This Toronto girlfriend getaway post is courtesy of our contributor Cheryl of Kids On A Plane…Since becoming a parent, I haven’t had many kid free getaways – only two in six years to be exact.
It’s difficult when you’re juggling work schedules, family schedules and the unpredictability of life with young children – someone always seems to be sick!
A few weekends ago, I enjoyed an incredibly fun weekend with one of my besties in downtown Toronto, where we not only shopped until we dropped, but also stuffed our faces and relaxed to our hearts’ content.
Shop, Eat, Spa, Sleep at Eaton Chelsea in Toronto
Although I’ve had staycations in the city, bunking with a girlfriend is very different than a getaway with my husband and kids. I got to watch as much reality TV as I wanted and we both stayed up way past our regular bedtime knowing that there were no little ones to wake us up at the crack of dawn.
Eaton Chelsea is a mid-tier hotel geared towards families, business travelers and weekend getaway folk. It is surrounded by public transit subway stations and bus stops, the largest mall in Toronto – Eaton Centre – restaurants, boutique stores and popular city attractions.
My girlfriend and I stayed in a deluxe double bed room with a great view of the CN Tower.
We checked in on a Saturday afternoon and immediately headed to Eaton Centre to start our holiday shopping.
After three hours of walking the mall and surrounding areas (do not make the mistake like I did, of wearing high heeled boots if your girlfriend getaway includes a ton of shopping), we headed back to our room to relax.
My feet were aching and the beds were so comfy I almost convinced my BFF to order room service. But she was determined to follow our original plan – have a nice dinner at a popular ramen restaurant and then go watch movie at Yonge-Dundas Square.
This area of the downtown core never seems to sleep and there were crowds of people in the Yonge-Dundas area as we left the theatre.
By the time we called it a day, it was past midnight.
Sleep came easily for the both of us due to a combination of sheer exhaustion, an activity filled day, ramen and popcorn filled bellies, and a comfy duvet covered bed for each of us.
The next morning, we decided to take it easy and had a late breakfast at the Market Garden and express|o Coffee Bar in the hotel lobby.
We were both surprised by the extensive breakfast menu – guests can choose from the buffet for $14.50/person, individually made to order breakfast dishes or ready-made sandwiches and pastries.
I opted for a made to order breakfast and had the peameal bacon sandwich. The smokiness of the bacon was balanced out by the tanginess of the mustard. I would have liked the bun to have been toasted more but it was a good tasting sandwich nonetheless. My BFF enjoyed a bowl of oatmeal, danish, cup of tea and some freshly cut pineapple. She also thought breakfast at Eaton Chelsea was better than most hotels.
After a hearty breakfast we headed out the Elm St doors (every exit is labelled with the street name in the hotel lobby) and walked right into Elmwood Spa for some much needed pampering. This popular downtown spa is literally 20 steps away from the hotel.
We were ready to conquer the world again after a massage and facial.
Toronto Girlfriend Getaway:
More shopping, eating and wandering around the city.
A girlfriend getaway in Toronto was the perfect way to escape the craziness of everyday life with one of my best friends – something we haven’t done since we were roommates in university.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! Making a conscious effort to schedule a kid free getaway and leaving the mom guilt behind were probably the hardest parts about it all.
Overall Impressions of Eaton Chelsea
Check-in is very easy and lines move fairly quickly even on a busy Saturday afternoon.
Room size and decor is what you’d expect from a mid-tier hotel – clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated.
Soundproofing could be improved as we could head street noise from our room as well as people talking in the hallways late at night.
While we were there for a girlfriends getaway, I spent a few minutes checking out the Family Fun Zone as I noticed many families were staying at the Eaton Chelsea. The kids pool with a 130 ft corkscrew slide was quite busy at night and the Kids Centre seemed to very popular too with little ones. For families who wish to explore the city, strollers are available at the Kids Centre and are signed out on a first come first serve basis.
The adult only gym and pool area is very well kept and a quiet place to retreat after busy day.
Breakfast at Market Garden and express|o Coffee Bar was reasonably priced for a hotel restaurant. There’s plenty of dining options in the area so guests aren’t forced to stay on property for meals.
Staff members are very friendly and helpful. We asked for a late checkout (this can be done as long as the hotel is not at capacity) but our keys were reset at 11AM and we were locked out after returning from the spa. A quick stop at the front desk was all it took to resolve the issue.
Although Eaton Chelsea does not have a spa on site, Elmwood Spa right next door and hotels guests receive a 10% discount on spa services there – perfect for girlfriends or couples looking for some R&R.
Views from the upper floors are quite good – you can ask for a room facing the CN Tower or Yonge-Dundas Square.
The location of the Eaton Chelsea is what makes it a popular choice for tourists and staycationing guests. It’s walking distance to the mall, fast food joints, restaurants, theatres and several popular downtown tourist attractions.
Seasonal discounts and promotions are available throughout the year for guests looking to save on accommodations. If you’re planning a weekend of shopping in Toronto, the Shop n Stay promo might fit the bill.
Underground parking is available at $29/night however if you’re comfortable with taking public transit and walking, a car isn’t necessary. My BFF and I didn’t touch the car until we were ready to head home – back to chaotic family life. {wink}
33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1Z4
Thanks to Eaton Chelsea for hosting us for our first girlfriend getaway in the city.
For more travel tips & adventure ideas, follow Cheryl of Kids on A Plane on Facebook & Twitter!
*Disclosure: I received compensation for this post; however, all opinions expressed here are my own.