Westin Toronto Airport Review: $171 Suite Near Pearson

Item: The Westin Toronto Airport
Rating: 8
Author: André Lapointe

The Westin Toronto Airport is an excellent choice for a night before a flight from Pearson: I paid $171 taxes included, with a 24-hour shuttle and a 63 m² suite I got thanks to my Platinum status. The one real drawback: the suite's furniture has seen better days. If you collect Marriott Bonvoy points, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card can cover this night in points.

For my September vacation, I picked beautiful Budapest, Hungary, as my arrival city in Europe. I was using my Aeroplan points, and the only non-stop flight between Canada and Budapest leaves from Toronto. So it would be a departure from the Queen City!

That's not a problem at all for me. I really like Toronto and I have several friends there. So I took the opportunity to spend a night in town before my flight.

I was looking for a Pearson airport hotel with a shuttle, under $200 a night. At a similar price, I was torn between a Four Points by Sheraton and the Westin Toronto Airport. The Westin won in the end.

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Booking: $171 and a suite upgrade

The Westin Toronto Airport is one of many hotels around Pearson airport. However, not all of them offer an airport shuttle, and that was an important criterion for me.

On price, the Westin also fit my budget. Here's what my night cost, depending on how I paid:

Cash: $171 taxes included
Points: 39,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
My choice: cash, clearly the better deal that night

Marriott's award pricing is dynamic: it changes with the date. If you hold a Free Night Award, here is how to pay for a night at that price, according to Marriott's help page on Free Night Awards:

Maximum certificate value: 35,000 points
Points you can add: up to 25,000 points
For a 39,000-point night: the certificate plus 4,000 points

I booked about three weeks before departure. As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I then used one of my five Suite Night Awards.

Good news: 48 hours before arrival, I got confirmation that my upgrade had cleared! I ended up in a one-bedroom suite with a king bed, listed at $1,237 a night. Not bad for a night booked at $171!

Location and airport shuttle

As the name says, the Westin Toronto Airport is 1.9 km from Toronto Pearson International Airport, at 950 Dixon Road. You get there in a few minutes.

The hotel runs a 24-hour shuttle between Pearson airport and the hotel. The ride from the airport to the hotel is free: just call the hotel to set your pick-up time.

The ride from the hotel to the airport, however, costs $8 per adult, according to the hotel's page on Marriott's website. When I checked in, the front desk confirmed it was free for me thanks to my Platinum status.

If you need to get downtown during your stay, take the shuttle to the airport, then the UP Express train from Pearson Station. It takes you to Union Station in 28 minutes, with a departure every 15 minutes, according to UP Express.

As for the immediate surroundings, let's just say they are… functional! You'll mostly find other hotels and businesses, and it isn't the nicest area for a stroll. That said, a few good restaurants are within a 15-minute walk, so you don't have to eat every meal at the hotel.

Lobby and check-in

The lobby is very spacious. Along with plenty of armchairs and sofas where you can settle in, you'll find a small Starbucks counter.

On the left, up on the mezzanine, there's a work area. It's well set up for working, and it's also where you'll find the bar and the hotel's two restaurants: Crosswinds Bar & Grill and Atmosphere Restaurant.

The front desk is on your right as you walk in. Service is very good: little or no wait, and courteous, efficient staff.

At check-in, the agent explained my Platinum benefits. I could choose between 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and free breakfast, with a voucher for the latter. I also received a second voucher to show for the airport shuttle.

Work area and bar on the lobby mezzanine at the Westin Toronto Airport — The work area and bar, on the lobby mezzanine

The one-bedroom suite: spacious but dated

The one-bedroom suite with a king bed measures 63 m² and is on the 14th floor. You basically get an apartment: bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchenette.

Bathroom and bedroom

As you walk in, the bathroom is on the left. One sink is just outside it, and a second one is inside.

The bathroom and its tub-shower combo could use a good refresh. That said, everything was very clean, which is obviously what matters most.

The bedroom is spacious, with a very comfortable king bed, a loveseat, a footstool and nightstands. Even with all that furniture, there's plenty of room left, and the floor has no carpet, a detail I really appreciate.

There's also a dresser, a TV and a desk. Unfortunately, the desk is far too small to work comfortably on a laptop.

In the hallway leading to the living room, you'll find extra storage, the iron and ironing board, the bathrobes and the safe.

Living room, dining room and kitchenette

The living room is also very spacious. It has a grey three-seat sofa bed, two matching armchairs, two large tables and a second TV.

Another armchair, with a rather futuristic look… let's say 1980s futuristic, completes the furniture. Gold-coloured, it certainly adds an original touch to the room!

Behind the living room, you'll find a full dining room with a large table and six chairs. In one corner, the kitchenette has a counter with a sink, a coffee maker, a microwave, a mini-fridge, a few plates and cutlery. It's handy for a stay of a few days.

Furniture that has lived a long life

The suite is very bright thanks to its large windows. However, it clearly needs a major renovation: the furniture is outdated and some pieces are quite worn. You can tell they've lived, and probably lived a lot!

I would also have put the desk in the living room, with a space of its own. I did try working at the dining table, but a mirrored glass table is really not ideal with a computer mouse. Let's just say the cursor sometimes had a mind of its own…

Despite its age, the suite remains pleasant thanks to its space, brightness and overall comfort. With a good renovation, it could be a beautiful suite again.

A small, much-appreciated touch

A few minutes after I arrived, a staff member brought me a personalized note, a sparkling water and some milk chocolate-covered almonds. A simple gesture, but always a pleasure.

Welcome note, sparkling water and chocolate almonds offered on arrival at the Westin Toronto Airport — The welcome note and treats left in the suite

Hotel restaurants and bar

You'll find three options right in the lobby, which is very convenient before or after a flight:

Crosswinds Bar & Grill: international cuisine and the hotel bar, open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. during my stay. It's also the ideal spot for a drink.
Atmosphere Restaurant: this is where breakfast is served, including a buffet, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. during my stay. The early opening is handy for a morning flight, the closing a bit early. The buffet offers a good variety of hot and cold dishes, and the staff are very welcoming.
Starbucks: the lobby counter serves coffee and a few pastries, a good option for a quick bite before you leave.

For a hotel that mostly serves travellers passing through, we find the food offering well suited.

Pool, gym and meeting rooms

The Westin WORKOUT Fitness Studio is on the 3rd floor and is open 24 hours a day, according to Marriott. The room is well equipped and fairly spacious: there are enough cardio and weight machines that you won't wait your turn. A plus if you want to keep up your routine while travelling.

On the same floor, you'll find a heated indoor pool, open from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. It's a good size and, when I went, it wasn't crowded. It's a pleasant place to unwind before a departure. There is, however, no spa or massage service on site.

Several tables in the lobby are available to guests who want to work, which is handy between trips. For events, the hotel offers about 20,000 square feet of meeting space, according to Marriott.

Pros and cons

Here's what I took away from my night at the Westin Toronto Airport.

Pros

Ideal location for a night before a flight from Pearson, 1.9 km from the airport
24-hour shuttle, free from the airport, and free to the airport for me thanks to Platinum status
Very spacious, bright suite of 63 m², with a very comfortable bed
Carpet-free room, a detail I really appreciate
Heated pool and 24-hour gym, well equipped
Courteous staff and an efficient check-in

Cons

Dated suite: the furniture and some fixtures have clearly had their day and need a renovation
No executive lounge, a letdown for Platinum members
Desk too small to work comfortably on a laptop
Paid shuttle to the airport ($8 per adult) for members without elite status

My verdict: would I go back?

Yes, especially if I find a rate this good again. I wanted a hotel near Pearson airport, with a shuttle, for under $200 a night. With $171 taxes included, a 63 m² suite thanks to my Platinum status and a free shuttle to the airport, the Westin fully met my expectations.

The suite was spacious, bright and comfortable, with an excellent bed. The staff were courteous and efficient, and the heated pool is a bonus before a departure.

The main downside remains the condition of the suite. Even though it was clean, the furniture needs a serious refresh. The lack of an executive lounge is also a small letdown for Platinum members. At $171 with Platinum perks, it's hard to complain too much!