Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport

The Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport is located so close to Toronto Pearson International Airport that planes can often be spotted (and heart) gliding through the sky above its entrance. The hotel’s long lobby is a sea of marble, decorated with dark leather couches and a few interesting pieces of artwork like a horse sculpture. A small set-up of free lemon water found near the front desk is a thoughtful extra, as is a free coffee machine. The lobby, like the hotel’s other common areas, is business-like and practical. La Brasserie restaurant has a more fun setting, with lipstick-red and gray 

The hotel was quite busy during our visit, with guests of all ages (we even spotted two nuns) using the business center, waiting for airport shuttle pick-up in the lobby, and dining in the restaurant.  

As its name suggests, the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport is located nearby Toronto Pearson International Airport, less than three miles away. Downtown Toronto can be reached in a little over 20 minutes by car. The Toronto Congress Centre, Wild Water Kingdom, and Woodbine Shopping Centre are all located less than a 10-minute drive away.

Although the hotel’s setting off Highway 27 is relatively bland and desolate, there are a handful of restaurants found just across the street from the hotel including Jack Astor’s and Boston Pizza. The hotel is also less than a five-minute walk away from Dixon Road. Dixon Road has the same nondescript, highway-side ambience as the area immediately around the hotel, but it is home to a number of other restaurant choices.

Guest rooms at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport are divided into three types -- Classic Rooms, Modern Rooms, and Executive Rooms -- with each offering slightly different features.

The hotel’s Classic Rooms are its older, un-renovated rooms. These rooms are well-maintained, although the light woods, muted colors, and generic artwork look dated. These include a small sitting area or desk, along with tiny Sunbeam coffeemakers. Suites feature a separate room with a sitting area. Bathrooms generally include shower/tub combos and Temple Spa bath products, while bathrooms in suites are larger and feature separate bathtubs and showers.

The Modern Rooms are noticeably sleeker. Think: dark woods, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and Keurig coffeemakers. Bathrooms are similar to those found in the Classic Rooms, although bathrooms in suites include a shower only.

The Executive Rooms are similar to the Modern Rooms, with the addition of free bathrobes and slippers for each guest. Most Executive Rooms feature small sitting areas, and bathrooms don't have tubs. Guests in the Executive Rooms get access to a small sitting room that's comparable to an airport lounge. 

The hotel’s restaurant, La Brasserie, connects with Rendezvous Bar and Lounge, which remains open for drinks after the restaurant closes. La Brasserie offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as room service and pizza delivery. The hotel also includes an indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna, although this area was closed for renovations during our visit.

The lobby features a small gift shop stocked with chips, candy, and other snacks, as well as a compact 24-hour business center with several PCs and a printer. There’s a bright, 24-hour fitness center with a range of Precor machines, exercise balls, and free weights. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, free 24-hour airport shuttle service, and on-site parking for a daily surcharge.

The hotel also features 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The meeting rooms are functional and no-frills, with drab carpets and white tablecloths. Guests staying in the Executive Rooms have access to the Club Lounge, a large but lifeless-looking lounge with sitting areas, desk space, as well as a station with free snacks and coffee.