...um=email_top20

tdmort

Thanks for the link. We will be there in one week from today. I'm hoping for decent weather - although I know you are having awesome weather right now and wish I was there this weekend!!! Travelzoo is great - I bought a tour from Tour Guys off of a Travelzoo special a couple of weeks ago. Looking forward to that!