<p>We are planning a last minute trip to Toronto from September 7-10, which I just found out is film festival. Where should we stay? Do we stand a chance getting reservations now? Will it be incredibly crowded during that time and difficult to get around? Are there many things to do related to the film festival and do we need to make reservations in advance at restaurants, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Here’s the TIFF website which will tell you how to order tickets. There will be an abundance of TIFF related activities during the festival. This is a popular and large festival, both for the city and for the people in the film industry. The city will be busy but likely no busier than usual because, to be honest, there is always something like this going on here.</p>
<p>[The</a> Festival - Home](<a href=“TIFF - 404”>TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival)</p>
<p>[Tourism</a> Toronto - TIFF Festival 2011 Packages](<a href=“http://www.seetorontonow.com/tifffestival.aspx]Tourism”>http://www.seetorontonow.com/tifffestival.aspx)</p>
<p>Here are a few hotels that are nice and are in good locations. You can plug in your dates and see what’s available. This is not an exhaustive list, just a start.</p>
<p>[Downtown</a> Toronto Hotel Entertainment District Hotel Packages Hotels](<a href=“http://www.deltahotels.com/en/hotels/ontario/delta-chelsea/]Downtown”>http://www.deltahotels.com/en/hotels/ontario/delta-chelsea/)</p>
<p>[Toronto</a> Hotels: Sheraton Centre Toronto Reservations at sheraton.com](<a href=“Marriott Bonvoy Hotels | Book Directly & Get Exclusive Rates”>Marriott Bonvoy Hotels | Book Directly & Get Exclusive Rates)</p>
<p>[Toronto</a> Hotels: Luxury Toronto Hotel at Fairmont](<a href=“Fairmont Royal York - Luxury Hotel in Toronto (Canada)”>Fairmont Royal York - Luxury Hotel in Toronto (Canada))</p>
<p>[Hotel</a> Novotel Toronto Centre: travel, stay or vacation, holiday at TORONTO](<a href=“Book a hotel for a family holiday or business trip | Novotel”>Book a hotel for a family holiday or business trip | Novotel)</p>
<p>[Yorkville</a> Hotels Toronto | Toronto Bloor Yorkville Hotels](<a href=“http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyzmc-toronto-marriott-bloor-yorkville-hotel/]Yorkville”>http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyzmc-toronto-marriott-bloor-yorkville-hotel/)</p>
<p>[Toronto</a> Downtown Hotels | Toronto Hotels Downtown | SkyDome Hotels](<a href=“http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyzbr-renaissance-toronto-downtown-hotel/]Toronto”>http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyzbr-renaissance-toronto-downtown-hotel/)</p>
<p>[Four</a> Seasons Hotel Toronto: A Luxury Hotel in Toronto, Ontario](<a href=“http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/]Four”>http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/)</p>
<p>There are hundreds and hundreds of restaurants in the city. They won’t all be full! If, however, there is a particular one that you’d like to try, it’s always good to make a reservation as far in advance as possible, same as any other large city. As for getting around, the public transit in Toronto is good and, like the city, is safe. You will not need your car if you don’t mind using public transit. Staying downtown, you can easily walk to most of what you’d want to see. Let me know what else you’re interested in doing and I’ll try to help.</p>
<p>Thanks alwaysamom (BTW I LOVE your name…we truly are moms for our entire lives. merely in different roles!)</p>
<p>We have tickets for the American Idol concert on Friday night. Would love to take in a comedy show in the city on Thursday, and are there any hypnotists that perform? Any incredibly outstanding restaurants that you would suggest? Cute artsy neighborhoods within city that would be fun to explore?</p>
<p>Just came back from a wedding there about a month ago. Stayed at the Marriott Eaton Centre. Very convenient location! Have a great tine!</p>
<p>questbest, you’re welcome! </p>
<p>Second City shows are usually good:</p>
<p>[Shows</a> & Tickets - Toronto - Calendar And Tickets - The Second City - 50 Years of Funny](<a href=“http://www.secondcity.com/performances/toronto/calendarandtickets/]Shows”>http://www.secondcity.com/performances/toronto/calendarandtickets/)</p>
<p>It’s hard to choose between the many great restaurants in the city but here are a few that I’d highly recommend:</p>
<p>[C</a> A R I S M A RESTAURANT](<a href=“http://www.carismarestaurant.com/]C”>http://www.carismarestaurant.com/)</p>
<p>[Oliver</a> & Bonacini Restaurants - Canoe - Toronto Fine Dining Canadian Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.oliverbonacini.com/Canoe.aspx]Oliver”>http://www.oliverbonacini.com/Canoe.aspx)</p>
<p>[Oliver</a> & Bonacini Restaurants - Jump - Toronto Mediterranean / Italian Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.oliverbonacini.com/Jump.aspx]Oliver”>http://www.oliverbonacini.com/Jump.aspx)</p>
<p>[Map</a> | Jean-Pierre Co. - Ici](<a href=“http://www.jpco.ca/restaurant/map/]Map”>http://www.jpco.ca/restaurant/map/)</p>
<p>[GEORGE</a> - menus](<a href=“http://www.georgeonqueen.com/menus.asp]GEORGE”>http://www.georgeonqueen.com/menus.asp)</p>
<p>And for inexpensive, decent food, try Fran’s, a Toronto institution.</p>
<p>[Fran’s</a> Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.fransrestaurant.com/index00.php]Fran’s”>http://www.fransrestaurant.com/index00.php)</p>
<p>Some places to explore:</p>
<p>[St</a>. Lawrence Market Home Page](<a href=“http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/]St”>http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/)</p>
<p>[Harbourfront</a> Centre - Home](<a href=“http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/]Harbourfront”>http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/)</p>
<p>[Parks</a>, Forestry & Recreation : Toronto Islands](<a href=“Toronto Island Park – City of Toronto”>Toronto Island Park – City of Toronto)</p>
<p>[Toronto</a> Queen St. West](<a href=“http://www.showmetoronto.com/toronto_tour_queen_st_west.htm]Toronto”>http://www.showmetoronto.com/toronto_tour_queen_st_west.htm)</p>
<p>[Beach</a> BIA - It’s better in the BEACH](<a href=“http://www.beachesbia.com/]Beach”>http://www.beachesbia.com/)</p>
<p>[The</a> Annex travel guide - Wikitravel](<a href=“http://wikitravel.org/en/Toronto/The_Annex]The”>http://wikitravel.org/en/Toronto/The_Annex)</p>
<p>[Home</a> - CN Tower | La Tour CN](<a href=“http://www.cntower.ca/en-CA/Home.html]Home”>CN Tower)</p>
<p>[Toronto</a> Zoo | Canada’s premier Zoo](<a href=“http://www.torontozoo.com/]Toronto”>http://www.torontozoo.com/)</p>
<p>[Home</a> | Entertainment District BIA](<a href=“http://www.torontoed.com/]Home”>http://www.torontoed.com/)</p>
<p>And because this is CC, I’ll include the Univ of Toronto campus as a great place to explore. It’s beautiful. :)</p>
<p>[St</a>. George (Downtown) Campus](<a href=“http://www.utoronto.ca/campuses/st-george.htm]St”>http://www.utoronto.ca/campuses/st-george.htm)</p>
<p>[U</a> of T Map](<a href=“http://map.utoronto.ca/]U”>http://map.utoronto.ca/)</p>