Last updated on May 3rd, 2024
Featured image: A Porter Airlines plane at Billy Bishop, or “Toronto Island” Airport | Photo by Andrew Scheer CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tips for low-stress travel in and out of Toronto
by Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman
For those who are travelling to or from Toronto and have heard about the horrific lineups and long waits at Pearson International Airport, I have a little tip for you: consider Toronto’s other airport, Billy Bishop Airport (or the “Island Airport” as it’s known here). Located at the bottom of Bathurst Street, Toronto Island was always my first choice for business travel when I had to fly to Montreal and Ottawa because of its proximity to the downtown core.
From arrival to coffee in the lounge – 12 minutes. No lines, only a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. This smaller airport is located right downtown on Lake Ontario and there is a free shuttle bus to the UP Express train or subway. You can fly to several US cities and within Canada. In a year, an underground tunnel was added, making it accessible to everyone and replacing the ferry which was chilly in the winter!
I arrived at 630 am and my flight for New York left at 7:55 am right on time, no waiting on the runway.
I flew Porter, which has always been wonderful since it launched. I love the adorable magazine which has tons of practical tips. Coffee and free snacks like almonds and granola bars. Porter flies a Dash-8 so it’s not great for working but the seats didn’t feel cramped.
Upon arrival in Newark (Porter doesn’t fly to LGA or JFK), customs was empty and no bags strewn around the claim area. Out in about 15 minutes (I have Nexus but it was still fast).
Landing at Newark means you can take New Jersey transit to Penn Station, which is undergoing extensive renovations. From Penn Station you can get on the subway and go anywhere you need to. The trip in took about 25 minutes on the train and I took the subway to Grand Central where I had lunch before getting on my next train north.
Tips to get through security quickly
I always use a carry-on bag, packing cubes and Apple Air Tags. Don’t overpack your carry-on. If you can’t lift it, repack it!
I’ve had several opportunities in the past year to continuously downsize my packing. When I lived in Mexico for three months, I used an Osprey 70L carry-on backpack. For my six weeks in Oaxaca this past June, I used a soft-cover carry-on bag from Victorinox. In both cases, I had clothes (and shoes) I didn’t wear. With a little planning, you can do it!
The less you have to take out at security the better. Here are my tips to get through security lines quickly:
1. I never wear jewelry that has to be removed at the security lineup. I also wear shoes that are flat or slip on and off, no laces.
2. Have the right size bag for liquids (roughly a small ziplock). I’ve encountered some picky folks who insist I can only bring what fits in that bag. Consider bars of shampoo or toothpaste tabs to reduce liquids, or buy them when you land.
3. I wear a small Lululemon waist bag when I travel across my chest. I only put what I need in it for the airport. My wallet, passport, Nexus card, phone, printed ticket, and proof of vaccination.
4. I use a small shoulder bag or backpack that my waist bag can fit into if required. This is where I keep my sunglasses, computer, medication, books, electronics, chargers, and scarf. I put my name inside every item, even my sunglass case, just in case I forget it.I have an Airtag on all my items including my computer, as I’ve been known to leave it on the security line.
5. I pack a flat black purse that works for both casual and formal occasions, nothing too bulky.
A good start! At the gate in 12 minutes.
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When in New York
However, my biggest aha in New York was about my hotel.
I only needed to stay in Manhattan one night so I didn’t spend too much time looking around. I chose a hotel I’ve stayed at before in New York on business, the Royalton, for its location, high-energy vibe and stylish rooms. The cost on booking.com was $200 USD, which fit my budget.
However, I was in for a surprise. When I arrived in the afternoon, the lobby was completely silent. I couldn’t even find anyone to check me in. I walked around for about five minutes, shouting ‘hello, is anyone here?’ and actually wondered if it was even open.
After I called the main phone number, a woman appeared from the back of the hotel. She told me they had no bar or food service, even though the hotel was fully occupied. There is no timeline of when it will reopen, I was told.
TIP: Before you book a hotel – check not just booking.com but also the hotel website, which did indicate the bar was closed. Despite having no amenities, that didn’t stop the Royalton from charging a $35 facility fee – for what? Check both the listings and hotel websites carefully, don’t book just on price (which is what I did).
The empty lobby of my hotel.
Returning to Toronto was a breeze
I am still mystified why ArriveCAN is needed. It has never been user friendly and if feels unnecessary now that testing requirements have been removed. Plus, it adds stress to travel experience.
I took the train back to Newark from Penn Station on a Sunday morning. The security lineup could have used a lot more hustle and took about 25 minutes. There are limited restaurant options at the departure gate back to Toronto which is disappointing, so consider eating outside security.
The flight left on time from Newark and arrived early in Toronto, where there was a slight delay waiting for ground support. There are four Nexus machines (one not working) and about 12 regular machines. I was outside within 25 minutes of landing.
Planning a long-haul trip? Check out our list of the Best Airports For Layovers.
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Carolyn Ray
In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse, has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Conde Naste as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council, JourneyWoman Awards for Women 50+ and the Women's Speaker's Bureau. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), board member for the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance (CHEA) in support of Black and Brown businesses, a member of Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.
I also love Porter. You forgot to mention that free wine and other drinks sold on the flights. Also, I recently flew from Toronto to Quebec City and discovered that the lounge is much nicer than the international lounge at Billy Bishop. Wonderful Balzac’s Coffee.
Great feedback! Thank you!