Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto East

People were still swimming late because the heated indoor pool stays open until about midnight. The hotel had a relaxed feel, and it was bright and clean. Staff were polite and well trained. My friend was staying there with two little puppies, and they made the dogs feel welcome and comfortable. The bartender was fantastic, a friendly blonde woman who was quick and really knew what she was doing. It was a pleasure.

The cleaning staff were really friendly and helpful, and I liked how quiet the AC unit was compared with other hotels I’ve stayed in. I only spent the night and didn’t try the food, so I can’t comment on that. The hotel feels a little dated, but it’s an average place and not a five star hotel. Kids would probably have fun on the water slide.

The breakfast buffet was delicious and had enough options for everyone. Staff were extremely friendly, and the lobby and interior looked really nice. The pool area itself looked great, though it wasn’t especially clean when I arrived after a group of about 50 kids had used it. The large pool and fun waterslide, plus the hot tub where I relaxed, make this seem like a good choice for families. If I had kids, it’s the sort of hotel I’d pick. My room was a different story. The bed was comfortable, but the toilet was broken when we arrived. It worked for a few hours after someone fixed it, then broke again and leaked all over the bathroom. Paint was peeling from the bathroom wall. Later, I got food from the bar. It was pretty standard and maybe too expensive. I enjoyed the stay, but would only come back with kids.

The staff were friendly and accommodating, and they gave my young son a gift when we arrived. There’s a large pool and a smaller one for family members of different ages, with towels provided. Our room was comfortable. The hotel isn’t in the middle of the city, so paying 12 CAD a day for parking and a 4.46 CAD “marketing fee” felt strange. There is no free guest parking. A caution for Marriott members: selecting an arrival time through mobile app “check in” is treated by Delta as a request, not a confirmed early check-in. The room is only ready once they send a notification. I’ve never had another Marriott property make this clear to me. It’s mentioned somewhat in the app, and the front desk agents reviewed it with me, but not clearly. After you choose an arrival time, the app says “see you soon,” which makes it feel like the room will be ready. When we arrived early, I heard staff tell another guest that check-in is no earlier than 3pm. They did offer that person an upgrade to another room for a fee. They also don’t accept debit payments, only credit cards. We managed to check in with a US Debit/Visa card, but had to authorize it with the bank.