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Toronto: Your Summer Vacation Destination

March 15, 2022

Toronto Summer Vacation photo by Scott Webb from Pexels.

If you’re like us, after two years of COVID restrictions, you’re starving for a good summer vacation: sun, socializing, and absolutely nothing to think about but having fun. A hard winter’s making this summer’s travel plans extra sweet—and also making everyone want to make those plans memorable.

If you’re putting together that dream vacation now, here are four reasons to do it in Toronto.

We’re super vaccinated

Let’s get the big question out of the way, because right now, practicalities count: Toronto has one of the highest urban vaccination rates in the world. Over 90% of eligible Torontonians have rolled up their sleeves for at least one shot, and public health measures like mask-wearing generally happen without a fuss.

Whatever COVID safety means to you, knowing you’re around people who take it seriously—and cheerfully—makes having fun much easier. And a Toronto summer vacation is one where that much easier to have a genuinely good time.

A Toronto summer vacation is a simple trip

And now: getting there. No matter where you visit from, Toronto’s one of the easier travel destinations to reach.

Pearson International Airport fields flights from over 180 destinations, and the Union-Pearson Express train makes regular trips directly downtown. For more regional visitors, the smaller, downtown Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport brings in regular flights from over 20 North American cities.

Toronto’s also reachable by train: on VIA Rail inside Canada, and Amtrak from New York State. And for an affordable, scenic trip, Megabus routes go to and from Toronto from Ontario, Quebec, New York City, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.

While you’re here, it’s even simpler to get around: Toronto is one of the most walkable cities in the world. With regular pedestrians-only areas and the underground PATH network ready to help out when it’s rainy or cold, it’s an easy city to do on your own two feet.

If you’re heading a little farther afield—or just want to put your feet up—a web of streetcars, subways, buses, and LRTs connects every bit of the city, from the core to the suburbs.

And if you’d rather put those feet on pedals, the growing network of separated bike lanes—complete with BikeShare rental program—lets you speed through the city with ease.

An international vacation in one place

In a time when it’s easier to deep-dive in one place than plan multi-city tours, Toronto puts the whole world in walking distance. It’s been called the most diverse city in the world, with 117 languages regularly spoken and people from 230 countries calling the city home.

Wherever you’re from, you’ll be able to feel at home and discover something entirely new—usually in the same afternoon.

The dining scene is the most obvious place Toronto’s diversity shows—a United Nations of amazing restaurants that runs regular Lunar New Year celebrations and Eid-al-Fitr feasts. But those community roots run much deeper, to networks of bookstores, film festivals, classes, and what feels like ten national festivals every weekend.

It’s a city almost custom-built for sampling, befriending, and discovery, and a great way to see a little of the world without hours of travel—and at a fraction of the price.

That deep dive gets even easier with a DelSuites Toronto short-term rental. With year-round discounts on longer-term stays, a stay in a DelSuites furnished apartment makes discovering Toronto even more comfortable and affordable.

It is impossible to get bored

You have to work very hard to get bored in a Toronto summer. High culture, low culture, or subculture—whatever you love, there’s a way to enjoy it here.

For those looking for a touch of class, Toronto is home major galleries and museums, championship sports teams, several symphony orchestras, Canada’s national ballet, and the nation’s biggest opera company. There’s enough fine dining—award-winning or up-and-coming—to keep you full for days.

When you’re feeling cozy and local, there’s LGBTQIA+ theatre, movies outside in the park on a picnic blanket, and tiny neighbourhood zoos. Hundred-year-old diners, dumpling shops, and lunch counters stand ready to feed you for under twenty bucks.

And if it’s time to get away from it all, the parklike, green Toronto Islands are just a ten-minute ferry ride from downtown. You can spend the day on one of the city’s warm, sandy Blue Flag beaches, take a boat ride on the lake, or hike the Don Valley to get close to lush, thick nature.

A Toronto vacation is the kind you can spend changing it up, or changing your mind: hiking one day, and luxuriating in the spa tomorrow. All you have to do is start walking. There’s something out there for you: even if it’s only Sunday afternoon at the coffeeshop, petting the dogs.

Make your Toronto summer vacation memorable

After all the last year’s had to hold for us, we all deserve a vacation that’s unique. Call us at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can help you discover summer in Toronto—whether you’d like to spend it chowing down everything the town has to offer, or relaxing peacefully in the sunshine.

Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle talk

Setting Your Furnished Rental Up for Spring

March 8, 2022

Furnished rental spring cleaning Photo by Tatiana from Pexels.

Hard to believe, but spring is coming to Toronto. While we’re still mired in cold weather now, the long-range weather forecast calls for sunny days and soft wind on the way. And that means it’s time for another difficult but necessary shift: moving from winter hunkering-down to spring habits.

There’s less need for a full spring cleaning in a temporary furnished rental condo. But there are still ways to get into a brighter mood—and really get to enjoy your space. Here are a few ideas on how you can set up—and enjoy—your long-term furnished rental for spring weather.

Tidy up so your building can do the work

One of the biggest advantages of condo living is that year-to-year maintenance is off your To Do list. Most condominium buildings get busy with the essentials once the warm weather hits: duct cleaning, air filter changes, carbon monoxide alarm tests, common area painting, and more. And our built-in biweekly cleaning service is ready to take care of the rest.

With a pandemic-induced maintenance backlog to work through, it’s expected that buildings are going to be busier than usual. Since you’ll have the luxury of experts coming through, make sure your panels, vents, and alarms are accessible—and your space uncluttered. It’s considerate, and it lets maintenance staff notice any issues or small repairs faster, so they can be tackled with minimum fuss.

If you’ve noticed any small issues in your unit, spring is a great time to let Guest Services know about them. We can dispatch an expert to handle it while the general seasonal maintenance happens—or see what your building can do.

Fill out your closet

Spring’s a great time to switch your closet around—bring lighter clothes and colours to the front, and send the winter wool to the back. Luckily, all our units have more than enough closet space to make the swap easy: just move those heavy sweaters one shelf upward.

If you’re on an extended stay, the winter-ready clothes you brought might not be what you need for warm spring afternoons. It’s a great time to think about switching up your wardrobe—whether that means sending some things home, and shipping some things here, or buying a few new pieces.

But beware: Toronto spring weather can be a little unpredictable, with occasional little snowfalls into early April. It’s worth being careful before you jump into a spring wardrobe with both feet.

Enjoy your outdoor spaces

It’s a little hard to feel the pull of your balcony when it’s -10 C out. But now that we’re headed into nicer days, that little piece of the outside is about to earn its keep. The balcony is one of the biggest underused stars of condominium life—whether you’re living in a condo temporarily or year-round. And it’s perfect for work, dining out, or play.

Most condo balconies have electrical wiring available—there’s at least one weather-protected plug on the wall. If you’re looking for a new remote office, it’s a simple and huge change to grab a deck chair and table and get some sun.

If you’ve got the space, you can move your exercise routine outside by setting up a yoga mat or weights. One phone playlist later, and your balcony can be your own outdoor gym.

It’s also a favourite space for gardeners, whether you’re going long-term and ambitious or just trying out a little container of lettuce and flowers. Last frost in Toronto is traditionally around mid-May, and you can get seeds from big-box stores like Canadian Tire or even delivered from local farmer’s markets.

What’s more, most condominium buildings have common outdoor areas, which are much less likely to have pandemic restrictions attached. If you’ve been itching for a little safer social time all winter long, find out your building’s rules for its green roof, terraces, barbeque area, or courtyard. They’re spaces that are usually underused by residents and just perfect for a distanced or safer outdoor get-together.

While each building has its own expectations for using common areas, booking the space with your property manager or concierge desk is a good start. Find out about damage deposits, decorating, capacity limits, and any alcohol or noise rules involved, and put together a get-together.

Get back to the patio

The City of Toronto’s restaurant patios are—we say this with love!—notorious for opening at the slightest hint of spring weather. And that’s going to be even sooner this year, as pandemic dining capacity improves.

Once it’s actually warm enough—or you just want to believe it is!—check out the patio options in your neighbourhood. Whether you’re dining out or bringing new treats back home, it’s a great way to meet up with friends, try new flavours, and be a real part of the neighbourhood.

Anything that’ll make your spring in Toronto memorable? Call us at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how you can warm up to Toronto furnished rental living this spring.

Downtown Toronto, Relocation, Toronto Condos

Pandemic Immigration: Tips for Moving to Toronto in 2022

February 22, 2022

Pandemic immigration picture by Javon Swaby on Pexels

Immigrating to a new city—or country—is a big step. It’s even bigger in a year already shaped by COVID-19 and short supplies of everything from refrigerators to sanitizer.

But building your life in a new city isn’t impossible. It just takes a little planning, a little creativity—and some support from your new Toronto neighbours.

Here are a few steps to make your move to Toronto easier—even in a pandemic.

Plan for each step to take a little longer

Every part of life has been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic—and immigration is no exception. 2021 saw Canadian borders closed and on-and-off travel restrictions, and left Canada with 1.8 million backlogged immigration applications by the end of the year.

What’s more, Toronto’s housing market is one of the most competitive in the country—and experts predict it’ll stay that way in 2022. Even with huge construction booms in the downtown, finding a permanent home is taking everybody longer.

COVID’s slowed down some of the essential paperwork you need for Toronto living as well. The City of Toronto has a great checklist available for how to get your life here started. But important services, like applying for your first Ontario health card, still need in-person appointments. That can mean longer waits due to COVID-19 capacity limits and pandemic backlogs.

So: the short version? It’s worthwhile to plan ahead, set up each step of your immigration process early, and assume there will be delays. Knowing how the whole process fits together will let you work on one part of the process when another’s held up and keep your immigration journey moving.

Go digital

The upside of all that COVID disruption? More and more of the immigration process can be done online.

Over the next few years, the Canadian federal government is modernizing the immigration system to fully digital. And if you’re new to Canada, you can already apply for your Social Insurance Number online.

When it comes to housing, more real estate open houses are going to virtual and video because of pandemic restrictions, which makes it easier to see potential new homes and get a feel for neighbourhoods. And with job interviews increasingly going online through video calling, it’s easier to line up work before you arrive.

Immigrating to Toronto this year might make your wifi connection your new best friend—and the more you can do online, the smoother your landing will be.

Consider supply backlogs

We’re short of a lot of life’s everyday conveniences right now: not just time with friends and family, but household appliances.

With global supply chains feeling pandemic stress, some of the basics for a new home are harder to get: dishwashers, refrigerators, and other everyday necessities are backordered by six weeks to two months. It’s one more reason setting up a new home—especially in a new city—can be more of a challenge this year.

If you’re making a list of what you’ll need in your everyday Toronto life, it’s worth a quick check to see whether there are shortages. You’ll save yourself stress and trouble in the long run.

DelSuites can be a simple start to your Toronto life

While no solution in these times is perfect, a short-term furnished rental condo can take some of the work of pandemic immigration off your hands.

Our comfortable, professionally-cleaned condo suites come fully equipped with everything you need on your first day in Toronto: beautiful modern furniture, a full collection of kitchen supplies, soft sheets and pillowcases, towels, toiletries, and more. If you’re shipping your personal belongings after arriving, we’ll help you live in a comfortable home until they’re here to meet you.

Our fully equipped kitchens let you cook the food you love and remove the stress of finding vegetarian, halal, kosher, or allergy-friendly meals in a new city. And our recommended grocery delivery services can help you place a first order before you arrive, so you can start your first night in Toronto with a full fridge and no worries.

We equip every unit with high-speed wireless Internet and North American long-distance phone service, so you can set up your life from the comfort of home. Find local information, call or write family, set up real estate viewings, enroll your children in school, and connect with local employers from your steady, stable home base.

While you’re busy setting up the basics of a new life, our bi-weekly professional house cleaning service keeps things tidy.

If something in your unit breaks or is confusing, you don’t have to navigate whose responsibility it is or find a contractor for repairs. Our guest services line will make sure a repair is done swiftly and well, with all COVID safety requirements taken care of.

Between the work of immigration, our buildings’ fitness amenities—beautifully maintained exercise rooms, pools, and outdoor gardens—will let you keep up your health routine, and there’s a full cable TV package to sit back and relax in the evening.

Immigration during a pandemic isn’t simple, but a good plan and a good space to call home for a while can make it easier. Call us at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can welcome you home to Toronto.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto

Splashing Back Into Business Travel: What You Need to Know

July 30, 2021

The lively city of Toronto is finally opening up as COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted by local governments. Much like other major cities around the world, business travel is going up in demand as a result.

However, a “business trip” doesn’t have to be all work despite what you might think. If you choose the right rental provider, most of the heavy stuff will be off your plate so that you can enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Corporate Stays & Business Travel Are More Than Just a Dormitory

DelSuites wants to redefine the notion of “corporate housing.” We believe that your short-term rental should alleviate any stress of the workday, not add to it. DelSuites renters have come to expect features like:

A welcome package. It contains basic starting items like toiletries, soaps, and other needs.
Room features. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer room, an intrusion alarm system for home security, and multiple utilities at your disposal.
Entertainment. Get ready to unwind during off-hours with our HD television package and large flat screens. Don’t forget about the DVD and stereo system in case you want to bring that next season of your favorite show. Our smart TVs are also compatible with Netflix and other popular streaming apps.
Outside amenities. Now that they’ve opened up again, why not take advantage of all the gymnasiums, swimming pools, and even bowling alleys during your stay?

Of course, one of the best features is the price. DelSuites is actually less expensive than many of the hotels around the area.

The Next-Best Thing to Your Home Office

Now that working from home has never been easier, it’s not uncommon for professionals to have home offices. Our designated work desks available in most suites have a minimalistic design that will help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Never fear being disconnected. We have upgraded, secure wireless Internet alongside local and long-distance calling within the US and Canada. It’s practically the next-best thing to your home office.

A Positive First Impression

We believe the first few hours of move-in are extremely important. That’s why we always make pre-arrival inspections to ensure the room is working exactly as intended before you even get here.

Don’t worry about struggling to find a parking spot in the busy city either. DelSuites offers underground, indoor, and other secure parking options.

There’s also our pre-arrival grocery shopping service. Do you want to focus on move-in and don’t have time to pick up essential groceries first? Let us know, and we’ll have them delivered directly to your fridge and pantry. Delivery dates are perfectly aligned with move-in so that the food stays fresh.

Talk to your dedicated account manager to walk you through the customer-focused reservation process.

Your Health Is Our Priority

COVID-19 may be ending, but you can never be too careful. DelSuites is dedicated to our Enhanced Hygiene Practices and Protocols:

Virtual tours are offered to prospective guests in lieu of physical visits.
Housekeeping services always use disinfectant cleaners with bleach. We use a special bathroom bleach that kills 99.9% of bacteria as well as a spray cleaner with bleach for protection against germs, viruses, and fungi among others.
Staff members are given personal protective equipment like masks and gloves.
They also go through a daily Self-Assessment Health Check and are asked to stay home if they experience any symptoms.
New linens and towels are available in your suite upon request to supplement standard laundry services.
The garbage disposal procedure respects social distancing.

Need additional resources? Get in touch with Toronto Public Health for all your needs.

Find Out How Easy Business Travel Can Be With DelSuites

As far back as 1998, DelSuites started off helping single families find beautifully crafted homes throughout the city of Toronto. Today, our teams are still continuing that tradition in one of Canada’s most lucrative and active cities.

Get in touch with us today and find out why so many of our previous clients recommend us on platforms like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and LinkedIn.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Downtown Toronto Condos, Toronto Condos

What Our Dedicated Guest Services Can Do to Make You Feel at Your Home Away From Home

July 23, 2021

We’re finally coming to the end of the COVID-19 quarantine, and that means that public events, restaurants, theaters, and rental properties can safely open up again. There’s no better time to get that business trip you’ve been wanting to schedule for all this time.

Toronto is the perfect place to get started. You have a ton of lucrative opportunities in such an active and lively city. Restrictions have recently been lifted in the area, and many building amenities have opened up as well. Scheduling a rental doesn’t have to be a headache, so take the time to make your stay a comfortable one.

DelSuites has been serving the short-term rental market in Toronto and other surrounding areas. We have a dedicated Guest Services team designed specifically to make our properties aligned with the high standards of our guests.

Pre-Arrival Services

First impressions matter, so we always have a “Points of Perfection” inspection to make sure everything is working as intended before you reach the room. We offer pre-arrival packages for all our new stays as well that contains:

Directions to the property
Confirmations for your reservations
Any special requests you’ve made

Grocery Service

One of the first things you do in your new place is to purchase groceries. To take some manual work off your plate, let us bring them to you directly when you move in with our pre-arrival grocery service! The cost will be conveniently added to your standard invoice. Delivery will be coordinated with move-in and be added directly to the fridge so that foods remain fresh when they reach you.

DelSuites also strategically selects our locations so that you’re always near a grocery store, some of which may be open 24/7. Ask Guest Services for recommendations and directions.

Too busy or need to focus your time on other things than just groceries? No problem! Get in touch with us for easy shopping at your convenience. You can also use other popular grocery delivery services like Instacart or Gateway.

During Your Stay

We firmly believe that our job doesn’t end on the move-in day. Guest Services will continue to ensure everything runs smoothly for our guests. That’s why there’s a welcome message in the first few days to check on your satisfaction. Need anything specific or want an in-suite orientation? Just ask about our services (additional charges apply). Some of what we offer includes:

Housekeeping to keep the room in perfect shape every time you get home.
Airport transportation. Make travel easier both to and from the rental.
Family services. Bringing the kids? We have cribs, playpens, and other useful touches.

In fact, don’t be afraid to ask whenever you want, even after hours. Our On-Call Manager is available during fires, floods, lost keys, and other emergencies.

Health and Safety

We’re not quite out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID-19. We’re committed to the safety of our guests, no matter how big or small the risk is.

Extra linens and towels are available in your suite. You also have a washer and dryer to refresh them.
Isolated garbage disposal. Check your arrival package for information on how we dispose of trash with maximum sanitation precautions.
Virtual tours are offered as an alternative to a physical visit. Just ask our Sales Team by video chat or phone call.

Need additional resources on COVID-19? Toronto Public Health and Telehealth Ontario have ample resources available.

Turn Short-Term Renting From a Chore Into a Delightful Experience

In such an active and populated city as Toronto, finding the right short-term rental property can be a challenge if you don’t know whom to turn to. For all your business travel needs, DelSuites is here to make things easy.

Ever need something extra, or is something not quite right? Our Guest Services are ready to take care of it right away. Ask us about new openings today.

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