Ahmed Nadar is a Toronto-based Rails developer, founder of the RapidRails agency and creator of RapidRails UI components for Ruby on Rails.

AppSignal have enlisted Ahmed's help to write a series of guides to Toronto for fellow Rails World attendees.

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Rails World tickets sold out in under 20 minutes, which is enough tickets to fill nearly two Boeing 737s (probably how most of you will get to Toronto).

As excitement builds for the upcoming Rails World conference in Toronto, with the help of AppSignal, I'm here to help you navigate the city with a series offering tips and insights into the best areas and venues in Toronto.

In this guide, I want to help you learn how to navigate from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to your hotel and Toronto proper!

Rails World recommended hotels

While Toronto offers hundreds of places to stay, for the sake of this guide, I'll focus on the three that the Rails Foundation recommends to give you an idea of travel costs and time.

W Hotel

The W Hotel is located on the east side of Yonge Street, north of Bloor Street, in the upscale Yorkville neighborhood, home to art galleries, museums, high-end shops, and restaurants. It's a 12-15 minute walk to the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The hotel features clean rooms and is conveniently next to the Bloor and Yonge subway station. It's also the closest hotel to Brick Works (4.5 km, 15-18 minute drive).

Royal Sonesta

The Royal Sonesta Toronto is located on the west side of Avenue Road, north of Bloor Street. This mid-range hotel is close to Brick Works (5.3 km, 15-18 minute drive). It boasts a great location near the ROM, The Royal Conservatory of Music, and Queen's Park. It's a 3-minute walk from St. George subway station and a 12-15 minute walk from the W Hotel.

Chelsea Hotel Toronto

The Chelsea Hotel Toronto is the closest hotel to Brick Works (15-18 minute drive). It is situated on the west side of Yonge Street, south of Gerrard Street, in busy downtown Toronto. The Chelsea Hotel is near Sankofa Square, a vibrant area full of attractions (since the name change is not yet widely recognized, most locals still refer to it as Dundas Square, so expect some confusion if you ask for "Sankofa Square.") It's a 30-minute walk from the W Hotel and a 40-minute walk from the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

The three hotels are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from some of Toronto's most iconic landmarks, including the Rogers Centre (home of the Blue Jays baseball team), the CN Tower, and the scenic Lake Shore. Whether you're looking to catch a game, take in breathtaking views from the top of the tower, or enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, you'll find these attractions and many more just minutes from your doorstep.

Getting from the airport to your hotel

Lester B. Pearson International Airport is quite a distance from downtown Toronto. It's about 26 km (16 miles) to the W Hotel, 24 km (15 miles) to the Royal Sonesta Toronto, and 30 km (19 miles) to the Chelsea Hotel Toronto.

You have a few ways to get from the airport to downtown Toronto. To help you pick the best option for you, I've ordered them by price:

• Car - 130-180 CAD
• Taxi - 70-100 CAD
• Ride sharing (Uber, Lyft) - 35-60 CAD
• Train - 10-13 CAD
• Bus and Subway - 4 CAD

Traveling to your hotel via car

Renting a car is quite expensive and not the most ecological or convenient way to commute around Toronto. But if you are looking to drive from the airport, here are some expected travel times depending on light to heavy traffic:

• W hotel: Drive time is 20-45 minutes. See directions here.
• Royal Sonesta Toronto: Drive time is 15-40 minutes. See directions here.
• Chelsea Hotel Toronto: Drive time is 20-40 minutes. See directions here.

Traveling by road in Toronto is busiest during three rush hours: 8-9am, 3:30-4:30pm., and 5-7pm. For quicker journeys, I'd advise against traveling via car during peak times.

Traveling to your hotel via taxi

Taxi services can take you to and from the airport to your hotel. Taxi costs can vary depending on which service you use and when you travel. They may be more expensive than ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

You can use services like Welcome Pickups to arrange for a taxi to collect you from the airport in advance for a fixed price in your own local currency.

Traveling to your hotel via Uber or Lyft

Booking a Lyft or an Uber is reliable, easy, and convenient. You may have tried it before. Ride prices vary based on your time of departure, but the fare budget ranges between $35-60.

Traveling to your hotel via train

In my opinion, the best way to get to your hotel from the airport is to ride the UP Express (Union Pearson Express) train. It's quick, convenient, and has Wi-Fi, so you can catch up on your emails and Slack messages as you travel.

The UP Express runs from Pearson Airport to Union Station in downtown Toronto in just 25 minutes and to Bloor station (near the W and Sonesta Hotels) in 17 minutes, with trains departing every 15 minutes, seven days a week between 5 am and 1 am.

You can pay for public transport with a credit card or purchase a PRESTO card. Read the public transport fares section of this guide for more info.

Be sure to check the UP Express website before planning your trip to Toronto.

Union Station

Union Station is a hub of activity and is close to many Toronto attractions. It's a short walk to the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Lake Ontario, and Rogers Centre, where you can catch a Blue Jays game during baseball season. Plus, you can explore all the amazing sights, restaurants, and attractions near Union Station. From here you can take the subway and visit places like Sankofa Square if you're feeling adventurous.

Bloor Station

Bloor Station is located near the W and Sonesta hotels. From here you can either walk to your hotel (25 mins) or take the subway from the nearby Dundas West station (Line 2 direction Kennedy Station) to Bloor-Yonge station which is next to the W and Sonesta hotel.

Traveling to your hotel via bus and subway

The cheapest way to get to your hotel is via public transit, which is run by the TTC. It will cost you a grand total of $3.30 and take about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on departure and connection times:

1. From the airport, you will need to take the 900 Airport Express bus to Kipling Station.
2. From Kipling Station you can take the subway (Line 2 direction Kennedy Station) to Bloor-Yonge subway station, which is a short walk from the Rails World recommended W and Sonesta hotels.

Alternatively, you can take the bus provided by Go Transit. The bus portion of the journey will cost around $7-8 and take around 75 minutes, depending on departure and connection times:

1. From the airport, take Go Bus 40 to the Highway 407 Bus Terminal.
2. From Highway 407 Bus Terminal, take the subway (Line 1 direction Finch Station) to Bloor-Yonge subway station.

Directions to the bus station are signposted from the airport departures lounge.

If you're unsure about getting off at the correct station, just let your bus driver know. All public transit information can be found on the TTC website, with reliable directions available via Google Maps too.

You can pay for public transport with a credit card, or purchase a PRESTO card.

Public Transport Fares

You can pay for your journey with a credit card or a PRESTO card, which is the regional travel card for Toronto (like London's Oyster Card or the OV-Chipkaart in the Netherlands).

Below are fares for the UP Express to help you decide if a PRESTO card is right for you:

Children under 12 travel free.

If you plan on traveling around the city a lot, I'd recommend investing in a PRESTO card. As a Torontonian, I use a PRESTO card for all public travel as it's more convenient with cheaper fares.

PRESTO cards cost $6.00 and can be purchased from a ticket machine. You'll need to top your PRESTO card balance up at a ticket machine in order to pay for your travel.

Don't panic, you're in Canada

This guide covers all of the ways you can get to your hotel from the airport, with options that suit every type of traveler. Be sure to pick the transport option that you're most comfortable with, and take some time before your trip to familiarize yourself with your chosen route.

If you get lost, don't worry aboot it, just ask a friendly Canadian for directions!