It’s been a busy summer of travel, and sometimes it’s just nice to stay put. I often find it interesting that I don’t explore my own city of Montreal as often as I should, and it’s only when out-of-town guests come to visit that, while showing them around, I see for myself what an incredible metropolis my hometown is!
Staycations are the perfect way to vacay when a) you’re tight on time, and b) you’re tight on money. Book a night or two at a hotel, and if you want to cut down on your budget, choose weekdays for a lower rate. I recently took off to the gorgeous Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, a fixture on the luxury hotel scene in Montreal where the service is superb and the locale is in the heart of the city action. The hotel was packed on a Wednesday with a golf tour group, visiting tourists, and slews of business people, who take advantage of their host of business services. They have an in-house spa, restaurant, gym, pool, as well as high-end shops – you could practically have a staycation at the hotel and be content!
But I did stray from my awesome accommodations and spent a few hours enjoying the water circuit at Bota Bota spa, with stunning views of the Old Port. First a quick sweat in the sauna or steam bath, followed by a brave dip in a cold pool and then some R&R on one of the relaxation decks. They have fantastic spa services as well as a truly unique restaurant operated by the Auberge sur la Route catering service of Auberge Saint-Gabriel. The views are simply breathtaking.
How did it feel walking around on a Thursday morning, sipping my coffee while I watched the pouty-faced businesspeople shuffling to work? It felt awesome! Consider a staycation in your respective city and see the sites through the eyes of a newcomer.
Bon Voyage,
Jenn
Jenn Cox is a Montreal-based freelance journalist. Visit her website or email her at info@wordaddict.ca.
Photo 1: Fairmont/Queen Elizabeth
Photo 2: Bota Bota/Corinne Fortier
