Like a character out of a Leon’s commercial, you may be feeling guilty about putting a kink in Grams’ and Gramps’ backs. But for some condo dwellers, being tight on space is an inescapable reality, and there simply may not be room to play the Calgary Hilton to guests the way you’d like.
Enter the guest suite, a fully appointed home-away-from-home for friends or family who are passing through town or don’t wish to drive home after your birthday bash. These hotel room-like suites vary widely in size, but generally offer similar amenities and rent for an affordable price.

“It’s so nice to have that extra space,” says Jocelyn Cooper, community liaison with Jayman MasterBuilt. Cooper was a sales associate at Aberdeen on the Park, an Aspire Condo Living by Jayman project, which included a guest suite. She also lives in an apartment building which features a guest suite.

“People think, ‘Wow, this is better than a hotel room,’ ” Cooper says of visitors to the guest suite in her building. She says that the suites vary in size depending on the size and layout of the building, and can be cosy and quaint or more elegant.

Guest suites tend to be found in higher-end projects and mature communities, and are more likely to be included if a project is situated relatively far from other accommodations.

Pointe of View’s Legacy Estates line features guest suites. As Clark Hogan, marketing manager for Pointe of View Developments explains, guest suites often come along with a number of other extra amenities, which in turn raises the purchase price and condo fees, meaning that you’re more likely to find a guest suite if you purchase in a development with all the bells and whistles (from a pool or hot tub to special, designated-use common rooms) than in a bare-bones building.

Since adult-living communities tend to come with more amenities, they also often include a guest suite. Mature buyers appreciate the extra space when grown children or other relatives come to visit. As Bob Carmichael, sales manager for Medican Development Corporation points out, with the guest suite to stay in and access to some of the other amenities, such as a pool, staying as a guest at one of Medican’s Sierras (40-plus) developments can be a bit of a holiday.

Inside a condo guest suite, visitors can expect to find at least one bed and a bathroom, and may also find a dresser, writing table, chairs, couch, extra sink and mini-fridge. Some suites include an underground parking stall.

Prices and rules are set by the condo board. Prices range from $20 to $80 per night, and may or may not include cleaning services. Tenants should make sure they understand their renter responsibilities when booking a guest suite. Are you expected to clean the room, or just leave it reasonably tidy? Is there a room deposit, and if so, how much is it and when do you need to turn it in? Are you responsible for supplying some or all of the linens?

The condo board also sets the rules for who may stay in the guest suite (children, pets, number of guests) and limits for the duration of their stay.