Reviews for Toronto Vacation Rental - VRBO 315042 - 2 BR Ontario Apartment in Canada, Heaven on Earth! Two or Three-Bedroom Bluff Suite

A secret haven with wonderful views amazingly close to downtown Toronto!

Guest Anne P.
Date of stay 03/03/13
Review Submitted 05/09/13

I had decided to come to Toronto for my birthday in March this year from Spain, via the UK where I was born. I have friends living in Toronto but I don't favour City living so wanted the impossible, a salubrious cabin, house or apartment on the edge of Lake Ontario to invite them to. I surfed the net and found Joy's advert, the photos immediately sold it to me! It is the first floor of her house, she lives on the ground floor. It is beautiful, has a rather luxurious feel to it and yet welcomes you in with a wealth of interesting and original pictures, ornaments and decor. It is truly 'homely' but unique. It has a garden which ends in a sloping cliff face covered in thick foliage, down to the lake. The garden is a wild life focal point and the Raccoons are particularly active, if shy and deer slip through at night and a variety of birds, including a hawk, seem to call the garden home! There is a superb 'Hot tub' that some of my visitors used at night, with snow on the ground and all Joy's fairy lights creating a magic kingdom! They graded the experience 10/10! It is peaceful with lovely views from the main living area windows, has use of Joy's personal WiFi for our modern day needs and feels a million miles form any City. However, once you close the front door and climb the slight gradient to the main, arterial road into Toronto, about 800 metres away you are in a completely different place! Buses and Taxis are very available, you can call for a taxi to pick you up from the house and you are quickly in the centre of Toronto. I cannot praise this apartment enough for it's position near the lake, it's special qualities of warmth and calm and its easy access to touristy things in the City of Toronto. My friends who grew up in Scarborough and knew of The Scarborough Bluffs (the local name for the cliffs) were amazed that such a magical place existed so close to the 'busyness' of city life. It's a gem and Joy will help you in anyway she can. She will also consider allowing dogs and my friend's dog loved the experience of visiting.

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Thanks from Oxford, England

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Thanks from Oxford, England

Guest Mac, Jane, Alex, Thomas, and Evan
Date of stay 08/28/12
Review Submitted 09/14/12

Thank you very much for the use of your home during our 10-day in Toronto. This has been an ideal base for us, allowing us to travel easily in and around Toronto. It has enabled us to visit the Canadian National Exhibition and go shopping in Toronto. We spent a couple of days on a boat in the Marina as well as a couple of days in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the Lake. The kids have had a great time! Thank you.

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Thank you

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Thank you

Guest Jo-Anne, David & Thomas
Date of stay 08/08/12
Review Submitted 08/28/12

Thank you for having us as your house guests this past week. We have had a wonderful time and are finding it very hard to leave. Your place is now one of our favourite spots in Toronto and we've enjoyed showing it off to family and friends. Hopefully you'll still be here the next time we're in Toronto as there is no other place we'd rather stay. All the best,

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Thank you

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Thank you

Guest Elizabeth and Colin
Date of stay 08/01/12
Review Submitted 09/04/12

Hi Joy, I'm sorry to have missed you -- but just wanted to say that we've had a terrific time -- and am very sorry to be going home! The apartment was lovely and we will definitely be back -- hopefully in the summer, if you've a slot available. Thank you for everything!

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A Sweet Spot!

Guest Ted
Date of stay 07/26/12
Review Submitted 08/03/12

Along with our toddler, the two of us just spent a lovely week at this beautiful spot on The Bluffs in Toronto. Joy is a really gracious hostess, and she was very welcoming to our son. The panoramic views of Lake Ontario are amazing--esp. at sunrise/sunset, in the moonlight, or when storms roll in. The place has lots of space (the bathroom itself is the size of a NYC studio apt.!), and there's a good mix of antiques and comfortable furniture. The location is close to a few nice gardens/parks as well as The Beaches, which also has a nice boardwalk (and a public swimming pool in the summer). One thing to note is you'll definitely want to have a car while you're there--nothing is very far, but it makes getting around much easier...All in all, we can't recommend this place highly enough!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

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graduation

Guest karen d.
Date of stay 06/19/12
Review Submitted 06/24/12

We were in Toronto for our sons graduation from Humber. The views of the lake, sounds of birds is most delightful. The beds are just like home. Air conditioner in the livingroom which got a work out as we were there during the heat wave but surprisingly was comfie at night. Joy was very helpful and there is a big yard with a deck and hot tub. Close to downtown and shopping. Would be back again.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thankyou for the nice remarks! What would have earned that last star? It would have been nice if the rain had held off during your special barbeque!!!

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Beautiful Location and Comfortable Accomodation

Guest Steve
Date of stay 05/15/12
Review Submitted 07/03/12

My wife and I, and my younger daughter stayed here for 7 nights while we were in the Toronto area for our oldest daughter's wedding. This was a wonderful quiet retreat from the bustle of the city, but close enough to downtown (where the wedding was) to work for us. A car is very helpful in this part of town, though public transportation is available within a few blocks. Be aware there are some stairs to navigate. We enjoyed the comfortable bedrooms, the big TV, and the excellent kitchen. Walking along the lakefront and lakefront neighborhoods was delightful. We found a beautiful little garden park 15 minutes walk away. Joy was friendly and very patient with us when we lost a key! We recommend this rental to anyone who wants to be near Toronto, but out of the noise.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thankyou, Steve. There is now an enormous log at the end of the property. Sitting on it last night whilst looking at the full moon and the birds flying a bit above the lake, through the remarkable moonglow on the water....I had to ask myself..."Is this heaven on earth"? Steve, bring the family back for the birth of your first grandchild! Joy

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Nice Apartment

Guest Leila
Date of stay 12/25/11
Review Submitted 01/03/12

We enjoyed a week in Joy's apartment. It was very clean and well maintained. The location wasn't too far from downtown Toronto. There were many grocery stores close by. We loved the house and Joy was helpful telling us about the activities and attractions in Toronto. We'll surely consider the place the next time we're coming to Toronto.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Good Times

Guest laura
Date of stay 10/27/11
Review Submitted 08/29/12

We stayed at this lovely home and suite for a seminar I attended in Toronto. It was ideally located for us and we could watch the beautiful sunrise before the meetings and take gorgeous walks in the evening with our good dog Aurugula. Very Hospitable and comfortable. Would definitely recommend to anyone. Enjoy!

Recommended for: Pet owners

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Best Place To Stay !

Guest Kath
Date of stay 10/16/11
Review Submitted 10/25/11

My girlfriend and I stayed here for four nights while on our "girl trip". This place was amazing! It was clean, the beds were very comfortable, the kitchen had everything you needed,there was a washer and dryer to use, and there was even a cozy fireplace to sit in front of, while reclining on the couch. It is located just a short distance from town,with easy access. We had our own entrance, and more room than we even imagined. The photos were very accurate - lovely views from all windows. Would loved to have stayed longer. We will definately book this place again when in the area - it is a real gem!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Great spot

Guest Dianne and Norm
Date of stay 10/07/11
Review Submitted 10/21/11

We stayed in this beautiful neighborhood over Thanksgiving week-end and it met all our expectations.The apartment was very clean and comfortable and the owner was extremely helpful.We loved her dogs!! The views of Lake Ontario were stunning and we would not hesitate to return.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Perfect location. Gorgeous views. Relaxing.

Guest Charlene
Date of stay 08/05/11
Review Submitted 08/21/11

Loved the apartment. The view is amazing and Joy was extremely helpful. We had friends visit and had dinner, needed for nothing as far as the kitchen gear. Bed comfortable. Air conditioning is only in the living room/kitchen area but works just fine. Bedroom fan was plenty for sleeping and we hit the tail end of a heat wave. We had our dog Rory with us and it was just the right choice. Toronto is a dog friendly town and so is Joy. The yard is the perfect place to hang with the dog. The Wagging Tail on Kingston was great for daycare when we needed them and there is a dog beach not far at all. Quick trip into Toronto. Planning on going back next year. Recommend highly!

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Fabulous location for family vacation!

Guest BWG
Date of stay 07/10/11
Review Submitted 07/15/11

The suite on the bluff exceeded our expectations. The lake view and breezes were terrific. The apartment was huge for our family of four so that we each had space of our own. We especially loved being in a residential neighborhood, able to take long walks to explore the lakefront community in a relaxed environment AND we were 15 minutes from downtown. After a day of sight seeing in the city, we could bring home the ingredients from the St. Lawrence Market to cook our own dinners in the fully equipped kitchen. Our added bonus was that our stay overlapped with a full moon rising on the lake! We highly recommend this suite for your stay in Toronto.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A million dollar view, minutes from the city

Guest Walsh
Date of stay 05/01/11
Review Submitted 06/27/11

We needed a 2 month temporary home for our relocation to Canada. We had a cat, and wanted some space, but at the same time did not want to be out in the suburbs and way from the amazing city that is Toronto. Joy's 2nd floor fit our needs perfectly. Clean open and airy, a beautiful front and back yard for our cat to play and hunt in, and spectacular views of the lake every morning. We did not have a car in this period, and found public transport met our every need. If you are coming to Toronto, want (or need) to cook for yourself, and prize calm and quiet as well as convenience, you must stay here.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, sightseeing.

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Could it get any better?

Guest Paul
Date of stay 04/02/11
Review Submitted 05/01/11

We had the greatest experience at Joy's place. We had a renovation being done at our house, and hence we needed to move out. Myself, my wife and son had a wonderful time in the house. The view was stunning to say the least (watching the sunrise was brilliant) and the place itself was immaculate. We felt comfortable the moment we moved in! Joy was very gracious, helpful but not intrusive. Our son had a great time playing with her dogs, and she wasn't shy in letting us invade her beautiful backyard! We truly felt "at home" during our time there. We were able to access wi-fi, which was great, and having a library nearby also was a nice thing to have. Public transit was also close by and if travelling by bike, there was ample room to do so. Our son also enjoyed the nearby park, and the view of the lake! Overall, we had an amazing time, and were sad to leave. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone. We miss it already! The place is clean, open and just plain comfortable. You get the feeling that you're at some resort, without the valet parking and bellboys! The practicalities are there - laundry, full kitchen, etc. Anyway, without blatantly gushing, we were very impressed with the space, and would move back there in a heart beat. Thank you Joy!

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Owner response: Wow!!! Think I"ll move in! JOY

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Thank you

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Thank you

Guest Christian
Date of stay 02/17/11
Review Submitted 09/04/12

Hi Joy, We're off to Algonquin Park today. Will stay at the McMichaels Collection in Kleinburg on the way. Went swimming at the pool at Woodbine yesterday, checked out the Bluffs, Niagara Falls on Thursday, Black Creek Pioneer Village and dinner with friends in Richmond Hill on Wednesday. Centre Island on Tuesday, the ACC & dinner with friendson Monday, downtown on Sunday, the week went by fast!

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Stunning Views!

Guest Maureen
Date of stay 10/01/10
Review Submitted 11/28/10

I was very concerned about moving out of my home in the Beach area to have renovations done on our home. Now that I have been at Joy’s apartment in the Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario, I don’t want to go back home! The transition was so easy and I feel so much at home, I hope my renovations continue for longer! Joy is a wonderful hostess, who even makes sure we have the local newspaper every morning! She is wonderful, helpful and yet unintrusive. Location is exceptional overlooking Lake Ontario in the Bluffs, one of the most beautiful locations I have seen. Tucked in a lovely neighborhood, so close to the beach, waterfront walking trails, botanical gardens and downtown Toronto all within a short hop skip and jump! Imagine waking to the beautiful scene of the sun rising over the lake as you step out of your bedroom, sipping coffee on your private balcony! We were very lucky to experience two full moons lighting up the lake to a silvery glow! Our time here is coming to an end, but I know for sure I will be back here again, somehow, someway! Highly recommended!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A vacation in the city

Guest G and G
Date of stay 09/01/10
Review Submitted 09/17/10

What an incredible experience - a view that is second to none (the best lake view i have ever seen) in a setting that feels like a fairy tale forest. The rooms are antique-filled and very comfortable, a large kitchen and modern bathroom - with the lake stretching out the large windows to the horizon. Amazing walks to the most incredible gardens and a deck and balcony for relaxing at home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay beyond words.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Relaxing Stay On The Bluff

Guest comment entered by owner

Relaxing Stay On The Bluff

Guest Steven
Date of stay 07/15/10
Review Submitted 11/07/11

Our summer rental “On-the-Bluff” was our cottage in the city. This place has both beauty and comfort and has provided us with the luxurious surroundings and quiet serenity that we both needed after a hectic year. Our guests loved sitting in the garden watching the sail boats go by. Our host not only made us feel welcome but her hospitality extended to our dog. Thank you for providing us with such a wonderful healing place. Warm Regards, Eva and Steven and “Mousey the Dog"

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Heaven on Earth! Two or Three-Bedroom Bluff Suite [#315042] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (19)

A secret haven with wonderful views amazingly close to downtown Toronto!

A secret haven with wonderful views amazingly close to downtown Toronto!

Thanks from Oxford, England

Thanks from Oxford, England

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

A Sweet Spot!

A Sweet Spot!

graduation

graduation

Beautiful Location and Comfortable Accomodation

Beautiful Location and Comfortable Accomodation

Nice Apartment

Nice Apartment

Good Times

Good Times

Best Place To Stay !

Best Place To Stay !

Great spot

Great spot

Perfect location. Gorgeous views. Relaxing.

Perfect location. Gorgeous views. Relaxing.

Fabulous location for family vacation!

Fabulous location for family vacation!

A million dollar view, minutes from the city

A million dollar view, minutes from the city

Could it get any better?

Could it get any better?

Thank you

Thank you

Stunning Views!

Stunning Views!

A vacation in the city

A vacation in the city

Relaxing Stay On The Bluff

Relaxing Stay On The Bluff