Vacation Travel Archives - Page 12 of 16

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.

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, Fitness and Health, Lifestyle talk, Relocation, Vacation Travel

Home Workout Exercises in Your Furnished Condo

January 19, 2016

It can be difficult to stay in shape when you are on vacation or travelling for work, as you are jostled out of your healthy at home routine. You might end up eating out more and having a few drinks – which often means that you return home with a few pounds under your belt as a souvenir. In addition to using the fitness facilities at your furnished apartment in Toronto, you can also do these great at home workout exercises anywhere so that you can keep in shape while on the go:

1. Superman
This exercise will strengthen your core while providing you with a great stretch. Start by lying on your stomach on a mat or on the floor with your legs outstretched behind you. Your toes will be pointed toward the wall and your neck should be relaxed. Exhale while you squeeze your core muscles and reach both legs up a few inches off the floor. While your legs are lifting, float both arms a few inches off the floor as well. Hold for 20 seconds, then slowly release.
2. Push Ups
This classic exercise is great for working the upper body, but it also works to strengthen your core as well.
3. Prisoner Squats
These are basic squats, except with your arms up and your fingers laced behind your head. The hand position forces you to keep your chest upright and works your core muscles.
4. Downward Facing Dog
This yoga position gives you a great stretch, as well as strengthening your abs and back.
5. Front Plank
This exercise is harder than it looks. Lie on your stomach and then raise your body up on your elbows and toes, keeping your torso and legs stiff and strong. Your body should be as straight as a plank and the only thing touching the ground should be your forearms and toes. Hold this position for as long as you can, breathing deeply, then lower yourself back to the floor.
6. Tuck Jump
Stand with your knees slightly bent and then jump up as high as possible, bringing your knees to your chest while you are in the air while extending your arms straight out.
7. Mountain Climber Home Workout Exercises
Start on your hands and knees and bring your left foot under your chest while straightening your right leg. Keep your hands pressed to the ground and jump and switch legs.
8. Burpees
One of the most difficult but effective full body exercises. Start with a squat position and put your hands on the floor. Jump your feet back into a push-up position. As soon as you have completed one push-up, jump your feet back to the squat position. Leap up into the air as high as you can before you squat and repeat.
9. Wall Sit
Slide your back down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the ground and stay that way, like you are sitting on an invisible chair. It won’t take long to feel the burn.
10. Side Plank
From the plank position, roll to the side and come up on one of your elbows and the corresponding foot. Hold it for 30 seconds.

The advantage of staying at one of our furnished condos is that all buildings have on-site fitness centres, including swimming pools, cardio machines and much more. With the on-site recreational centres and these 10 quick at home workout exercises, you can keep a healthy routine without having to worry about the weather or go out to find a gym in an unfamiliar city.

Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Lifestyle talk, Toronto History, Vacation Travel

Toronto Neighbourhood Guide: Kensington Market

November 20, 2015

Photo Credit: Rina Pitucci

One of Toronto’s most eclectic neighbourhoods, Kensington Market, is within walking distance of our downtown furnished rentals. Settled by Eastern Europeans, the neighbourhood –which spans from College to Dundas, north to south; and Kensington to Denison, east to west– has had fluctuations of different ethnicities from Jewish, Portuguese, and Latin American, which is now an important landmark in Toronto. It has also developed certain trends: homes behind homes and stores on the first floor of homes, which has since been retained today. Here are our favourite places and things to do in the Market.

1. Casa Acoreana. Located at the corner of Augusta and Baldwin, Casa Acoreana has been one of the Market’s longest standing institutions in business for 50 years. Comprised of a cafe and a store that sells coffee, candy, and nuts, it is one of the best people-watching spots in Toronto.

2. Pedestrian Market Sundays. Every last Sunday of the month from May to October, Kensington Market’s streets are closed off

Photo Credit: Joey deVilla

to traffic for their annual Pedestrian Sundays. There’s music, food, and many street performances. It’s a lively event that you can’t miss if you’re visiting or living in Toronto.

3. Produce, Meat, Fish, and Cheese. If you like to do your shopping at local markets, Kensington Market is the best place to do it. It’s the perfect pit stop for your picnic needs if you’re heading over to the park at Denison or further along, at Trinity Bellwoods Park. Some of our favourites: Sanagan’s Meat Locker, Hooked for Fish, Oxford Fruit Market, and Global Cheese. Happy shopping!

4. Seven Lives Tacos. There are plenty of options for lunch and dinner in the Market. Though you’ll always see lines for this taqueria, Seven Lives

Photo Credit: Ian Irving

arguably has some of the best fish tacos in the city. Get the Gorbernador and thank us later!

5. Vintage Shopping. Vintage stores that scatter the market lend to its bohemian vibe and are one of the best ways to explore the market. Check out the long standing Courage My Love for jewellery and great clothing finds and Flashback for jackets. You’ll likely stumble upon racks and racks of clothing on the sidewalks outside of the stores and may unexpectedly find a good garment.

What are your favourite places in Kensington Market?

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