April 2017 - Delsuites' Blog
Monthly Archives

April 2017

Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel, Toronto History

Advice for First Time Toronto Visitors

April 27, 2017

First Time Toronto VisitorsA visit to Toronto is a thrill – there is so much to discover in this exciting Canadian metropolis. Here are some very important things that you should know for first time Toronto visitors.

First Time Toronto Visitors : Make the Most of Public Transit

When you are visiting Toronto you will probably not want to rent a car, unless you want to be able to go on road trips outside of the city. Inside the city it is possible to get around quickly and easy using public transit. Plus, you will save money on parking fees and you will avoid getting stuck in rush hour. The city is a giant grid pattern, so it’s pretty easy to navigate.

The transit system in Toronto includes subway lines, streetcars and buses and it will take you to anywhere in the city that you want to go, including well out into the suburbs. You can get a day pass for $12 that will allow you unlimited travel on all TTC services

Stay in a SerFirst Time Toronto Visitorsviced Furnished Apartment

Staying in an furnished apartment for first time Toronto visitors many advantages compared to staying in a hotel. You will have much more space to relax, a fully equipped kitchen so that you can cook your own meals and you will be able to use the building facilities such as swimming pool, fitness centre, bowling alley and much more. This is especially advantageous if you are travelling as a family or staying for a while.

No One Pronounces the Second T

The name of the city is pronounced “Torono” or “T’rana” by the locals. This is due to the Canadian accent, which causes the consonant between two unstressed vowels to be silent. If you pronounce the second T in Toronto it will be clear to all of the locals that you are not a Torontonian.

Don’t Forget About Sales Tax

You will notice that the price tag of an item in the store doesn’t always correspond to the final price when the cashier rings it up. That’s because a 13% harmonized sales tax is added to almost all of the goods and services purchases in the province of Ontario. Sometimes purchases are tax exempt and some have the tax already built into the price, so if you aren’t sure you can always ask the store staff to clarify.

First Time Toronto VisitorsIf You Don’t Like the Weather, Wait 20 Minutes

The weather in Canada is extreme and in Toronto it can fluctuate wildly, especially in the spring and fall. You might have a sunny morning, which turns into freezing cold rain by the afternoon. The weather in the summer is hot and humid and the winters are snowy and cold. Be prepared with many different layers so that you can adjust your clothing to the situation and do some research into the weather forecast before your trip.

About me, Business Travel, Corporate Housing, Customer Service Experience, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Relocation, Toronto Family Travel

DelSuites Offers Digital Home Services

April 19, 2017

Digital Home Services

These days it is more important than ever to be connected wherever you are staying, as the internet is such an integral part of our daily lives. Digital home services are important and according to a report in the New York Times, free Wi-Fi is increasingly present on the list of traveller’s must haves. Gone are the days of paid Wi-Fi. Any savvy traveler knows that Wi-Fi should be unlimited and free as a baseline feature.

DelSuites has always seen the importance of this and have provided great services in the past but now we are offering digital home services bundles that provide guests with digital utilities such as internet, cable and telephone bundles. These digital home services features continue to improve the quality of the guest experience when staying at DelSuites – making these furnished apartment rentals one of the most convenient and comfortable options for staying in the city of Toronto.

Stay Connected to the World with Digital Home ServicesDigital Home Services

Guests at DelSuites will enjoy the convenience of unlimited wireless high speed internet, keeping them up to date with emails, news, social media, videos and more. For those who are visiting on business this is a necessity, allowing them to do the work they need to do during their stay. In the case of vacationers, wireless internet is still crucial, as they want to be able to communicate with family and friends, update social media, research things to do in the area, read reviews of local restaurants and attractions, book tickets and much more.

Guests will also be able to take advantage of free local or long distance calling to any number within North America, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Yukon, Puerto Rico, Nunavut, the Bruce Peninsula and Northwest Territories. When it comes to international calling rates, the prices are competitive with no additional administration costs. This means that visitors travelling from overseas will find it easy to stay in touch with their friends and families back home for an affordable rate – no matter where they are from.

Entertainment at Your Fingertips

Digital Home ServicesOur Premium digital package will keep guests entertained as it features premium HD television with close to one hundred channels and includes HBO and many premium movie channels. Guests will be able to directly order specialty sports and language packages using their credit card, without any additional administration costs. As well, guests with Netflix accounts can catch up on their favourite shows!  If guests require technical assistance with any aspect of their digital bundle, they will have direct access to tech support from the comfort of their suite.

These new digital home services bundles are just one of the many ways DelSuites goes above and beyond to make sure that their guests are happy and well taken care of. For more information about the digital home services or any other aspect of the furnished apartment rentals in Toronto, please contact DelSuites at info@delsuites.com

Food & Recipes

THE FIVE MOST CANADIAN FOODS TO EAT

April 7, 2017

CANADIAN FOODSIt’s difficult to define “Canadian Cuisine” as the country is such a diverse melting pot of influences from other cultures.

However, there are a few dishes that have come to be known as Canadian Foods. Here are a few of the most popular Canadian foods to eat. These are foods that are iconic to Canadian culture and although none of them are particularly healthy, they are essential foods for any visitor to Canada to try.

Poutine

“What’s so special about chips, cheese and gravy?” you might ask. However, this French Canadian dish is so much more than that. TheCanadian Foods cheese must be cheese curds, which have a particular “squeak” when you bite down on them. The gravy should be thin, meat based and peppery and the chips should be crispy on the outside and soft on the outside. Some poutineries will offer dozens of different variations, including toppings like bacon, chicken, sausage or even lobster.

Nanaimo Bars

Named after a city on Vancouver Island, these rich and filling dessert bars are irresistible. They have a crunchy, chewy brownie base that usually features chopped nuts, a creamy custard middle part and a layer of smooth chocolate on top. There can also be variations with different flavours added to the custard, such as mint or mocha. Nanaimo bars are incredibly satisfying and are a classic dessert to bring to any CCanadian Foodsanadian potluck. The best place to try them is their namesake city, so follow the Nanaimo Bar Trail.

Butter Tarts

Butter tarts are a sweet and delectable Canadian delicacy. They have a flaky exterior and are light and sugary. Sometimes they have walnuts are pecans inside, other times raisins. They are yummy and bite sized, so it’s easy to eat too many of them! They have a long history – they were eaten in the early 1600s by the first pioneers.

Tim Hortons Timbits

Tim Hortons is a Canadian institution and every Canuck knows the thrill of rolling up the rim of their coffee cup to win a free donut. Even better than the donuts are the Timbits – tiny donut balls just big enough to pop in your mouth. They are fluffy and soft, with a sweet glaze and come in a range of flavours including apple fritter and blueberry.

TourtièreCanadian Foods

This style of meat pie originated in Quebec and is made with finely diced pork, beef or veal. Wild game such as venison is also sometimes used. There is no one correct filling for a Tourtière – the type of meat depends on the region. Sometimes in coastal areas salmon is used. It is traditionally served at Christmas, but many French Canadians will eat it all year long.

There are so many other Canadian foods and treats that didn’t make it onto this list, including Kraft Dinner (packaged Macaroni and Cheese), Montreal smoked meat, Saskatoon berry pie, ketchup chips, maple syrup, split pea soup, Newfoundland Jigg’s Dinner, Canadian bacon, Beavertails and much more. Let us know your favourite Canadian foods in the comments!

Be sure to also check out our blog on our picks for restaurants and cafes for comfort food!