Hotels with an Indoor Pool in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, on Lake Ontario about an hour east of downtown Toronto, has three published hotels with an indoor pool, and their scores are close: the Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa at 8.8, the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa at 8.7 and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG at 8.4. The differences lie elsewhere. The Holiday Inn Express adds a hot tub and sits downtown, the TownePlace Suites gives every family room a kitchenette, and the Courtyard has a restaurant, a bar and interconnected rooms near the Oshawa GO station. A swim matters here from November to April, when the lake wind is cold.
Oshawa is the largest city in Durham Region, on the north shore of Lake Ontario east of Toronto. Shaped for decades by General Motors, it combines a compact downtown, the Tribute Communities Centre arena, lakeside parks and the Parkwood Estate national historic site.
Hot Tub, Kitchenettes or Connecting Rooms
I choose between these three by what surrounds the pool. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown is the only one that lists a hot tub, and it includes a hot breakfast. The Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa has the best score and the most complete dining, with a family restaurant, a coffee shop and a bar, plus rooms that connect for families. The TownePlace Suites suits longer stays, with kitchenettes, free bicycles and a garden fireplace. All three are comfortable for a winter weekend with children.
The Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa leads on score, at 8.8 from close to 290 reviews. Its indoor swimming pool sits alongside a fitness centre and a sun terrace, and rooms are air-conditioned with work desks, with interconnected options that help families keep children next door. A family-friendly restaurant, a coffee shop and a bar mean you do not have to drive out for every meal. It is close to the Oshawa GO station, so a day in Toronto by train is easy, and I would book it for a family weekend when a swim after a day at the Canadian Automotive Museum is the plan.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG is the pick if you want warm water beside the pool. It is the only hotel of the three that lists a hot tub, together with the indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and a complimentary hot breakfast every day. Its downtown address keeps the Tribute Communities Centre arena within reach for a hockey game or a concert. With more than 460 reviews and a score of 8.4, it is the most reviewed of the three. I would choose it for one or two nights when a soak after the pool matters more than a full restaurant.
The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa, rated 8.7 from about 125 reviews, is built for longer visits. Every family room has a kitchenette, and guests share an indoor swimming pool, a fitness room and a garden with an outdoor fireplace. Free bicycles let you ride the trails along Oshawa Creek in the warmer months. The pool is a simple indoor basin without a listed hot tub, so I see it as a family convenience rather than a wellness feature. For a week of work or family visits in Durham Region, cooking some meals and swimming in the evening make this the most practical of the three.
Location also helps to decide. The Holiday Inn Express is downtown, the Courtyard is near the Oshawa GO station with trains to Union Station in Toronto, and the TownePlace Suites suits travellers with a car. Lakeview Park, on the shore of Lake Ontario, and Parkwood Estate, the historic home of General Motors of Canada founder Sam McLaughlin, are the classic outings, with Ontario Tech University on the north side of the city. In winter, when the lakeshore is cold and windy, an indoor pool turns an evening in Oshawa into something children look forward to.
A traveler's takeFor an indoor pool stay in Oshawa, I would book the Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa, rated 8.8, for its pool, its restaurant and its connecting rooms near the Oshawa GO station. If a hot tub matters, my choice would be the Holiday Inn Express downtown, the only one of the three that lists one. For a week with children, I recommend the TownePlace Suites, where a kitchenette and a garden fireplace add to the evening swim.
4.4Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa
Indoor Pool · 286 reviewsFamily-friendly comfort with an indoor pool and sun terrace
Why guests love itCourtyard by Marriott Oshawa is well set up for families: interconnecting rooms are available, the indoor swimming pool keeps children busy, and the family-friendly restaurant means dinner without a drive. There is also a coffee shop, a bar, a fitness centre and a sun terrace. Oshawa GO Station is nearby, which makes a day trip into Toronto by train easy. An 8.8 score from 286 reviews backs up the overall picture.
4.4TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa
Indoor Pool · 125 reviewsFamily-friendly suites with kitchenettes, an indoor pool, and free bikes
Why guests love itFamily rooms with kitchenettes at the TownePlace Suites Oshawa make simple meals and snacks easy with children, and the indoor swimming pool covers rainy or cold days. Free bicycles invite a ride around Oshawa when the weather allows, and the garden with an outdoor fireplace is a pleasant spot for an evening. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, and pets are accepted. With an 8.7 rating from 125 reviews, I rate it highly.
4.2Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG
Indoor Pool · 463 reviewsDowntown comfort with an indoor pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly amenities
Why guests love itHoliday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown is an easy pick for families visiting Oshawa. The free hot breakfast each morning saves time and money on the first meal of the day, and the indoor pool and hot tub give children a reliable treat whatever the weather. Free WiFi keeps devices running, and pets are welcome, so the dog can come along. Parents can use the 24-hour fitness centre. Guests rate it 8.4/10 across more than 450 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Book the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown if you want a hot tub: it is the only one of the three that lists one.
- 2Ask for interconnected rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Oshawa when travelling as a family with older children.
- 3Choose the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa for a long stay with a kitchenette and free bicycles.
- 4Take the train from the Oshawa GO station near the Courtyard for a day at Union Station in Toronto.
- 5Plan a swim after a visit to the Canadian Automotive Museum or Parkwood Estate on a cold day.
- 6Check pool hours on arrival, since indoor pools in family hotels are busiest on winter weekend afternoons.