My wife and I didn't know much about Toronto's neighborhoods before booking Ed's apartment -- and we were lucky. We were able to get all around the core of Toronto by foot (or by subway when we grew footsore) and everything was convenient, from banks to large grocery stores. But the apartment itself is on a quiet street amid all the hubbub, so it was something of a refuge for us at the end of each busy day.

The space itself is spacious and well-equipped, and (as you'd expect) much better than a hotel room. It's a time- and money-saver to have a full kitchen, and an apartment is akin to a hotel suite -- and a lot less expensive, too. The bed was firm and comfortable, and even though we didn't use it, the deck has a useful grill, and the additional half bath proved handier than we'd expected, too.

Ed himself checked in regularly and, when we needed something, had it there within hours. We drove into the city but didn't use our car while there, and were able to arrange with Ed to park conveniently behind the house.

After we returned home we checked other Airbnb listings we'd considered in Toronto, and we feel fortunate that we chose Ed's place. If you want to be in the midst of the city without always feeling in the middle of it, we'd recommend you stay here.