Kimpton Saint George Hotel, Toronto

Liked: Location near University of Toronto.
Disliked: POOR front desk service - I was completely lost getting to the hotel. I called for directions on how to take public transit from the airport. The hotel staff person was very abrupt and told me there is no subway from the airport, end of conversation - NO other assistance given. So then I found out myself that I could take a bus, then a subway to get close to the hotel. I got off the subway and did not know how to reach the hotel. I called the hotel again and this time the front desk guy who answered (Stefan) told me the hotel was right there, and to walk along Bloor AWAY from the subway station. So I walked several blocks along Bloor and did not see the hotel! I knew I'd gone too far after being told the hotel was 'right there'! So then I called the hotel a third time and a different front desk guy told me to walk the other direction back past the St.George subway station. I had been searching for the hotel for an hour and half by that point since leaving the airport by bus. Extremely inconvenient after flying all night on a red eye flight and not being adjusted to the extreme, cold weather. I was wandering about in minus 12 with windchill, searching for the hotel due to the crappy directions provided by three different front desk staff! I finally got there and it was too early in the a.m. for check in so I asked to store my bag and they gave me a tag and told me to pile it with a bunch of other bags on the floor until they got around to loading them in the storage closet. Like how secure is that!? :0 The front desk staff (Stefan again) then gave me imprecise directions to the building I needed to get to at U of T (he consulted with another staff and still couldn't get it right!), so I ended up on a longer route, again in the freezing windchill, before a stranger I asked on the street showed me the right way! So then I got back to the hotel by 1:00 and they gave me an early check in, in a cramped room facing an alley with blaring jackhammers - construction work directly outside my window! So I called the front desk and they were aware of the noise (so why did they not bother to warn me at check in!) but said they could not get information on how long it would last, as it was on U. of T. property. But they thought the work began at 7:30 each morning! OMG, please may I switch rooms?! They said I could switch but a room would not be available until after 3 pm?! - that would mean NO sleep to recover from my red eye flight. By that point, enough was enough and I had to really scramble to find an alternate hotel (NOTHING in that area in a comparable price range!). And the front desk made me call the booking agency myself to get out of my pre-paid reservation for all 3 nights I had booked, and have me ask the booking agent to call the hotel. They could have at least offered to call on my behalf to get my refund. I did get a refund, thankfully! But what a hassle the whole experience was. The other issue I had was that I was expecting there to be a pool and hot tub per the booking agency's information, but get this! - the hotel only provides 'pool access' to a facility down the street which would have meant walking outside in the freezing cold windchill, once again, to get there! Thanks, but no thanks. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL which is very unfortunate because it is very close to U. of T., and there is nothing nearby for a comparable price :(

Superb

Good

Exceptional

Good

Disliked: The AC blew directly on the bed, it was a torture treatment:/

Cool boutique hotel

Liked: Fantastic boutique hotel in the perfect location at the best value
Disliked: Not enough front door staff

Exceptional

Pleasant

Liked: The staff was nice and helpful and the location is convenient because its in the center of downtown.
Disliked: When I entered the room there was food on the floor and the bathroom products were all used from previous customers. The window was facing an alley which you could see into other builds because they are so close together which makes it awkward.

Okay

Liked: Nice staff and very helpful with parking issues.
Disliked: The bathroom was not that clean and the products were used from previous hotel customers. Food was on the floor from other customers. The window view was facing other buildings in an alley and you could see into buildings which was awkward.