September 2020

What to Expect From Each Toronto Neighborhood as a Visitor

September 30, 2020

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto for the first time, you may be wondering where to stay. The city is made up of quite a few distinct neighborhoods, each of which has its pros and cons.

In the central area of the city, you’ll find leafy residential streets lined with townhouses, beautiful homes, the University of Toronto campus, and the bright lights of the downtown area. In the east, you’ll find wide-open green spaces, residential homes, and even waterfront hikes.

Here are a few of the city’s most popular neighbourhoods and what you can expect if you choose to stay in them.

Yorkville

This centrally located area is just north of one of Toronto’s main streets—Bloor Street. While the neighbourhood is close to the hustle and bustle of the city, it offers a much more quiet and tranquil atmosphere.

It’s a relatively upscale area, with pricier restaurants, bars, and shops. If you’re looking for a neighbourhood that’s close to Bloor St., but that offers a quiet, trendy way of life, Yorkville might be ideal for you.

Downtown and the Entertainment District

Downtown Toronto is usually considered to be located around the Yonge-Dundas Square area. This area is always bustling and is filled with shopping, offices, and skyscrapers. If you’re travelling to Toronto for business, you may very well end up in the downtown area on a daily basis.

Downtown Toronto is conveniently located and has excellent transport links. Plus, if you’re interested in shopping, eating out, or catching a movie or a play, it’s ideal. However, it’s not a particularly homely area, and it may get a little hectic for some visitors.

The Annex

The Annex is another central area in Toronto, located just west of its bustling downtown. The Annex is filled with student houses along with plenty of charming family townhouses. It’s a slightly quieter, cooler area in comparison to both Yorkville and downtown.

Here, you’ll find plenty of affordable, hip restaurants, cafes, and bars, along with some interesting second-hand boutiques. If you like leafy, pretty streets, but still want to be close to the entertainment district or to the University of Toronto, the Annex is perfect for you.

The Beaches

The Beaches is a little further out than the other areas we’ve discussed so far. It’s located in the east end of Toronto (on the east of the Don Valley Parkway).

The Beaches are aptly named—the area is known for its sandy waterfront walks, it’s village-like feel, and it’s intimate bakeries, cafes, and bistros. If you don’t need to be close to the downtown area of Toronto, this east end paradise is quiet and charming.

Cabbagetown

Cabbagetown is a small, idyllic area in the west end of Toronto. While the Annex is on the west of the university, Cabbagetown is to the east. It offers a quiet, residential feel, along with lots of family-friendly restaurants.

Highlights of this area include Allan Gardens and Riverdale Farm. If you happen to be travelling with kids, this area is perfect for you.

Parkdale

This west end residential area is known for its inclusive, artistic spirit. You’ll find colourful street art and a wide range of entertainment and restaurant options.

This hip, laid back area is centered around Queen St W, which is filled with boutiques, vintage stores, and vegetarian eateries.

Roncesvalles

Roncesvalles is west of the Annex. In the past few years, this area has become more and more trendy. These days, it’s where you’ll find some of the coolest wine bars and tapas restaurants in the city.

You’ll also find independent bookshops and cafes, as well as the city’s huge High Park. This area is a little far out from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but it’s easy to get around by streetcar or subway.

The Danforth

The Danforth is the Main Street in Toronto’s east end. It’s a largely residential area with lots of young families. It’s got lots of parks, easy-going restaurants, and idyllic side streets.

While this area is east of the Don Valley Parkway, simply hop on the subway to get back to Toronto’s Entertainment District.

Finding Your Home Away From Home in Toronto

Here at DelSuites, we offer a wide range of furnished suites on a temporary short-term basis. Our fully fitted homes are ideal for people travelling to the city for business or short-term school purposes. With suites dotted all over the city, you’re bound to find a gorgeous apartment in whichever area you think will suit you best.

Start browsing our listings and discover the home of your dreams in Toronto.

Business Travel, Corporate Housing

A Guide to Hosting Virtual Corporate Meetings From Your Remote Location

September 25, 2020

By now, we’ve all attended at least one virtual meeting. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it essential for all of us to learn new ways of conducting business—even if it means migrating to an online setting and working remotely. Luckily, we do have access to exceptional technology that allows us to continue to do business, even if in-person meetings are no longer a possibility in many cases.

While video conferencing tools like Zoom are helping millions of businesses to conduct meetings and events seamlessly throughout the pandemic, for many, it’s proving a little difficult to master the art of the online meeting. After all, to run an effective meeting, a whole new host of skills are required. Using this guide, you’ll be able to run an efficient and productive virtual meeting.

Have Someone Present to Let People Into the Meeting

With video conferencing apps like Zoom, the host often needs to be present to let attendees into the meeting room. To make the meeting as seamless as possible, assign someone to the role of “virtual receptionist.”

Make sure they are on hand a few minutes prior to the meeting’s start time to let people into the meeting room and introduce them to other early birds. This will give the meeting an extra professional feel and will set people at ease from the get-go.

Set Ground Rules

As you can easily imagine, virtual meetings can easily get confusing and chaotic, especially when there are lots of attendees. To ensure that the meeting runs smoothly, set some ground rules in advance. The following points can be extremely helpful in keeping things on track:

Ask people to mute themselves when they don’t have the floor. This will help the speaker to get their points across and will prevent background noise from creating unnecessary distractions. With some apps, people’s video feeds will take over the screen when they make noise, which can be distracting for obvious reasons!
Set rules for how people will contribute. A good way to do this is to assign someone the role of the meeting organizer. Ask people with questions or points to write a message in the chatbox. When an appropriate moment arises, the meeting leader can give this person the floor.
Set rules about staying on topic. The meeting leader should have the power to divert the conversation back on track if the meeting veers off course onto a tangent.

With clear, pre-set rules, you won’t have to worry about the meeting taking a wrong turn. Plus, you’ll ensure that every speaker gets their turn!

Create an Itinerary and Make Sure Attendees are on the Same Page

In addition to sending attendees some ground rules in advance, send them a rough itinerary of what will be covered. Set aside a specific amount of time for each item on the agenda. This way, you can stay on course and cover everything you need to in the meeting.

Write a Script or a Guide for Presentations

If you are presenting ideas or products during the meeting, don’t feel as though you need to think on your feet. Prepare as you would for an in-person presentation, and jot down some notes on what you want to say. For more formal presentations, you might even write a rough script.

Make Use of Features Like Screen Sharing

While video conferencing isn’t always ideal, it does have some perks. Namely, that there are many features that can make sharing information quick and easy. Screen and file sharing is an excellent feature that allows you to share slides, images, and documents with all attendees. Some might even say it’s better than a projector!

Use Breakout Rooms for Smaller Group Sessions

Another excellent feature of many video conferencing apps is the breakout room feature. For longer business meetings, you may wish to split the large group into a few smaller groups. This will give people a chance to come up with ideas, reflect, and discuss.

Depending on the purpose of your breakout rooms, you can set the app to choose groups at random, or you can set the groups in advance. Using this feature will give the meeting structure and will help to keep all attendees engaged and active throughout.

DelSuites: Find the Perfect Home Office Away From Home

Even though businesses are operating largely online, lots of people are beginning to travel for business. Here in Toronto and the GTA, we’ve seen more and more executives visiting the city.

We offer beautiful, temporary accommodation and corporate housing that is perfect for people visiting the city on business. With our enhanced cleaning regime and our fully-fitted suites, you’ll find yourself in the perfect place to set up a temporary office—and host those virtual meetings like a pro! Find out about our short-term rentals in Toronto today.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Family Vacations in Toronto

A Guide to Getting Around Toronto During COVID-19

September 21, 2020

If you’re planning on visiting Toronto or the surrounding area, you may be in for a little surprise. Even if you’ve visited the city in the past, things have changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As with most large cities, Toronto has had to make some slight changes to its travel system to ensure people’s safety. While the changes are fairly easy to navigate, it’s important to be prepared for the new rules.

Here’s what you need to know about Toronto and the way the city is handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting to Canada

The biggest changes you’re likely to experience in travelling to Toronto is getting into the country. As of September 2020, the border with the US is closed to most foreign nationals unless you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

If you’re travelling from another country via plane, the airline will do a health assessment to check for symptoms of COVID-19. If you display any of the symptoms, you won’t be able to board the flight. You will also need to wear a face mask over your mouth and nose during the flight. Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is one of the only four Canadian airports currently allowing international flights.

When you arrive at Toronto Pearson, you will again be checked for symptoms. Whether you display symptoms or not, you will be required to isolate for 14 days if you are coming to Canada from another country. Certain exemptions may be made if you take a COVID-19 test, or if you’re classified as an essential worker.

Public Transit With the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

Once you’ve arrived in Toronto (and gone through the necessary 14-day self-isolation period if you’re coming from another country), you’ll probably need to get around the city!

The TTC is Toronto’s public transport network. It consists of subway trains, streetcars, and buses. While the entire system is now up and running as normal, there are some additional guidelines to be aware of.

As of July 2020, it is mandatory to wear a mask or face mask while using TTC public transport, unless you have an underlying medical condition that makes wearing a mask unsafe.

On all buses, streetcars, and trains, you may notice that several seats are blocked off. Avoid using these seats to ensure you are practicing social distancing from other passengers.

Fares can be paid as normal by cash, PRESTO card, or token.

Click here to see the latest guidance from the TTC about using public transport safely. You can also visit the TTC website to see a full map of the city’s public transport.

Use a Ride-Hailing App

Uber and other ride-hailing apps have become increasingly popular over the last few years. With Uber and other similar apps, you can order a cab to your exact location and it usually arrives within the space of a few minutes. For many, it’s a more convenient and affordable option than regular taxi cabs.

As of March 2020, all Uber drivers and passengers are required to wear masks while in the car. Drivers now have to verify they are wearing a mask through the app before they are assigned to a ride.

Drivers are also required to sign documentation confirming they:

Have no COVID-19 symptoms
Have disinfected their vehicle
Have washed their hands

If your driver arrives without a mask, you’ll be able to cancel your ride for free.

You will also have the luxury of choice when it comes to ride-hailing apps in Toronto. Other ride-hailing apps that are currently available include:

Lyft
RideGuru
Ola
Didi
Poparide
BlancRide
HiRide

Toronto’s regular taxis are still in service too.

Bike Share in Toronto

Bike Share Toronto offers an easy bike renting system. With over 6,000 bikes held at convenient outdoor stations around the city, you can grab a bike easily and quickly and drop it off at another station when you’re finished.

This bike rental system is still in operation despite the COVID-19 pandemic. While it isn’t required, you may wish to wipe down the handlebars of your bike and sanitize your hands before and after your trip.

Find out more about renting a bike in Toronto.

Finding the Perfect Accommodations in Toronto

Travelling around Toronto is actually a lot easier than you may think, in spite of the ongoing pandemic. Just remember to keep a respectful distance from other passengers when possible. And don’t forget to bring a few masks with you, so you never have to worry about being refused entry.

No matter how long your trip is, DelSuites has the perfect temporary accommodations in Toronto. Find out how we’re keeping our guests safe during the pandemic.

Whether you’re travelling for business or for pleasure, our fully furnished, stylish suites will make you feel right at home from the moment you step through the front door.

Plus, with suites located all over the city, you’re sure to find a place to stay that’s exactly where you need to be. If you’re lucky, you may not need to worry about public transport at all! Discover our short-term rentals in Toronto today.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Family Vacations in Toronto

Fun COVID-Friendly Activities to Keep You Busy During Your Business Trip to Toronto

September 15, 2020

Travel probably won’t be the same for quite some time. The coronavirus has made travel much more complicated. And when it comes to entertainment, lots of businesses have had to close or change their services. Nevertheless, there’s still plenty to do in Toronto if you’re visiting!

In Ontario, the government has created a system of various stages to control the spread of coronavirus. In each stage, certain activities and businesses are allowed to operate, while others are not.

As of September 2020, Toronto is in “stage 3.” In this stage, certain things aren’t operating as normal, such as amusement parks, buffet restaurants, saunas, and bars. However, there are still plenty of businesses operating that promise a great time! Here are some ideas of some fun things to do in Toronto that are safe and, most importantly, open.

Head to a Restaurant Patio

As of September 2020, restaurants are open with a few restrictions in place. If you’re dining inside, there will be plastic partitions between tables, and you’ll be asked to stay seated throughout your meal. However, if weather permits, sitting at an outdoor patio can feel pretty normal.

Spend an evening enjoying a meal and drinks at a restaurant like Hemingway’s, The Porch, or Against the Grain.

Get a Massage

While certain features of Toronto’s spas are currently closed (such as saunas), you can still head to one of the city’s masseuses. If you’re travelling for business, this is a wonderful way to unwind, de-stress, and release some of those post-lockdown knots! Make sure to bring a mask with you as it will be required inside.

Try a Socially Distanced Fitness Class

In the past few months, fitness studios have started to reopen around the city. Most studios that have reopened have had to cut their class sizes by quite a lot in order to allow for social distancing. Try taking a barre, yoga, or spin class to get a feel for the city’s amazing fitness scene!

Visit an Outdoor Cinema

Indoor cinemas have reopened with smaller audience capacities. However, Toronto is home to a few excellent outdoor cinemas. Before the cold Canadian winter sets in, catch a film at an outdoor cinema.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has planned an outdoor drive-in cinema in early September at five locations around the city! Find out more today.

Take Part in a Small Tour of the City

While large tours are no longer operating, smaller guided tours of the city have started up again. If you’re new to Toronto, this is a great way to get a feel for the city and learn about its history. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, why not follow a map and take yourself on a walking tour!

Visit One of the City’s Amazing Museums

Most of Toronto’s museums have reopened to the public. Here are a few of the city’s best-loved museums and what you can see there:

Royal Ontario Museum. See a huge collection of Canadian artifacts in this centrally located museum
Casa Loma. This faux chateau was built in 1914, but feels like a true Baroque relic
Art Gallery of Ontario. One of the country’s most famous galleries, featuring pieces by Canadian and international artists
Bata Shoe Museum. Discover the surprisingly fascinating history of shoes
Aga Khan Museum. Discover the rich history of Islamic civilizations
Mackenzie House. See the home of Toronto’s first mayor in this intimate, historic home

While all of these museums are reopened, most require you to wear a mask inside and book in advance.

Catch a Live Performance

Most theatres and music venues remain shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are actually a few opportunities to see live performances this fall in Toronto. For instance, this September sees the outdoor Jazz Festival up and running. Plus, Canadian Stage recently announced that they are presenting a range of theatrical and dance performances in safe outdoor venues throughout the fall.

DelSuites: The Perfect Place to Stay in Toronto

Here at DelSuites, we understand that travelling in 2020 has proven to be a little trickier than anyone anticipated. That’s why we’ve done everything in our power to make our temporary furnished suites the perfect place to call home while working remotely. With additional cleaning regimes in place, and a fully trained team of staff, you can always rest assured that your stay will be safe and comfortable.

We offer short-term rentals that suit everyone’s needs and tastes. Whether you’re looking for a contemporary apartment in Yorkville, or you’d prefer a cozy place to call home in East Toronto, we have you covered. Start browsing our downtown Toronto apartments today.