This is the first time riding this event. I'm looking for information on a hotel to stay at, i'm traveling from North Bay, ON, and need to be in Toronto the Friday night.. any suggestions on where to stay, and if we take the train back from Niagara, where does it arrive in Toronto? is it far from where the event starts? any information would be great. Thanks.
The train back will bring you back to the CNE - the bikes are brought in by truck, and last year were already in Toronto by the time we got back on the train.
As for a hotel - there a lots of nice places to stay downtown, relatively close to the starting point, and i guess it depends on how much you want to spend to determine where you want to stay.
I would recommend hotels.ca as ive had great luck at booking good hotels at cheap rates. you can also try expedia.ca or hotel websites directly - shop around and you can find deals if you spend the time.
Personally - i would recommend the sheraton on queen w (across from city hall, and close to the eaton centre) its about a 15-20 minute cab ride from the CNE.
you can check out the TO hotels based on feedback of hotel guests from many different places in the web site www.TripAdvisor.com, then use Hotel.ca as suggested to book the hotel.
Sheraton is indeed a very good choice.
Bear in mind that the starting line is about 2 to 3 k from downtown hotels, and there is none in the vicinity of the exhibition place, therefore,, you must plan for transportation to go from your hotel to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) place.
The train back from Niagara Falls to the CNE is free - although, space may be limited and last year you had to pre-select from the modes of transportation to get you back when you pre-register online.
The bikes are loaded up onto moving vans/trucks, and they are driven back separately - you dont take them on the train.
Alternatively, they also had buses that head back into the city.
As we get closer to the ride date, more information about this will become available.
Rooms at the sheraton came be booked for the 11th of June through hotels.ca for $161 for the night (as of right now - prices may change depending on when you check)
I also saw a room at the royal york for the same night for $140 which is a great deal.
Taking a cab from either of these hotels to the CNE at 6:30am wont take longer than 15-20 minutes.