_This is a special contribution post from one of this year's speakers, Amrita Chandra.
_

This will be my 3rd time making the trip from Toronto to Fluxible — the first two years I came as a curious attendee and this year, I'll be a speaker.

I'm not the only one coming from Toronto! We have a good contingent of people coming to Fluxible from the Greater Toronto area. For those of you who are first timers, we’ve put together this mini-guide for the weekend to make it easy to get here and feel at home.

It's super simple

Firstly, let us reassure you that getting here from Toronto is easy peasy (it is a user experience conference after all — easy is our middle name!). Whether you arrive via train or bus, the venue and hotels are just steps from the stations. We've highlighted each of the important locations on the map below.

Speaking of getting here…

There are a few public transit options for getting from Toronto to Fluxible, ideal if you don’t have a car or feel like leaving it behind that weekend.

  • Bus: Greyhound operates buses from Toronto’s Dundas Street bus terminal to Kitchener’s Charles Street Station. One way fares range from $11-28 and travel times are between 1h40min and 2 hours depending on the route and time of day. For more on fares and schedules visit www.greyhound.ca. The bus station is within walking distance of the conference hotel and Fluxible venue.

  • Train: Via Rail and GO Transit run a limited service between Toronto and Kitchener, with fares starting at $23 each way. For schedules, fares and to book tickets, visit www.viarail.ca. The train station is within walking distance of the official conference hotel and Fluxible venue.

  • Car: If you’re traveling by car from Toronto, the journey can take from 1-2 hours depending on traffic. We recommend avoiding traveling between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. if possible, when traffic is at its peak.

  • Rideshare: While we can’t organize a formal rideshare program, if you are looking for a ride to/from Fluxible, we’re happy to Tweet your request and help you find a match.

Places to stay

  • Hotel: The official hotel of Fluxible is The Walper Hotel in downtown Kitchener. This hotel is ideal because it's an easy walk to the Fluxible venues. We’ve secured a rate of $119/night for Fluxible attendees, a discount of $20 per night off the regular rate! To receive this discount, please use promo code “Fluxible” when booking online or over the phone.

  • AirBnB: At the time of this posting, there were a handful of rooms or homes available close to the Fluxible venue for under $100/night. We are not vouching for the quality or reliability of these rentals so please do your due diligence!

Breakfast options

The Fluxible organizers know that good food can make a good event even more memorable. While they will provide lunch, snacks and a Saturday night dinner, you will need to get your own breakfasts.

  • Coffee Culture: This cafe doesn't have the *best* coffee in town, but it's in the same building as the Walper hotel and very close to the Fluxible conference venue, so a convenient option if you are on foot. Added bonus if you're an early riser: Coffee Culture opens at 6 am.

  • Angel's Diner: This is a good family-style restaurant that serves breakfast and is a better option if you have a car. They open at 7 am on Saturday and 8 am on Sunday.

  • Cora: A little further afield in Waterloo Town Square but also a good option for breakfast if you are driving. Cora opens at 7 am.

After-party socializing

Our top pick for later-evening drinks on either Friday or Saturday night is Imbibe, a cozy resto-pub known for its constantly-rotating selection of Ontario craft beers. Imbibe is located in the same building as THEMUSEUM, so you'll literally have to walk about 5 steps to get there after the Fluxible party ends at 9:00 on Saturday. It's also right across the street from the Walper Hotel.

Looking for something different? You'll find some fabulous hangouts in Uptown Waterloo. We recommend you travel by taxi (which will run you about $10 each way from the Fluxible venue) or car if you have a designated driver:

  • Ethel's Lounge: This place is an institution in K-W as you'll see from the concert posters and 50s-diner style decor. A great place for drinks and conversation especially if you are a bit peckish as they have a full kitchen serving meals and snacks.

  • Death Valley's Little Brother: An espresso house by day and a whisky joint by night, DVLB is a cozy place that stays open until midnight.

  • Jane Bond: A live music venue that also has a vegetarian menu, come here to unwind with some good tunes.

  • Starlight: If dancing the night away is more your style, the Starlight will provide the music and the dance floor!

Now that you have all this info, there's no excuse not to make the trip to Fluxible! If we've missed something or you have any questions, leave us a comment below or send us a Tweet. See you there!