Nadia Aubin, Author at Travel + Design

Hotels + Resorts

Book your stay at Hilton’s newest dual-branded hotel in Montreal

Offering modern and convenient urban comfort with direct access to Montreal’s busy city center and iconic attractions, a dual-branded Hilton concept located in the city’s vibrant Westbury neighbourhood opened this summer. The dual-branded Hilton offers the ultimate guest experience and the best of both worlds for leisure and business; a Homewood Suites by Hilton and a Hilton Garden Inn. The new Hilton location opened its door last summer in the booming Côte-des-Neiges district right off Decarie Boulevard. Not only is the hotel within earshot of the popular juice parlour Orange Julep, but is also a stroll away from Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Whether you simply need a room close to a major highway to make your way up north for a weekend at Mont Tremblant or wish to discover the hidden gems surrounding the area with easy access to the metro, this hotel is a perfect fit. Vacationing guests can hang up their hats at…

Food & Drink

Where to Celebrate Mother’s Day Brunch in Montreal

As Mother’s Day is right around the corner, we want to ensure sure your mom will feel like a queen on her special day. For the occasion, we’ve rounded up the cutest places to bring your mom for brunch this Sunday in Montreal. If the weather calls for sunshine, you can always check out our best terraces in town’s list. Wear your best Sunday outfit, sit and down and relax with a glass of mimosa and let us guide you with our best Sunday brunch picks. Indulge in chocolate and bottomless mimosas at Brasserie 701 (701, Côte de la Place d’Armes) For Mother’s Day, Brasserie 701 didn’t spare any expenses. For a small cost of $35, you can opt for a unique table d’hôte including a viennoiserie table and of course, a chocolate fountain will be on site to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you wish to turn this event into…

Food & Drink

Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Across Canada

What is Cinco de Mayo? It might come as a surprise to some who thinks Cinco de Mayo is, in fact, Mexico’s Independence Day, yet it isn’t! Indeed May 5th marks the anniversary of the Mexican Militia’s win over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, this day has quickly become a time to drink tequila and indulge in the delicious Mexican cuisine. To help plan your Cinco de Mayo, we’ve rounded up the best spots to enjoy tacos all across Canada. Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Halifax Enjoy the sun on the heated patio at Antojo Tacos + Tequila (1667 Argyle St.) With happy hour specials running through all day long, have a Corona and well brand drinks for $4 and margaritas for $8. In recent years, the food seen in Halifax has evolved to host some of the best spots to…

Montreal

The Ultimate Guide to Montreal’s Grand Prix Weekend

Those who live in Montreal believe that Montreal’s Grand Prix is the unofficial kick off of the summer. Hopefully, the weather will be on our side from June 6th to June 9th as more than 300 000 race fans will flock the streets of Montreal and attend the city’s main event of the year. Regardless of how Mother Nature will behave, we’ve rounded up the best parties and places to be during Montreal’s iconic weekend rain or shine. C’est un rendez-vous! What is Montreal’s Grand Prix? Since 1961 the Canadian Grand Prix attracts millions during and post-race, making Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve a standalone landmark. Two other infamous landmarks that are synonym with Montreal’s Grand Prix not only reside in the heart of the city but are less than a mile from one another. Crescent and Peel streets will not only be closed off to traffic but will temporarily be…

Packing Guide

How to spend a great weekend at the cottage this winter

It is common knowledge that winter in Canada can be rough. Yet the inhabitants of the Great White North are not only resourceful but also innovative. From eating fresh maple syrup on snow to inventing the snow plow that has truly become a necessity in every household, Canadians sure know how to make the cold season bearable and perhaps quite fun. One of those activities most Canadians love doing in the cold season is spending a few days away from the city and deadly icy sidewalks and head to the cottage. All one needs is a car, a few friends and these items listed below to ensure your stay at the cottage will be one to remember. Show your bartending skills with Monkey Shoulder Whether you’re bringing beers, a glass of good wine or any other liquor, a cottage weekend should always be filled with booze whatsoever. In order to…

Travel Tips

10 cheap places to fly to this December

Ever wanted a change of scenery before the beginning of the New Year? You’re in luck! We’ve rounded up the cheapest destinations that are perfect for an impromptu trip and they’re all under C$1,300 for the month of December of this year! *All dates searched are in between the 4th and the 24nd leaving from Montreal (YUL), Calgary (YYC), Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) airports with the help of Sky Scanner app. 1. Mexico Wanna indulge on the world’s best tequila, soak in the sun and perhaps watch a Mexican wrestling match? Fly to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta for about 355$ from Montreal and Vancouver. 2. USA It comes at no surprises that USA should figure highly on this list, yet the fact that there are some killer deals for Honolulu (C$600), San Diego (C$400), Orlando (C$335) and Las Vegas (C$450) make us want to reconsider where we’d spend our…

Packing Guide

15 gifts for the traveller on your list

Ah the Holidays, ’tis the season to be jolly. Besides all the gifts and the food that usually follow, the music, the ugly sweaters, booze and all your annoying relatives, you know deep down all of the above makes it the best season of the year! The time has come to sip on a cup of hot cocoa whilst watching some Netflix Christmas special and a million Hallmark movies that have been playing non-stop since July without any shame. Go out and sing every Micheal Bublé’s Christmas songs and spread the joy to the world. What’s not so great is how many Christmas shoppers wait at the very last minute to find that perfect gift for their loved ones then rushes to the stores with that same stress level of a poor student who’s desperately praying to salvage his grades upon the end of the semester. You know who you…

Canada

This holiday season, we’re paying it forward with Miracle Montreal

What would you say if you were told you can “pay it forward” this holiday season by drinking delicious cocktails in winter wonderland? Yes, miracles do happen! Now at its third edition, Miracle Montreal calls home 139 rue Saint-Paul Ouest in Old Montreal. From November 30th until December 30th, you’re invited to be part of an amazing cause where one would call the latter a grown-up Christmas experience at a pop-up bar. A portion of the proceeds cumulated at Miracle Montreal during the entire month will be given to Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation… all you have to do is show up, order a drink, dance to Micheal Bublé or Mariah Carey’s iconic songs (highly recommended) and bring your majestic Christmas sweater (again, highly recommended!) Previously known as Scarlett Restaurant, one will never notice the former tenant upon entering the venue. The establishment went through a major makeover for the occasion…

Europe

Ultimate Guide to Munich’s Beer Gardens and Beer Halls

Germany’s third-largest city and state capital instantly charms anyone who is on the lookout for a massive pint of beer in one of the city’s iconic beer halls or beer gardens. It’s no secret when upon hearing the Bräuhaus and Biergarten will help you navigate and discover gems that will quench your thirst with the help of a massive beer stein. Proßt! To avoid the confusion, in German, a Bräuhaus, translate to a privately-owned brewery. Usually, they’ll be noisy, filled with jolly people and good food and beer. You can always wait for a member of the staff to assign you a table or can choose one yourself. However, if you see the word “STAMMTISCH” on the table, the latter is usually reserved for regulars, so unless someone invites you to join them, find another free table. As for Biergarten, the latter translates for an outdoor area where beer and local…

Design

Summer Just Got a Whole Lot Better with Romeo’s New Gin Tonic

You know on hot summer days when you just want to have a good gin tonic but yet, don’t have the ingredients to make that refreshing drink right in the comfort of your own home? Well, the season just got a whole lot hotter! Montreal based Romeo’s Gin just launched its new gin tonic formula and it’s a godsend invention. Yes, it is now possible to buy gin tonic ready-to-drink at any SAQ in Quebec since April. For the mere cost of $14, you can get four cans of gin tonic (basically the price you’d pay for ONE gin tonic with Romeo’s Gin at any bar!) and still taste as good as the one you’d get in any establishment. Crafted and bottled in Quebec, this first-of-its-kind drink has all the components that will make a gin tonic delicious with its carbonated filtered water gin, cane sugar, natural flavours, citric acid…