Pod-Inn Hotel

The receptionist was very kind and took time to show me around and go over the rules. The kitchen is nicely equipped with dishes, cutlery, a microwave and dishwasher, and there is free Wi-Fi. Phone calls aren't allowed in the pod area, but there's a call room beside the common space, available first come, first served. The room with a desk is fairly spacious and has a locking drawer. I knew the location wasn't wheelchair accessible, but hadn't realized I'd need to haul my luggage up and down three steep flights. The women's shower room offers no privacy, though the separate washrooms do. There is no lockable storage area or actual pod, and there are no gender separated pod sections. Breakfast is supposedly included, but cream cheese and peanut butter seemed to be the only gluten-free options, so people with dietary restrictions may need to plan around that 🙄. After staying at capsule hotels in Montreal and London, UK, this fell short and didn't feel worth the price. A reminder to myself to read reviews before booking a pod at the POD Inn Hotel, Toronto.

The common room was decent, even pretty good, and the staff were nice. The sleeping setup, though, felt like a 50-person dorm made from home construction materials: drywall dividers, a cardboard door, and no ceiling. These aren't pods, more like Hong Kong ckicken wire cages than japanese pods. You hear everyone, and everyone hears you. One light switched on at 3 AM can brighten the whole place; one alarm at 5 AM wakes you up. People played Muslim prayers or Chinese videos without realizing others were trying to sleep, and in a dorm of 50, several people were doing things like that. For the price, I'd rather stay in a hostel with eight people in a room, where you can ask someone to turn down loud music. I understand they wanted to fit as many people as possible into a small space to keep it cheap, but there were better ways to arrange it. Everything is built from residential construction materials rather than commercial ones, so even though it looks fairly new, it is wearing out quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if it falls apart within six months. It was already in poor shape, especially the shower room. The showers were cramped and dirty, with nowhere private to undress. There were just two stalls side by side in one room. A beer can sat in one shower for all three days I was there.

I found a same-day room for $49 plus tax, and the location downtown is a real draw. It felt a little unsafe walking down the alley at first, though the property is next to a major police station. I'd return for some trips and might recommend it, but it won't suit everybody. Pack light: carrying a big suitcase up the stairs and storing it in the unsecured towel room wouldn't be fun. My upper pod had a ladder, a little cubby with a key lock, a Roku TV, a hook and a tiny shelf. I didn't use the TV. There's also an outlet, but it charged my phone only 29% in four hours. Pods are quiet areas, with shutters instead of locks; lights are generally meant to be off, though my pod had its own light in the 'Library' setting. The front entrance was extremely hard to open, at least in winter, because the building is pressurized and sits in a wind tunnel. That door isn't locked, while the second door locks after 11 pm and opens with a personal code. Staff were lovely and helped with check-in and questions. They provide basic sheets and towels, plus a basic continental breakfast. I didn't try the showers, but there are two stalls with large toiletries and a hair dryer; the bathrooms have three stalls. Rooms with desks are available too, though I didn't stay in one. It's a reasonable place to sleep for a city visit, a night out, or a tight budget. The entrance is at Simcoe Street, around the corner of University and Armoury and just off Dundas, near St. Patrick station on Line 1.

The team is kind, courteous, and quick to respond when you need something, and the pods are comfortable private spaces with a keyed cubby and a TV you can use with headphones. Cleanliness matters a lot to me, and cleaners came through several times a day. There's a well-stocked kitchen with a light breakfast, private gender separated showers and washrooms, study and call rooms, plus a common area. Right in the middle of downtown, it's affordable and a great fit for young professionals or travelers coming from abroad who want to experience the city. This place fills a real need in Toronto. I'll be back. Lovely stay!