Category Archives: montreal

December 29, 2013 · 2:53 pm

My Year in Travel – 2013

This year was a great year of travel for me, hitting some brand new destinations and revisiting some of my old favorites. BUT, for me, the VERY BEST thing about this year in travel are all the wonderful people who I met or was reunited with in various locations around the world. My travels wouldn’t be anything without the people on my journey.

January saw me in NYC and meeting friends old and new – who knew how important they’d all become in my life over the course of this year. I count my blessings for you.

In January I also skied in Verbier, Switzerland and absolutely loved my time with the legendary Warren Smith. I truly hope to see him again in 2014.

Rounding out January, I went to Copenhagen for the very first time and got to reconnect with a travel friend, Christoffer. I loved the cool capital city of Denmark.

February saw me catching up with a dear travel buddy, Anita, in Montreal, Canada for the very first time. We had a ball doing all kinds of wintery fun things like staying in an Ice Hotel and going to Igloofest.

March was my month for Barcelona & Costa Brava, Spain. I was thrilled to meet up with a fellow traveler, Brian, in Barcelona and was lucky enough to see him again in London in November.

Going to Costa Brava was an incredible experience. I love that area of Spain and really cannot get enough, especially of the coast. But, the people on this trip really made it the very best. I can’t imagine a more fun press trip.

April found me in back in NYC. I always love my NYC trips because I get to catch up with very special friends like Jeff & Craig – 2 of my favorites!!

May saw me in my favorite, Miami. I cannot get enough of this city. While I had my usual fun of beach, pool, dinner, drinks and dancing, I particularly enjoyed working with the fantastic luxe swimwear company, Orchid Boutique, during this trip. Talk about a great collection as well as a staff of kindred spirits!

June was an incredible month chalked full of fun things. Kicking off in Toronto for a conference with so many of my favorite fellow travelers, I actually wonder if we’ll ever be able to beat our #RWTBEX time here. I love you all so much!

I also got to spend a bit of time with one of my most lovely traveling partners, Mrs. O, Ana. I was able to show her a bit of Americana in the amazing seaside town of Newport, Rhode Island. We had a ball doing Newport the luxe way.

Wrapping up my June, I had an incredible visit to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. What a great girls weekend we had there and our host, the Bahia Hotel and Carlos, made my trip 100% amazing. Cannot wait to return.

July found me back in Euroland – one of Lola’s favorites. Although, this was a “repeat” journey of sorts, I did manage to do a few new things. One of which was going to the Henley Royal Regatta.

Post-UK was a return visit to Prague and Budapest. Two of my favorites that I’ve never visited in the summertime. Absolutely stunning! So was hanging out with friends made on a previous trip. Always nice to share a beer with good people.

August took me back to Montreal once again and NYC. This trip was extra special because of the time well spent with lifelong friends and a last visit with a friend that would soon depart. Anita, Montreal will always make me think of you fondly. I love you and that city so much.

September took me to two cities I wanted to know better. First was Seattle with my newly found soul mate, Erin. There is nowhere I wouldn’t go with this girl. And we both wanted to celebrate happy moments, like our dear friends, Captain & Clark’s wedding!

Toward the end of September, Erin and I were reunited again in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. I like to think of it as the city of sisterly love! We had a blast discovering different neighborhoods of Philly & laughing with each other all the while.

October I was lucky enough to be reunited with 2 of my favorite traveling partners again, Ana & Mary Anne along with Mary Anne’s BFF Maxine, for a GLAM LA girls weekend.

November was a busy fun month with a visit back to the UK for a conference and reconnecting with so many fun friends from around the world. I’m so glad our paths cross from time to time.

Followed up by a quick jaunt to France and Amsterdam for more girlfriend fun. I wouldn’t choose to travel any other way. Traveling with Ashley, Ana & Mary Anne was the very best.

And I managed to squeeze in a last minute trip back to NYC with my girlfriends and once again be reunited with some of my favorite people.

In December I finished off my year of travel back in Miami to celebrate Erin’s birthday. I cannot think of a better place to end my year. It is my happy spot and it was made so much better being there, laughing and enjoying life, with two of my travel besties, Erin & Esther.

Maybe you see some common themes in my travels. Repeat places, repeat friends, repeated silliness and smiles. Traveling is my lifeline and a huge part of my heart as are all the people I meet along the way. My world is better for all of you. Here’s to many more reunions on the road and good times ahead in 2014! Happy travels…

XO – Lola

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Filed under amsterdam, barcelona, budapest, cabo san lucas, copenhagen, costa brava, henley-on-thames, london, los angeles, miami, montreal, new york, newport, philadelphia, prague, seattle, toronto, travel, verbier

Tagged as friendship, places to go in 2013, year in travel

October 22, 2013 · 8:29 am

Hotel Le Germain, #Montreal – by @JETSETextra @TheWrldWanderer & @loladimarco

That’s correct. A TRIPLE-HIT Review!

Hotel Le Germain is a fun, fresh and fashionable boutique hotel located in downtown Montreal. With just over 100 rooms and suites, Hotel Le Germain’s concept is to allow guests to enjoy beautiful views of the city while pampering them with signature bedding and decor accessories made exclusively for Hotel Le Germain Montreal by fashion designer, Marie Saint Pierre. The warm inviting staff, complimentary espresso bar and Molton Brown products should also not be overlooked. With extra attention to making your stay memorable, Hotel Le Germain offers a program called Elite Extras with special offerings like relaxation, romance or night at the movies. Finally, and possibly our favorite, is Hotel Le Germain’s perfect host concept “Gtails” which means taking care of the finer details. Hotel Le Germain wants to meet all their guests needs but also anticipate them. ELITE. PAMPER. FASHION. What’s not to love…

Mary Anne is an easy going traveler who loves a hotel that offers convenience and great amenities. The first thing she looks for in her room is slippers and a robe, Hotel Le Germain did not disappoint as they supply a 100% cotton bathrobe for after the shower or just relaxing. Her Superior Room offered plenty of space with a work area and a revolving bed side desk with power plugs close by for charging devices. The in room goodies at the minibar were nice little treats for late at night before bedtime. Her other favorite aspect was downstairs adjacent to the lobby. A complimentary library and cappuccino bar, which if you’re a coffee addict like Mary Anne, you won’t be disappointed. Overall, Hotel Le Germain is a great hotel for families on vacation or business travelers who need a great place to meet with clients.

If there’s one thing Erin can’t live without, especially while traveling, it’s wi-fi, and she could not have been more pleased upon arrival at the Hotel Le Germain. While other hotels may offer free wi-fi to guests, it can often be a complicated process involving passwords and log in names, all-the-while still managing to be an unreliable system. However, the Hotel Le Germain is ahead of the game, which is a welcome change from the norm, especially for business travelers and travel writers. Here, no passwords are necessary, and a reliable wi-fi connection is easily accessible just by choosing their network, and that connection is constant and strong. It’s any traveler’s dream and on top of great service, beautiful rooms, and comfortable beds, it’s just icing on the cake.

Lola is a Hotel Junkie. Traveling to great getaways and always looking for the fun, Lola believes if you pick the right place to stay, then the rest will fall into place. Hotel Le Germain is a bit unexpected. Of course, it’s a great spot to rest your head but you can feel an underlying cheekiness to the place. Lola’s favorite thing about Hotel Le Germain was the playful “flower” arrangement in the lobby. It was tall vases with simple tropical greens and tiny fish. You might even miss the fish…it was like a playful secret.

Lola’s favorite Hotel Le Germain touch

Serving primarily the business traveler, Hotel Le Germain makes it easy to start your day by grabbing a quick bite or a coffee on your way out. Since Montreal is only a 5 hour car ride up from Boston, it makes for a perfect short trip. Hotel Le Germain is a great boutique hotel for those who want style, comfort and to be in the heart of downtown.

Mary Anne, Erin & Lola were lucky guests of Hotel Le Germain and, as three well traveled divas, we think Hotel Le Germain’s an all-around great hotel. We liked the convenience of the hotel’s location but also that even though Hotel Le Germain is right in the thick of things, it seemed like it was in a quiet neighborhood. Although we were treated to our stay, our opinions are still OURS. Rooms start at $210 a night, however, to mark Groupe Germain Hospitalite’s 25th anniversary, the hotel brand is offering a 25% discount on your second night. Details are:

Reserve for a Friday or Saturday night and your 2nd night is 25% off!
Deluxe continental breakfast included
Complimentary Wi-Fi access

Valid until December 31, 2013
Reserve with the promo code: GG25

5 Comments

Filed under canada, hipster hotels, montreal, travel

Tagged as boutique hotels in Montreal, Hotel Le Germain, Montreal hotels

October 3, 2013 · 9:15 am

#MTLMoments – My 3 Favorite Drink Experiences in Montreal

I’ve said it before about the lovely city of Montreal – I feel we are kindred spirits. I was thrilled to return to Montreal this August and get to experience it in summertime. I had so much fun there in the throes of winter but really appreciated all I adored from that visit even more this one. People really get out and enjoy Montreal and I think that’s so cool. From wandering the streets, the foodie treats, dancing the night away at a club or just out for evening cocktails on a terrace about town, Montrealers are mixing it up in their city. I, fortunately, got to do all of the above but for now wanted to focus on 3 of my favorite drink experiences while in Montreal.

Classic Cocktails on the Patio

Baldwin Barmacie – located in the ultra hip Mile-End area of Montreal, Baldwin Barmacie feels like a retro throwback. I loved the simple decor and the cocktail menu did not disappoint. I decided on one of my usuals, a dirty martini, it was so yummy that i had to order 2! Plus the petit glass it arrived in was tres cute. You can expect a stylish crowd here but not a pretentious one. Ladies, look out for firefighters on duty down the street at the Firefighters Museum. DELICIOUS!

Impromptu Market Picnic with Vin

Atwater Market – located on the edge of the Old Port neighborhood of Montreal, what a treasure this market is. Quebec products abound here and they pride themselves on delivering local gourmet treats. Fruit and produce can be found as well as butchers and cheese mongers. The flowers aren’t to be missed either. My magic drink moment was found at Première Moisson within the market where they sell delicious pastries and sandwiches. I collected a ham and cheese croissant but not like any I’ve had before as well as a little bottle of vin and a last-minute addition of a chocolate chip and caramel cookie. When I was rung up the woman checking me out said she would have ordered the exact same thing. BINGO!

One of a Kind Glass of Champagne

La Champagnerie – located in Old Montreal, it totally makes sense to have a bar that specializes in champagne – so romantic! But this isn’t your usual champagne bar. First of all, let me be clear, champagne is FAR from my favorite but this experience and what I had to drink were the top of my drink experiences. SOOOO that’s saying something. The “Sabrage” technique became popular from Napoleonic France times. The sabre was the weapon of choice at that time and with all of Napoleon’s victories, the calvary would open champagne with their sabres. OK so that’s where the tradition started but have you ever been somewhere where they encourage you to do the same? No, I thought not. Pick a delicious bottle of champagne and open it with a blunt knife all on you own! Suddenly it’s the very best tasting champagne on earth. But really…IT WAS.

11 Comments

Filed under canada, cocktails, montreal, travel

September 9, 2013 · 9:52 am

#CTC13: Capture the Color with @travelsupermkt

being with LOLA is like being with Skittles

here we are, a year later and it’s “Capture the Color” time again with Travel Supermarket. i actually enjoy participating in this because it makes me really look through all my travel photos and relive my trips! the idea behind it is you publish a post with pictures that capture these five colors – blue, green, yellow, white, and red – to try and win a boat load of prizes including the grand prize grand – a £3,000 travel fund. now, you know Lola cannot put her entry in without adding a token PINK category! i was invited to participate by my pal Erin from The World Wanderer and so i hope i do her proud with my CTC photos.

BLUE my favorite kind of blue is the blue of the ocean. this is a photo i have many versions of from over the years. me, coming in for a landing over Miami Beach – LOLA’S favorite quick escape.

GREEN was the color of the day at the Montreal Botanical Garden. isn’t this butterfly just so pretty? there are so many wonderfully pretty things to discover in Montreal.

YELLOW i love the golden yellow umbrellas these monks are carrying shading them from the Cambodian sun. my entire CTC post could have been full of just Cambodia photos. that county is so colorfully beautiful!

WHITE isn’t this such a gorgeous shot of the Swiss Alps? i was soooo very lucky to ski in the winter of 2013 in Verbier, Switzerland where this photo was shot. now i never want to ski anywhere else.

RED Paris is such a special city. red wouldn’t be the first color i’d use to describe it but it would certainly be the color i would use to describe the Pigalle neighborhood where you can find the Moulin Rouge.

PINK and my token pink photo! i just adore this pink sombrero that i was gifted during my trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from the Bahia Hotel. now i need to return so i can wear it again. ANDALE!

now for the tagging on my part…

Joshua from Engineer on the Road

Calan from Discovering Your Truth

Tom from Waegook Tom

Yishyene from Small Crazy

Keryn from Walking on Travels

looking forward to seeing your photos friends. i know you all have been doing some amazing travels over the last year so let’s see your colors shine!

XO – LOLA

15 Comments

Filed under cabo san lucas, cambodia, miami, montreal, paris, travel, verbier

Tagged as travel photos

August 8, 2013 · 7:19 am

i spy eye candy! – Montreal

This week where in the world is lola? picked the EYE CANDY topic of MONTREAL! Why, you ask? Because I’m one lucky gal who’s returning to THE CITY OF 100 STEEPLES this weekend. As I’ve written before, I feel as though Montrealers and Lola are kindred spirits. What’s even better than returning to Montreal? Returning to Montreal with super fun traveling girlfriends.

CAN’T WAIT to check out Montreal in the summertime PLUS a new hotel property, have some great meals & cocktails out on the town, take a boat & bike tour AND check out the music fest that is going down right now – Piknic Electronik.

You can follow our girlfriend adventures on my Instagram, Facebook & Twitter with the hashtags #MTLMoments AND #SummerInMtl.

PS – I’ll be traveling with the sexy, funny and sassy @wheretogoAM, @JETSETextra, @turnipseeds & @TheWrldWanderer!!! That REALLY should be EYE CANDY reasons enough to follow us.

NOW all I need to complete my EYE CANDY dreams is getting a Mountie #lolafied! What’s eye candy about Montreal to you?

XO – Lola – Bon Voyage

2 Comments

Filed under canada, eye candy, montreal, travel

Tagged as canada, photos, visit montreal