Maria is an awesome host! Her clear and open communication from day one helped to make our stay in Toronto so pleasant.

I had one previous experience with a Toronto AirBnB homeowner that convinced me we made the right decision in working with Maria and renting her home. When I showed interest in his swanky apartment, this other homeowner advised me to rent from him through a different website to avoid the AirBnB service fees. I actually don't mind AirBnB service fees because at least I know there is a process for recourse should a deal go wrong or we, as renters, get scammed in some way. This guy then told me that for the dates of our planned visit, he would have to increase his rates. He conveyed this, not through his AirBnB listing, but instead through his email communications with me, saying it was a "busy weekend." It was suspicious he would increase rates only after an interested party made contact - not very transparent. He also suggested I reserve with him quickly because another group was interested, signaling to me he was looking to encourage a bidding war, which I was not interested in. Although his place is gorgeous (he has at least 2 units on AirBnB), the whole email thread gave me the impression he couldn't be trusted. With over $1,500 at stake, I couldn't take the chance with him.

Conversely, Maria was transparent every step of the way. She communicated very well from the very beginning. She showed concern for her neighbors who would be affected by noisy or inconsiderate guests. She gave just enough information about herself and asked just the right questions that impressed upon us she is an honest person, which she proved to be.

The house is beautiful. My wife and two colleagues were in town for an academic conference at the Sheraton Centre. The location is also perfect. Close to two main avenues, cabs, busses, restaurants, record stores, convenience and drug stores, etc., which is exactly what we were looking for on this short 6-day visit. The kitchen and bathrooms were well-stocked. They have a nice Bose stereo we were able to plug our iPods into while we worked in the dining room on our presentations, had coffee, and enjoyed this cozy, softly-lit space. We all just adored the common areas, but the third-floor master bedroom was the best. My wife and I felt so spoiled. I look forward to staying here again if I should return to Toronto and it is available.

I highly recommend Maria. She is an ideal host.