Review: Sheraton Gateway Toronto Airport

"Gratuity not included" in a hotel lounge with self serve breakfast? I guess Canada is getting as out of control as the US on tipping. Although I can't say I've ever seen a tip envelope, jar etc. in a hotel lounge anywhere in the US when I've travelled. I do tip at the lounge bar if the staff mixes a drink however. At a hotel buffet restaurant where the server brings your coffee etc. and you pay for breakfast with a coupon, that calls for a tip, but not a completely self serve lounge.

Thanks for the great review. I stay there frequently when I transit thru Toronto or if I have an early AM flight and don't want the morning hassle of taking the train from downtown. Completely agree with your review of the Club Lounge. I have always found the Club staff to be very well trained and the "buffet" is always well-stocked and/or replaced quickly. Also appreciate the large and well-stocked fitness center, as well as the steam & sauna in the locker rooms - something most Sheratons in the US/Canada don't have - it's a nice place to relax on a layover. Also...if you are arriving/departing from the UP Express train platform - it's a very short walk to the hotel.

One thing for you readers to note - there are two Sheraton Properties at the airport 1) The Sheraton Gateway which is attached to Terminal 3. 2) The Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Center which is located about 2 miles from the Terminals and frankly not as great as the Gateway.

Pearson has an alt hotel on the airport grounds too. If you take the terminal link train one stop farther to the Value Park station, it's there. While it's not connected directly to a terminal, it's still much more convenient than the off-airport properties.

And yes, tipping is almost (but not quite) as bad here. Thanks for that. One of these days we're gonna build a wall and make you pay for it!

Sheraton Boston has a very similar "tip slip". It's nearly a guilt trip for a dollar.

There is also a Four Points that is an easy walk away (less than 10 minutes), just across the street from the airport. It is usually much, much cheaper (in the low $100s CAD).

Even if you don't stay, but want to freshen up between flights, you can buy a fitness room Day Pass. Take a nice shower and go for a swim. You will feel great and ready for your connecting flight.

Same thing with tip envelope at Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Amazingly the rooms are virtually unchanged since I stayed there regularly for a stretch 10 years ago.

I had the same reaction when I stayed there with the tip cards in the lounge. Do they still have that pancake "copy" machine (like the ones in Alaskan lounges)?

Heh. I stayed there probably seven or eight years ago and it hasn't changed a bit. I was mostly unimpressed. I had to wait in the lobby because a room wasn't ready and they charged $10 CAD for one hour of Internet access. In the freaking lobby! It was 6PM and I didn't have a room until 8PM. Then once I got to my room you could hear every conversation in the neighboring rooms and hallways. At 5AM the guy in the room next to me either left his room or died because his blackberry alarm went off for 30 minutes.

The guilt envelopes are getting out of hand. I even saw a tip jar at a Hyatt self-serve breakfast buffet.

Yeah, I've stayed at both this sheraton and the 4pts. Honestly, I felt the service was better at the MUCH less expensive 4pts. I think the sheraton suffers greatly from being The Hotel Connected to the Airport, while other nearby hotels have to actually compete for repeat business.

I stay here about 6 times a year as an SPG Platinum. Overpriced, but I pay for convenience when I have early flights. Good lounge, decent gym. They often deliver a nice fruit plate as a Platinum amenity. I wear earplugs at night so I don't have any problem with the noise.