I stayed Marriott Downtown at the CF Eaton Center in Toronto Time to return home with family at Big Smoke in Easter in April 2022.
It’s always a treat to meet a loved one, and I’ve found the arrangements to stay here satisfactory, though quality-problems. Still, the rooms were comfortable, even if the exterior of the hotel was plagued by the same brutal architecture that merged most of the city center.
Marriott Downtown at Toronto CF Eaton Center – Booking
For my three nights stay, I booked using a combination of Marriott Free Night Awards and Marriott Forest Fear Points.
Fortunately, I made my stay before the advent of dynamic pricing. I booked my first two nights using the Free Night Awards, and the next night at a fixed cost 35,000 points.
This property tends to cost between হার 375 in cash ratesBetween -450 in peak season and $ 230-300 in low season. Meanwhile, The cost of the forest fear point will be around Rs 35,000– 40,000 points in most calendar years, though that could change when the Marriott Forest Fear becomes fully operational in 2023.
Although I didn’t necessarily get the spectacular value from my Free Night Awards and Forest Fear points, especially when compared to our points valuation, I’m happy to avoid paying cash for this trip over the weekend.
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Marriott Downtown – Location at Toronto CF Eaton Center
Located on Jamjamat Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Marriott Downtown at the CF Eaton Center in Toronto lives up to its name. It is right next to the famous shopping mall, which surprisingly bears the name of Cadillac Fairview (CF) Eaton Center.
This proximity provides access to both New and Old City Halls as well as the iconic Nathan Phillips Square down the street.
The great advantage of this location is that the Eaton Center is just above the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Dandas subway station. You won’t be further away than a subway ride from an attractive restaurant, a show at the Mirvish Theater, or a shopping destination suitable for purses of any size.
I personally chose this hotel because I am the product of a divided family, and my parents live in different parts of downtown Toronto.
Since I wanted to make time to visit both halves of my ancestors, it was understandable to choose a hotel located at equal distances from both by any means of transportation: Uber, walking, and always uncertain TTC.
Marriott Downtown – Check-in at CF Eaton Center, Toronto
The hotel entrance I think is typical of mid-range Marriott: brightly lit, well staffed and crowded with guests arriving and departing.
The check-in process was smooth and fast, which was a pleasant surprise considering I visited a long weekend. I had been in this position before on Labor Day weekend, and the workers were positively condemned.
On this occasion, however, I was thanked for my loyalty as a Titanium Elite member, and at the same time my welcome convenience options were presented with a complimentary breakfast or point. After choosing breakfast, I was also informed about my access to the M Club, as well as being told that I had been upgraded to a one-bedroom King Suite on the 7th floor.
It was good that I didn’t have to work for “suit-talk” or otherwise my elite advantage.
There was also a seating area, where I often saw families waiting for their valet-parked cars, or later in the evening, who had gathered for their nights in town. I sat down and quickly collected drinks from the bar.
After check-in, I made my way to the elevator and to my room.
I later realized that there weren’t enough lifts. They were often full, or forced to stop on each floor, and sometimes had lineups or waits. Another pair of complementary elevators currently running four would be best.
Marriott Downtown at Toronto CF Eaton Center – One-Bedroom King Suite
I climbed into room 720, which was found next to the elevator on the 7th floor. The hallways themselves are a bit messy, a gray-on-gray color scheme that wasn’t as warm as the lobby wood panels.
The room was much larger than I expected, beautiful in a space-limited city like Toronto. The entrance hallway and common area alone seem to be enough for a suite-sized room.
The couch and coffee table themselves were quite spacious and the decor could not be called absolutely new, it was at least modern. Even better, it was in great repair and I didn’t notice any tired or beaten furniture.
The couches were also comfortable, and more than enough as a resting stop for a visiting friend.
There was also a large closet at the entrance, so their business clients could store a professional wardrobe. Inside was a bathrobe, which I refused to take with me.
The bedroom was also spacious and comfortable and came with more seating options in the form of an extra desk and extra table. Seriously, some parts of me wonder why this room type needs so much space to sit.
That being said, the bed was a plush king with ultra-soft linen. Dressers came with plenty of power outlets, always important in this electronic device-addicted era.
After wandering around for a while and seeing how spacious the room was, I realized that my suite had the dual function of being an accessibility-based room for people with disabilities. It’s nice to know that Marriott is making sure that they have premium room options for all their customers
The bathroom was similarly spacious and was full of accessibility-positive features in both the bathroom and the toilet.
As a “premium” hotel in the Marriott portfolio, I was somewhat surprised to see that the bathroom kits were delivered in squart bottles instead of travel-friendly individual units.
For me, it wasn’t really a deal-breaker, but certainly indicates the post-Covid cost-cutting that the industry has become accustomed to.
Marriott Downtown – M Club at CF Eaton Center, Toronto
The M Club The lounge at this hotel is small, and I mean Tiny.
It’s located downstairs right next to the main restaurant, and it’s very easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. It had some lazy business hours, only open until 8am–On weekdays it is 8pm, completely closed on Saturdays and open from 10am on Sundays–6 pm
Inside, I was similarly a bit overwhelmed, and even though the hotel was close to capacity, the M Club was dead when I nodded.
There was a traditional spread of snacks and chips, which was at least admirable. Any alcohol, such as North American custom, had an additional charge.
Conversely, non-alcoholic beverages, including San Pellegrino’s commonly-expensive individual bottles, were entirely commendable.
There was also a series of plush seating areas with stuffed chairs or hardwood tables, but the whole lounge still felt a bit sterile. Also, and it’s a small nitpick, the carpet from the rest of the hotel decor seems to be about 15 years old.
Marriott Downtown at Toronto CF Eaton Center – Breakfast
Hotel restaurants, Trios Bistro, M was located just across the club, and was similarly sufficient for nutritional purposes.
I don’t think anyone would choose food there as a first choice, within walking distance of Toronto’s plethora of high-quality culinary options, or when compared to choices covered via Uber Eats or similar platforms.
Although I went to my admired Titanium Elite breakfast buffet here, and I must say that it hit the spot, especially after an evening of heartfelt carousing.
The buffet had all the classics you would expect – Sausage, eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. There were even a handful of fresh pastries that morning, though I didn’t indulge.
The options were delicious, and the coffee was hot, so I thought I got decent prices from the elite breakfast. However, the usual rate for the buffet was around $ 32 plus 13% HST and gratuity, and I guess it was much higher due to the simplicity of the rent.
For that price, either order According to the diet The menu, which looked recognizably delicious, or the hooves at the local brunch joint.
Marriott Downtown at Toronto CF Eaton Center – Other facilities
In addition to the breakfast and buffet, the hotel has a decently beautiful fitness center on the second-highest floor, which I would have stopped off the previous evening.
Finally, the hotel has a small, one-desk business center on the ground floor, but at the rate they charge, I can advise you to simply ask the front desk to print your light.
The staff at the front desk was nice to accommodate my requests and did not charge me a penny for paper, ink or effort.
Conclusion
I’ll be back in downtown Marriott at the CF Eaton Center in Toronto because of its location, which isn’t really second. Above all, it arranged for a comfortable stay and had a friendly and professional staff who welcomed guests with elite dignity.
However, I can’t say that this hotel made me “feel good”. Although the Marriott Eaton Center was quite a comfortable experience, it is somewhat old and its price surpasses its usefulness as a decent full-service hotel.
In fact, unlike other limited-service Marriott properties available in Toronto for a charge of $ 250 or less, given the choice in price at this location, which can reach up to $ 400, I think I’ll hang my hat next time.
