Toronto: The Neill Wycik Student Hotel May 20, 2008
Posted by Jelger in : Travel , add a commentI’m staying in this hotel now for two weeks, and I like it. This hotel is only open during the summer season, from May 4th until August 27th. During the college year it rents the rooms to students, in the summer in transforms into a budget hotel.
The place is not too expensive. 2008 rates: For a single room you pay $37,- a day (includes breakfast). If you’re backpacking Canada with a working visa, and you’re a member of SWAP, you pay $25,- a day. If you rent the room for a month (member of SWAP or not), you pay $540,- (no breakfast).
The hotel is great if you’re traveling Canada on a budget, and you’re tired of staying in hostel dorm rooms. Services include: laundry, housekeeping, lounge area with WiFi internet (no WiFi in rooms) and a TV (the lounge is pretty small considering the size of the building), breakfast, and a nice roofdeck view. See this video I’ve made for an overview of it all:
Before I moved to this hotel, I was staying in the Canadiana Backpackers Inn hostel, which is a really great place. But after a while you get tired of living out of your suitcase (and sharing a dorm with six people).
I’ve stayed in better hotels but I think that this one provides good value for your money, especially when you book for a month. So far the staff has been very friendly and helpful. The only downside is that when you’re staying in your room, it feels a bit like a prison room. Nonetheless: if your traveling on a budget I can certainly recommend this place.
The Toronto Islands May 19, 2008
Posted by Jelger in : Travel , 3 commentsAfter five weeks in Toronto, I decided to go and visit the Toronto Islands. They are a small group of islands just a fifteen minute ferry-fare away from downtown Toronto. The beauty of the islands actually surprised me. It’s a really nice car free place, and a good spot to escape busy downtown. Even on the sunny saturday afternoon I went there, it wasn’t ‘crowded’ at all.
You can rent a bicycle for around six dollars an hour. I can certainly recommend it, it gives you a quick overview of the islands, so you don’t have to walk for hours to find the nicest spot. Although there are some facilities on the islands like a small amusement park, a Pizza-Pizza, some washrooms, an old church, and renting companies, it’s not to commercial.
Well, enough said: below you can see the short video I’ve made about the Toronto Islands. It will give you a good impression what it’s all about.