When you are considering housing in Montreal for your studies, one of the big choices will be whether to stay on-campus or off-campus. The choice of housing that suits best will be different for each individual. We have compiled a handy list of considerations to keep in mind in order to help you decide what works best for you.

Social life

The biggest aspect to living on-campus is the social life. Many students who choose to live on-campus do so at least in part for the ability to easily meet new people who are also attending their school.  There is no question that living on-campus will offer a different kind of social life than living off-campus, but this is not always just a positive. Having an active social life and living in an environment where there is always something going on can actually be a hindrance to your studies!

Availability

On-campus housing in Montreal might be limited. Often universities will reserve space for first-year undergraduate students, while other students are encouraged to find off-campus housing.

Cost

When considering the cost of either option of housing, several variables will affect which option is more costly. With on-campus housing utilities are included in the cost, so sometimes that makes it the cheaper option. Alternately, off-campus housing offers the option of staying with roommates. If you do live off-campus with roommates, it may be the more cost-effective option.

Accessibility

Living on-campus will certainly offer great accessibility to your college or university, and that is a definite advantage. You may end up missing out on some of the unique experiences of the city however.  On the side of off-campus housing many areas in Montreal, such as the Plateau Mont-Royal, are quite accessible to most of the city’s Universities and Colleges, and also have other benefits such as quiet streets and beautiful cafes to study in, that might outweigh the advantages of being close to campus.

Independence

Living off-campus will offer more independence, a chance to make your own decisions, and a chance to take responsibility for things like bills and rent. Living off-campus can prove to be an important step in a young adult’s life, but again, the experience is not for everyone.

Out of necessity, on-campus housing will mean having a set of standard dorm rules and regulations to follow, and that again is not for everyone.  You may have limits on who can visit, and what food or drink you can have in your room, this will not be the case with off-campus housing.

Choice

While a student’s preference is considered, often on-campus housing is assigned based on a lottery so you will have limited choice of which residence you will end up in. With off-campus housing, you have your choice of several interesting nearby neighborhoods.

Choose furnished housing.

For student’s choosing off-campus housing, furnished apartments are a convenient option. MyStudioMontreal.com has great apartments close from near many of the campuses in Montreal. Choose from beautiful furnished studio apartments, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites. Furnished apartments are ideal for student housing because the rental time can be completely tailored to the needs of the student, and everything is provided from furniture, to fully equipped kitchens, and everything in between.  To find out more about furnished apartments in Montreal for students, contact MyStudioMontreal.com.

Whether you choose on-campus or off-campus housing, the first step in finding housing solutions is to figure out what works best for you. Stay tuned for more great advice and tips on student housing for international students.

Here are a few easy ways that you can make your furnished studio apartment feel more like your own home away from home.

Bring Favorite Items from home.

One of the great advantages of a MyStudioMontreal.com apartment is that it is really not a hotel room. Each apartment is furnished with creating a home in mind, rather than creating a transient space. We are always more than happy to go that extra mile to make sure that your apartment really does feel like home.

Many of our clients are surprised to find that we are eager to help make them feel completely at home. Sometimes that means accommodating for a client’s furniture from home, or trying to find another way to make an apartment a home. One great way to make your space your own is to bring your favorite nick nacks, art pieces, or framed photographs from home. Even your favorite blanket or throw pillow can go a long way to making your space feel like your own.

Take advantage of your furnished kitchen to cook a favorite meal.

Scents and smells are big indicators of home and comfort. So why not fill your new home away from home with the smells of your favorite meal simmering on the stove? Additionally, cooking is a great way to unwind and de-stress after a day in unfamiliar surroundings.

Every MyStudioMontreal.com apartment is equipped with a beautiful furnished kitchen so why not start making your place your own by preparing your own favorite recipe? You would be amazed at how much of a boost the smell of home cooking will bring to your mood and your surroundings.

Other ways to incorporate scents to include adding potted plants or using diffusers and candles to add a welcoming scent to your home, as suggested in this guide.  

Check out Local Artists.

A big part of making a house a home is infusing it with your own unique style. One way to do this is to bring your favorite art and pieces from home, another way is to take a look at the local art scene. Buying art from local artists is great on so many levels, you’re contributing to the local economy and community, but you are also weaving local culture, and your own style, into your new space. Checking out the local art scene is also a great way to get to know the local community, and possibly meeting some fun new people in Montreal.

Here are some great places to start:

Monastiraki : Local cartoon artist Billy Mavreas always has some weird and wacky home decor pieces at his store, in addition to an unbeatable selection of local comics.

Usine 106U : Next to one of Montreal’s favorite drinking establishment, the crazy selection of out-of-the-ordinary local art at this small store welcomes a new exhibition monthly.

Espace Pop : The annual local art festival Pop Montreal has a year-round exhibition space where you’re sure find hot local events and cool art markets.

We hope that these ideas and tips can help you to make your furnished apartment feel like home while you are staying in Montreal.

Call us today to find out more about booking a beautiful furnished studio in one of our amazing Montreal locations, and get on your way to a comfortable and convenient stay in the city.

-Monika Schmidt

MyStudioMontreal.com now offers the Same Services as CorporateStays.com

No longer sticking to the shadows of our sister company CorporateStays.com, guests of MyStudioMontreal.com can now avail themselves of all the services and extras offered by CorporateStays.com. MyStudioMontreal.com now offers concierge services, mobile spa services, pet kits, yoga kits, movie kits, all the fixings and more!

Most importantly, guests of MyStudioMontreal.com can now expect the same high standards to apply to all apartments as our luxury brand CorporateStays.com. This is an exciting change for MyStudioMontreal.com and one I am happy to announce.

Higher Standards and a Change in Direction

MyStudioMontreal.com is changing directions. We wanted to focus on offering a better quality of standards and services to our customers. With this goal in mind we have tweaked some of our services, such as removing our lowest-priced apartments from the site, all in an effort to maintain a higher quality of product.

We have found that our clients expect a higher standard from us, so it was no longer feasible to maintain these apartments on our roster. For lower-priced accommodations, we invite our guests to browse other websites such as craigslist or airbnb.

New Standards, New Direction, Same Fantastic Studio Apartments

MyStudioMontreal.com will of course still be focusing on offering fully furnished studio apartments in amazing Montreal locations. We understand that many young business travellers are looking for just this kind of apartment, excellent location and just big enough for their needs.

With our new direction we are excited to be able to unequivocally meet and exceed the expectations of our clients when it comes to quality housing, superior service, and convenient locations.

To find out more about what you can expect from a MyStudioMontreal.com furnished studio apartment, this article lays out some of the most common things included. Come check out the new MyStudioMontreal.com today to find the perfect home away from home for your next stay in beautiful Montreal.

-Vladimir De Suarez
Founder, Fan, and CEO

Here are the basics that any MyStudioMontreal.com furnished apartment will have:

Just bring your suitcase:

We’ll take care of the rest. Our suites are furnished with quality Queen-sized beds and everything you might need for a good night’s sleep. Full linens, sheets and comforters are provided and the beds are freshly prepared for your arrival. You’ll also enjoy plenty of storage space for your belongings, on average much more than your typical hotel room. Just one of the things that will make booking a furnished suite so much more comfortable for your longer term stays.

Full Kitchens:

Equipped kitchens feature the full range of appliances from your stove, fridge and microwave, to your toaster, and coffee maker. They’re also equipped with pots and pans, oven-safe dishes, and a full set of plates, cups, cutlery, and glasses. Our kitchens are made for cooking in so we try to think of everything you might need. Of course if there is something that we’ve missed we will be happy to try to find it for you.

Space for Dining:

Eat your heart out. You will always have somewhere to enjoy your home-cooked meals, quick snacks, lazy breakfasts, and long lunches. Whether it is a stylish dining table or a cozy breakfast nook built right into the kitchen, every MyStudioMontreal.com rental has convenient dining areas because we know that a fully equipped kitchen is only fully equipped if there is somewhere to enjoy your meals as well as prepare them.

WiFi, Cable TV, Local phone, IPod dock :

A recent survey by Hotels.com found that, for the third year in a row, a good WiFi connection came up as the number one requirement for hotel guests.In this day and age, having a good Internet connection is important for any type of stay be it business, pleasure, or a bit of both. We are paying attention, and we make sure to provide a high-speed, clear WiFi connection in all of our furnished studios and suites.

Our suites will also be equipped with flat-screen televisions with cable TV and DVD player, as well as comfortable seating from which to enjoy relaxing in front of the tube. An IPod dock is also provided so that you can listen to music as you unwind after your day.

Keep Active:

Part and parcel of healthy living is getting plenty of exercise. Don’t let your fitness routine fall to the wayside when you are away from home, many of our furnished suites have fitness facilities, pools and more available to guests of the building. Simply ask us when you book about the fitness facilities available from your suite.

MyStudioMontreal.com specializes in offering comfortable, convenient, and fully equipped suites, studios and apartments in Montreal. Our focus is on great location, full amenities, and a superior guest experience. Take a look at our amazing selection of furnished suites at MyStudioMontreal.com and contact us today to book your next home away from home.

-Monika Schmidt

In the midst of darkest winter, downtown Montreal lights up with the Festival Montréal en Lumière happening from February 21^st to March 3rd. The festival lights up the long winter with a cultural smorgisbord of art, food, music, and of course, lights. Festival central is the free outdoor area taking over the Place des Artes Festival zone for the duration of the festival. Looming over the scene is the whimsical Ferris wheel, from which you can get a perfect view of the multimedia light show with the sparkling city lights in the background. Every evening you can ride the wheel starting at 5pm

Tango Till it’s Spring

This year the festival is showcasing Buenos Aires, an exciting city that has a lot in common with Montreal, where an unbelievable mix of cultural influences combines in this jumble of a city we love. The spirit of the tango, originating from Buenos Aires, will color much of the artistic and musical program this year, while Buenos Aires’ famous cuisine will be showcased as well.

Don’t miss this year’s honorary festival co-president Daniel Piazzolla, grandson of Argentinean tango mastor Astor! Other amazing headliners on the cultural program include the incredible Diana Krall and the Zombies on their first Montreal Visit!

The culinary experiences of the festival include famous Argentinean visiting chefs presenting special dinners and even cooking classes. This is an epicurean journey not to be missed, get more information here.

Nuit Blanche Turns Ten!

This year is the tenth anniversary of the illustrious Nuit Blanche festival taking place over one night, March 2nd, across a multitude of venues in the neighborhoods of Old Montreal, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, and Mile End, featuring an incredible array of activities that range from art to dance to theatre and so much more! Don’t miss this classic Montreal night of light, fun, and discoveries.

When you find yourself in the situation of having to rent an apartment, you need to make sure that you can get the best deal for your budget capabilities. Nowadays, with Montreal furnished apartments you can benefit from an entire array of features, such as the quality of the finishing, high technology, such as big screen television and wireless Internet connection, a large range of appliances, from microwave to hair dryer, and even shampooing and conditioning.

The Montreal furnished accommodations are also pet-friendly. Of course, they are suitable for children as well, since they can even accommodate a larger number of persons than the capacity available, because most of them have extensible couches. In addition, they are suitable for persons with limited mobility, because they come equipped with wheelchairs. The buildings in which you can find available Montreal rentals also offer a very attractive perspective, with sauna, swimming pool and gym, which are available for the tenants.

Some of the Montreal furnished accommodations we are able to provide can give you the unique opportunity of visiting one of the most famous areas of the city, the Plateau Mont-Royal, located in the near vicinity, at a lower cost. Of course, you do expect attractive decorations on each of the Montreal furnished apartments available for rental. You have every right for a decent, nice looking place, so start browsing through the Montreal furnished accommodations that best suit your preferences. With enough time dedicated to searching through the available offer of Montreal rentals, you will obtain the deal you are looking for at a reasonable price. Moreover, for any of the Montreal furnished accommodations, you can deliver payment through credit card, checks or cash.

You can look for Montreal furnished apartments the old-fashioned way, by searching in the newspapers, but today your search is easier, due to the Internet. Here, on our website, you can find the rental you need at a fair price. You can also find out about the near vicinity and all the commodities available, about the transportation, from and to the located apartment, suit or studio.

There are also a number of Montreal rentals available for students in exchange programs. They are completely furnished and close to the main universities, no lease contract needed, with everything included. The flats are easy to find, you just need to fill a form, and after this, the customer representative will return to you with the possible locations. Montreal furnished apartments situated at lower levels and in the peacefully areas of Montreal, are usually the preference of retired people, who, after an entire life of work, wish to retire to a comfortable location.

Fans of Sci-fi, comic books, super heroes, horror, steam punk, and treks over stars will be excited about this weekend’s Montreal Comiccon, beaming down on Palais des Congres September 14-16. A new and better location for the event, based on other Comic book conventions but with a special Montreal twist, will make room for all the frills the organizers are rolling out this year.

Reunion of the Captains

Captain Kirk and Captain Piccard will both be in Montreal this weekend for a special reunion of the two iconic characters from Star Trek and Star Trek: Next Generation. William Shatner and Patrick Stewart will be appearing on Saturday, September 15^th for a special “Reunion of the Generations.” Get your tickets now because this once-in-a-lifetime event is sure to sell out!

Play Settlers of Catan with Wesley Crusher! Meet Data!

Guests this year will include two other actors you played iconic characters on Star Trek: Next Generation. Wil Wheaton,  fan of board games and beloved star of the iconic Star Trek Next Generation television show is giving one lucky fan the chance to play the hit game “Settlers of Catan” against him. Brent Spinner, best known for his portrayal of the android Data in Star Trek: Next Generation will also be in attendance.

Other sci-fi superstars making an appearance include the stars of the American series Being Human Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington,  and Kristen Hager, and James Marsters, Spike from the Buffy the Vampire series who will be showing off his musical skills in a very special concert Friday Sept 14 at 9:30 on the main stage.

Get your tickets today!

Music POP: Montreal’s Fall Indie Music Festival

Show up early to catch the free opening concert Wednesday September 19th at La Tulipe featuring STARS and Diamond Rings, space is limited!  Also don’t miss shows by David Byrne & St. Vincent, Lil B, Chilly Gonzales, Gotye, Ben Howard, Grizzly Bear, Grimes, K’naan, and so much more!

Film POP: Cult and Indie Film Screenings in Interesting Locations

Two of the most interesting events in this year’s Film POP are alluded to in the Curator, Kier-La Janisse’s message on the POP Montreal blog, but unfortunately I couldn’t find the dates of these events. Neither do I want to miss either the screening of Jerzy Skolimowski’s Deep End (1971) in a pool (with the audience in the water!) nor the screening or the Richard Donner’s The Omen happening at midnight from the altar of one of Montreal’s beautiful churches!

Puces POP: Don’t miss it!

Located at 5585 Avenue du Parc, Puces POP is a marketplace of local artisans, designers, artist, and more. As unique as the city itself, the purchasable art at this weekend fair (September 22-23) will provide the perfect early Christmas gift, glamorous fashion piece, or addition to your own art collection. There is no end to the interesting items you can find at this marketplace, and entrance is free!

Art POP: Arcade Fire Art and more

This year many of the Art POP pieces appear to feature a connection between music and art, like the art of The Suburbs exhibition September 21-23, based on the cover art from Arcade Fire’s latest album, The Suburbs.
There you have it, what we found most intriguing about this year’s upcoming POP Montreal. Pick your POP and go for it!

Its an amazing deal to be able to get a pass for a whole year for 20$ or so, which means you have no excuse to miss out on the wonders of Montreal’s great museums and exhibits. Want to a see a different Montreal from the one you’ve come to know? Then visit Montreal’s McCord Museum and view it through a pinhole. Guy Glorieux shows his beautiful images at the world premiere of Impressions of a City, Montreal Through a Pinhole, including the largest photograph ever installed at the McCord…

For the past 12 years, photographer Guy Glorieux has viewed the world through a pinhole camera. He’s made them out of matchboxes and paint cans and even large rooms. Glorieux pierces a tiny hole (about 1.5 mm in diameter) in one side of his ‘camera’, which allows the light to enter and imprint an image on the photographic paper he places at the back of the back. Everything is left untouched for an hour or two, sometimes four. Then he closes off the pinhole and develops the picture. The images leave a stunning imprint, both on paper and in your memory .

Unlike today’s digital Photoshopped perfection, Glorieux’ photographs are subtly mysterious. They transform Montreal’s boulevards and downtown concrete canyons into subtle surreal scenes. There is movement during the long periods of time that the photographic paper is exposed to light. People come and go.

However, because they move too quickly their presence is rarely registered on the photographic paper. The images are almost without any human presence. Guy Glorieux loves his ‘‘empty city scenes’’ in which a solid mass of crisply defined buildings sit against the “cloud” of trees, which appear white. In these images, everything is reversed. Trees are luminously pale, and appear to shimmer because their leaves have moved in the wind during the exposure period. The sky is black. This was so intriguing; I had to meet the artist.A must-see is the artist’s huge image of Montreal’s Place des Festival. At 15 feet wide it’s the largest that the McCord has ever installed. There is a ‘look and look again’ feeling, as one discerns subtle details in the shadows. There is a lyrical glow in the images. Go and gaze at them. You will see Montreal in a whole different light.

McCord Museum, 690 Sherbrooke Street West, (514) 398-7100

Not only does the exhibition feature actual props and iconic costumes from all six Star Wars films, but it takes you on an immersive journey through the Star Wars universe that will entertain all and positively excite the Star Wars nerd in your life.

The Identities exhibit asks the question how did father and son, Annakin and Luke, take such different paths when faced with their individual challenges. Annakin, of course ultimately chose the dark side and becoming the ultimate dark and dangerous villain, Darth Vader, in a journey that was chronicled in Star Wars I-III, the prequel films released more recently. Luke, in the original three films, Star Wars IV-VI, takes a very different course, fighting against the negligible allure of the dark side and working hard to defeat the evil Emperor and his deadly death stars.

The exhibit asks you to think about the different circumstances these two characters faced, their family situations, their mentors, and the state of the empire that was so drastically different for both of them. In order to help unravel this puzzle, you get to create your own identity in the Star Wars Universe, choosing an occupation, as well as a species in the galaxy. The character you create is given life through a series of questions, meant to create a psychological profile to complete your very own Star Wars Identity.

Obviously I’m a bit of a Star Wars nerd myself or I wouldn’t say: go see this exhibit now! And may the.. well, you know the rest.