.
There are entire books, magazines, websites and tv shows devoted to the discussion about food in Toronto, so we won’t try to duplicate their excellent efforts here. Some good websites for restaurant ideas and advice are:
http://www.torontolife.com/ (also a magazine, Toronto Life; a recommended resource)
http://www.chowhound.com/
http://www.nowtoronto.com/
http://www.toronto.com/
Some good areas for restaurants are:
Little Italy – Italian (of course!)
Chinatown – Chinese and Vietnamese
King Street West – modern fusion
Richmond Hill – Chinese food
Yorkville – upscale modern fusion
Bloor West - varied, generally good cheap eats near Toronto University
Yonge and Eglington – varied and generally very good
Tipping
Tipping for services (such as restaurants, taxis, pubs - yes, even for a beer!) is generally 10%-15% with 15% reserved for really good service. Be sure to calculate the tip on the pre-tax amount, and not the total bill (which will include the tax amount). A good general rule of thumb is to tip the value of the taxes (note that GST + PST is a total of 12%).
As visitors, you’ll generally be tolerated for leaving a small tip if you so choose.
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Car Rental
.
There are a variety of car rental agencies in Toronto, with rentals ranging from 1 day to several months. John’s favorite agencies are:
http://www.hertz.ca/
http://www.alamo.ca/
Both Hertz and Alamo have consistently good prices and good locations throughout the downtown. Other car rental companies are:
http://www.enterpriserentacar.ca/
http://www.budget.ca/
http://www.thrifty.com/
At most car rental companies, you can reserve a car on-line or on the phone. If in doubt about whether you need a car, reserve one anyways as there is no cost to reserve. If you don’t need it, just call to cancel. No worries.
There are a variety of car rental agencies in Toronto, with rentals ranging from 1 day to several months. John’s favorite agencies are:
http://www.hertz.ca/
http://www.alamo.ca/
Both Hertz and Alamo have consistently good prices and good locations throughout the downtown. Other car rental companies are:
http://www.enterpriserentacar.ca/
http://www.budget.ca/
http://www.thrifty.com/
At most car rental companies, you can reserve a car on-line or on the phone. If in doubt about whether you need a car, reserve one anyways as there is no cost to reserve. If you don’t need it, just call to cancel. No worries.
Sightseeing Outside Toronto
.
Western Canada: For those interested in visiting Vancouver, or the famous Rocky Mountains (Rockies), flights can be arranged through carriers such as WestJet (discount airline), Air Canada or Jazz (subsidiary of AirCanada). Flights are between 4 ½ to 5 hours to Vancouver. Flights to Calgary will be slightly less. You can access the Rockies from either Vancouver or Calgary. There is a 3 hour time zone difference between Toronto and Vancouver.
Ottawa/Montreal: A trip to Ottawa and/or Montreal would be a great getaway for a few days. You can either take the train (VIA Rail. 4 hours) or drive there yourself. Drive to Ottawa will be less than 5 hours, and drive to Montreal will be approximately 6-7 hours.
Buffalo, USA: While not in Canada, Buffalo offers some great shopping and outlet malls.
New York, New York, USA: Flights to New York City are approximately 2 hours from Toronto. A variety of Canadian and American airlines offer direct flights. A few website to check flight offers are:
http://www.travelocity.ca/
http://www.expedia.ca/
http://www.selloffvacations.com/
Western Canada: For those interested in visiting Vancouver, or the famous Rocky Mountains (Rockies), flights can be arranged through carriers such as WestJet (discount airline), Air Canada or Jazz (subsidiary of AirCanada). Flights are between 4 ½ to 5 hours to Vancouver. Flights to Calgary will be slightly less. You can access the Rockies from either Vancouver or Calgary. There is a 3 hour time zone difference between Toronto and Vancouver.
Ottawa/Montreal: A trip to Ottawa and/or Montreal would be a great getaway for a few days. You can either take the train (VIA Rail. 4 hours) or drive there yourself. Drive to Ottawa will be less than 5 hours, and drive to Montreal will be approximately 6-7 hours.
Buffalo, USA: While not in Canada, Buffalo offers some great shopping and outlet malls.
New York, New York, USA: Flights to New York City are approximately 2 hours from Toronto. A variety of Canadian and American airlines offer direct flights. A few website to check flight offers are:
http://www.travelocity.ca/
http://www.expedia.ca/
http://www.selloffvacations.com/
Shopping
.
Sales Tax (aka VAT): As you are shopping, keep in mind that the VAT is not included in the advertised price. There are two taxes that will be applicable to you: the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Provincial Sales Tax (PST). The GST is a national tax, while the PST is for the province of Ontario only.
The GST is 5%, and the PST is 8%.
Yorkville: The Yorkville area is premier shopping areas in Toronto. Many international brands have their Canadian flagship stores here. There are also a variety of restaurants, cafes and nighclubs in the area.
http://www.bloor-yorkville.com/
Yorkdale: Yorkdale is one of the larger shopping complexes in Toronto. Located in Vaughn, there are over 240 stores and services. Yorkdale is directly accessible on the subway line (University line).
http://www.yorkdale.com/
Eaton Centre: Located in the heart of the downtown, the Eaton Centre is home to a variety of
Bloor Street
Queen Street West
Yonge Street
Yonge and Eglington
Sales Tax (aka VAT): As you are shopping, keep in mind that the VAT is not included in the advertised price. There are two taxes that will be applicable to you: the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Provincial Sales Tax (PST). The GST is a national tax, while the PST is for the province of Ontario only.
The GST is 5%, and the PST is 8%.
Yorkville: The Yorkville area is premier shopping areas in Toronto. Many international brands have their Canadian flagship stores here. There are also a variety of restaurants, cafes and nighclubs in the area.
http://www.bloor-yorkville.com/
Yorkdale: Yorkdale is one of the larger shopping complexes in Toronto. Located in Vaughn, there are over 240 stores and services. Yorkdale is directly accessible on the subway line (University line).
http://www.yorkdale.com/
Eaton Centre: Located in the heart of the downtown, the Eaton Centre is home to a variety of
Bloor Street
Queen Street West
Yonge Street
Yonge and Eglington
Niagara on the Lake
.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Canada's premier wine growing regions. The region is world famous for the Ice Wine which is harvested during the coldest of winter nights in January or February. Located between Niagara Falls and Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake is an excellent day trip from Toronto. You probably have enough time to take in 3 or 4 wineries, depending on how long you wish to stay at each winery and whether you want to take the winery tour. More information on the region can be found at:
Iniskillin (recommended) Inniskillin Icewine is well renowned as the world leader in Icewine. It is sold in over 59 countries and is the #1 distributed wine in Global Travel Retail. The tour is well worth the money. Check for opening and closing times at the following website:
Pellier Estates: The winery offers an Icewine & food matching course at $20.00 per person. Great value.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Canada's premier wine growing regions. The region is world famous for the Ice Wine which is harvested during the coldest of winter nights in January or February. Located between Niagara Falls and Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake is an excellent day trip from Toronto. You probably have enough time to take in 3 or 4 wineries, depending on how long you wish to stay at each winery and whether you want to take the winery tour. More information on the region can be found at:Below are three popular destination for most pilgrimages to the region:
Iniskillin (recommended) Inniskillin Icewine is well renowned as the world leader in Icewine. It is sold in over 59 countries and is the #1 distributed wine in Global Travel Retail. The tour is well worth the money. Check for opening and closing times at the following website:
Jackson Triggs (recommended): One of the top wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Jackson Triggs was opened in 2001. The Jackson-Triggs winery is a state-of-the-art winemaking facility with 47,000 square feet of production operations, hospitality centre, and executive office space. The winery is open for tours year round. The winery is worth seeing both for its modern equipment and its 1,700 barrel cellar. The tour is well worth the money.
Pellier Estates: The winery offers an Icewine & food matching course at $20.00 per person. Great value.
Niagara on the Lake Wine Tour: For those who want to take a guided tour through the wine region, this tour leaves from the main village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. A 3 hours tour will cost $60 per person. For more details, please see the link:
Niagara Falls
.Fallsview Casino (recommended)
There are two casinos in Niagara Falls, with the Fallsview Casino being the larger of the two. If you only have time for one casino, this would be your best choice.
Casino Niagara
The smaller of the two, but still a fun time to be had by all. Minimum table bets are lower than at the Fallsview.
http://casinoniagara.com/Default.aspx
Maid of the Mist (recommended)A trip to Niagara Falls would not be complete without a trip aboard the legendary Maid of the Mist. Your boat will take you beneath the falls itself. Adults fares are about $14, and children (6-12 years) is about $9. Check website for more information and updated prices:
Adventure Pass
A pay-one-price (40$) access to the top 4 attractions in Niagra Falls:
- Maid of the Mist http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/maidmist.php
- Journey Behind the Falls http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/behindthefalls.php
- White Water Walk http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/whitewater.php
- Niagara's Fury http://www.niagarasfury.com/
- People Mover Bus
http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/discountpass.php
Outlet Mall
There is an outlet mall close to Niagara Falls, with over 40 stores. For those who are coming from the UK, best to avoid this one as you're sure to be disappointed with the selection.
http://www.canadaoneoutlets.com/
Marine Land
Not too far from Niagara Falls is a marine and entertainment park, Marine Land. I’ve been once before with my niece and nephew and they had a great time. It’s a ‘pay-one-price’ entry and all the rides and attractions are free. The only catch is that you have to line up for everything! Marine Land will take the whole day to enjoy.Toronto Sightseeing
Things to Do In and Around TorontoCN Tower (recommended): Once the tallest building in the world, the CN Tower still offers extraordinary views of the Toronto skyline, and is a must-see for visitors. On a clear day, the view from the top extends as far as Niagara Falls.
http://www.cntower.com/St. Laurence Market (recommended): Once housing city hall, this Victorian building is surrounded by other historically significant architectural gems. A great place to visit for local fresh produce, but also a great lunch stop.
- Tues-Thurs 8 a.m.-6 p.m
- Fridays 8 a.m.-7 p.m
- Tues-Thurs 8 a.m.-6 p.m
- Fridays 8 a.m.-7 p.m
- Saturdays 5 a.m.-5 p.m
http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/
Kensington Market (recommended): Blink and you could seriously miss Kensington Market. Directly adjacent to the Downtown Chinatown, Kensington Market is a tight labirynth of streets between Dundas and College Street. Once the home of Toronto's Jewish community, Kensington Market is now home to an ecclectic mix of south american dry goods stores, cheese shops, and some of the trendiest vintage shops that Toronto has to offer. You could very easily see Chinatown and Kensington market in the same morning or afternoon.
http://www.kensington-market.ca/
Chinatown (downtown): With the second largest Chinese community in Canada, Toronto is said to have many 'Chinatowns' with the downtown location, centred around Dundas Street and Spadina Ave, the most famous of them all. In recent years, with the influx of affluent Chinese from Hong Hong and Mainland China, a new Chinatown has developed further north, in the Richmond Hill community. In Richmond Hill, you will find an abundance of chinese grocery stores, and excellent restaurants. Some great history about Toronto's Chinatown can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Toronto
Distillery District (recommended): Formerly known as The Gooderham and Worts Distillery, the Distillery District is a national Historic Site and represents the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America. Today, it is home to a variety of several high end shops and restaurants. Great for photographs.Art Gallery of Ontario: Founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 486,000 square feet. The AGO currently has more than 68,000 works in its collection, spanning from 100 AD to the present.
http://www.ago.net/
Royal Ontario Museumhttp://www.citypass.com/city/toronto.html?id=dTfIC5IF
JUST OUTSIDE TORONTO
Niagara Falls Less than 2 hours away from Toronto by car, Niagara Falls is an excellent day trip to see one of the Natural Wonders of the world. There will be an entry dedicated for Niagara Falls and the surrounding attractions.
For the adventurous, there is the opportunity to take flight in a glider for a trip that you'll remember for years to come. Introductory flights range between 95$ and 115$ with no previous experience required. For the flight, you sit in the front seat of a 2 seater training glider with a certified instructor pilot. Depending on the prevailing weather conditions, you could find a thermal and climb to 4~5000 feet, your flight will typically last between 12 and 30 minutes. For more information, please see the following website:Transportation
Getting To, Around and Out of Toronto
Taxi Service
A few things to know about taxi services in Toronto:
* Diamond taxi (416 366 6868) cabs are everywhere in Toronto. They are typically orange and black. Be careful as some of the cars are quite old and the quality (street knowledge and odor!) of the driver that you get is hit and miss. They’re generally ok to get you where you’re going.
Getting Around - Public Transit
- the transit system in Toronto is commonly known as the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and includes the subway, buses, and streetcars.
- free maps of the transit system are available at all subway stations kiosks. Just ask the kiosk attendant.
- TTC tokens can be purchased at subway kiosks and can be used in all transportation routes and methods
- If you pay for your trip by either cash or token, it's a good idea to always obtain a 'transfer' which is both your proof of payment, and also allows you to transfer from one transporation mode to another
- the system in Toronto allows you to take one uninterrupted trip on a single payment; so, you can transfer from one transportation type to another, just so long as it's in support of a single trip in a single direction
Subway (also known as the TTC): Look for a sign such as the one below:
Streetcar:
Bus:
Private car services (limousines) to the airport are available for a fixed fare and can only be arranged via phone (ie, can’t hail them on the street). Fares are determined by zones, but will typically be 44$ from downtown Toronto to Pearson International Airport. Please see the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airport Authority) website for additional details:
http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/airport_information/ground_transportatio/taxis__limousines/
A map of the zone fares can be found here:
http://gtaa.com/local/files/en/Travellers/Tariffs/TaxiTariffs-East.pdf
Taxi Service
A few things to know about taxi services in Toronto:
* Taxi service in Toronto is highly regulated. All taxis must have a working regulated fare meter. If the driver forgets to turn the meter on, your ride is free. The meter is turned on once you get into the car, and starts at a regulated price.
* Taxi drivers are allowed to charge an extra charge for extra bags (typically during airport transfers), but usually don’t.
* You can either hail a cab on the street, or call the taxi dispatch centre and give them your address. Each taxi company has it’s own dispatch centre.
* Diamond taxi (416 366 6868) cabs are everywhere in Toronto. They are typically orange and black. Be careful as some of the cars are quite old and the quality (street knowledge and odor!) of the driver that you get is hit and miss. They’re generally ok to get you where you’re going.* Ambassador taxi (416 322 3800) is one of the better taxi services in Toronto. Drivers have to meet a certain standard in customer service, but this is a small taxi company, so there are not as many of these taxis on the roads.
* It's customary (but not necessary) to provide a tip at the end of the ride, approximately 10% of the fare, but it’s not mandatory. Rounding up to the nearest Canadian dollar is probably a minimum.Getting Around - Public Transit
- the transit system in Toronto is commonly known as the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and includes the subway, buses, and streetcars.
- free maps of the transit system are available at all subway stations kiosks. Just ask the kiosk attendant.
- TTC tokens can be purchased at subway kiosks and can be used in all transportation routes and methods
- If you pay for your trip by either cash or token, it's a good idea to always obtain a 'transfer' which is both your proof of payment, and also allows you to transfer from one transporation mode to another
- the system in Toronto allows you to take one uninterrupted trip on a single payment; so, you can transfer from one transportation type to another, just so long as it's in support of a single trip in a single direction
Subway (also known as the TTC): Look for a sign such as the one below:
Streetcar:
Take care when getting off streetcar.
When you step off the streetcar its not the pavement.
You're on the road!
Bus:
Getting to the Airport
Private car services (limousines) to the airport are available for a fixed fare and can only be arranged via phone (ie, can’t hail them on the street). Fares are determined by zones, but will typically be 44$ from downtown Toronto to Pearson International Airport. Please see the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airport Authority) website for additional details:
http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/airport_information/ground_transportatio/taxis__limousines/
A map of the zone fares can be found here:
http://gtaa.com/local/files/en/Travellers/Tariffs/TaxiTariffs-East.pdf
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