best place to stay on landing

[sato2]

Hi,
Many thanks to the people who created this site and those like PPM who kindly answer others questions.

I am preparing to move to canada under the PR visa but I am very worried about where to stay (since I am taking ma family) during the first days until I rent a house or something specially that it seems difficult to rent a house the first day.
where can we stay?What are the options available? only hotels?

Thank you for your input

Sato2

[Mary2009]

Hi..

umm, it depends on where are you planning to search for a JOB?

I mean... as a new immigrant... all places are equal (to you)...
but the BEST place in Canada is the city where you will find a job in :)

Anyway with that in mind, you might be as many have done...
Get here first then look for a job.

If that's the case, then Toronto & Ottawa are having the most job opportunities 
(of course this is generally speaking... because it depends on what you do for a living).


If you are on a budget, then try to stay away from these two major cities (above)...
and in any city, try NOT to be in the downtown (where most of the apartments are
more expensive than outskirts/suburbs.

I am not sure if you can arrange for a home BEFORE you come here...
But you may try that out :)

Also here are a list of good websites that might help you locate a temporary home (or permanent apartment):

http://www.renterspages.com/ON/Ontario-apartment-for-rent.html
http://247apartments.com
http://gscrentals.com/Apartments/
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/hhh/
http://www.gottarent.com/
http://www.101apartments.com/
http://www.zgroup.ca/residential.html
http://apartmentcorner.com/search/apartments/ca/ontario/ontario-apartments.asp
http://www.hometrader.ca/

Well, I guess the above websites are enough to waste a good deal of your time :-)

I would recommend against motels/hotels... unnecessarily expensive...
so you might want to target 1 or 2 bedrooms furnished apartments for your first month or so,
then move to a more stable/permanent apartment.

My $0.02
Thank,

Mary

[sato2]

Hi,

Million thanks Mary! I appreciate your help.
I started already looking for place where I have more chance to get a job and will start now exploring the pages you send me.

I though about Toronto, Ottawa, Van couver, Calgary. I am not sure they are the right place for my specialty though. I am both a geologist (hydrchemist/hydrologist) and information system specialist.

I definitively would like to get a 1-2 furnished bedrooms for the first month. Let say I couldn't arrange one from here as you said. how can i arrange one the first day? are there any facilities at airport for such services? 
I do have some friends in Canada? Can they apply on my behave for a housing?

Thank you once more for your help.

Sato

[Mary2009]

Hi Sato...

> Let say I couldn't arrange one from here as you said.
> how can i arrange one the first day?

There are many classified ads distributed (for free) in malls and major shops
like Wal Mart, Food Basics...etc...

for example, hometrader.ca have their own weekly (free) magazine
that contains nothing but classified ads for renting apartments.

Simply grab one of these and start calling :-)


> are there any facilities at airport for such services?
No... as much as I know.

> I do have some friends in Canada?
> Can they apply on my behave for a housing?
I think YES...they can at least make the initial agreement then you sign
your annual agreement when you are there.

Also *sometimes* you can take a 1-2 months furnished apartment without
a contract (as long as you are paying cash in advance for the full period).

Hope that helps,

Good luck,
Thanks,
Mary