Alternatives to Hotels for Families: Summer Residence/Dorm

Finding cheap alternatives to hotels for families isn’t easy. When you’re travelling alone, there are a few good hotel alternative options, but when you’re travelling with kids, it’s much more limited.

Airbnb used to be a great alternative to hotels, but now they tend to cost as much as or more than a hotel. This is especially true if you’re looking for something private that will sleep four or more. Hostels are great for solo or adult-only trips, but when you have kids with you, the only option is a family room. Those tend to cost as much as a hotel room too.

One cheap alternative to hotels that many families don’t even realize exists is a summer residence rental. During the summer, when classes aren’t in session, colleges and universities across Canada rent dorm rooms to travelers. And the prices are pretty reasonable for a budget-friendly vacation. At most residences, a family of four can do a two-bedroom dorm stay for under $200/night.

Or, if your priority is space, you can even find apartment-style four bedrooms at some campuses. You won’t find a hotel, or even an Airbnb, that will give you that many private bedrooms with budget pricing.

Summer Residence Rental Options

Four-Bedroom Dorm Suite

These are a bit rarer, but I was able to find several colleges and universities in Canada that offer them.

The four-bedroom suites are a great, affordable accommodation for families that want more space than a hotel will offer. They typically come with a full kitchen (including a full-size fridge and stove), a dining area with a table for four, a living room with a couch and TV, two bathrooms, and four private bedrooms.

Two -Bedroom Dorm Suite

If you want more space than a standard room, but don’t mind sharing beds, these are a great hotel alternative. While some two-bedroom dorm suites only have two single beds, many come with two double beds. This makes them a great hotel alternative option that still works for families.

While you will find the occasional one with a full kitchen, most only have a kitchenette. They may have a small living room area too. Some suites have no shared living space and are only connected by a bathroom.

Double Dorm Rooms

Some traditional dorm rooms may also work for families. While not too common, there are some student residences that have double dorm rooms with two double-sized beds. Keep in mind, though, that these traditional dorm rooms may not have their own bathroom. While there is sometimes an ensuite, or even an ensuite shared between two rooms, more often there will be communal washrooms on each floor.

Canadian Universities and Colleges That Offer Summer Residence Rentals

While this is not a complete list of all Canadian universities and colleges with summer residence rentals, here are some I’ve found so far in bigger cities:

4-bedroom Suites:

University of Victoria – from $396 (Victoria, B.C.)
Thompson Rivers University – from $250 (Kamloops, B.C.)
University of British Columbia – from $449 (Kelowna, British Columbia)
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology – from $220 (Calgary, Alberta)
Red Deer Polytechnic – from $210 (Red Deer, Alberta)
Toronto Metropolitan University – from $320/night (Toronto, Ontario)
George Brown Polytechnic-from $296 (Toronto, Ontario)
Lakehead University – from $263 (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Bishop’s University – from $183 (Sherbrooke, Quebec)
Mount Saint Vincent University – from $145/night (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

2-bedroom suites that sleep 4

University of British Columbia – from $219 (Vancouver, B.C.)
Seneca College – from $250 (Toronto, Ontario)
George Brown Polytechnic – from $255 (Toronto, Ontario)
Sheridan College – from $127 (Brampton, Ontario)
Georgian College – from $104 (Barrie, Ontario)
Mohawk College – from $130 (Hamilton, Ontario)
University of Ottawa – from $180 (Ottawa, Ontario)
Algonquin College – from $146 (Ottawa, Ontario)
Queen’s University – from $134 (Kingston, Ontario)
University of Prince Edward Island – from $179 (Charlottetown, P.E.I.)
St. Francis Xavier University – from $186/night (Antigonish, Nova Scotia)

Doubles that sleep 4

St. Lawrence College – from $87.22 (Brockville, Ontario)
McGill University – from $174 (Montreal, Quebec)

Perks Of Staying in a Summer Residence for Travellers

Affordable Family Accommodation

Summer is the peak travel season in most areas, making it the most expensive time for hotel rooms. In larger cities, you’re lucky to find a room for under $200/night during the summer months. Even Airbnb is becoming more difficult to find for under $200 when you’re looking to book an entire house that sleeps four or more.

I wasn’t able to find any hotels, or even Airbnb listings, that would sleep four for under $200/night in the downtown Halifax area when we were there in August. But the dorm suite we rented at Mount Saint Vincent University’s Westwood Dorms was only $160/night. While most of the other four-bedroom dorm suites I’ve found in other cities are over $200, if you’re okay with a two-bedroom with two double beds, there are many in the $100-$150 price range.

Kitchens

Many of the four-bedroom college residences (and some of the two-bedrooms) have a full kitchen. Usually, they even include a full set of dishes and cookware. Not only do you save on accommodations, but you also save money by not eating out three times a day.

In the two weeks before our dorm stay in Halifax, we’d been in hotels, and only one had a kitchen (and it barely had what we needed). We were happy to be able to have a home-cooked meal. The dishes weren’t exactly a matching set, but everything we needed was included.

Private Bedrooms

These college and university residence suites offer something you won’t find in most budget hotels: two or even four individual bedrooms. This is perfect for a long stay on a family vacation. In a four-bedroom suite, not only does everyone get their own bed, but they actually get a bit of privacy. It gives everyone space to unwind and decompress after a long day.

We’d spent the first two weeks of our East Coast Canada road trip in hotels, sharing beds and usually stuck in a single room. By this point in the trip, everyone was thrilled to finally have their own bed. The kids especially appreciated having their own rooms and the chance to unwind alone. They liked it so much, they both opted to stay there with Grandma and rest up after our day exploring Halifax instead of coming on a day trip with me to see Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove.

Access To Some Amenities

At most campuses, your stay includes access to other areas of the dorm. This usually includes the laundry room and sometimes lounge areas or a fitness centre. And, if you don’t get a suite with a kitchen, you may still be able to cook. Many dorms have communal kitchens, plus some even keep dining halls open in the summer for another affordable meal option.

Prime Locations

College campuses tend to be located near the center of the city. This makes them a great home base for exploring a big city. For campuses that aren’t right downtown, there will be a public transportation hub close by. This makes it easy to get to the city’s main attractions if you don’t want to drive.

Our dorm in Halifax wasn’t in the city centre, but it was only a 15-minute drive to the Halifax Waterfront. When I stayed in a student residence in Toronto on a trip with a friend, we were walking distance to the Distillery District.

Summer Student Residency Stay FYI’s and Tips

While there are many perks to choosing a summer residence instead of a hotel, you really need to have the right expectations for your stay.

Have realistic expectations: These are college dorms, so don’t go in expecting it to be like a four or five-star hotel. There will likely be chipped paint, worn furniture, and no decor.
Suites vary: larger ones have a living area, dining table, and full kitchen (fridge + stove). Smaller suites get a kitchenette (mini fridge, microwave) and sometimes a small couch.
No TV in the bedroom: larger suites may have one in the living room, but plan to stream on your own device. Wi-Fi is usually free and decent.
A/C is not guaranteed: some buildings don’t have it (the Halifax one we stayed at didn’t). Fans are usually provided, but pack a travel fan if you’re visiting during a heatwave.
No daily housekeeping: your room won’t be cleaned until checkout unless your stay is over a week. If you have a full kitchen, you’re expected to wash and put away all dishes before you leave.
Book early: rooms are only available from May, when classes end, until mid-to-late August, when students return for September.

My Experiences with Dorm Stays

I first saw the option to rent a summer residence suite when I was looking for a hotel room in Toronto while planning a trip with a friend. If you’ve booked a room in downtown Toronto lately, you know how hard it is to find anything decent for under $300/night. We didn’t need a fancy room, just somewhere cheap to sleep after the Shaggy concert.

After striking out on hotels, I found a two-bedroom suite at George Brown’s, the George. It was perfect for a girl’s trip. We had a fridge for our leftover dinner, and we each got our own bedroom.

Later that summer, while planning our East Coast Canada road trip, I ran into the same problem in Halifax. There were no affordable accommodations for families available for our dates. I don’t mind splurging on a nice room once in a while, but this was a three-week trip. Since our stay in Halifax was for three nights, I wanted to stick to a budget of $150–$175/night. I couldn’t find anything for under $200, and even the ones under $300 looked too sketchy for me.

But once again, Expedia showed me a dorm option. This time it was a four-bedroom unit at Mount Saint Vincent University’s Westwood Dorms. It had a full kitchen, a living room, and plenty of space for all of us (review coming soon).

Final Thoughts on Summer Residence Rentals

If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to hotels for families, a summer residence suite is a great option. For the same price as a budget hotel, you can get an apartment-style space with a kitchen or kitchenette and separate bedrooms for everyone. Not only is this great for families, but it would also be perfect for a group of friends who want more privacy than a typical hotel room can offer.

After two summer dorm rental experiences, including one with the kids, I can confirm that these apartment-style dorms are a great, cheap travel accommodation for families and groups. Both of my experiences were good, and I loved having the extra space and a bit of privacy. It really made our trip much more comfortable while staying within my budget.

Have you ever stayed in a college dorm or summer residence rental while travelling? Let me know on my Facebook post. You can also follow me on Facebook or check out my TikTok for more family travel tips, ideas, and inspiration.