What Makes a Short-Term Rental Feel Like Home?

Source: Unsplash

While there’s plenty of excitement on the first night in a new city, there’s also the unfamiliarity of figuring out which light switch does what and where to find a good cup of coffee the next morning. Even the most cushy serviced apartment can make you feel like you’re just passing through. 

With some repetition, however, you eventually figure out the most comfortable corner to relax in and where to go when you need to grocery shop. Whether you’re in Toronto for an extended vacation or moving to the city and looking for permanent housing, having a place to settle rather than somewhere to simply stay can give you something familiar to come back to at the end of the day.

A short-term rental shouldn’t be just somewhere to sleep at the end of the day. The way it’s designed, what it provides, and where it’s located go a long way toward helping you adjust to your new surroundings.

Does your short-term rental have these qualities?

A Strong Location to Help You Find Your Bearings

Although many people aim to stay in Toronto’s downtown core, the city is full of neighbourhoods with their own personality and pace. Staying outside the busiest part of the city doesn’t mean giving up convenience. In fact, it could bring you closer to places you’re actually interested in frequenting, whether that’s a favourite restaurant, a nearby park, or a workplace.

While a guide might point you toward the most popular parts of the city, it doesn’t mean they’re the best fit for your stay. Consider:

• Where you’ll be spending most of your time
• Public transit access
• Walkability
• Access to everyday essentials
• Noise and pace
• What you want to experience
• The length and purpose of your stay.

After a quick review, you might find that staying right in the middle of the action may be more inconvenient than convenient.

Everyday Amenities to Support Your Routine

Fitness Centre @ The Livmore

When your stay spans more than a few nights, the little conveniences start to matter more. Having a kitchen you can cook meals in, laundry facilities when you need them, and a comfortable place to get some work done means you don’t have to sacrifice all your usual routines.

In these situations, a short-term rental really earns its place over a more traditional hotel stay. Rather than relying on hotel services or eating out for every meal, you can use the space much like you would your own home. 

DelSuites provides short-term serviced apartments, offering something of a middle ground between the convenience of a hotel and the comfort and independence of a home. Our amenities go far beyond the basics:

• Bi-weekly cleaning services
• 24/7 guest services and maintenance support
• En-suite washer and dryer
• Welcome starter package
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Upgraded wireless secured internet
• 24-hour building security
• Supply closet with spare light bulbs, vacuum, and more
• Linens, hangers, bathrobes, and other essentials
• LCD flat-screen TV with HD television package

Additional services include pre-arrival grocery services and items like playpens and cribs for family-friendly stays.

Some of our locations also feature:

• Rooftop lounges
• Designated work spaces/lounges
• Indoor or outdoor pools
• Fitness centres and gyms
• BBQ areas
• Pet-friendly suites and amenities like the Dog Spa and “Bark Park” at The Livmore

With these top-notch amenities at your disposal, you can spend less time recreating the comforts and conveniences of home.

Room to Live

A hotel room might give you a designated room just for you, but that doesn’t always mean you have enough room to truly live. A short-term rental with separate space for living, working, and relaxing means you don’t have to have dinner at a nightstand or work from where you sleep.

If you happen to be travelling with a partner or colleague, having more than one room gives everyone some space of their own.

Even when you’re only in Toronto temporarily, having distinct spaces can help your brain create boundaries and routines. 

Comfortable Design to Create Familiarity

DelSuites Suite @ 300 Front St.

A well-designed rental is all about comfortable design. Although aesthetics can set the tone of the room, your physical environment can help you feel less out of place and more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.

What elements contribute to a home-like space?

• Comfort: A good bed, warm lighting, and comfortable seating make an unfamiliar space feel more inviting and easier to relax in.
• Predictability: A logical layout that doesn’t force you to constantly figure out where to put things or how to use the space.
• Routine: A space that naturally supports your habits and daily rhythm.

How DelSuites Helps You Feel at Home

DelSuites Suite @ The Livmore

DelSuites has crafted an experience designed to make extended stays feel more comfortable, familiar, and like home. Our furnished, short-term rentals are designed around the practicalities of everyday life and are located in some of the city’s most desirable neighbourhoods.

We have 16 locations across the GTA, including Downtown Toronto, North York, Midtown, Mississauga, Scarborough, and Etobicoke, to give you more choice in where you stay.

Explore our furnished suites across the GTA.