Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites

Rooms and decor

Walk into the lobby at Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites for the first time and it feels like stepping back to the 1980s–90s American resort hotels families used to stay at as kids — high ceilings, brass lamps, warm floral carpet, and staff who've worked here long enough to recognize the regulars. It's a multi-storey building set on a rise above the Don Valley ravine on the North York side, above downtown Toronto, and being a big hotel of more than 350 rooms shapes the whole feel — including the large suites that are the main draw. Those suites are clearly bigger than the in-city standard, with a sitting area separate from the beds, a sofa bed in some for an easy extra place for kids to sleep, and a large bathroom so the family can get ready to head out together without elbowing for space. The look isn't minimalist or modern — it's classic and warm, with period-style curtains, peach wallpaper, and light wood furniture. If you like a hotel that looks like it stepped out of Home Alone or a 1990s family sitcom, you'll probably enjoy this kind of charm. Rooms facing the Don Valley side look out over leafy greenery and are clearly quieter than the ones along the main road.

Food and amenities

If one thing makes parents pick this place year after year, it's the three-pool complex you won't find at a comparable price downtown. The first is the indoor pool, with a high arched ceiling that guests photograph so often it's become a calling card — open year-round, warm and comfortable, so kids can swim right through a sub-zero Toronto winter. The second is the outdoor pool, open only during the Canadian summer (roughly July–August), with an open deck for sunbathing and loungers around the water and a lively resort feel in warm weather. The third is the separate kids' pool, shallow enough for little ones to wade safely without parents hovering the whole time. There's an indoor gym open 24 hours for mom and dad after the kids are asleep, and an in-house restaurant serving a buffet breakfast every morning — familiar plates of fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, fruit, kids' cereal, and coffee. It's not fancy 5-star fare, but it's complete and filling, and easy on picky young stomachs. For dinner there's an in-house sports bar for families too tired to drive out, or you can head 5–10 minutes to the Don Mills area, which has a food court and a range of restaurants.

Location and getting there

This hotel's location is squarely "the side for families with a car." It sits right by the on-ramp to the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), the main north–south expressway through Toronto, which makes connections very easy. The closest highlight for a kids' trip is Ontario Science Centre, a renowned science museum with hands-on exhibits to fill a whole day, just a 5-minute drive away. For an animal day, the Toronto Zoo on the Scarborough side — one of the largest in Canada — is about 20 minutes north up the DVP. Heading into the city centre for the CN Tower, Eaton Centre, or the Distillery District takes around 20–25 minutes outside rush hour (figure 35–45 minutes at peak, so leave buffer). The thing to understand is that the hotel isn't near a subway station — without your own car you'll ride a TTC bus out to the Line 1 subway at Eglinton, or take an Uber each time, which makes a car-free trip less convenient than staying in the city. But for a family with a rental, this is the spot that fits best — easy driving, free parking, and plenty of room for the kids to play at the hotel.

Things to know before booking

Friend to friend, to make the call easier — the first thing reviews mention most is the dated decor. Plenty of the hotel still runs on 1990s–2000s furniture and carpet, and some bathrooms have a bit of built-up staining and old taps. If you're expecting a modern 4–5-star boutique room, you'll be let down here. But viewed as a "classic, genuinely functional family hotel," it's fine for the price. The second point is the out-of-downtown location — it's hard work without your own car, since you'll need to budget travel time and Uber fares into the city every day. Families planning to be at the CN Tower and downtown most of the trip without a car may do better staying right by the subway. The third is that the outdoor pool only runs in summer — come in spring, fall, or winter and you're down to the two indoor pools. And finally, the Tripadvisor score of 3.9/5 is fairly split — families who love it and return every year, and solo travellers who find it old and far. The target here is clear: families with a car on a kids' trip, not a solo traveller who wants to walk the city.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews from family guests, Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites is the best fit for families with toddler-to-grade-school kids who've rented a car to see Toronto and want a trip that mixes Science Centre and Zoo days with downtime at a hotel where the kids have things to do. The three pools are the ace almost no comparable hotel nearby can match, plus the roomy suites and free parking genuinely trim the budget. But if you're a couple after a romantic, upscale in-city feel, a backpacker who'll ride the subway everywhere, or someone expecting modern boutique rooms, this isn't your answer. Overall we give it 7.8/10 — a strong pick for science-and-animal family trips where you've got a car and value space over a brand-new room.