Kimpton Saint George Hotel By IHG

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 :(

Good

Pleasant

Liked: Staff were good, location was good. Restaurant was average
Disliked: Too many fries with all the food. More variety including non-burger non fried chips options

Exceptional

Liked: I stayed here last year and liked it so much that I booked it again. It's comfortable and in a convenient location for getting around the city by public transportation as well as finding things that you might need close by. Parking was accessible in the building and there are a variety of restaurants in the surrounding area. The University of Toronto is spread out on the neighboring streets, and it feel safe.

Superb

Selected hotel due to it's...

Exceptional

A nice comfortable hotel with...

Liked: The room was large and very clean, nice furniture, was our 5th time in Toronto to visit our son at U of T and for the first time we found a right balance between comfort and price , we will come back
Disliked: Limited amenities but not much to say

Exceptional

Superb