Better than home.

Guest: BJ (Goldendale, Washington)
Date of Stay: 09/27/11 Review Submitted: 11/12/11

Thank you Bill for a smooth transaction. Your apartment was so much more than we expected. Everything was perfectly clean and well stocked. The apartment appeared even better than the photographs. We especially appreciated being able to do our laundry right there. Your information about public transportation was most helpful - we were able to get around on Toronto's transit system with no trouble at all. What a beautiful city. We do apologize for the delayed review we came home to a serious family crisis. We will look forward to staying there the next time if you will have us. Thank you for being part of VRBO.

Owner response:Thanks for the nice review. We try to encourage everyone who stays here to use public transit. It works well, and it's a bargain!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Loved this spot! A perfect location for discovering parts of the real Toronto.

Guest: Victorian Cruiser (Victoria. BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/21/11

I stayed at the Pied a Terre for three nights ( Oct 10-12 incl. ) and was not disappointed one bit! Everything was as expected, beautifully designed and maintained, with a most helpful host. I have to blame the nearby Avoca Bakery for my additional calories, but it was well worth it!!. I chose this location because it was close to my son's house, but I really loved exploring the neighbourhood and realised that this was such a great spot for anyone to experience the REAL Toronto! An incredible bonus for me, was to be able to reach Toronto's Pearson Airport on the local transit system for less than $1.50 ( I'm a senior), and it took just an hour from door to door-- only thing you have to watch for is a Subway station that has an elevator ( luggage situation) so I had to go by the 127 Davenport bus, back a few stations in order to find that facility. If I hadn't needed that, the trip would have been 45 minutes or less! If my son's new place isn't completed soon, I'll certainly be back and obviously would recommend to a solo traveller or a couple. Many thanks, Bill.

Owner response:Hi Marie. It was a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for the great review. Just one minor correction: the cash fare for a senior from the airport is currently $2. If you buy 10 tickets, the senior fare is $1.65. Still a fantastic bargain!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great Place So Close to the City!

Guest: Rob & Em (Altlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

This is such a great find in Toronto. This is one of the nicest basement apartments I have ever seen in Toronto! Every thing was so nice, new and clean! Just enough space for my huband and I. Bill and Beth were very nice an accomodating. The neighborhood is very quiet, yet anything you could need is a short walk away. The bus stop was very convienent, yet we opted to walk the 10 minutes to the Ossington subway. Definitely no need for a car, the weekly TTC pass is well worth it. We would definitly come back to stay here again!

Owner response:Thanks for the review. Hope to see you again some day.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Best value on VRBO

Guest: Rick A. (Columbia, SC, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

We have used VRBO for stays all over the world and just want to say that this little apartment may be the best value you'll ever find. The apartment has been recently renovated and looks and feels modern and brand new. The owners have thought of everything; you will not lack for even the smallest detail. All the appliances are new; there'e a washer and dryer just outside the apartment door. The bed is as comfortable as you'll find and the bathroom rates with the those of the best hotels. The owners are very friendly and helpful. Bill greeted us and provided a "tour" of the apartment and plenty of brochures and maps and explained how to use the TTC (bus/subway/trolley system). The bus stops a block away, runs every 5-10 minutes 24 hours a day and gets you to Ossington Station in 5 minutes, from where you can get anywhere in town. The weekly pass is a great value--unlimited use of the entire TTC system. We booked for 7 days then added an eighth. If we're ever back in Toronto, you can bet we'll be staying here again.

Owner response:Thanks for the great review. It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope our paths cross again some day.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Thrilled customers

Guest: cody (Arlington, VA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/11

The Alberta Ave apartment is perfect for anyone visiting Toronto. My wife and I spent a week there recently and found it located conveniently close to public transportation, good food and entertainment. Bill went above and beyond, providing us with all the necessities to make our stay comfortable, as well as providing detailed information and instructions for getting around the town and places to visit. The place was clean and had a calming motif. It had everything we needed, from loads of clean linens to a blowdryer to cable TV. The free WiFi was fast. We were able to use the washing machine right outside the apartment door. Staying there was a dream! When we return to Toronto we definitely want to stay at this apartment!

Owner response:Thanks for the great review. Glad you enjoyed your stay.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

A Cut Above The Rest

Guest: Noorazlina (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/05/11

I stayed at Bill's for 7 days and 6 nights. Wow! I am so impressed by the unit when i arrived at his doorstep. Exactly like what he had described in his postings. I liked the way business was handled right from the time we communicate, booking the apartment and when payment made to secure the unit. Bill handled them so professionally and i must say that i liked the way he worked. The apartment was spotless and immaculately clean. I felt that i have just stepped into an IKEA showroom! Bill and Beth thought so much on travellers' needs and i really felt like i am at home. Location was great, nearby bus stops and Subway station as well as downtown. Amenities were around the corner. What can i say? Bill and Beth (sorry did not meet you, bet you're great too!) you guys are superb and definitely a cut above the rest. I will definitely book way ahead when coming back to Toronto. Kudos...

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Perfect Little Retreat

Guest: Les (Northampton, England.)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11 Review Submitted: 04/05/11

I only met Bill, the owner, twice, once on arrival, again just prior to departure. What a charming man & such a wonderfully appointed, delightful apartment. Everything provided was of top quality, in fact I didn't dare touch much of it! On the second day, Bill called my phone to say that it was raining & that he had left an umbrella in the hallway for me. The location was just fine, within easy walking distance of the excellent TTC transportation system. Where else could one get all the way from the airport to virtually the front door, for $3? Better still, $10 a day, or $36 a week (Monday - Sunday), gives unlimited travel. The owners provide a quite comprehensive welcome to the property leaflet, outlining how to use the facilities in the apartment & giving useful information on shops, restaurants etc. Just a couple of hundred metres down the road is a wonderful bakery, which opens for breakfast & sells delicious, freshly baked bread & pastries, right up till 10pm seven nights a week. It was early March, so cold outside, but the underfloor heating worked a treat. A major bonus was the excellent, fast Wi-Fi which enabled me to use my Skype account to save a small fortune on mobile roaming charges. The clever use of mirrors in the windows gave additional natural light and something I didn't expect in a basement apartment, not exactly a view, but an extremely interesting feature to compensate for the lack of one. My best friend lives in Toronto. She is far more refined than I & described the apartment as being of 'impeccable taste.' I can't argue with that. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Beth, though Bill said that she was largely responsible for the design. Well done to them both. Far better than a hotel, an excellent price, superb fixtures & fittings - just don't tell too many people, I want to have the opportunity to return one

Owner response:Thanks for the great review, Les. It's gratifying to see that all the work we put into the apartment is being appreciated. Hope to see you in Toronto again sometime soon.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car.

I'll go there again:)!

Guest: Aussie (Australia)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

My first time in Toronto, I had a great stay in this perfectly equipped apartment. The hosts were particularly helpful on the very first day when I arrived. Jet-lagged and bleary eyed, I had trouble programming my GPS and they took time out to assist, which I really appreciated. Toronto was pretty cold for an Aussie but the heated floorboards worked a treat. Thanks again!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

The most homey refuge from the lovely Toronto winter!

Guest: steph (San Francisco CA)
Date of Stay: 01/23/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/11

We booked with Bill because the location was great for us, and the price was right. We will be booking with with Bill again and recommending him to our friends because our vacation rental was one of the loveliest parts of our trip to Canada. Bill Entirely renovated his old basement apartment into a swanky little home complete with heated floors, a full kitchen, coffee maker(!!!) and washer/dryer. My boyfriend and I stayed there, and it was the perfect size for a couple. We had everything we could possibly need at our fingertips, and Bill gave us a maps of the area and a list of the best food places for us to check out! It was negative 20 most of the week, and we were taking public transit so we were chilled to the bone whenever we returned, and we would just be so excited to come inside and warm up and enjoy the rental cause it was amazing. And although the rental was already all that we could have wanted and more, Bill and Beth went to check out the art show I was in town to be a part of! Thanks for the lovely rental and for being so hospitable guys! We will definitely be getting in touch with you again if we return to your lovely city! They are extremely hospitable hosts and the rental is perfect and centrally located, I would highly recommend this lovely Peid a Terre to anyone visiting the area, and we will stay there again should we come back to town.

Owner response:Thanks for the great review. Hope to see you in Toronto again some day.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway.

Absolutely lovely!

Guest: Magali (Montreal)
Date of Stay: 01/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/11

What a lovely alternative option to a hotel! The epitome of comfort away from home. Clean, design and well situated. Loved it!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.