Planning for March Break doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as convenient as booking a staycation at a hotel in your own city.

If you’re fortunate enough to live near or around the Toronto, Ontario area, the new Hotel X Toronto (located along the waterfront across from Ontario Place) is a great family-friendly option.

Here are ten reasons to consider Hotel X Toronto this March Break:

(1) Location

Forget battling holiday traffic, flights and potential weather delays. Choosing Hotel X Toronto for your March Break getaway is the perfect way to feel as though you’ve escaped to a resort, while still remaining in a big city.

You’re close to Ontario Place, which offers free ice-skating, outdoor trails, a bon fire (with s’mores) and other outdoorsy activities.

You’re also minutes away from the core of Toronto so visiting attractions like the CN Tower, popular Toronto theatres, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Royal Ontario Museum, Scotiabank Arena and more is made easy for vacationing families.

(2) 10XTO Play Centre

Hotel X Toronto truly is an urban resort — but, without the resort fees you typically encounter when on vacation. Kids will have a blast in the 10 X TO Play Centre, which is a 3000 sq ft area dedicated to young minds. During March Break they’re offering extended hours (9:00am – 9:00pm). It’s an incredible facility with a large play gym (with sports equipment), an arts & crafts area, board games, popular toys, a video game/movie section and a quiet reading corner.

The accommodate kids aged three months to 11-years of age. You can either stay and interact with your kids (playing a family board game or basketball, for example) or drop off your kids and sneak away for a couple of hours of adult time.

Here’s a list of the Play Centre’s March Break activities. They’re offering everything from dodgeball and soccer to board game night and family snuggle time.

(3) On-Site movie theatre

In the Hotel X Toronto cinema/screening room, your family has the opportunity to take in the full movie theatre experience without heading out into the cold.

Yes, there are snacks available (yay!) and the cinema is multiple floors with stadium style luxury seating.

Here’s a list of the movies playing during March Break.

There’s also a later movie for adults so if you bring along the grandparents you can always slip out for a date night right in your own hotel.

(4) Library Club Lounge Access

If you’re traveling with your family and you book any of the bedroom suites or junior suites, you’ll automatically have access to the Library Club Lounge on the fourth floor.

What does this mean?

Daily continental breakfast, snacks throughout the day and access to a quiet lounge complete with comfy chairs and a cozy fireplace.

If you make use of the Play Centre, you can always drop the kids off around 5:00 pm and head to the Library Club Lounge for some complimentary wine and appetizers.

For those who book a standard room, you can add access to the lounge for an extra fee.

(5) Athletic Club at 10 X TO

Exercising while on vacation isn’t always that accessible because the gym can be located quote far from your hotel room (especially when you’re visiting a resort). At Hotel X Toronto, the gym is located around the corner from the Play Centre so it’s quite convenient: drop off the kids and then head into the athletic club.

It’s a gorgeous facility overlooking tennis courts on one side and the Toronto skyline through the other set of windows. It’s bright, inviting and extremely clean.

(6) Morning Yoga

We’ve been here on quite a few occasions now and one of our favourite newer additions to the activity lineup is morning Yoga at 6:30 am. Lets face it — kids are up at the crack of dawn anyway so why not start your day with a luxurious pilates/yoga session (adults only)?

(7) Delicious Dining

Maxx’s Kitchen is located on the second floor of the hotel. Not only do they offer everyday favourites for breakfast, lunch and dinner (like avocado toast and a triple-stack of buttermilk pancakes) but they’ve also got a bit of a twist on other popular dishes.

Here’s the lunch and dinner menu.

The hours are quite family-friendly too with doors open for service as early as 6:30 am, which is great for early riser children.

There’s also a cafe on site with salads, muffins, sandwiches, pastries and fresh fruit.

For those looking for other options, we often do delivery when staying at Hotel X Toronto because you’ve got a wealth of restaurants nearby offering convenient delivery (we like to do Thai and Indian since we don’t have it often at home).

(8) Spacious, luxurious, new suites

When booking hotel rooms for families, accommodations can be tricky. At Hotel X Toronto you can book anywhere from a standard room with two beds to to a three-bedroom suite (connecting rooms).

We’ve stayed in the one-bedroom suite and the layout is perfect for our family (check out @Famtravelguide for a video room tour). The rooms come with a pullout couch too so parents have somewhere to crash and watch a movie after the kids are asleep in the bedroom.

(9) Complimentary shuttle service

If you’re planning to take the kids to any of Toronto’s renowned family attractions (like Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, The Eaton Centre, Ontario Place or the Scotiabank Arena, for example), take advantage of booking the hotel’s free shuttle vehicle. They’ll take you within 5 km of the hotel at no cost. Just call the concierge in advance of your departure to set up a time.

Note: there are no car seats available, but you can treat the shuttle like a taxi vehicle and use seat belts or travel car seats for small children.

(10) The Nest at Falcon Skybar & The Perch at Falcon Skybar

It’s no secret to most Torontonians that Hotel X Toronto offers two incredible social spots with paramount views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline.

Falcon Skybar is a three-level rooftop skybar. It’s clean and luxurious.

There’s also Petros 82 Lobby Bar, which is a chic, elegant space that’s perfect for cocktail hour.

So how do these bars relate to a family-friendly March Break experience?

It’s simple! Let your kids explore the on-site Play Centre and slip down (or up) to one of the resort’s adult areas. The bars offer a great escape for parents while kids are enjoying their alone time.

(11) Year-Round, heated Roof top Pool!

Snow, rain or shine, Hotel X Toronto offers a heated rooftop pool, 27 floors up, with incredible views of the city. Families delight at swimming outdoors when it’s snowing outside.

You can request kids sizes for robes and slippers during your stay too!

Overall, Hotel X Toronto is one of our favourite urban resorts we’ve experienced as a traveling family (and trust us, we’ve been to a lot). It’s brand new, which means it’s not only clean and fresh to the eye, but the design team and management have incorporated tons of features that are ideal for people on the go.

It’s “in Toronto” but not really in Toronto. You’re not battling sidewalk crowds, urban hipsters, parking issues, traffic snarls and other factors that affect most downtown hotels. The spectacular views (from nearly every window on the premises) are unmatched by any other hotel we’ve stayed it.

Kids are thoroughly entertained (between the Play Centre, art gallery, lounges, restaurant, tennis courts and cinema) and adults feel like they’ve been on a mini getaway too.

Click here for more information on March Break at Hotel X Toronto.