Travel

We've supplied the following information to help our guests get to Furnal Equinox with the least hassle possible.

Crossing The Border?

For any attendees who plan on attending Furnal Equinox and currently reside outside of Canada, we strongly recommend you take note of the following information:

New documentation rules came into effect at the Canada-United States border on June 1, 2009; meaning that travellers are required to show a passport regardless of whether they arrive by land, sea, or air. As such, if you are planning to attend our convention and do not have a passport, we strongly recommend you one as soon as possible - don't wait till the last minute or you may be out of luck! Depending on your country of citizenship, you may require a visa as well. As we can not assist with your application, we recommend you visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.

The Canadian dollar is roughly on par with the United States dollar as of this writing ($1 Canadian = $0.94 US). Currency exchange services are readily available at Pearson Airport and elsewhere.

Driving Directions

If you want to navigate to the convention by using Google Maps or keying the address into your GPS, the Doubletree is located at 655 Dixon Rd, Toronto, Ontario, on the south side of the road across from the Toronto Congress Centre. Please note that these directions are generally considered the fastest way to get to the hotel, but may be delayed or obstructed by construction, weather, or accidents. Do your research before you depart, and allow yourself plenty of time to get here!

From Hamilton, Niagara, and US crossing points (New York):

While there are three possible crossing points at Niagara, the recommended connection is the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, accessed via I-190.
I-190 becomes Highway 405 in Ontario, which merges into the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way). Continue to follow all signage for "QEW Toronto".
At exit 139 on the QEW, exit to the right onto Highway 427 north.
You want to get into the collector lanes (the blue signage to your right), so take a ramp as soon as you can. Then follow signage for Highway 27.
Once on highway 27, take the first right exit onto Dixon Road (eastbound). The Doubletree is immediately to your right, just before the Kelfield Street intersection.

From London, Windsor, and US crossing points (Detroit):

There are three possible crossing points from Michigan - the Ambassador Bridge crossing in Detroit, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and the Blue Water Bridge crossing between Port Huron and Sarnia, accessed via I-94. The latter is most strongly recommended.
I-94 becomes Highway 402 in Ontario. This eventually merges onto Highway 401 east. Keep following it!
Exit highway 401 at exit 354 (Dixon Road), and turn left at the traffic lights. The Doubletree will be to your left, just after the Kelfield Street intersection.

From Montreal, Ottawa, and points eastbound:

Travel west on highway 401. From Montreal, the 401 can be directly accessed using A-20, or a combination of A-40, A-540, and A-20. Those coming from Ottawa should take Highway 416 south, then exit onto Highway 401 west.
Exit Highway 401 at exit 354 (Dixon Road / Martin Grove Road). Keep to the left for Dixon Road. The Doubletree will be to your left just after the Kelfield Street intersection.

Public Transportation

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is Toronto's primary public transportation service provider, which offers a combination of streetcars, buses, and subway services. The current adult fare is $3.00, and transfers are free. For more information and route planning info, go to the TTC's website at www.ttc.ca.

From downtown, the recommended route is to take the subway; follow the Yonge-University-Spadina route (yellow line) to Lawrence West station. Then take the 58 Malton bus, which runs between Lawrence West and the airport, and get off at the Kelfield Street stop, which is immediately in front of the Doubletree. Simply reverse these steps to return in the other direction.

Taxi service is also readily accessible anywhere in Toronto, especially from the downtown area. You may be able to negotiate a flat rate with your driver, but expect to spend approximately $40 Canadian to get from downtown to the hotel.

Travelling by Bus or Train into Toronto

If you live in the Greater Toronto area, you will no doubt be familiar with the GO bus and train services. We would suggest you obtain the appropriate GO schedules and route maps online, then travel to Union station. Follow the signs to the TTC subway, and travel north to Lawrence West station as detailed above.

Intercity bus services to Toronto, including Greyhound and Coach Canada, arrive at the Toronto Coach Terminal on 610 Bay Street. The station is right in downtown Toronto and you will therefore have some additional travel to get closer to the airport and the convention. For recommended strategies, see "Public Transportation" above - the terminal is connected by underground tunnel to Dundas Station on the subway. For more information, contact the Toronto Coach Terminal at (416) 393-7911.

Train service via Amtrak and Via Rail arrives at Union Station, at 65 Front Street West in downtown Toronto. Union Station is Toronto's most prominent transportation link; from here, you can utilize Toronto's public transit to get to the Doubletree. Again, refer to "Public Transportation", or contact the Travellers' Aid Society at Union Station at (416) 366-7788.

Flying Into Toronto

The city of Toronto is primarily served by Toronto Pearson International Airport (yes, Rush fans, this is YYZ!). Pearson Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Make sure to check to make sure which one you're arriving at or departing from, though access between terminals is possible with the LINK train service.

Please check with your airline for checked baggage weight restrictions, as well as making sure to adhere to all security screening regulations. In particular, Canadian rules with regards to liquids and gels carry-on baggage are identical to US and international standards (3 ounces / 100 mL containers in a 1 quart / 1 litre plastic bag).

Rental car services are available from the arrival concourse of Pearson Airport; the Doubletree also runs a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport every half hour. When booking your stay, please inquire with them for more details.