Service is amazing at this large downtown hotel. With all the guest in house, both the doorman and the server in Tundra remembered me by name. We choose to pay a little more to get access to the lounge which was absolutely worth it. The views from the 32nd Floor are incredible and they have really taken service to a whole new Level. New rain showers were so good that I didn't want to leave!

"The TV was broken, they didn't clean the room, the bathroom was malfunctioning, the firealarm went off multiple times in the middle of the night and they couldn't turn on the elevators afterwards"

If you're just looking for a place in the area to rest, you can do better. On the other hand, if location is important, pay the money and enjoy your stay. Oversized vehicles will not be able to park at the hotel. Don't worry, however, there's plenty of cheaper parking across the street and around the corner.

The Hilton Toronto, a 20-plus-story hotel right in the heart of downtown Toronto, is stylish but showing a little wear around the edges.

Built in the 1960s, the hotel recently underwent a hip refurb, but the rooms and appointments still have a boxy feel that newer hotels are striving to avoid.

This trip was last-minute, and the Hilton was not my first choice, but they picked up my Priceline.com bid for a four-star hotel with a bid of $75/night, which turned out to be a bargain at about half the normal room rate.

We took the scenic glass elevator up to our 20th-floor room - dark wood doors and funky carpets greet you when you walk to the room. Inside, a standard bathroom with king-size bed, desk, TV, coffeemaker, hair dryer and iron/board await. There is a mini-bar with a variety of offerings with a bottle of wine, corkscrew and various munchies sitting out and available - for a price, of course.

The view we had was almost perfect, with the CN Tower, Skydome and Lake Ontario shore visible from that side of the hotel, but partially obscured by an office building across the way.

The bed was serviceable, but average, with no pad and a bit on the hard side.

Importantly, the hotel does have a reasonably priced parking garage (CN$12/overnight), a great convenience in a crowded city.

The chic lobby (by hip Toronto designers II by IV) was bustling and features a gift shop, a coffee bar, the Barrister Bar (lined with books and done in wood and leather) for a nightcap, and the Tundra Restaurant, specializing in fine dining, featuring game meats and an exclusively Canadian wine list.

Overall, an average big box hotel, nicely dressed up for a Euro-type city. If possible, look for a deal on the room rate and you'll be happy with your stay!