The Den Toronto

No complaints

Unser Zimmer hatte eine Deckenhöhe von gerade einmal 1,60m - wir konnten also nicht aufrecht darin stehen. Die Matratze war entsprechend ohne Lattenrost/Bett auf dem Boden platziert. Dies war aus unserer Sicht nicht aus der Zimmerbeschreibung ersichtlich. Die Gastgeberin wies auf Nachfrage darauf hin, dass sie kein anderes Zimmer mehr frei habe und wir gerne die Unterkunft verlassen könnten. Die Kaution ist mit 250 CAD hoch. Insgesamt sind die Hausregeln sehr streng mit hohen "Strafzahlungen" bei Missachtung - zB wird eine verspätete Ankunft mit 20 CAD pro 30 min berechnet, Tierarztkosten bei falschem Umgang mit ihren Tieren, Reinigungskosten bei Flecken in der Bettwäsche, Kochverbot falls sie Kunden für ihr Hauptgewerbe dort hat etc.

I didn't have my space

The door to my bedroom didn't have keys ergo couldn't be closed... And the bed is a literal board of wood

No windows in the room, the door of the room can not be locked with a key, too much rules and restrictions (the check-in between 7-8 pm the check out between 8-10 am, not very convenient, no shoes inside the hotel, long interior reglements, no possibility to come back in the night after 2am...) otherway we have to pay fines. There was mainly an expensive guarantee to pay only by credit card(no flexibility on the means) in case we didn't obey to all these complicated rules. It was not given back immediatly although we didn't create any problem. The staff was not there when we left in the normal check-out time because they have to work outside (that is why they can not give you back the garantee immediatly when you leave, they said...). The thing is that we have to pay everything before coming in and if we disagree on something in the process we can not cancell it without losing all our money. So we feel not very comfortable, trustfull with it and it damages the relationship with the staff since the beginning although at the end it was rather ok.

As two young female travellers, we were a bit concerned upon check in when Pete let us in and didnt have a lot of information for us/wasnt super clear on security deposits etc, Of course we have to be more aware so we asked to speak to the primary host. After meeting her she provided all necessary info and we were much more comfortable staying however i think it would help travellers feel a bit more comfortable if she was there upon initial check in. Both hosts were very kind and acommodating though, just the first impression scared us a bit

Honestly the main downside for us, was no AC - which sucked during the Toronto heat wave. I had originally seen AC in the listing but it was a booking.com AI description issue 😭. But Krissy and Pete really tried hard to accommodate (and equally suffered since the whole place was crazy hot during the heat wave). They were so nice and provided 4-5 fans to try to keep the room cool - we still managed to sleep but definitely impacted our comfort score. Honestly would be fine had this been much more moderate temperatures!

The room we had did not have a privacy door lock on it (bathrooms do though). I trusted our hosts Krissy and Pete - after all they've done this for awhile and this is their business. BUT I will advise that they should get them for each of the rooms; even though alot of guests will abide with a no stealing policy - it only takes one bad apple to ruin the experience!

Lastly, though it wasn't a big issue for us is the limited check-in window (1 hr from 6-7pm). Check out is more flexible (a few hours window). But would be nice if check-in could be at least a window of 2-3 hours as well - with no charge! But again, not an issue for us, but just a suggestion!

No A/C, but there were a couple fans so it wasn't awful.

Everything was great!

Owner and charm’s propriety

My experience at The Den Toronto was extremely disappointing and even physically uncomfortable.

Ceiling Too Low to Stand
The room had a ceiling of about 160 cm, forcing me to bend over constantly. I couldn't stand upright, which led to neck and back pain in the following days.

No Ventilation
There were no windows that opened, so the room lacked any air circulation. This made the environment stale and uncomfortable.

Safety Hazards
The space had no emergency exits and low trusses that were dangerous to walk under. In an emergency, it would be easy to get hurt or trapped.

Main Door Issues
The main door required two locks to be opened together, and has no anti-panic bar. I saw another guest struggling to exit. A disabled person would likely be stuck inside.

Improper Deposit Handling
I was charged a 250 CAD deposit plus 10% ($25) for alleged taxes, which makes no sense, since security deposits aren’t taxable. Now, I’m only being refunded the base amount—not the extra charge.

Host Prioritized Pets
The host was more attentive to her pets than her guests. I had to ask several times just to get help with the coffee machine, and was met with disinterest and annoyance.

Cold Atmosphere, Too Many Rules
Instead of a welcome, you're told to read a binder of rules. The atmosphere is strict and impersonal, making guests feel like an inconvenience rather than welcome.

Conclusion:
This listing should be reviewed for basic comfort, safety, and hospitality standards. I would not recommend it, especially to taller people, disabled individuals, or anyone expecting a warm, professional experience.

Rigid check-in process, parrot poop in the common area, very present doggy that could use a wash IMHO. 6 teas offered (besides coffee and milk) but no plain black tea. The host kindly moved us to the empty room when she realized I wouldn't fit in the attic room that has a 5 1/2 foot ceiling.

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