Dundas Square Hotel

What’s really too bad about the Dundas Sq Hotel is the management keeps falling into the wrong, corrupt hands. This is an old building designed for cheap accommodations for mostly single men with no kids which is affordable and has potential for longer stays.
There are ways to make a building like this livable by being vigilant about cleaning, continually spraying for bugs, keeping the roof in good shape, occasionally painting the rooms and changing carpets — as well, guests/​long term guests need to be checked as far as background/​warrants and for drug selling history. If they were able to keep those people out, 80% of the problem is gone. The location is perfect.
Unfortunately the managers who always run this place come from third world countries where what we consider low quality of living is normal to them. If the owner of the building could just get a motivates, local with experience running low cost (but good quality) lodging, which downtown Toronto desperately needs, there would be a waiting list to get in. As it is now, it’s mostly drugs, illegal activities and convicted sex offenders who can’t live anywhere else. Nobody would stay there unless all other options were exhausted.

DO NOT STAY HERE!!!
What a crappy place. Granted it’s a hostel, the customer service sucked. They cancelled my reservation 3 hours after they sent me an email that my CC declined. No phone call, no anything and we came in 30 minutes after the window to update a new CC, and they «gave the room away» and had no other options for us.
What a terrible place. And that was a nice way of putting it. Our experience was the most awful thing. I recommend anywhere else but here. It’s terrible.

Many times I have passed by this place and remembered the huge «Rooms from $ 49» sign. Well, the time came that I decided to see it for myself.
Even their website states that the cheapest room is 65 bucks. I think it’s about time they take down the misleading $ 49 claim.
You must stay in this hotel only if you’re absolutely broke. In my case I did a drop-​in, but should you want a deal on a downtown hotel, I think you’re better off using Hotwire,
or
to get an acceptable rate for a prime spot hotel a day or two in advance.
The check-​in was painfully slow. The gentleman was very courteous but even though I tried to make things simple by paying cash, it felt like it took 15 min or so to get my keys.
The condition of the building is very run down and not welcoming at all. Once I stepped inside the room, I noticed the ripped carpet and chipped paint on most surfaces. I did not find any heating switch/​dial whatsoever. The bathroom was not particularly clean either. The suspicious characters walking in and out of the building were hard to miss too.
I ended up paying 75 dollars for a room that had a single and a double bed, but I’m sure 75 bucks can get you a more presentable place in the downtown core. I suggest you do your homework online, visit discount sites or use some last-​minute booking apps on your phone before you check in here.