Damn It’s Hot, Let’s Go Swimming – Toronto Hotel Pools Open To the Public

[PLEASE NOTE:
This post was written in 2015, the prices and access to hotel pools may have changed since then.
Please call the hotels to confirm day passes are still available before showing up.
Hotels – please contact me with updates if have changed your policies]

During the worst of the last heat wave, I turned to social media to whine about my broken AC and my insanely hot 3rd-floor office in a Victorian walk-up. Immediately my friend Ellen suggested that I should check out local Toronto hotel pools which are open to the public for a nominal fee.

With the temperatures popping back up next week, and last week’s hot and sweaty mess so close behind me, I’m dreaming of swimming. I want somewhere close, cool and classy. Of course, it would need WIFI so I could keep working with regular swim breaks to cool off.  Some people like Staycations, I like Workcations. And a Workcation poolside sounds like a perfect solution to me. So I started my research.

What I found surprised me. The most cost-effective access is from hotels I’d least expect. And the Toronto hotel pools I’d expect to be wide open to the public, are tightly shut for hotel guest access only. Not unreasonable, but surprising.

From Day Passes, to access through Spa Services, to yearly gym memberships, many of Toronto hotel pools are available if you find yourself needing a swim without leaving the core.

I haven’t had a chance to visit them yet, but with temperatures soaring again up into the 30s, I expect I’ll be visiting them all very soon.

If you have swum in any of these pools, sampled these spa services, or sipped cocktails on any of these sun decks I would love to hear your thoughts.  Feel free to do a quick rating of the pool or add a comment below!



Day Passes are available at these Toronto hotel pools


Intercontinental Hotel Toronto
225 Front Street West, 416-646-5838.

$25 Day Pass

  • Saltwater pool, 47 ft long, and approx 85 degrees F.
  • Toronto hotel pool hours:
    • Wednesday 12 pm- 6 pm
    • Thursday, Friday 11 am –  7:30 pm
    • Saturday 9 am – 6 pm
    • Sunday 10 am –  6 pm
    • Closed – Monday, Tuesday & Statutory Holidays
  • Daily passes: $25 for the day, plus taxes.
  • Other features:
    • Hot tub kept at approx. 105.
    • Steam rooms kept at 30 C.
    • Spa Terrace


Access with Lunch at these Toronto hotel pools


Toronto Don Valley Hotel
175 Wynford Drive, 416-449-4111

Update – 2017/08/19 – hotel management reached out to update me that they no longer offer Daily Passes. They did offer summer passes for 2017, and you can access the outdoor pool until the end of the summer with the purchase of a meal.

Access with a meal – The hotel does offer access to the outdoor pool if a guest spends $25.00 per person in the hotel restaurant for lunch or dinner.  This offer is only valid while the outdoor pool is open.

Summer membership pass: for 2017, a summer membership pass was available for access to the pools from May 10-Sep 04, 2017 – Single membership $199 and Family Membership – Max 2 adults plus 2 children –  $399 plus tax.

  • Toronto hotel pool hours: 10am-10pm daily
  • Daily passes: no longer avaialble
  • Complimentary WIFI.
  • Other features:
    • Poolside Bar
  • Other Costs:
    • Parking – $3 for the first hour and $1.50 for each additional hour up to a max of $11.95 per day. (However, if you spend $30 in food and beverage and your parking is comped. )


Spa Services get you access to luxury Toronto hotel pools


Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto
325 Bay St, 416-306-5800

$25 brow wax spa treatment!  

In order to get into the pool, you’ll need to get a spa treatment, but any spa treatment will do –  from brow wax ($25) to Medi Spa Treatments (e.g. infrared neck & decollete skin tightening for $375). Then it becomes more like a double treat to get pampered and spend your time in a salt-water infinity pool on the 32nd floor of the Trump Tower.


Four Seasons Toronto
60 Yorkville Avenue,(416) 963-6006

$115 neck and back massage spa treatment

The pool at the Four Seasons is accessible to Spa customers who have booked a facial or massage treatment. The 30-minute stress-relieving neck and back massage for $115 gets you the most cost-effective access to the indoor relaxation pool, along with the joy of a 30-minute stress-relieving massage.

  • Pool: Length 13m Depth 1.2m Width 5m
    • The indoor relaxation pool has a lot of natural light and is treated with Bromine
    • PS. You can even hear music under the water!
  • Spa Treatments
    • From aromatherapy massages ($175) to Asian Fusion Massages($175); Alpha Male Facials ($190) to Gold Plumping Facial ($265), the spa treatments are luxurious to say the least!
    • reservations required
    • note: guests with hair or nail appointments do not have access to the pool or locker rooms
  • Toronto spa hours: 6am to 10pm daily
  • Complimentary WIFI.
  • Other features:
    • Seasonal sun deck
    • co-ed whirlpool (whirlpool is treated with Chlorine)
    • lockers
    • steamrooms.
    • 24 hour fitness centre and private yoga studio
    • We have Men’s and Women’s change rooms and relaxation lounges with free water, tea, and apples & biscotti available
  • For more details on the hotel and the pool visit FourSeasons.com
  • Twitter: @fstoronto ; Instagram: @fstoronto
  • Rate this pool: 

 



Membership Privileges include access to these Toronto hotel pools


The Westin Harbour Castle
1 Harbour Square, 416.361.7494

$70/month (for 6 months) 

For access to the pool at the Westin Harbour Castle, you need to sign up for a WestinWORKOUT® Health Club Membership. For a 6-month commitment of $70, you can get access to their  1,560 sq ft fitness studio, hot tub/Jacuzzi, ,saunas, patios, towel service, tennis & squash courts, and for my purposes, their pool.

  • Membership Options
    • monthly gym membership – $100/month
    • 6 month gym membership – $70/month
    • annual gym membership – $80/month
      (yes, 6-month commitment is cheaper per month than 12-month)
  • Toronto hotel pool hours: 24 hour access
  • For more details on the hotel and the pool visit WestinHarbourCastleToronto.com
  • Twitter: @WestinToronto
  • Rate this pool: 

 



Fairmont Royal York
100 Front St. W, 416.860.4564

$125/month (for 12 months)

For access to the pool at the Royal York, you need to sign up for a Health Club membership. This will provide you access to the Fitness Centre with Technogym equipment including ellipticals, recumbent and upright cycles, free weights, rowing machines, whirlpool, saunas, steam rooms, and of course, what I care about… the 50′ indoor lap pool

  • Membership Options
    • 6 month gym membership – $800
    • annual gym membership – $1500/month
  • Toronto hotel pool hours:
    • Daily 6:00am-10:00pm,
    • adult-only: 9-10pm

 



 

 


Updated – NO LONGER Accessible


Chelsea Hotel Toronto
33 Gerrard St W,416-595-1975

GUEST ONLY

Update – 2017/01/23 – hotel management reached out to update me that they no longer offer Daily Passes to avoid any additional disappointed Torontonians. Pool access is only available to hotel guests.


 

Photos provided by the hotels.

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

6 thoughts on “Damn It’s Hot, Let’s Go Swimming – Toronto Hotel Pools Open To the Public

  • August 31, 2015 at 11:43 am
    Permalink

    alexaclark FSToronto TrumpToronto had a friend that swore by Fri nite massage, date w drink then swim. #budgetfriendlyluxury

    Reply
  • August 31, 2015 at 2:10 pm
    Permalink

    Lex:
    go to the Radisson on Queen’s Quay. It’s outdoor, with gorgeous views
    of the lake and the city, and with full menu and bar service. Very
    relaxing, too. I paid $40 on a weekend, but I think it might be $30
    weekdays. Had a wonderful stay-cationy day there. I think it might close
    after Labor Day weekend, but you could call to double check on that.
    Enjoy!

    Reply
    • September 20, 2017 at 10:42 am
      Permalink

      The Radisson pool used to be a great option but they don’t do day passes anymore.

      Reply
      • September 30, 2017 at 3:09 pm
        Permalink

        Unfortunately, it looks like fewer and fewer hotels are offering this as an option these days. I’m planning a full refresh on this post in Spring. Maybe there will be more hotel pools available.

        Reply

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