In hopes of a much-needed vacation, I headed over to Toronto for a few days and stayed at the Trump International Hotel & Tower. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my stay coincided with the annual Nuit Blanche — an all-night arts festival. I was looking forward to a weekend of pampering, culinary indulgences, and culture.
Having stayed at a few Trump properties before, I had a pretty good idea about the high caliber of service and incredible attention to detail that await me. I always felt Trump’s properties walked the thin line of tacky and ultra-luxury, but I appreciated the tasteful elegance that echoed throughout this property. My personal feelings for the man aside, I have to hand it to Donald Trump when it comes to hotels — the man certainly knows luxury! It’s quite rare (read: practically never happens) that I have almost nothing negative to say about a hotel, even the best of the best. But between the gorgeous mélange of light and dark and the gleaming marble crystal and glass, I was truly hard-pressed to find fault during my weekend stay.
From a seamless check-in to a limousine transfer to the airport, I walked away feeling refreshed, pampered, and content–exactly what I had hoped for. Not even the miles-long Customs line at the airport could have dimmed the glory of my perfect weekend getaway.
Pros
-There was lots of engagement through email and social media before and during my stay. I received a few reminders of the possible services that would be available to me during my stay and was also asked a few times if I needed to make any reservations beforehand. Bravo!
-The location is perfect — nestled in the heart of the city in downtown.
-The concierge was extremely helpful and made all our reservations easily and quickly.
-Both check-in and check-out were a breeze. I wanted a late check-out and it was no problem.
-The champagne and caviar color scheme was a feast for the eyes — ultra glamorous. One of my favorite color combinations!
-The service was simply fantastic. I forgot my iPhone 5 charger, and a spare one was brought up to my room within minutes. I ordered room service, and the food arrived within 10 minutes. From the front desk to room service to the concierge, I was met with nothing but smiles and helpful attitudes.
-When I first walked into the room — a personalized note and a tray of chocolate and other edible treats were waiting for me. Quite the welcome!
-The ceiling mount rain showerhead is always a pleasure and was one of my favorite features of the room (along with the mirror TV in the bathroom). Every luxury hotel needs to pay attention to these small, but impactful upgrades.
-The king-size bed was as comfortable as can be. Didn’t feel like peeling myself away from the luxurious goose-down comforter.
-Stocking luxe Trump-brand products, the toiletries certainly met with my approval.
-In today’s day and age, it’s baffling to me how hotels still think it’s acceptable to charge for Internet, but Trump Toronto is certainly up with the times and offers free WiFi throughout the entire property, including all the rooms. And it’s fast!
-Views from our one-bedroom suite on the 28th floor were stunning, especially at night — Toronto illuminated in all its glory.
-While in the room, I pretty much lived in the comfy monogrammed robes.
-Loved the Gatsby-esque touches dotted throughout the hotel.
-There was a REAL hairdryer in the bathroom — yay! But I still brought my own Elchim. At least I know next time I don’t have to torment my hair with that useless contraption that is typically found mounted on the wall and literally has only one function: to make noise.
-My bamboo massage on Sunday morning was heavenly. I could have spent hours at the Quartz Crystal Spa, but alas, my flight back to LA was calling my name.
-The scrumptious food at Stock is served with love, passion, and a warm smile. Given the attention to detail in every other aspect of my stay, I was hardly surprised to find that the main restaurant maintained the same levels of excellence. I was invited to dinner on Saturday night and was treated to a queen-size feast and a special tour of the kitchen. I also indulged in a feast on Sunday morning for brunch – oh, those Bloody Caesars! Looking back, it seems as though my weekend was filled with nothing but delicious food! (Not complaining.)
Cons
-The only con I could possibly think of — there were a few issues with my billing statement, but it was fixed within a day. Not a deal breaker.
Duration: 2 nights, October 4-6, 2013