So you’re traveling to Toronto for business. You could be relocating or maybe you’re going for a contract term. Whether it be short or long term, you’ll need a place to live that fits your lifestyle. Trying to decide on the right furnished suite can be challenging with lots to consider. And let’s face it, you don’t have time to do research and don’t want to take chances or make any mistakes. And if you’re like me, you want to minimize downtime and find the most effective space without skipping a beat.
This was exactly the case for me when I was looking for a corporate furnished apartment in Toronto. I explored a few options, did some investigating and 2 months later found the space that works best for me. So I decided to put together a quick guide to help you choose the right luxury rental. Keep in mind, furnished rentals are best when staying for 1 month or more in a single location. I’ll also share more details with you about the particular place I chose, Toronto Luxury Suites and why it worked so well for me. So let’s get into it – here’s what to look for in a luxury suite the next time you travel for business.
The Location of the Rental
The first thing to determine is your location parameters. What will and will not work for you. I suggest narrowing it down to a 6 to 8 block radius and focus strictly within that. This way you don’t settle. Location is so paramount and will set the tone for your whole experience. For me, it needed to be walking distance to my office and gym with abundant food options. This made things easier when deciding between buildings and one of the reasons Toronto Luxury Suites worked for me. You’ll want to look at the surrounding neighborhood – corporate office location, restaurants, cafés, shopping, fitness centres, etc… Do you prefer a quiet area or do you want a bustling nightlife at your doorstep? Do you need to come in go throughout the day? Will you be driving frequently and require parking? Or maybe you need to be close to the Subway to get around quickly. In any case, the area plays a vital role to overall convenience and could save you significant travel time to and from the places you frequent most. And as we all know, time is money so choose your area wisely.
The Size and Amenities
Once you’ve determined the location, you’ll need to figure out the size and amenities you’re looking for. For my corporate rental objectives, having a comfortable home work space as well as a place I can comfortably entertain guests is crucial. In terms of amenities, a gym is mandatory and a nice view is a big bonus. When doing the research, I also initially included hotels as a living option. Although, hotels rank high on my list when it comes to amenities and convenience, I found that for the price, you’re not getting the same amount of space. You can actually read more about this in a recent article I did comparing luxury hotels to furnished suites. So although a hotel room might work well for short term stays, it definitely didn’t make sense for longer terms. Figure out what your deal breakers are and cater your search around that. Again, the idea here is not to settle. What I liked about Toronto Luxury Suites over some of the other options out there is that they have a very strict criteria when choosing their buildings & amenities. All unit options have a gym and in most cases have extras like pool, steam room, beautiful terraces and spacious party rooms. Make sure you take a close look at the amenities and pick the ones that are most important to you.
The Service & Management
There may be some “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves” on your list. Times where small concessions are made for the greater good. Service is one of those things that can make up for those concessions you may have to make. Not to confuse this with settling – remember, we don’t want that – we never truly value service until we experience what it’s like not to get any. I found this out the hard way, as we all eventually do. This is why I opted to go with a professional and experienced management company that has some level of tenure. I’m taken care of by a team that does this day in and day out with a 24/7 concierge service. This gives you piece of mind. Unlike individual property owners, like Airbnb for example, where I wouldn’t have this flexibility and level of service and care. I highly suggest you get to know the management or person in charge of your unit to see how issues get handled. Don’t be afraid to ask them directly.
There is one last thing I want to mention that helped in making my decision to go with a diversified company versus an individual entity. Personally, I didn’t have the time to visit each singular unit so had to trust that the place would be up to par. I imagine this will also be the case for you coming to Toronto from out of town. I felt comfortable because beyond the experience and stellar reviews, TLS has a wide selection of properties. So if one didn’t suit me for whatever reason or in case my corporate rental needs change down the road, I have options within the same company. I don’t have to start all over again. I’m dealing with the same team that can provide consistent levels of service no matter the unit. And I like that.
Hopefully, this guide will help narrow down your quest to find the best furnished rental in Toronto. If you’d like to learn more about my experience or if you have your own experience with furnished rentals to share, feel free to connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin (linked below in my profile). You can also follow along while I showcase my journey on travel, work and city living.
