Can't speak for every visit, but I will tell you that the other guests in the pool would generally stay out of out that part of the pool when there was someone swimming laps in it, which did happen a few times. Otherwise, they'd ignore it.

I'm trying to remember when the pool area is staffed. I actually believe I remember a staff member telling people to get out of the area, so someone could do laps.

So the part for lap swimming is the part without lane markings?

Every time I have been there in the last 2 years there has been a rope for dividing off a lane on the far side of the pool (away from the gym). At least in the evening--I can't speak to the day time. The rope is a standard issue swimming pool divider, and is configured how you would expect: down the length of the pool.

My recollection is the roped off lane is in the indoor pool; I don't believe is extends across the outdoor pool. I also seem to recall it's there during certain hours, not all the time.

In the winter, the pool is mostly empty, so swimming lengths is no problem. In the nice summer weather, like now, it would be very difficult to do lengths during the day because the pool is simply too crowded.

Cheers,

Its all one pool, isn't it? Just with a "garage door" like mechanism that closes most of the way to the water once the weather gets cooler but still permits swimmers to pass unimpeded. I don't ever recall the pool being closed even in the coldest weather.

From the photos and earlier posts, I got the idea that the rope extends the full width of the pool.

I'll be there in a couple weeks, so am hoping to be able to swim around 9 or 10 AM. If it's already crowded by then, I may have to try the Metro YMCA (although I hear that gets quite crowded as well, plus there's a $15CAD daily use fee).

I can confirm that. I was there this January when it was about -20C outside, you can still swim under the "garage door" and make it outside. The trick is to stay under water...

Yep, all one pool.

Cheers,

Short term memory/loyalty to Starwood seems to get the best of me with this property.

I'm in Toronto once every 2-3 months or so and whenever the Westin is sold out, despite knowing that the outdoor pool is the only thing good about this property, I still loyally pick the the Sheraton.

Service is ALWAYS slow, takes at least 20-30 minutes to get anything from housekeeping, whether it be something they have failed to put in the room (like body wash) or something additional like a shave kit or dental kit.

As others have mentioned, the property is also extremely dated and tired... please can we have another SPG property in Downtown Toronto so there's somewhere to stay when the Westin is full

Wouldn't that be nice! Dare to dream. I do think the city would be a pretty good location for a W, potentially even a StR. More realistically, I hope that the competition from some of the nearby luxury properties (4S, S-La) which sometimes have rooms within $100/nt of the rate at the Sheraton, force the Sheraton to up their game, do a real, full renovation, rediscover that yes, service matters, and do something about the current significant physical infrastructure problems (heating/cooling and lots of noise and noise transmission). Personally I think they would be better off to sell the property and start new somewhere close by, but I understand the Sheraton is a cash cow for SPG, is SPG owned, and because they so blatantly appeal to the conference crowd, I think it is unlikely they have any incentive to fix what is so badly broken.

I recently booked a night here with points (I'm only a Gold), and I was asked if I wanted an upgrade to the Club floor (w/ lounge access) for $50. Being that I was slightly inebriated, I said "Sure, why not?"

Was that worth it at all? I feel slightly ripped off (although I know it's my own fault), it's like paying for airport lounge visits at the counter.

TBH it's a reasonable lounge. Top floor of the property, with views towards 2 sides of downtown Toronto. Especially at night, it is gorgeous up there.

Breakfast was a decent spread. Certainly worth a $15-20 per person value, depending on how much you eat.

However, club floors aren't really anything to write home about. You'd hope they offered more than just a higher floor, but in my experience it was much of the same. And since the view is much nicer from the lounge anyways, the higher floor isn't worth the view.

Would I have paid $50/night for everything? Probably not. But if you plan on spending a lot of your time at the hotel, then it may be worth your while for the peace and quiet up there.

After a recent stay at this property, I am more disappointed than ever. Disgusted really. The state of the hard product and maintenance is just gross. I was in a "suite", but: the room number plate was hanging at an angle in the hallway; 6 of 7 light shades were severely bent; the coffee table looked like it had been reclaimed from a frat house; the carpet was wrinkled and stained. Honestly, the room was just awful. And the gym, which I have given high marks to in the past for its size, and large amount of equipment, is in rough shape too--3 of 3 exercise bikes were broken. It is painfully obvious that the hotel management just doesn't care.

Hi ridefar,

If you would like me to forward any feedback to the hotel management, feel free to send a private message with you stay details.

Best regards,

Alice Kons
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

I will do that. I intended to write the GM today--I will provide the feedback through you later today instead. Thanks for the offer.