Deerhurst Resort
Directions
Address:
Deerhurst Resort
1235 Deerhurst Drive
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada P1H 2E8
Getting to Deerhurt Resort:
You have several ground transportation options to get from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to the Deerhurst Resort. These include the following:
Complimentary Shuttle
One of our sponsors, the Vector Institute, has arranged some complimentary shuttle buses between Toronto and Deerhurst for the arrival days (Saturday and Sunday, with buses at 4:00pm and 8:00pm on each day) and departure days (Wednesday 3:00pm and Thursday 10:00am). Reservations for seats on these buses can be made using this Eventbrite booking link . Seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
People who sign up for bus transportation will be contacted by the organizers at a later time via email with more information about and directions regarding where to board the bus.
Rental Car
All major car rental companies are available at YYZ. Rates are typically around $40 CAN per day plus taxes and fees, or about $200 CAN per week. Make sure you have good driving directions to get to Deerhurst, or use GPS. Plan to arrive in daylight hours to fully enjoy the two-hour drive (220 km). Depending on your vehicle type, you may need the entire tank of gas to get to Deerhurst and back, so bear this in mind when considering your re-fueling options.
Taxi
There are plenty of taxis available in the queue at YYZ, but this might be a relatively expensive option ($120-$300 CAN). If you are sharing a taxi with others, or are on a very tight travel schedule, then this option might make sense for you, but in general it is very pricey. Ride sharing services such as Uber or Lyft might save you a bit on the fare, but are still quite expensive compared to the other options listed.
Bus
There are several transportation companies that serve the Muskoka region (e.g., Luxury Coach, Hammond Transportation). You can check their Web sites for pricing, schedules, and the designated pickup location at YYZ. Typical fares with these companies are about $120 CAN for a one-way trip from YYZ to Deerhurst, or about $200 CAN for a round-trip ticket.
Ride Sharing
Another option is for conference attendees to use social media to coordinate ride sharing amongst themselves. The conference organizers are considering providing a Web page to help support ride coordination. Stay tuned for further information here if this option happens.
Driving Directions:
If you are renting a car and driving from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to the Deerhurst Resort, the travel distance is approximately 220 km (137 miles), and will take just over 2 hours, depending on traffic. The first half of the drive is rather uninspiring (i.e., fast multi-lane freeways), while the second half is quite scenic along smaller highways that lead you into the Muskoka region, which features the forests, lakes, and rocks of the Canadian Shield. There are a few small cities and towns at which to stop for gas, food, coffee, or snacks along the way, but not a lot, so please keep this in mind depending on your fatigue, hunger, and gas tank level.
Below are some human-oriented driving directions, but please feel free to rely on Google Maps or your favorite GPS navigation system to help get you there.
- From YYZ airport, first find the 401 eastbound toward the city of Toronto, and then watch for the 400 northbound, which you will reach within 5-10 km. Note that the exit to the 400 northbound is accessible both from the right hand lane of the 401 itself, as well as from the "collector lanes" to the right of the 401, so don't panic here. Either way is fine.
- Follow the 400 north about 80 km to Barrie, after which the 400 branches into Highway 11 north along Lake Simcoe toward North Bay.
- Follow Highway 11, which will take you past Orillia (36 km), Bracebridge (55 km more), and into Huntsville (37 km more).
- Keep going all the way through Huntsville. If you see a Walmart on your right, you are going the correct way, and are getting close to Deerhurst.
- Watch for Highway 60 towards Ottawa, and take this road for about 6 km. The turnoff to Deerhurst Resort is on the right, and is well marked. A small and twisty paved road will lead you to the main parking lot. Park in any available spot, and walk to the front desk for hotel check-in, or to the attached conference centre for SOSP check-in. You can move your car later once you know where your specific accommodation is. You made it. Welcome!
Deerhurst is an all-inclusive resort, with everything you need available on site. There are several restaurants (i.e., Eclipse, Maple, Compass, Antler), seasonal recreation options (e.g., swimming, tennis, golf, hiking, climbing, escape room), and good WiFi coverage throughout the property. We hope that you enjoy your time with us.
Accommodation Options
There is a wide variety of accommodation options available to SOSP attendees staying at the Deerhurst Resort. These options offer a lot of flexibility in type of accommodation, location, pricing, and amenities. Your choice may vary depending on your budget, as well as whether you are traveling on your own, with your research group, or with your spouse and/or family. Check-in time at Deerhurst Resort is 4:00pm. Check-out time is 11:00am.
Below is a brief overview of each type. Please make sure to indicate your choice when making your reservation at the Deerhurst Resort. Also make sure to reserve early, since there are limited quantities of each room type. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly (1-800-461-4393) and speaking with a group reservation agent. Remember to quote the group code ASCM102719 to obtain the ACM SOSP room rates below.
NEW: Hidden Valley Resort:
We have two new options at Hidden Valley Resort for Sun through Wednesday for $129/night for a Hillside accomodation, and $139/night for a Lakeside accomodation. Be sure to ask for the ACM/SOSP group rate!
1. Bayshore (64 units)
This is one of the older buildings at Deerhurst, offering hotel-style accommodations on the lakefront. Every room has a water view, and two beds. This is the most economical option for graduate students, especially if the room is shared by two people. The price is $155 CAN per night, plus resort fees and taxes. The walking time to the conference sessions will be 8-10 minutes (uphill in the morning, downhill in the evening).
2. Pavilion (94 units)
These are hotel-style rooms in the main four-storey building at Deerhurst, and directly attached to the conference centre, with minimal travel time back and forth to conference sessions, and no need to go outdoors. The rooms are slightly larger than Bayshore, but typically have just one bed (queen or king). These are very nice accommodations, with most having a forest view. The price is $155 CAN per night, plus resort fees and taxes.
3. Summit Lodge (~92 units)
These are condo-style units, with sleeping area, bathrooms, living room, and kitchenettes (i.e., fridge, stove, sink, plates, cutlery). Most have walkout balconies, typically with a table and chairs for outdoor patio dining. The one-bedroom suites have either 2 twin beds or 1 king bed, and are priced at $175 CAN per night, plus resort fees and taxes, The two-bedroom units are priced at $250 CAN per night, plus resort fees and taxes. The three-bedroom units are priced at $375 CAN per night, plus resort fees and taxes. Most of these have a pullout couch/sofa that can be used as an extra bed. These units are a great option for a research group of 4-8 people, at a very economical price. They are about a 5-minute walk from the main conference sessions. The building also has a "common area" lounge for impromptu meetups or discussions.
4. Condos (~51 units)
There are numerous condominium (condo) units scattered around the Deerhurst property, either near the lake or the golf course. These are privately-owned condos that are sub-leased for part of the year as Deerhurst rental units. Some have 2 bedrooms ($250 CAN per night plus resort fees and taxes), and some have 3 bedrooms ($375 CAN per night plus resort fees and taxes). Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom. There is a full kitchen, plus a walkout balcony on each unit. These are very nice accommodations, which are a great option for a research group to share. Outdoor pool nearby. The walking time to the conference sessions is 5-10 minutes.
5. Lakeside Lodge (93 units)
This is the newest building at Deerhurst, which will be opening for accommodation starting in Fall 2018. These are condo-style accommodations, next to Bayshore, and about 8-10 minutes walk from the main conference sessions. There are studio units, as well as one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Pricing is yet to be determined, but will likely be near $200 CAN per night plus resort fees and taxes.
Resort Fee
All accommodations at Deerhurst Resort are subject to a resort fee of 8% on each guestroom, to be paid by conference attendees as part of their hotel bill. The resort fee covers parking, WiFi in guest rooms and meeting rooms, and use of the Deerhurst recreation facilities (e.g., swimming pools, fitness centre, climbing wall, hiking trails, tennis courts, beach, firepits, Muskoka chairs). In short, make sure to enjoy your time at Deerhurst, while not missing too many conference sessions!
Taxes
All accommodations at Deerhurst Resort are subject to Huntsville's Municipal Accommodation Tax (4%), plus the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) of 13%, which combines together Ontario's Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 8% and Canada's federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5%. Visitors to Canada may be eligible to apply for a GST rebate upon departure from Canada, using the forms provided at the airport.
Deposit
Deerhurst Resort requires a deposit equal to the first night's stay, payable at the time of booking. The balance is due upon checkout from the Deerhurst Resort following the completion of your stay.
Cancellation Policy
Any cancellations or changes to a booking must be made at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled arrival at Deerhurst.