Stay & Play
Alt Hotel Toronto Pearson Airport –
Handy, High-Tech, and Homey
by Susan Campbell
On a recent December trip to Aruba, it made more sense to fly via Toronto for much better fares, even if that meant flying from Montreal first and overnighting. The key was finding a hotel close to the airport for a very early morning connection that wouldn’t break the bank. I did.
Alt Hotel Toronto Pearson Airport was recommended by fellow travel writers, but finding it wasn’t as easy as I thought. It’s listed as on the rail line of the terminal trains, but the entrance is not connected directly to the airport. Due to a lack of signage, I ended up doing the free Terminal Link loop twice until someone told me to get off at Viscount Station, take the escalator down, and go outside. Once I did, it was impossible to miss the gleaming tower of Alt Hotel waiting a few steps away.
I’d arrived late at night, cold and tired, and was looking forward to hunkering down for a good night’s sleep before my early departure. But the lobby lounge fireplace was so warm and enticing, and the sight and aroma of wood-fired pizza beckoning me from behind the bar of their Altcetera Café was too much to resist. I decided to refuel there with a hot slice and a cold beer, and the staff and fellow travelers were so friendly, I tarried far longer than planned. The café is open 24/7 with a stand alone mini-market with fresh top-quality meals to-go, and they serve full hot breakfast, too. Finally, I was off to check out my room.
This Alt Hotel has a collection of 153 rooms spanning 14 floors. Not overly spacious by design, the modular concept is out to optimize every nook and cranny in a sleek, no-nonsense way while still providing every possible convenience. The initial austerity is buffered by one big, color pop of signature art, and the floor-to-ceiling windows add an extra illusion of space. My room was on the 12th floor corner with a great view of the bustling airport below, but I found it sound-proofed enough that the jet noise didn’t disturb my sleep. And what a slumber it was!
Of all the beds I’ve experienced in hotels around the world, this was one of the most comfortable ones I’d ever encountered. They didn’t scrimp on quality when it comes to bedding. Other amenities include coffee nooks, plush robes, irons, hair dryers, and quality bath amenities, and every bathroom sports a large rain shower cubicle. Large, HD TVs with Chromecast and tons of places to charge your tech are also a given. Alt Hotels also offer the added benefit of flexible check-out times which is a huge plus, and free powerful WIFI, a 24/7 fitness centre, and conference spaces also add to the allure for business travelers. I really enjoyed my brief but sweet stay at this brand, and I will seek them out again.
Alt Hotels are owned by the Germain Group, and you’ll find them in Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal, Brossard, Halifax, St. John’s, Saskatoon, and Calgary.
