5 Easy Ways for a Tourist to Save Money in Toronto

The city of Toronto, Ontario can be an expensive tourist destination. The good news is it doesn’t have to be! By following these 5 simple steps, your trip can be virtually free of financial frustration.

1. Stay in a centrally situated hotel and walk.

A hotel in a convenient location is priceless. Try to find one that is close to Yonge-Dundas Square, Canada’s version of New York’s Times Square. Here you can find a large number of free concerts and events taking place, especially in the warmer months. Toronto Eaton Centre is also by the Square and provides a great variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options. This electrifying area can almost connect you to the universe.

2. Ride the bus.

A pass for a sightseeing bus only set me back about $40.00 and offered me unlimited transportation to over 20 locations around the city during my 5 day stay. The bus brought me to such areas as the Entertainment District, the Waterfront, St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood and Bloor-Yorkville. I also learned quite a bit about Toronto and many of its popular attractions from the very entertaining and educated tour guides on the bus.

3. Choose local markets over restaurants.

Buying groceries from area stores and dining in your hotel room saves a lot of money. It can also save the disciplined health conscious tourist unwanted calories. Make sure your room will have a kitchenette at the time you make the reservation. The affordable hotel I had chosen even had an outstanding breakfast buffet-FREE!

I stumbled upon a really nice market on Elizabeth Street that had tons of fresh produce, a full service deli and a bakery that sold many unique and tasty creations. My grocery bill was only about $20.00 and that bought me more than enough food for my five days in Toronto. I would have spent much more than this for a couple meals out, even at a low-end eatery. However, I did make a few exceptions along the way, such as The Hard Rock Café Toronto. Overall, I considered this restaurant to be a good value for food and atmosphere.

4. Use cash, not credit cards.

Purchasing items with cash naturally tends to curb our spending habits. Let’s face it, handing over cash can feel almost painful. Of course, I had to exchange my American currency for Canadian, but I know it saved me from making unnecessary purchases. Credit cards don’t seem as real until you see your statement. If you do use credit cards, beware of international service fees that most credit card companies add on to your foreign transactions. In addition, using Canadian currency eases the transaction and lessens the chance you’ll stand out as a tourist.

5. Visit the LCBO.

Buying alcohol from one of Canada’s government controlled liquor stores (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) and having a drink in your hotel room is much more economical than buying a drink in a restaurant or bar. Afterwards, you can venture out to the theatre or see a show at a venue like Rogers Centre in the Entertainment District without worrying about spending a fortune on alcohol. One mixed drink can cost as much as $10.00 or more in certain places.

The city of Toronto is both immense and intense. You can find just about anything there from a shoe museum to an historic castle. It’s also exciting to take a $6.50 ferry ride to Toronto Island Park if you need to take a vacation from your vacation! The park is free to the public.

By utilizing these wise spending tips, you can save money and have enough left over to return in the future and do it all over again.

Happy travels!


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *