Chelsea Hotel, Toronto – Family Friendly, Yet Classy Accommodations in The Heart of Downtown

Last month my family and I were treated to a night at the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. This lovely oasis is the perfect family friendly place to stay and is Canada’s largest hotel with close to 1,600 contemporary guestrooms and suites.  Those who are travelling to Toronto for business or for pleasure will find just what they need at the Chelsea with it’s close proximity to the subway system and tons of great shopping and dining experiences.

When I plan to spend time at a hotel the first thing I look for is things to keep my kiddos happy. And busy. And active.  Let’s face it, a crabby child who has not slept well does not typically translate into a happy hotel guest, so a good night sleep is always in order. The best way to achieve that is to keep ’em busy.   I was really pleased to see that the Chelsea quite literally has something for every age group and they really make an effort to keep the little ones happy. Which in turn makes the big ones happy too.

The Family Fun Zone is located on the second floor of the Chelsea Hotel and offers the following:

• Heated indoor family pool with a 130 foot, four story corkscrew waterslide that goes outside of the building
• Hot tub
• Kid Centre (with tons of arts and crafts, games etc..)
• Onsite daycare in the Kid Centre (for a fee)
• Strollers available for guest use
• The Club 33 Teen Lounge (with arcade games, two flat screens TVs, Foosball, pool table and more)

The first thing my two wanted to do after we had checked in was hit the pool! I knew this was coming so we suited up and headed down. The pool area is wonderfully decorated, with lots of seating and a lifeguard on duty. Sad to say not all hotels will have a lifeguard on duty, so this is a definite plus in my book. There were plenty of neon green towels on hand for after your swim and we were allowed to take them back to the room. While I spent most of my time in the hot tub, my husband was on slide duty. The corkscrew waterslide was a hit! My son must have gone down it about fifty times and each time elicited a squeal of delight from him. We spent several hours at the pool and since it is open fairly late we did not feel rushed to leave.

Right next door to the pool is the Kid Centre and while we did not spend much time there, several other people did. It is brightly decorated with tons of art work and child friendly characters on the walls.  There was no end to the amount of games, toys and crafts to keep your child busy.  The next time we visit the Chelsea I want to take advantage of their onsite daycare service. My hubby and I could have a romantic dinner out for a couple of hours and feel comfortable knowing that the kiddos are being entertained and well taken care of.

We did step into the Club 33 Teen Lounge for a bit. My son, while not a teen, had fun playing on the Xbox with his dad and my daughter and I checked out the arcade games.  For families travelling with tweens and teens this place will be a much appreciated haven for our hormone charged youth. Even though we had the place to ourselves you could see how popular a place it was. I like the idea that it was close to the pool and Kid Centre so that your whole family could be enjoying themselves, while allowing a little space for those that need it.

                Check-in at the Chelsea went fairly quickly despite being very busy. Toronto always seems to have something going on and I was told the hotel was pretty much at capacity. I would never have guessed that as the staff was always polite and had time to answer my questions. I never felt rushed. The atmosphere was very calm and organized. I can see why the airlines send their flight crews to the Chelsea for accommodations. You are instantly made to feel at home.

Our room was a standard two double-bed room, but was plenty big and well appointed. The bathrooms were updated, with plenty of towels and toiletries. We had a balcony that, while not having the best view, did offer us a chance for fresh air and a bit of entertainment (that means there was a certain type of “club” across the street, LOL). My husband had fun tweeting that one out. The beds were really comfy and we had no problem getting extra pillows. I was pleasantly surprised that the Chelsea Hotel offers a turn down service! We happened to be in the room when our maid knocked at the door so I declined, but she handed over bottled water, a little bag of ice and some chocolates to ease our way into Dream Land.  I loved this extra touch!

               

            

Speaking of extra touches, this blogger was super excited to receive a special delivery shortly after we checked in.  The wonderful hosts at the Chelsea had this sweet plate to offer with some treats for the kids. They were thrilled with their new furry friends and their mama was pretty pleased too. ♥

Restaurants can be touch and go no matter where you vacation, but the nice thing about the Chelsea was the options. And they have several. Four, in fact and we checked them all out. Ultimately we decided to dine in the Market Garden, for both dinner and breakfast.  The space, having been newly renovated, is bright and open with wonderful stations where you can order your meal and then watch it be prepared. The Chelsea Hotel has great offers for families which help to keep your food budget a bit more manageable. For example, kids under six who eat from the children’s menu will dine for free with the purchase of an adult meal. For downtown Toronto that is a pretty excellent deal! 

 

Our dinners were made to order and I thoroughly enjoyed the pasta.  The portions were huge and there was plenty of room to dine, with lots of tables.  There is a lovely outdoor patio as well and many guests enjoyed having their breakfast there the next day. We choose to go with the Market Garden’s breakfast buffet and we were not disappointed. Lots of items to choose from and the food was all hot.  I always check out the food allergy friendly options ahead of time because of William’s allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. The Chelsea was no different from most places in that you are encouraged to speak to a chef before having a fresh meal prepared.  This worked out great for us and William loved the specially prepared chocolate chip pancakes and bacon that were made to order just for him. A safe and happy William equals happy and relieved parents. My only issue with the food was the lack of dessert options for William.  We were able to purchase a pre-packaged cookie, but that was it.  We always take a safe snack bag with us, but it breaks my heart a little for a child to be faced with a wall of candy or cakes and not be able to have a treat.  

The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has a special treat for those travelling without kids. Up on Deck 27 you will find the Pool and Fitness Centre, for adults only. It is beautiful! We were able to take little tour through and the pool and spa are gorgeous! There is a seasonal sundeck that boasts a stunning panoramic view of downtown that is breathtaking! I could hang out up there all day! 

                

                                                         

The Chelsea has so much to offer that is it impossible to share it all  here. From special Birthday Parties and treats to Camp Chelsea for those on school breaks, the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto truly knows how to entertain families and keep them coming back for more. This hotel is truly a classy establishment in the heart of Toronto.

Do you have plans to visit Toronto, Ontario this summer? Make sure you check out the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto if you do. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

FT&PD

Suz