Have applied to the IEC with my girlfriend, and fingers crossed we will be accepted soon, hope to be travelling start of July. I've a few questions on some of the research i've been doing on the area, accommodation etc.

What is the best form of cheap, secure, clean accommodation for when we land? Youth hostels seem to be very very expensive over the space of a month or two and they can usually be a hot spot for theft and badness. We wouldn't be advised to rent as soon as we land surely, as who knows what district we will find work. What are my options.

Driving. Alberta has a way of changing your licence for a Canadian one as long as you apply within a certain time frame of getting into the country. As a Northern Ireland resident this isn't an option. I need to renew my licence anyway this year, so can I not just apply for a new licence to my brothers address in Cornwall and use this licence to exchange when i land. Im guessing i would be a better prospect for hiring if i had a valid driving licence.

I've scoured the wiki site, and haven't turned up much information. Any help is much appreciated.

No, because as you don't actually live there that would be fraudulent/illegal!

As this thread doesn't seem to be related to visas I'll move it to the main forum where you'll get more responses.

Good luck.