July - Vancouver

This trip still literally brings tears to my eyes. My sisters (14 and twin 16 year-olds) were traveling with me, and for two of them, it was their first time on a commercial airline. In fact, the only reason they had been on a plane before was because they are all air cadets and they have flown gliders themselves. But I digress, back to the trip! 

We flew on Canada Day, my 33rd birthday, at night. We knew our vacation was off to a great start when the city of Vancouver welcomed us with fireworks we could see from the air. There are no words to describe what we saw that night. We got a few hours of sleep once settled at out uncle's house and then were ready to go bright and early for our first adventure.

We started at Golden Ears National Park. With two kayaks, we towed 5 people, a cooler and all of our gear to a small beach for the day. We swam, ate and played for hours as our dear uncle slept off his night shift. The mountains were a stunning backdrop for our sun-filled day.

The following day I decided to take the girls for some sightseeing, and I was excited to see some attractions that I had never visited as well. We started at Stanley Park, because, well, how can you not?! We walked along the seawall and took in the majesty of the ocean, mountains and city combined into one spectacular venue. 

Our next stop, which was surprisingly nearby was the Capilano Suspension Bridge. While my youngest sister was enamored with David Suzuki's Edgewalk, I didn't disguise my utter fear of heights and was sure to embarrass them with my shrieks for the following 2 hours. There is so much to see and do at this park, it is definitely not just a giant bridge.

We ended the day at Grousse Mountain - again conquering my fears and creating memories with my most cherished friends. My youngest sister managed to make it to the peak, while the rest of us waited about a third of the way up! 

On our last day, we hit the beach where the tide was easily about 2 kilometers out from the shore!!! Amongst the hundreds of dead crabs (which of course they thought were hysterical to chase me with), we made our way out to the ocean. Being the tourists that we were, we made sure to position ourselves by the lifeguard before we entered into the Pacific Ocean (it was the first time for my twin sisters). We proceeded to scream and giggle at the top of our lungs as we braved the cold water and the crabs nipping at our toes (justice). 

I adore British Columbia and I intend to travel there at least annually. Next stop - the Okanagan!

June - Montreal

Okay, so I've been to Montreal at least 50 times in the past 5 years, but I definitely needed to dedicate one month of my year of traveling to this amazing city.

This summer I spent about 4 weeks in Montreal in total, training over 100 new travel agents. My colleagues and friends in Montreal are out of this world, so I really get to experience the city with them. I have also done the "touristy" thing with my husband, so I feel like I've seen the best of both worlds. 

Restaurants 

Deville's

This retro-chic restaurant is basically a gourmet diner. We all had cheese-stuffed burgers on garlic brioche and beignets for dessert, which are basically a cross between a donut and a puff pastry. They serve them with ganache and salted caramel. All of the Mir desserts are served fresh, so be sure to order these with your dinner.

Académie

This is one of my absolute favourites. In Montreal there are many restaurants that allow you to bring your own wine (no corking fee!) and this is by far one of the best. They also have reasonable prices - I highly recommend moules et frites - mussels and french fries. They have many different types to choose from.

Schwartz's

This is the most authentic Montreal Smoked Meat in the city. It's an old school diner, and there is a line up out the door every day of the year! My husband was in heaven, and I quite enjoyed it as well!

Champagnerie

This place was so cool! If you order a bottle of champagne, they bring a saber sword to your table so that you can slash the top of your bottle off. I sat and watched in awe as it seemed like a dangerous feat, but everyone pulled it off seamlessly.

Montreal Poutine

This is where my husband and I ended up after realizing that every restaurant in Old Montreal was booked for the night! I'm addicted to Poutine, so I have high standards, and this did not disappoint! My husband had sausage on his and I stuck to the traditional, but both were amazing!

Trois Brasseurs

In Ontario, this restaurant is called "Three Brewers" and all locations are equally good. It's a microbrewery and the beers are brewed on site. There is a great flight of beers that allows you to try a small sample of each kind, I treated my husband to this on his birthday. The food is mainly pub fare, but pretty good overall.

Attractions

Cathedrale Notre Dame

This is a site I have visited every single time I've been downtown Montreal. It is beautiful, no matter the season. I have seen it in the beautiful summer sunset, lit up at night and even with small snow avalanches falling off its sides! My mom and I were definitely glad we were on the other side of the street when we witnessed that one! 

Marché Bonsecours

This is an artisan market, with beautiful and authentic souvenirs of the city. My favourite find was a small gallery with oil and watercolour paintings of the city.

Biodome 

I won't lie, this place SMELLS! But it was worth the visit, especially for the rainforest and penguin exhibits.

I've come to think of Montreal as my second home, and I look forward to every visit and cherish my fortune to be able to visit as often as I do.

Items People Always Forget When Travelling

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May – Atlanta

So, technically this one was a work trip – but it was so much fun that I felt it needed to count as my monthly trip! Another colleague and I went to work on an important project for 3 nights and we had an amazing time!  

We stayed at the Intercontinental in Buckhead and went exploring with our local friends and colleagues.  The first night we went to Portofino, a lovely Italian restaurant with a great patio.  Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and didn’t turn up his nose when I exercised my right to take multiple food photos!  

The following evening, we explored an emerging area on the Atlanta beltline – a long pedestrian/cyclist path that has gorgeous condos, street art and restaurants popping up practically overnight.  

We ended up choosing the LadyBird Grove and Mess Hall for dinner where we shared a board of bacon-stuffed trout, sweet potato gratin and charred broccoli salad.  Amidst conversation of the good ‘ole days of beepers and pigeon carriers, we relaxed and enjoyed specialty cocktails and wine on their enclosed patio.

April – Memories Holguin

This trip will always be special to me as it was my little sister’s first time to a Caribbean destination.  It was so wonderful to experience the excitement and elation of exploring a new culture through her eyes.  

We arrived late at night and then spent the majority of our stay on the beautiful beach.  Holguin is so naturally beautiful, with mountains and trees as far as the eye can see – there were even trees providing natural shade right on the beach!  The resort was simply stunning, with multiple pools stacked one on top of the other, connected by waterfalls leading all the way up the property to the main lobby.  

Because of the way it is situated on the side of a hill, you have an amazing view of the pools and the ocean from the main buffet (La Hacienda), not to mention a great workout going up and down the multiple staircases running alongside the pools!  This resort also has very spacious rooms to accommodate large families and many restaurant options to choose from.   My little sister was so enamored that she drank out of a coconut for her entire trip!  

We also used the VIP Lounge at the Holguin airport, which was such a great way to travel – we had priority check-in, an open bar, snacks and we were the first people on the plane.  

March – Havana and Varadero, Cuba

In March I became even more ambitious and planned a one-night tour of Havana and Varadero!  I flew out with a colleague and we landed early in Varadero.  We had a private transfer to our hotel in Havana, so we decided to stop at the picturesque Bacunayagua bridge, the tallest bridge in Cuba.  We drank pina coladas out of coconuts while we took in the view.  

We arrived at the Memories Miramar in Havana just in time for lunch and had a fantastic mahi-mahi in their International and Creole restaurant, El Patio.  

After a leisurely lunch, we headed into Havana to explore the city with our private tour guide.  I had been to Havana before on a day excursion, but this was much more laid-back as we had more time to spend in each location.  The architecture feels like you’ve stepped back into another century and is simply stunning.  We navigated the cobblestone streets, bought some pastries and mojitos, danced in the square to some live music and enjoyed our time immensely.  

We returned back to the Memories for dinner at the buffet, and it was amongst the best Cuban food I have ever had (the buffet had brie!).  

The next morning, we headed to the Memories Jibacoa, which is located right in between Varadero and Havana (about 45 minutes from each direction).  This quiet resort is so uniquely positioned with mountains on one side of the resort and a coral reef that you can easily snorkel to as it is only 100 feet from the beachfront!  The rooms were spacious and the poutine bar made it feel like home!  I am already looking forward to returning to both of these resorts for a more extended stay.

February - Aruba

My husband and I decided to go to Aruba for 2 nights on a whim in February.  There were several holidays (Family Day, Reading Week, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day), so all of the hotels were sold out, but there was an amazing last-minute deal on flights.  We booked a little villa online and decided to go for it! 

We could not have picked a better time to visit this beautiful island.  Not only were we walking distance to the main beach and hotel area in Palm Beach, but the villa had a beautiful pool and full facilities.  It was also the island’s Carnival celebration, which is such an amazing way to experience the local culture and effervescence.  We shared a cab with a lovely couple also on vacation down to the annual parade in Oranjestad and we danced in the streets as floats and the most elaborate costumes led the giant celebration.  

When we returned to our villa, we met a lovely couple (one was from Aruba, the other, Curacao) and asked them where we could go for some local cuisine.  They brought us to the popular Palm Beach Plaza which has shopping, restaurants and night clubs and we went to a restaurant called “the Queen’s”.  They had local favourites such as “pan bati”, sweet fried bread and delicious stews with plantains and rice.  After dinner, we walked around the shops and watched a fountain show in the middle of the square.  

We spent the remainder of our stay on the beach, it was such perfect, arid weather (it only rains a few times per year) and we had to apply the sunscreen liberally!  On our return, my husband bought me the most gorgeous ring at the airport jewelers – rose gold filled with diamonds and small hearts carved into the sides.  All in all, it was an amazing experience and definitely worth visiting, if only for 2 nights!

January - Royalton Riviera Cancun, Mexico

This impromptu girls' vacation was a long overdue reunion with one of my best friends.  We have kept in touch regularly over the years (29 years to be exact) but I live in the Toronto area whereas she lives in Richmond, VA.  We took separate flights in and met at this brand-new luxury hotel.  I am an avid traveller, but this was my first time to Mexico, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  The airport was quite busy, with several flights landing at the same time.  In true form, I made friends with my fellow passengers in line and passed away the time talking about our previous vacations.  The hotel was only a 10 minute drive from the airport, and the hotel was impressive even from the (albeit long) driveway.  My girlfriend welcomed me and we were whisked off to the Hideaway (adults-only) private check-in area.  As we waited for our room, we caught up at the bar within the check-in area and became acquainted with the local drink selection.  Our room was simply AMAZING - a swim out room, the most comfortable beds, rain showers, a huge tub with jets and 24-hour room service are just a few of the luxurious room amenities.

We had dinner at Agave (MesoAmerican Fusion), the Hunter Steakhouse, Armadillo's (TexMex) and OPA! (Mediterranean).  The Service was efficient, the food was phenomenal and the staff were incredibly friendly.  The Gourmet Marché (Buffet) is amongst the best I have ever had, with a ridiculous amount of options, including fresh guacamole, pastries, grill items and even a mini-buffet for the kids which is lower to the ground.  The SCORE sports bar is open until 4am and serves amazing poutine, chicken wings and is directly across from the disco, so you have easy access to drinks and food while you dance the night away!  There is also a great martini bar (Martini Mix), where most people went before/after dinner.  It was such a great way to meet people and hear about everyone’s experiences at the resort.  We met a couple from our hometown who had actually gone to our elementary school and we have stayed in touch ever since!

My favourite part of the resort was the Hideaway - this section of the resort is reserved for adults only and has daily activities by the pool (stell drum bands, chocolate parties, etc.).  The pool is simply amazing - it is heated in the evenings (which is especially nice in January) and has little "booths" inside of it that are great for socializing while you take advantage of the two swim-up bars.  The pool also surrounds the Dorado (Seafood, Adults-Only) restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a fantastic menu.  It overlooks the ocean and as with all of the restaurants at the Royalton, no reservations are required.

Overall, I highly recommend the resort for families, weddings, honeymoons, couples - there's definitely something for everyone!

A Year in Travel

A Year in Travel

I feel like there is such a negative connotation to New Year's resolutions.  To be honest, I usually abstain completely, but this year I decided to come up with a resolution that would motivate me throughout the year as well as enrich my life in a positive way. It was with this goal in mind that I decided to travel somewhere different every month this year!  I'm officially past the halfway mark with plans for the rest of the year, so it's time to start posting my adventures!

Questions to ask your wedding consultant

If you're planning a destination wedding, you will want to ask these important questions:

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Meliã Hotels

The Meliã Hotels are such a fantastic option for absolutely anyone looking for great service and consistently reliable properties.  They offer a wide array of services, upgrades, wedding packages, honeymoon packages and have properties offered through Sunwing at a wide variety of destinations such as Cuba, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic.  There are many different brands under the Meliã Hotels International heading, so we have put together a guide to help you select the perfect property for you:

                                     

Paradisus

This is the utmost in extravagance from Meliã – with a wide variety of room categories and upgrade options such as the Royal Service, which includes a private butler, private check-in & check-out, a pillow menu, 24 hour room service as well as exclusive pools, bars and restaurants.  These properties are ideal for weddings and honeymoons and offer the utmost in pampering and high-class restaurants, bars and personalized service.

My favourites are: Paradisus Varadero, Paradisus Cancun and Paradisus Palma Real (Punta Cana)

Meliã

If you’re looking for luxury, this brand is for you!  With many options for both families and adults-only properties, you will be sure to be greeted with warmth and efficient service.  They have a variety of room categories, and even apartments for longer durations (Meliã Marina Varadero).
My favourites are: Meliã Cayo Coco (adults-only), Meliã Las Americas (Varadero) & Meliã Buenavista (Cayo Santa Maria).

Sol

This brand is extremely family-friendly and value priced!  If you know you love Meliã hotels, it is definitely worth checking out.  You’ll find the same excellence and quality synonymous with Meliã hotels, with a ton of activities for adults and children alike.  I chose a Sol property for my wedding (Sol Cayo Guillermo) since I wanted something to suit everyone, and it was the best decision – everyone had a great time!
My favourites are: Sol Cayo Guillermo, Sol Rio de Luna y Mares (Holguin) and Sol Palmeras Resort and Bungalows (Varadero).

TRYP

TRYP has a little something for everyone, but my experience was that this brand was primarily for those looking for a party!  They are also great for families since they are full of activity and have excellent kids’ clubs and programs.  It’s a great place to meet people and the Havana location is ideally situated to allow you to explore all aspects of the city with ease – not to mention the spectacular view!

My favourites are: TRYP Cayo Coco, TRYP Havana Libre and TRYP Panama Playa Coronado.

JAMROCK

There is no better way to experience the vibrancy, culture, music, food and excitement of an island than during a Caribbean festival.  JAMROCK Summer is such an amazing opportunity to visit one of the coolest islands and take advantage of a wide array of planned events.  You can find signature events on their website, http://jamrocksummer.com/about-us/ but we have highlighted our top events for you below.

1. Jamaica Film Festival (July 7-11, Kingston)

Showcasing the talents of local and international filmmakers, this festival is held in the Capital City and is their first official national film festival.  It will feature a full day of music, with a reggae concert at the Tuff Gong International Recording Studios, founded by Bob Marley.  There will also be a beach party on the Saturday, set in front of the iconic Blue Mountains.

http://jamaicafilmfest.com/

2. Little Ochie Seafood Festival (July 10-12, Alligator Pond, Manchester Parish)

Calling all foodies!   This local favourite boasts exotic menu items such as Jerk Lobster, Conch Fritters, Fried Breadfruit and Coconut Salmon.  If that isn’t reason enough, there will also be a beach party and concert to close the day.

http://www.visitjamaica.com/little-ochie-seafood-festival

3. Reggae SumFest (July 12-18, Montego Bay)

This musical extravaganza will be sure to provide the soundtrack to your vacation!  With a variety of genres, artists, venues and themes, there are so many options to choose from (or go for broke and try them all!):

Beachfest
July 12 – 3:00pm Aquasol Theme Park
Hosted by Miss Kitty, this beach party is sure to delight with a wide variety of artists such as ZJ Liquid, Black Chiney, Chromatic and many more!

All White Affair
July 14 – 8:00pm Pier One
This concert features a selection of DJs including DJ Kentucky, DJ Smoke and Kamal Bankay, sure to help you dance the night away in style.

Dancehall Explosion
July 16 – 7:00pm Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex
This concert has over 25 performers lined up! It is said to be the greatest reggae show on earth and is definitely not to be missed.

Show Time
July 17 – 7:00pm Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex
Some of the biggest headliners of the festival will be at this show – Common, Rick Ross & Jesse Royal are all huge fan favourites and are sure to bring down the house!

Star Time
July 18 – 7:00pm Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex
This show’s name speaks for itself – Jennifer Hudson and Beenie Man are amongst the top acts, and will close out this spectacular festival.

http://reggaesumfest.com/main/

4. Mobay Jerk Festival (August 1st, Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex, Montego Bay)

No trip to Jamaica would be complete without a healthy dose of spicy Jamaican jerk flavour!  This
one-day festival is sure to fire up your taste buds with a wide array of jerk foods, as well as cultural
highlights such as drumming, dancing and fashion.

https://www.facebook.com/mobayjerkfest

5. Dream Weekend (August 5-9, Negril)
Held in Negril, this event features 10 main events over a span of 5 days concerts, beach parties and
celebrities.  It brings out about 30,000 people annually and is one of the biggest parties of the
island!  More details will be released on their website in the coming weeks…
http://jamaicadreamweekend.com

Top 10 Destination Wedding Money Saving Ideas

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5 Things I Wish I had Done for my Destination Wedding

So excited to share my first destination wedding blog!

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Cayo Guillermo – a Hidden Gem

I have been fortunate enough to travel to Cuba 11 times now – but one place still stands out to me: Cayo Guillermo.  This island is located right beside Cayo Coco, which means it’s a quick 30 minute drive from the airport.  My husband and I first traveled there for a winter getaway and decided immediately that this is where we wanted to get married.  Of course, we wanted to ensure that our family and friends had a great time and  that we had the perfect backdrop to our special day.  With that in mind, we visited almost every single resort in Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo!  In the end, we chose Cayo Guillermo for a few main reasons:

The Beach

The water is just so beautiful here – very little seaweed (other than that bit that washes up on the shore in the mornings).  As an avid swimmer, this is especially important to me!  It’s also a tanning paradise as you can put your lounger right into the ocean when the tide goes out in the afternoon.  I noticed that a lot of families really appreciated this as well since the children really enjoyed the shallow water.

The Atmosphere

 Cayo Guillermo is a very quiet island – a great mix of families, couples and groups.

The People

Known for their impeccable hospitality, the Cuban charm is certainly present on this island!  We are always greeted with warm smiles by the baristas in the morning, and everyone is so eager to share their culture and heritage with  you, it is truly an enriching experience.  Most of the staff live in Moròn, which is also an excellent place to visit.

The Activities and Excursions

The hotels all have an excellent variety of activities which usually include yoga,  Latin dancing, Spanish lessons and many other sports and games for children as well.

I’ve also been on a number of excursions, but there are a couple that stand out to me – the All in One and the Sugar, Cigar & Rum Tour.

All in One

http://www.nexustours.com/cuba/cayo-coco/tour/all-in-one-cayo-coco/

Why choose when you can have it all!  Your day starts by visiting the local aquarium so that you can interact with dolphins, followed by an exciting Jeep Safari tour.  Finally, the Catamaran Cruise is led by local experts who know all of the best places to snorkel.  This is a great option for families, couples and groups of all ages.

Sugar, Cigar & Rum

http://www.nexustours.com/cuba/cayo-coco/tour/sugar-cigar-rum-cayo-coco/

We started by visiting the town of Moròn and were taken on a fantastic horse-drawn carriage ride.  We got to observe local merchants and pedestrians bartering on their daily errands and it was a great orientation to the town.  Next, we visited a sugar cane factory, where we got to taste raw sugar cane and learn how rum is made.  The highlight for me was the crocodile farm, which spends a lot of their time studying, breeding and protecting the reptile population.

Poutines of the Carbbean

I am a huge fan of trying new foods, especially when vacationing! There are so many different cultures and cuisines in the Caribbean, what's not to like? But let's face it - vacations are also that week that we've been looking forward to indulging and enjoying without worry. The great French-Canadian Classic seems to be dominating restaurant menus near and far and the Royalton and Memories hotels are following the trend with delicious results! Here are my top 5:

#5 Royalton Punta Cana

This poutine was very good, it is only number 5 on the list because there were so many amazing ones to choose from! After a long day at the waterpark, we had this one with a cold beer and it was very satisfying. It also gave us the energy we needed to make it out to the beach party that night! (Score Sports Bar)

#4 Royalton Riviera Cancun

I had this one poolside on my last day - I went up to the Sports Bar to get it (the view of the pool from there is stunning) and had a Caesar while I waited. It doesn't get much more Canadian than that! (Score Sports Bar)

#3 Royalton Hicacos

This resort actually has a DIY poutine bar at lunch and dinner. They have different gravies and cheeses to choose from, and all were delicious! After two visits, this is still my favourite buffet in Cuba. (Gran Plaza Hicacos - Buffet)

#2 Memories Jibicoa

This poutine is the most authentic tasting (if you love the French-Canadian fry truck classic version of curds and poutine sauce - that's right, it's not gravy). The General Manager at this fabulous resort is Québécois! This one is also available at the main buffet lunch and dinner and is a great way to replace some calories after a morning of snorkelling the coral reef which is only 100 meters from their beautiful beach! (International Buffet Los Girasoles)

#1 Royalton White Sands

The most creative and delicious spin I have ever tasted - the Jerk Chicken Poutine! I had one almost every day that we were there. The resort has an authentic jerk drum and makes the best jerk chicken, pork, goat, etc on the beach every day. I simply cannot wait to try this one again! (Score Sports Bar)

Tipping Etiquette

As an avid traveler, I am often asked what the etiquette for tipping at resorts is. My motto is, a little goes a long way. Most resorts I visit are are all-inclusive, and my experience has been that you don't necessarily need to tip to receive excellent service. However, there are a few small things you can do if you want to "show the love" to the hotel staff. Here is a typical week for me at an all-inclusive in Cuba:

Room

I will leave a note for the cleaners, albeit in my extremely broken Spanish! Usually something along the lines of "Gracias!" (Thank you!) and I will leave 1 peso on top of my note.

We will usually cross paths at some point, and that is a great time to ask for extra water or beer in your room if needed.

Restaurants 

My husband and I usually choose a table outside, and make sure to learn our server's name and strike up a conversation if they're not too busy. We also leave them 1 peso each on the first day.

Bars

This is where I tip the least - bartenders usually do very well in tips and they are also extremely busy most of the time. I will usually tip a few times throughout the week.

Once we have been there a day or two, everyone remembers us and we ask them if there's anything they need and we let them know that we've brought items from Canada. Usually they really appreciate sunscreen, nail polish, running shoes/flip flops (gently used is fine) and hats as they are very expensive in Cuba. I've had various other requests over the years, usually all things that we have with us and are happy to leave behind.

If I add it all up:

Day 1: 6 pesos

Day 2-6: gifts from Dollarama + 8 pesos

Day 7: 6 pesos

Total: 20 pesos + $10 at Dollarama = $35 CDN for the week (including currency exchange)

The thing is, most people feel that they need to tip to receive efficient service. However, I think that being kind and getting to know the staff at the hotel is far more rewarding experience for everyone.