Have you ever stayed at a hotel in your own city and felt like you were transported to a whole other country? Well, that's exactly what I felt when my boyfriend and I planned a staycation at Hotel X in Toronto earlier this year.
Still fairly new to the city, Hotel X opened in downtown Toronto in March 2018. Part of the Library Hotel Collection, the hotel is located in the heart of Exhibition Place and was dubbed as "Toronto’s first lakefront urban oasis," complete with four indoor tennis courts, two outdoor pools, two cinemas, four food and beverage outlets, and TEN X TORONTO, the largest hotel athletic and wellness facility in Canada.
It was at the end of February when we planned our staycation, which meant -20 degree weather and lots and lots of snow. When I heard that there was an outdoor heated pool opened all year round in the city, I was sold right away!
When we arrived, I was in awe of how striking the lobby was. It already felt like we weren't in Toronto. The details on the light fixtures and the tiled floors seemed very much out of the pages of Casablanca.
Once we checked in, we headed up to our corner suite where we were greeted by a stunning view of Lake Ontario. Even with snow on the ground, I still felt like we were somewhere else and not Canada in the middle of winter.
Since I was most excited about their all-year round outdoor pool, that's what we had planned first on our agenda. The day of our stay was a particularly cold and snowy day but the description on their website - plus, an e-mail correspondent with one of their staff - assured us that, although the pool was outdoors, the water was comfortably heated and can be enjoyed even on the coldest day. And it didn't disappoint. We were able to take a nice warm dip in "The Pond" and since a part of the pool is indoors, we were also able to sit back, relax and lounge on the chairs. It felt like the perfect vacation but in our very own city.
The main feature for me was the heated outdoor pool but of course, the hotel has a lot more to offer. This includes TEN X TORONTO, their massive 24/7 Gym which houses four indoor tennis courts and nine squash courts. There are also dedicated studios for pilates, spinning and yoga.
Families can take advantage of the 10XTO Kid's Play Centre run by highly trained caregivers. The 3,000 sq. ft. Play Centre is equipped with its own sports court, toys, and books, video game consoles, a big screen TV for movie time and a designated quiet area.
The hotel also has a Screening Room where guests are welcome to enjoy their scheduled movie screenings from Thursday to Sunday.
One thing we loved about our stay is that we didn't have to leave the hotel to grab food. Hotel X has a wide selection of dining which includes restaurants like Maxx's Kitchen, The Perch at Falcon Skybar, and Pétros 82 Mediterranean Restaurant. There is also a Nespresso Café Library Club on-site along with a Starbucks. And make no mistake, we took advantage of the 24-hour in-room dining service!
Finally, if you are looking for the ultimate R&R, Hotel X's Guerlain Spa recently opened which offers ten treatment rooms including stone massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures.
If you're looking to book your stay, from now until October 31st, Hotel X is offering 18% off all their fall packages. For more information on this, please visit HotelXToronto.com/offers