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Hotel Review: Toronto's Fairmont Royal York

19/10/2013

 

There are a lot of beautiful hotels - so what sets Toronto's Fairmont Royal York apart from the competition?

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission

Toronto's Fairmont Royal York hotel: opulent lobby
Just walking into an opulent lobby in Toronto's Fairmont Royal York can make me feel relaxed at the end of a long travel day.
After a long journey and arduous travel, there is nothing like a beautiful hotel to greet you at the end of the day. There’s something so soothing about having your needs anticipated and indulging yourself in a special retreat. This is exactly what I had in mind when we splurged on a stay at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York in the heart of city. I’m a huge believer that you can find great value at all points of the price spectrum and, even though the Fairmont is a well-known luxury hotel, I wanted to examine it for value. After all, in the heart of Toronto, there are many beautiful hotels – what makes the Royal York worth the splurge?

Toronto's Fairmont Royal York isn't just beautiful - it's easy.

Sculpture Artwork Fairmont Royal York Toronto TurnipseedTravel.comThe artwork and architecture is stunning.
First and foremost, there was overwhelming convenience. The Royal York is located directly across the street from the Via Rail and subway station. To get off the train and simply walk across (or under!) the road was such a treat – no navigating public transit, no hailing a cab, no concerns about rush hour traffic. I believe time is as valuable as money and, with only a day to spend in Toronto for business and pleasure, it was fantastic to take transportation time and costs entirely out of the equation. Our happiness with the convenient location was tripled the next morning as we had a very early train departure that we could easily make by waking up just 30 minutes before departure. (If you're visiting Toronto for the first time, my friend Hannah has a superb post on what you can see and do in the city, plus great information on transportation options.)

Fairmont Royal York Hotel Bathroom TurnipseedTravel.com
The old fashioned, charming bathroom.
Hotel Room Fairmont Royal York Toronto TurnipseedTravel.com
The suite was very spacious.
Hotel Fairmont Royal York TurnipseedTravel.com
There were beautiful light fixtures.
The second thing I loved about the Royal York was the incredible architectural details and grandiose beauty of the lobby and public spaces – so much so that I’m planning a follow up photo essay on some of these features. When you walk through the lobby you feel like you are stepping back in time to a much more glamorous era and feel like you are a part of a classic experience. This is a hotel of royalty and of legends. When you are splurging on a nice hotel, it should FEEL like a splurge and be an indulgent experience in every way. The public areas of the Royal York certainly contribute to that feeling.
Fairmont Royal York Toronto Hotel TurnipseedTravel.com
The hotel's lobby is beautiful.
Of course, none of this matters if you don’t get a great night’s sleep. We stayed in a lovely one bedroom suite with a king sized bed and, yes, the sleep was solid! Despite the nearby construction on Front Street, we never heard a sound. My favourite features about the room were the old fashioned details, cut glass door knobs in the bathroom doors, and brass door plates with keyholes. These small details might be lost on someone for whom luxury means a sleek and minimalist décor, but I found them charming and attractive. Curiously, in our room the closet was very large (walk in sized) and the bathroom was on the small sized compared to other proportions of the room but this simply might be a quirk of the hotel’s layout and in no way affected our stay. 
Bedroom Fairmont Royal York Toronto TurnipseedTravel.com
A king sized bed with soft white linens is an absolute travel delight.
Like all Fairmont hotels, there is a daily charge for wi-fi unless you are members of their frequent guest program, the Fairmont President's Club, which we are. The Wi-Fi connection was fast and consistent. As coffee lovers, we were thrilled to see the room come equipped with a Keurig coffee maker and coffee pods with different roasts.

​Less thrilling was the minibar and counter top snack display attached to sensors. Even moving an item to look at it would result in a room charge. I can imagine that there are many busy families and business travelers who could very easily miss an incorrect charge and therefore this is one area to be very careful about. Those with small and curious children should think ahead and ask to have the minibar and snack items removed from the room before arrival.
Sitting room Fairmont Royal York Toronto Hotel TurnipseedTravel.com
The separate sitting room was such a nice feature so I could work in one room and Ryan could watch TV in another.
I would highly recommend the Fairmont Royal York for anyone with a limited amount of time in downtown Toronto, for whom the central location really matters, as well as for any traveler looking for a relaxing, well-appointed splurge. It would also be a great choice for those interested in history, architecture, or design. Finally, it would be a great choice for those with an interest in urban gardening, nature, and local food – the Royal York features a roof top, produce growing garden, as well as bee hives! I think this is the final detail that won me over. Beautiful hotel rooms might come and go, but heirloom vegetables and bees are a honey of a deal! 

(PS: You can book with our affiliate links - your price stays the same but you support the blog in the process. You can find this hotel on Expedia.com)

As always, I welcome and encourage your comments. Do you have a favourite hotel you turn to when you want to treat yourself?

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My hotel room was provided at a reduced media rate. This did not affect my review and all opinions remain my own.
Jennifer link
20/10/2013 12:13:28 pm

I agree that location is an important factor when choosing a hotel. You don't want to spend all your time traveling to attractions. Plus, transportation costs can add up quickly!

Vanessa Chiasson
20/10/2013 01:28:29 pm

The transportation lesson is one I learned the hard way. I was at a conference in Toronto in May and decided I'd save a bit of money by staying in a hotel that, while still downtown, wasn't attached to the conference center. It was only a 25 minute walk (just two subway stops), but I was so busy I rarely walked beyond the first day - I was just too busy and time was too tight. So I ended up taking cabs - sometimes with other people, sometimes on my own. Each individual ride was only a few dollars but I'm sure it easily added up to $20 a day, plus all the time lost. It wasn't worth it just to save a little on the hotel, especially when I was so busy.

Anthony
8/8/2021 06:32:58 pm

I saw the lobby in the movie "Polar" and thought it was beautiful (it was portrayed as the Minsk Hotel in the movie). Alas in 2019, renovations to the hotel have gotten rid of the clock and spiral staircase, replacing it with a bar topped by a clock. It looks less classic and less iconic now.

Vanessa
9/8/2021 10:58:47 am

Oh, that makes me sad! I love that old look. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased in my area, I will hopefully get back there soon to check out for myself in person.


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