Heading to Canada '09... Need advice.

[juneau]

Been talking to my girlfriend and we've pretty much decided that we're taking a trip to Canada. We haven't discussed it thoroughly, but we have finalised on a couple of things.

1. Toronto
2. Feb-Apr '09

So now i ask you, who live or have been to Toronto. What can you tell me that a brochure wouldn't?

[BigTwinky]

All I can tell you is that Montreal offers so much more than Toronto does. Although if you are coming in February, we are packed with snow. Summer in Montreal is one of the most awesomenesses of experiences.

What are you guys looking for in Toronto?
How long are you staying for?
Are you museum goers, sport fans, theatre buffs,...? It all depends on your tastes.

You should definatly take a trip to Niagara Falls. Maybe even stay overnight. Its a nice place to visit, but it can be pretty touristy.

If you fly through Montreal and have a stop over (not likely, but you never know) let me know and I'll meet ya at the aeroport if I can and grab a quick drink with ya

[BenKenobi]

You sound like such an outlander to Canada, even though you live so close in Alaska

I kid I kid lol!

Bigtwinky's canadian. He might know. Torontos not that far from cleveland you know. Its just over lake erie.

[BigTwinky]

To get a vibe for a city I'm going to, I typically head to the Frommer's website

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...034010001.html

They have some great ideas of what to do and what to see. A week in Toronto might be much if you don't have family or friends to meet up with. Its a big city, with the regular food, shows and what not that all big cities have. So 2-3 days at most in Toronto.

If you are coming down from the other side of the pond, might be worth it to take 2 weeks to see more of Canada.

I have some UK friends who fly down to Toronto on a yearly basis (we meet up with them each year too) so I can ask them for some travel tips, airlines and so on, if they have any.



I would highly suggest not coming down during snowy season, so the closer to the summer the better, unless you want to come down for skiing and snowboarding, in which case you should be heading to Vancouver / Whistler / Banff.

Toronto has a bunch of shows and festivals in the summer, I'm not sure on the dates though.
Montreal's festival line up starts the last 2 weeks of June where we have the Grand Prix festivities.
Within a month we have a world renowned Just for Laughs comedy fest and a Jazz festival. Add to that the Fantasia film festival and a bunch of others, and you have a great summer scene. Its a similar setup in Toronto, just not sure on what they have exactly.

[Hammy]

Just because English is spoken, dont expect people to speak english to you.

Toronto is not Montreal, but then again, Southern California isnt Northern California either, but they both have had the worst MLB teams, so they couldnt be that far off - right?

You MUST see a Maple Leafs game while you are there. It's like going to New York and missing a chance to see a show on Broadway or missing the symphony. Buy these tickets as far in advance as you can.

I like Toronto, but I think I enjoyed Calgary much better. I dont know why, but somehow I did.

[Kenshin Himura]

You should meet up with Massacre.

[juneau]

All I can tell you is that Montreal offers so much more than Toronto does. Although if you are coming in February, we are packed with snow. Summer in Montreal is one of the most awesomenesses of experiences.

What are you guys looking for in Toronto?
How long are you staying for?
Are you museum goers, sport fans, theatre buffs,...? It all depends on your tastes.

You should definatly take a trip to Niagara Falls. Maybe even stay overnight. Its a nice place to visit, but it can be pretty touristy.

If you fly through Montreal and have a stop over (not likely, but you never know) let me know and I'll meet ya at the aeroport if I can and grab a quick drink with ya

We chose Toronto because it will not be our only visit. We've also been looking at Montreal and Vancouver.

We chose winter as it's less time to wait. Plus we want to see a Canadian winter, or is this a bad thing? Is April still too early? We should be staying for 10-14 days. Not really sure what we're looking for. Enough retail to keep my girlfriend happy and with enough activities to stop us from being bored. Plus enough time just to sit back and relax once in a while. Any activity is fine, museums, sports etc. When does the Hockey season start over there? Always wanted to go to a match. We'll be definitely doing the niagra falls trips as it looks beautiful, and maybe, big maybe, a stop to New York depending on budget.

Anybody recommend any hotels? Been looking at the Marriot and Delta Chelsea. Is there others we should be looking at instead.

What's the transport like in Toronto? 100% sure i want this to be a driving free holiday.

[BigTwinky]

Transport within the city is fine...buses, subways,... however, if you plan on going to Niagara, might want to rent a car. There might be some bus tours that will drive you there.

April is too late for hockey season. Might want to get there in Feb or March for hockey as the Leafs very rarely make it to the playoffs (but the tickets will probably be easier to come by earlier in the season).

Hotels are standard stuff... I heard the Delta and the Marriott are both really nice. If you don't really care about the hotel, check out www.hotwire.com
You put in the city, the general area, and the minimum star (take 4, so you are sure to get something nice), and the travel dates. It will give you a list of availability and prices, but not hotel names. You have to pay BEFORE knowing the hotel. My wife and I did this in Boston and got a $350 room for $120. Just an option.

Late March and early April is the Maple Sirop time of the year. We all go to the sugar shack, eat like pigs and have way too much sugar, along with sleigh rides and stuff... a Quebec tradition.

In 10-14 days, you can do 5-6 in Toronto and hop down to Montreal for another 5-6...or head out west to Calgary and Banff... many choices.

Close to summer in TO you have Canada's Wonderland, which is a pretty cool amusement park.

Most people will speak english if you are sticking to the big cities and tourist areas. In Montreal, they will often greet you in french, but 90% are bilingual (look at me, I'm french hehe). Toronto is mainly english, but is a very multicutural city

[-Bar]

Don't waste time with the Falls....


But its a very good country to visit.

[Zantheus]

Well I live in TO and I can tell u there is PLENTY to do...lots of sight seeing and tours to the Falls etc and u wont have to worry bout driving cause we have trains that connect you to anywhere you want to go as well as a Subway system for Inner City travels.

Hotel I would suggest the Delta as I've stayed there a few times after havin too much fun in the Bar district and is very affordable and great service for the money you spend.

If you like flying I know they do sightseeing tours in Choppers or lil Cessna's and there are Historical Mansions and museums as well. I could go on and on about the city so if you have any specific questions feel free to ask

[Hawkeye426]

Hey juneau I live in and around Toronto and Hamilton(You don't want to see) what are you interested in seeing? We have several sports teams, harbour cruises, the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, and the ROM(Royal Ontario Museum) Although the museums in the UK are far better.

[Hawkeye426]

All I can tell you is that Montreal offers so much more than Toronto does.

Ya ok Twinky

[Hawkeye426]

We chose Toronto because it will not be our only visit. We've also been looking at Montreal and Vancouver.

We chose winter as it's less time to wait. Plus we want to see a Canadian winter, or is this a bad thing? Is April still too early? We should be staying for 10-14 days. Not really sure what we're looking for. Enough retail to keep my girlfriend happy and with enough activities to stop us from being bored. Plus enough time just to sit back and relax once in a while. Any activity is fine, museums, sports etc. When does the Hockey season start over there? Always wanted to go to a match. We'll be definitely doing the niagra falls trips as it looks beautiful, and maybe, big maybe, a stop to New York depending on budget.

Anybody recommend any hotels? Been looking at the Marriot and Delta Chelsea. Is there others we should be looking at instead.

What's the transport like in Toronto? 100% sure i want this to be a driving free holiday.

Sorry to keep spamming I should really read some of the other posts first I guess I'm just lazy, but Toronto's transportation is pretty decent ( nothing like Europe) but you can make do between the subway, trains and buses. A good hotel in Toronto you may want to consider is the Westin Harbour Castle. Its right on Toronto's inner harbour and is close to all the attractions downtown. It also has a subway entrance just outside. I lived in the building adjacent to it for three years and its very convenient. Hockey season is over by April but the Toronto Blue Jays(Baseball) will have just started up there season and I think the Argos(American Football) will also be playing. If your interested in Hockey, the season ends around the end of March, but even if you come before that you will have difficulty getting tickets for either the Maple Leafs(Toronto) or the Canadians(Montreal) you may want to consider the Sabers(Buffalo) its only about a two hour drive ( I think you can get a bus) the only issue is that you have to cross the boarder, but it is far easier, and cheaper to get tickets for them and the hockey is just as good.

[Duke{CLR}]

I have spent a lot of time in Montreal. My mother grew up there and I used to visit my grand parents there. I also live about a hour and a half from there, so if you stop by that area it would be cool to have lunch or something. I also have had many layovers in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec. They all have many things to do and are fun so I would start off in Toronto rent a car and drive east stopping by each of those cities. That would be kind of busy and it may not be what you are looking for but there's so much to see and do in all of the places. I know you like snow but If you could hold off until it got a bit warmer you may enjoy it more. If you are in the middle of winter you should definitely consider Ottawa. There is this canal around the city that you can skate on it's pretty cool (no punn intended).

[juneau]

Thanks for all the info so far guys. It's more than i expected. I'll have a chat with my girlfriend tomorrow and see where we take it from there.