Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Toronto Downtown

There was a 24-hour coffee station in the lobby, which was a welcome extra, and the breakfast was the usual hotel spread. The hotel is fairly small, with just 10 floors plus underground parking, so the rooms feel roomy. Ours was clean, though very dim even with every light on, and the window looked straight into the apartment building next door. Getting in and out was easy, under five minutes each time, and the staff were friendly. Jarvis is close by, and Union Station is nearby, but I wouldn't call it walkable. The elevators are tiny, too small for a wheelchair. The beds were very firm and the pillows too soft. Breakfast wasn't fancy, and most of it was ordinary, though there were waffles. I picked up an apple and it was rotten, so I'm not sure how often the fruit gets checked. We didn't spend much time there, and mostly enjoyed the stay despite those small annoyances.

The location is nice, and the hotel itself was good. Parking cost $200 for four nights, which is extremely expensive, though there are cheaper options nearby. We stayed four nights and were offered daily housekeeping, but our room was cleaned only once. Breakfast quality was disappointing, especially for a Hilton hotel.

The biggest problem was access. There are only two very small elevators, plus stairs from the garage to the elevators and again from the elevators to the lobby. That makes things difficult with a heavy suitcase, and worse if you have trouble getting around. The location is great, but the rooms are average and the service was fine. Overall, a pretty mediocre hotel.

The bed was comfortable, the room surfaces and linens looked very clean, and it was quiet overnight. The heating and cooling fan ran steadily. Breakfast had a good selection, and it changed from one day to the next. Staff smiled, greeted me, and called a taxi promptly when I asked. There's a large playground across the road, though I didn't feel comfortable walking around the area. The floors were filthy. I wore light socks on our second day, and after taking off only my clean new shoes in the room, they were nearly black. Housekeeping didn't come by to remove the full garbage and recycling, which had piled up after the first day's shopping and food. The entry stairwell smelled strongly of urine when we arrived, though that was fixed overnight. I booked a king bed for myself and my six-year-old son four months ahead. On arrival they tried to move us to two queens with a better view. I booked a king, and anything smaller wasn't an upgrade. The stay was $1,000 for two nights, Monday and Tuesday, including taxes and fees. I didn't dispute it at checkout because my son was impatient and we were switching hotels. At 10 p.m., when I went outside to meet an Uber Eats delivery, a sex worker rushed toward me, then turned around when she saw I was a woman. She lingered less than 10 feet from the bottom of the entrance stairs. I was pretty disappointed with the stay.