Kyla C.
Yelp
I don't often get a chance to stay in Toronto hotels (since I live in Toronto and regular hotels stays would be a big waste of money), but an early international flight prompted my Mom to suggest that we stay at a hotel close to the airport to save ourselves an uncomfortably early wake-up call and taxi ride in from the east end. I would 100% stay at the Alt again if I were to find myself in similar circumstances.
For one, it was cheaper than the Sheraton while also being only other hotel directly linked to the airport via a super cool monorail. Ok, you DO have to walk outside for about 15 seconds to get to the train terminal (the monorail stops inside the Sheraton, I think), so it's not a DIRECT link, but complaining about the few steps it takes to get to the train is the very definition of #FirstWorldProblems if I ever heard one.
The lobby is really cozy while also being quite trendy, with an mishmash of styles coming together to create a really interesting atmosphere. In terms of refreshments, they have a grab-and-go food area/bar. I didn't partake in any of the offerings, but they appeared to have a wide assortment of quick and easy food options. It certainly isn't fancy, but it works considering the majority of clientele who find themselves at this hotel are just trying to get some shut eye before a flight.
The room was more than large enough for me and my Mom, with two cozy queen beds, a large desk, and a comfortable washroom. The ceilings were quite high, which gave the illusion of even more space. The hotel is definitely trying to cater to the 21st century clientele, as the rooms feature iPhone docking alarm clocks (though sadly not compatible with anything post iPhone 4), TVs that have easy-to-access inputs for your computer/iPad, and light switches that are activated by inserting your room key, to save energy when not in use. Free wifi was also available throughout the hotel.
My only complaint/inconvenience happened post hotel stay. I had booked this room through a third-party hotel booking website, and the charges they would normally forward to that particular site were charged to me. A quick phone call did get the charges reversed (but not before they were accidentally charged to me again). It's a small thing, and I am glad I caught it on my statement amidst all the vacation charges, but it was an inconvenience nonetheless as I wracked my brain trying to figure out what hidden charges I could have accidentally incurred. That being said, this would not deter me from a future stay at the Alt, and I would highly recommend considering this as an option if you need a place to rest your eyes at any point during your travel plans.