Stay Report: Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West/Mississauga (Canada, June 2014)

Stay Report: Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

photo courtesy of HGI

I was traveling to Toronto for a conference, which was housed near the airport, so was looking for a hotel close by.  By American standards, Canadian hotels can be quite expensive so I decided to use points to book the hotel.  Based on reviews, location, and points availability, I decided on the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West located in Mississauga.  I have stayed at Hilton Garden Inn’s before so knew of their product – they provide nice and clean rooms with free wifi but no complimentary breakfast.

The hotel was easy to book through the HGI website, and through my website I was able to manage my reservation and add preferences (as we were arriving late at night).  The hotel is located near the airport, about a 15 minute drive away, in an office area.  As it is mostly a business area, there are few amenities within walking distance; there are many amenities within a 5-10 drive but that would require a car.  While a bit secluded, the location does provide peace and quiet at night for a restful sleep.  The hotel does provide complimentary parking and has ample parking spaces available. 

I arrived late night at the hotel and was greeted as I entered the hotel.  The lobby was nice and contained the check-in desks, the restaurant/bar, the business center, and nice sitting areas.  Check-in was quick and efficient, and we were given a welcome bag of a bottle of water, chips, and chocolate bar (a very nice touch).  An explanation of the amenities of the hotel was not provided, but in the room key packet there was a sheet detailing all the amenities of the hotel and services provided (very detailed list, but I wish hotel staff would’ve pointed it out during check-in).

photo courtesy of HGI

I had booked a room with 2 double beds and the room was a good size, not overly spacious but not cramped.  As you entered, on the right was the bathroom while on the left was the closet with a safe, an iron, and an ironing board.  The bathroom was standard HGI and was a nice a size.  This bathroom had been upgraded so it had a nice sink, a toilet, and a bathtub; it did not have PeterThomasRoth products but instead had Neutrogena products. 

Further into the room, on the left was a little stand that contained a fridge on the bottom, the coffee maker in the middle, and a microwave on top.  This is a nice and convenient addition to the hotel.  Continuing on the left hand side was a chest with drawers on the bottom and a TV on top followed by a desk.  Across from these, on the right-hand side of the wall, were the 2 double beds.  The beds and pillows were nice and comfortable, and the bed had been upgraded so you could adjust the firmness to your liking.  The beds were relaxing and provided a good night’s rest.  In between the beds was a night stand, and next to the bed was a window that, although did not provide great views, did provide natural light into the room.  Overall, the room was spacious and contained a lot of amenities, but it did not feel congested at all.  There were also many available throughout the room, and the lamp also contained plugs and ports to provide additional outlets (a plus in today's digital world).  

The hotel featured a lot of the standard HGI facilities including a pool, not a big pool but a decent size; a decent size gym; a laundry room; a business center with computers and printer (you could print directly from your room or from the business center); complimentary wifi that was a decent speed; a convenience store to purchase snacks or items you forgot; as well as a restaurant/bar that served breakfast, lunch, and dinner (although not complimentary unless that is the rate you booked).  In addition to all this, a nice touch the hotel provided were complimentary snacks in the morning and evening.  In the morning, complimentary coffee and apples were provided while in the evening complimentary oat squares (a nice healthy touch) were provided.

photo courtesy of HGI

Another facility of the hotel was the free and ample parking.  The hotel’s location is good if you have a car, and they provide a lot of free parking spaces.  If you do need public transport options, there is a bus stand located across the street from the hotel and this bus connects with the subway system (about a 25m ride).  The hotel staff were somewhat knowledgeable about the transportation access, some more knowledgeable than others; this is one thing I would recommend, that hotel staff be knowledgeable about transportation access. 

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.  The rooms were spacious and updated, the hotel has a lot of facilities, and the service was good.  A nice security touch was that the back door, which was directly located next to the elevators, needed a key to enter -- and this key was needed all the time! At most hotels, the key is only needed at night, meaning anyone can enter the hotel. Having key access all the time was a nice security touch.  These small touches make the stay memorable and I would recommend the hotel, as long as you have a car.