Cheap Accommodations in Halifax: MSVU Summer Residences Review

If you’re struggling to find cheap accommodations in Halifax during the summer, MSVU’s Summer Residences rental is a great alternative.

During our East Coast Canada road trip, I struggled to find somewhere decent to stay in Halifax. Because I booked our trip late (about six weeks before we left), all the decent budget options were gone, and the mid-range hotels were far more than I wanted to spend for our three-night stay.

Luckily, Expedia showed me an alternative hotel option. College dorms (check out my full guide on staying in dorms, with a list of options across Canada). Most of the dorm suites were already booked up, but I managed to replan our schedule around the dates MSVU’s summer residences rental was available — and honestly, it turned out to be a great call. By this point in our trip, we all needed a bit more space, so this was perfect.

Mount Saint Vincent University’s Westwood Residence has apartment-style dorms. Instead of cramming the four of us into another hotel room, we got our own full four-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. We each had our own bed and room, which was a huge win. Plus, having a full kitchen meant we could cook our own meals and save money on dining out. It isn’t a fancy hotel, but it’s a great choice for families on a budget.

In this MSVU summer residences review, I’ll walk you through what it’s actually like to stay here, including the apartment setup, amenities, and whether it’s a good fit for families.

My MSVU Summer Residences Review

Overall Rating: 7/10

MSVU Summer Residences: Family-Friendly Features

Budget-friendly
Four-bedroom apartment layout (everyone gets their own room and bed)
Full kitchen with dishes, cookware, and small appliances
Free parking
Quiet, residential setting

Location and Parking

Rating: 7/10

Mount Saint Vincent University’s Westwood Residence is located in the Halifax metro area, in a residential neighbourhood. It’s not in the heart of downtown, but it’s a short drive to get there. Parking is free, and there’s a decent-sized parking lot right in front of the main entrance.

Nearby Points of Interest:

Halifax Downtown, Waterfront, Public Garden, and Citadel- 16-minute drive
Downtown Dartmouth-18-minute drive
Halifax Stanfield International Airport- 22-minute drive
Peggy’s Cove- 45-minute drive

Check-In, Lobby, and Staff

Service Rating: 8/10

Check-in was quick and easy. There was no line at all when we arrived. The residence is built on a hill, so even though our apartment was on the fourth floor, it was only one floor up from the front desk. They also have a luggage cart available, which made it easier to get everything up. We had stopped for groceries on our way, but still got everything up in one trip.

MSVU Summer Residences Rental Rooms

MSVU offers a variety of dorm types that are available to rent by night during the summer:

Single Rooms
2-bedroom Apartment-Style
4-bedroom Apartment-Style

Westwood’s Summer Residence Review: 4-Bedroom Suites

Room Rating: 7/10

Inside the door, you walk right into the kitchen and living room. The bedrooms are split up, with two rooms and a bathroom on each side of the living area. The hallway on the left, off the kitchen, leads to two rooms. The hallway on the right has extra closets and leads to the other two bedrooms.

Kitchen

The kitchen runs along the hallway wall with a fridge, stove, and cupboards. Across from it is an island with the sink, and closets beside it. The cupboards are empty when you arrive, but there’s a kitchen kit on the counter with everything you need: plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots, pans, a baking sheet, and a cutting board. It’s not a matching set, but it’s complete. On the counter, you’ll also find a toaster, kettle, and microwave. The only thing missing in ours was a coffee maker.

Living Room

On the other side of the kitchen island is the living room, with a couch, armchair, coffee table, and side table. The TV is mounted on the wall above another side table (with a phone on it for local calls). Between the living room area and the windows is a four-person dining table with chairs. The room is spacious, with plenty of room for the four of us to be in there together.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Each bedroom has a single bed with an end table, a small storage unit with a closet, drawers, and shelves, plus a large desk and office chair. There’s no A/C, but each room had the windows open and a fan on the end table, which kept things comfortable enough.

Both bathrooms are three-piece with a tub and shower combo. The counter is large, giving you plenty of space to spread out your toiletries.

Comfort and Condition

While the apartment is clean, it is definitely a dorm. It’s a bit outdated and shows some wear and tear, but it was still better than other cheap accommodations in Halifax I had found. I noticed peeling paint, chips on the walls, and random hooks left behind. The countertops were older, though the furniture seemed more recent and was in decent shape.

The beds have old-style spring mattresses, so don’t expect hotel-quality sleep. The blankets aren’t hotel-style duvets, either. They’re functional, but basic. It’s not a luxurious place to stay. But for the space you get at less than the cost of a hotel room? That’s a hard deal to beat.

Noise

Rating: 10/10

We may have just lucked out and had quiet neighbours that weren’t around much, because we didn’t hear any noise coming from inside the building during our stay. Even with the windows open, it was pretty quiet through the night. The residence isn’t in a busy area, so there really weren’t too many people around.

Amenities

There weren’t any traditional hotel-style amenities like a pool or an on-site restaurant, but apparently, there is a coffee shop. There is also a laundry room, library, lounge area, and a fitness centre (all guests get an athletics pass included with their stay). We were content just having our own apartment for a few nights, so we didn’t check out any of these areas.

Food

Having a full kitchen was the biggest advantage here. This was one of the main reasons we chose this spot. After eating out for most of the trip, being able to throw something together in the apartment was a nice break for our wallets.

Ready to book your stay?

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly hotel in Halifax for a family or group of four, this is the most spacious option you’ll find

Check current Mount Saint Vincent University Residence rates.

Final Thoughts on MSVU Summer Residences

So, is MSVU’s summer residences worth staying at?

If you are looking for luxury, this isn’t it. But, if you’re just looking for cheap accommodations in Halifax and you want more space than just a single hotel room, this is probably the best option for you. A full kitchen, four private bedrooms, and free parking for a family of four is something you won’t find at a traditional hotel anywhere near this price point.

My kids loved having their own bedrooms. On our last day, they actually opted to skip a day trip to Peggy’s Cove just to have some alone time to rest after our full day exploring Halifax. After this stay, I’ll definitely be looking for dorm apartments whenever we travel in the summer so we all get our own space.

If you’re travelling with older kids or teens who want their own space, or if you just want to save on dining out by cooking a few meals, this one is worth considering. It’s a great way to save money while exploring Halifax. The beds could be more comfortable and it’s definitely not a luxury stay, but for the price and the layout, we have no complaints.

Just book early. Most units fill up fast in the summer, and I only snagged this one by planning our dates around what was available.

Do you have your own MSVU’s Summer Residences review to share? Let me know on my Facebook post, and follow me on Facebook or check out my TikTok for more family travel ideas and inspiration.