Toronto Feature

Apartment Rentals

If you want a home base that's roomy enough for a family and comes with cooking facilities, consider a furnished rental. Home-exchange directories sometimes list rentals as well as exchanges.

Hideaways International. Hideaways International; four-month membership is US$49. 603/430-4433 or 800/843-4433. www.hideaways.com.

Local Agents

Apartments International Inc.. Apartments International Inc. provides upper-end furnished apartments for executives visiting for a month or more. 416/410-2400 or 888/410-2400. www.apts-intl.com.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

Toronto Bed & Breakfast. A free registry, this organization lists more than a dozen private homes, all in and around downtown. 705/738-9449 or 877/922-6522. www.torontobandb.com.

The Downtown Toronto Association of Bed & Breakfast Guest Houses. This organization represents privately owned B&Bs. 416/410-3938. www.bnbinfo.com.

Au Petit Paris. A great alternative to big chain hotels in this area, this B&B is just east of Yorkville and north of the Church Wellesley district. Vegetarian breakfasts, served on the rooftop (weather permitting) are memorable. 3 Selby St., Church-Wellesley, Toronto, ON. 416/928-1348. www.bbtoronto.com/aupetitparis.

By the Park B&B. This B&B consists of two buildings (a B&B and an apartment-style accommodation in a separate house), the brainchildren of a married couple who happen to be alumni of the Ontario College of Art and Design; their attention to detail is evident. 92 & 89 Indian Grove., at Bloor St. W, Greater Toronto, Toronto, ON, M6R 2Y4. 416/761-9778 or 416/520-6102. www.bythepark.ca.

Les Amis. The charming Parisian host Paul-Antoine fills Les Amis with beautiful photos of his travels through South America and Africa and the tantalizing aromas of his legendary fruit crepes and Belgian-style waffles. 31 Granby St., at Yonge St., Dundas Square Area, Toronto, ON, M5B 1H8. 416/928-1348. www.bbtoronto.com.

Islington Bed & Breakfast House. At this B&B, paintings and tapestries reflect the local landscape. 1411 Islington Ave., Greater Toronto, Toronto, ON, M9A 3K5. 416/236-2707. www.islingtonhouse.com.

College Residences

You can crash at these college residences, which are affordable summertime alternatives to hotels.

Massey College Student Residence. Between early May and mid-August, this student residence at the University of Toronto provide budget lodging. Single and double junior suites have shared bathrooms, and single and double senior suites have private bathrooms—all rooms are spartan, but linens, towels, and housekeeping services are provided, as well as breakfast. 4 Devonshire Pl., south of Bloor St. W, Queen's Park, Toronto, ON, M5S 2E1. 416/946-7843. www.masseycollege.ca.

Ryerson University Residences. These residences consist of two adjacent buildings with dormitory-style guest rooms available to nonstudents during the summer months (early May to late August). In Pitman Hall, bathroom and kitchen facilities are shared, and Continental breakfast is included; larger single or double bedrooms in the International Centre have en suite baths and cable TV but no breakfast. 160 and 133 Mutual St., north of Dundas St. E, Dundas Square Area, Toronto, ON, M5B 2M2. 416/979-5296; 888/592-8882 in Canada only. www.ryerson.ca/conference.

Hostels

With some 4,500 locations in more than 70 countries, Hostelling International (HI), the umbrella group for a number of national youth-hostel associations, has single-sex, dorm-style beds and, at many hostels, including those in Toronto, rooms for couples and accommodations for families. Membership in any HI national hostel association, open to travelers of all ages, allows you to stay in HI-affiliated hostels at member rates; one-year membership is about C$28 for adults (C$35 for a two-year membership in Canada); hostels charge about C$10 to C$30 per night.

Organizations

Hostelling International—USA (8401 Colesville Rd., Ste. 600, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. 301/495-1240. www.hiusa.org.)

Hostelling International—Canada (205 Catherine St., Suite 400, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1C3. 613/237-7884 or 800/663-5777. www.hihostels.ca.)