Business Travel, Downtown Toronto Condos, Family Vacations in Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

Make Your Toronto Vacation Rental Feel Like Home

May 12, 2016

If you’re travelling far from home, the impersonal surroundings can get to you after a while and make you feel a little bit lonely and homesick. Staying in a Toronto vacation rental is a much better option, as you will have the conveniences of home such as being able to cook your own meals, wash clothes and have separate areas for sleeping and socializing. A Toronto vacation rental can be a home away from home and can really help you to enjoy your trip in comfort.

So what can you do to make your Toronto vacation rental feel even more like home? If you are staying for a while and you are starting to miss where you came from, here are some ideas for creating a cozy and welcoming home away from home.

Fill the Room with Your Signature Scent

Do you have a favourite type of candle or incense that you like to burn when you are at home? Or perhaps you have a particular room freshening spray or essential oil that you always use? Take it with you on your trip so that your Toronto vacation rental can smell just like home. Scent is strongly linked to memory and emotion so when you take a deep breath you will immediately feel calm and centered.

Put Up Your Pictures

Buy a few cheap picture frames and print out a few pictures of your most beloved family and friends. You can place them on the bedside table or the mantelpiece of your vacation home so that you can be reminded of your loved ones even when you are away. There are even digital photo frames that you can buy which will display a memory card filled with photos on a slideshow.

Cook a Favourite Meal

Do you have a favourite dish that reminds you of home? Whether you are on a business trip by yourself or a family getaway with all the kids, bring the recipe and cook it up in the kitchen of your vacation home. If it requires special ingredients that you can only get at home, make sure you pack them with you! The kitchen will be filled with a comforting and familiar smell and you will enjoy a taste of home.

Bring Your Own Music

Why not bring your favourite music from home to listen to at your Toronto vacation rental? Many Toronto vacation rentals will have a stereo system with an iPod or iPhone jack so that you can plug in your own playlist. If not, there are also many great portable speakers you can travel with so that you can listen to any music anywhere.

These are just a few ways that you can make your Toronto vacation rental feel more like home when you are staying in an unfamiliar place. With all of these wonderful little touches you will be so comfortable in your holiday home that you won’t want to leave! Dont forget to check out these top 10 things to do before you head out on vacation.

Downtown Toronto, Downtown Toronto Condos, Fitness and Health, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel

Trails and Parks in Downtown Toronto

April 15, 2016

Even when you are staying in a furnished rental, a tranquil and green escape to a walking trail or quiet parks in downtown Toronto is not as far away as you might think. The city of Toronto offers many beautiful parks and walking trails where you can get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Let’s take a look at some of the natural areas close to the city centre where you can enjoy the fresh air and listen to the birds. Here are some of the best trails and parks in downtown Toronto:

The Finch Meander Trail

Head to the east end of Toronto where you will find this out-of-the-way trail that leads through gently sloping terrain to the bank of the Rouge River. Beyond the trail you will find grassland, forest and a scenic bluff to the southeast.

Bluffer’s Park

This is a gorgeous little slice of wilderness that is located in an easily accessible part of Scarborough. Take a hike down the gravel trail and explore the Scarborough Bluffs, an impressive 14 kilometre geographical formation formed by the Wisconsin Glacier 12,000 years ago.

The Don Valley Trails

These trails consist of 11 kilometres of trails that will take you through tranquil and steep-sided green spaces within the city of Toronto. They are asphalt, so they are perfect for cycling or jogging and there are also wide open spaces and narrow ravines to explore when you venture off the beaten path.

High Park

High Park is an enormous 161 hectare park that is located right within the centre of the city. It offers plenty of quiet leafy spaces and seven kilometres of trails to explore. One third of the park has been left in its natural unspoiled state with the original oak savannah and the rare plant species that once covered much of the area.

The Humber River, Old Mill and Marshes

The Humber River and the marshlands around it make up the largest watershed in Toronto, an important wildness corridor for butterflies and birds. The waters here are home to more than 60 species of fish, which make it a fascinating place to explore within the middle of the big city. The Toronto Carrying Place Trail – also known as the Humber Portage, is an important route for traders and natives and is a trail that is rich with wilderness and history.

Mast Trail

This trail is formerly a logging route over two centuries ago where lumber was sent to Europe for ship building. This 200 year old trail that will take you through a lush fern forest and groves of mature trees. It covers challenging terrain and will take you from Little Rouge Creek to the Rouge River.

These are just a few of the best hiking trails and parks in downtown Toronto that you can access easily. During your visit, why not strap on your hiking boots, leave the busy streets behind and venture out of the city to one of these rejuvenating green spaces?

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Family Vacations in Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

Things to Consider When Renting Furnished Condos

March 31, 2016

A furnished short-term rental is one of the best options to consider when visiting a city, as it offers a number of advantages compared to a hotel. You will have a lot more room to relax, you will have cooking facilities so that you can prepare your own meals and washing machines so that you can launder your own clothes. A furnished condo offers the convenience and comfort of home so that you will not need to be cramped into a hotel room.

Here 5 things to consider before renting furnished condos:

1. Location, Location, Location

When you choose your furnished condo, one of the most important factors to consider is where it is located. If the condo is too far away from the sightseeing points and attractions you want to see you will waste a lot of time and money going back and forth. The condo should be located in a convenient position close to everything you want to do during your visit.

2. Budget

Think about your travel budget first, then look for a condo rental that fits within it. There are many different options for condo rentals, from the most expensive luxury suite to cheaper options – so figure out what you can afford and stay within your limits.

3. Amenities

What type of amenities does the furnished condo have? Does it have a swimming pool or a gym? Is there parking available and 24-hour security? Consider which amenities are most important to you so that you can choose a condo that suits you best.

4. Size

How many bedrooms does the furnished condo have? Does it have a large sitting and dining area? Your condo will need to be big enough to accommodate all of the people that will be staying with you. If you are travelling with your kids you will want to look for a condo with at least two bedrooms as well as a common area where the little ones can play.

5. Read the Reviews

When you have narrowed down your choices to the best-suited furnished condo rentals the final step is to read the reviews. You will be able to focus on the experiences of the prior tenants in order to find out what to expect from the rental. They will generally give you a good indication of what it would be like to stay in the condo. Sometimes a renting furnished condo can look great in the photos but the reviews will reveal an issue that might make you change your mind.

These are just a few important factors to consider when you are renting furnished condos. Take your time and look for the best condo on your next trip, so that you will be able to stay in accommodation that is comfortable, convenient and well-suited to your needs.

Choosing A Furnished Short-Term Rental

Looking for a furnished, short-term condo rental around the Greater Toronto Area?

Start your search for your next condo rental here on DelSuites.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Food & Recipes, Vacation Travel

New Restaurants in Toronto

February 24, 2016

Toronto has an exciting and thriving culinary scene and it draws some of the best chefs in Canada and around the world. There are always new restaurants in Toronto opening up in this booming Canadian metropolis and visiting Toronto means that you get to enjoy the best of its gastronomical offerings.
So what are some of the hottest dining spots in the big TO? Here are a few restaurants in Toronto that have opened up recently and are creating a buzz:

Boralia
What defines Canadian cuisine? Canada’s culture is a mosaic of influences from around the world, but this restaurant delves deep into the indigenous and early history of Canada to serve dishes that are linked to the origins of our home and native land. You can try pigeon pie or tender squab, or perhaps a bowl of buttery mussels smoked in pine needles. The dishes here are full of heritage, so why not give them a try?

Dandylion
Dandylion is the creative project of chef Jay Carter, who offers up a menu of nine dishes that change almost daily. The portions are generous, the meals are fresh and flavourful and there is always an option for vegetarians.

Otto’s Berlin Donor
This new sandwich shop in Kensington Market caters to the Torontonian craving for German street food. Try the delicious Berlin doner, which starts with a circular flatbread and is filled with chicken, veal, lamb, fried halloumi cheese or a vegan mix of zucchini, garlic, peppers, secret spices and onions. There is also the much-loved German street food dish Currywurst, a juicy bratwust sausage topped with a spicy tomato-based curry sauce.

Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Do you love the spicy, fragrant and fresh flavours of Thai cuisine? This restaurant brings the flavours of Thailand to the streets of Toronto. Northern Thai dishes are the focus, such as crunchy fermented crabs and papaya salad or Massaman curry with tender chunks of beef.

These are just a few of the restaurants in Toronto that have opened up, so why not check them out during your visit when staying in your furnished rental?

Business Travel, Lifestyle talk, Relocation

How to Reduce Stress on A Business Trip

February 1, 2016

Sometimes going on a business trip can be a tiring and stressful experience. There are plenty of meetings and conferences to attend, work to catch up on in transit and big networking functions to attend – by the end you might need a break just to recover from it all! However, there are ways that you can reduce stress on a business trip. Here are some helpful tips that you can keep in mind:

Tips to Reduce Stress on a Business Trip
• Prepare in advance for as much as possible. There are many factors that you can’t control, but those you can control can be taken care of with advance planning. You can figure out the details, such as how to get from the airport to your accommodation, so that you don’t have the added stress of figuring them out on the fly.
• Check in early. Many airlines allow you the option to do this online and it will save you a lot of time at the airport, making your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
• Pre-book your transport from the airport to the hotel.
• Pack as little as possible. If you can pack only hand luggage (on a short trip) you will be able to get in and out of the airport much more quickly.
• Have some offline work that you can do so that you can make the most of the time when you are waiting around in transit but you are not connected to the internet.
• Pack clothing that can be easily mixed and matched, so that you don’t have to think too much about coordinating your outfits when you are attending meetings and functions.
• A furnished apartment or extended stay in Toronto can be more beneficial than staying at a hotel. You’ll have the advantage of being able to prepare your own food and do your own laundry, which will save money and be more convenient. Also, you’ll have a separate living space where you can do work, rather than having to answer work emails from your bed in a cramped hotel room.
• Make sure that your short term rental has free WiFi before you book. It’s an important feature for a business traveller and you don’t want to have to go out to a coffee shop just to get a bit of work done.
• Don’t forget to give yourself time to relax and exercise. Many business travellers forget or neglect this, but it’s very important. Physical activity can help to reduce elevated stress levels that are caused by travel or working long hours. A swim in the pool or a workout at the gym can be the perfect antidote to business trip stress.

These are just a few ways that you can reduce stress on a business trip and keep yourself from getting overwhelmed and exhausted. On your next business trip you can be prepared and organized, travel as efficiently as possible and take time to relax and enjoy the journey.

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