Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel Review: Worth It for Families?

Quick note: I wish I had taken more photos during our stay.

Unfortunately, between managing two kids, helping my daughter get ready for her dance competition, and navigating the weekend as a mostly solo mom, taking hotel photos wasn’t exactly top of mind.

The pool was always full of kids and families, so I wasn’t comfortable taking pictures there, and before I knew it, the weekend was over.

I did manage to grab a few photos of our room, but for everything else, you’ll have to trust my memory (and the fact that moms rarely remember to photograph the practical stuff when they’re busy keeping everyone fed, dressed, and where they’re supposed to be!).

My 4-Year-Old Could Have Watched Planes for Hours

If you have a child who loves airplanes, this might end up being their favorite part of the hotel.

Our room was on the 7th floor overlooking the Air Canada side of the runway, and the view was cool (not the prettiest one, but filled with planes).

Planes were constantly landing and taking off. At times, it felt like there was a new one every 20 seconds.

My 4-year-old was completely fascinated.

Every time we came back to the room, he’d run straight to the window to see what was happening. Whether it was first thing in the morning, after a day at the dance competition, or before bed, he always wanted to check on the airplanes.

What surprised me most was how little noise we heard.

Honestly, I expected the room to be loud because we were so close to the airport. Instead, the room was surprisingly quiet. We really didn’t hear a single plane while we were in our room!

As a light sleeper, I was genuinely impressed.

Honestly, it ended up being free entertainment all weekend.

If you’re traveling with a little airplane enthusiast, I’d absolutely recommend requesting a runway-facing room if one is available (at no extra cost).

The Indoor Pool That Turns Into an Outdoor Pool

The pool was a big hit with my kids.

One feature I thought was really cool is that during warmer weather, the hotel can open the large garage-style doors around the pool area, transforming it from an indoor pool into a semi-outdoor one.

It was still a little chilly when we visited in May, so the doors stayed closed and the pool was fully indoors.

Even so, the kids had a blast.

Another thing I appreciated was the size of the pool. Even when other families were using it, it never felt overcrowded, and we weren’t constantly bumping into people or fighting for space.

Is it the most modern or upscale pool you’ll ever see? No.

But for an airport hotel, it does exactly what most families need it to do. It gives kids a chance to burn off some energy, have some fun, and end the day happy.

And after a long day of dance competitions or before a long flight, that’ll be more than enough!

The Airport Shuttle Is the Reason I’d Stay Here Before a Flight

Even though we weren’t flying during this trip, I can easily see why families staying near Pearson would appreciate the Hilton’s airport shuttle service.

The shuttle picks guests up directly at the hotel about every 30 minutes and takes them to Toronto Pearson Airport.

The ride took around 15 minutes or less during our stay (we used it to catch the train at Pearson)

What I liked most was that it felt designed for actual travelers—not just people carrying a backpack.

The shuttle is a spacious mini bus that can comfortably accommodate roughly 10 passengers plus their luggage.There’s a dedicated storage area at the front of the bus for suitcases, so you don’t have to squeeze bags between seats or keep them on your lap.

The seats also have seatbelts, which I always appreciate when traveling with kids.

The whole process felt simple, organized, and stress-free. Exactly what you want before an early flight.

If you’re flying out of Pearson with children, not having to worry about airport parking, hauling luggage across massive parking lots, or figuring out airport transportation is a huge bonus.

Family-Friendly Food Options on-site

The hotel has a restaurant located right in the lobby.

We didn’t personally eat there because both my daughter and my mom have celiac disease, so we brought our own food during our stay.

That said, the hotel was packed with dance families throughout the weekend, and plenty of them seemed to be eating there regularly.

I didn’t hear any complaints, and the restaurant always looked busy.

If you don’t have dietary restrictions, it appears to be a convenient option.

How We Got Downtown Toronto Without Driving or Paying for Parking

One thing I didn’t expect was how easy it would be to get downtown Toronto from the hotel.

We didn’t want to drive downtown, sit in traffic, search for parking, and then pay a small fortune to leave the car somewhere for a few hours.

Instead, we took the hotel’s airport shuttle to Pearson Airport.

From there, we walked to the UP Express station and took the train downtown.

That’s it. The whole process was incredibly simple.

About 15 minutes on the shuttle. About 25 minutes on the train. No traffic. No parking headaches. No stress.

If you’re staying here and want to spend a few hours downtown, this is definitely the option I’d recommend.

That said, I wouldn’t choose this hotel if your main goal is sightseeing in Toronto every day. For that, I’d stay downtown (and I’ve rounded up the best hotels for families in downtown Toronto)

But for an airport hotel that gives you easy access to the city when needed? It works really well.