Spring…and summer, eventually…is on its way (slowly and very inconsistently), which means that tote bags will be in full force. They’re great for market days, beach days, road trips, and more. Do you have one? If not, is it on your spring shopping list? Here are some that caught my eye.
round tote – Creema, canvas tote – H&M, coated canvas tote – Best Made Co., boat and tote – L.L. Bean, tote – Joe Fresh, tote – Banana Republic, canvas tote, canvas tote – James Pearse, tote – Native & Co
Did you see Travel + Leisure’s 2019 list of best new hotels. I loved it. There are a few hotels that really stood out to me in terms of design. One is the Palazzo Bozzi Corso in Lecce, Italy (Puglia). Let’s start in the Cappuccino room:
On to Lady Astor’s suite:
The art, the details, the tile work, the views…this hotel is beautiful!
I’ve been riding my bicycle for a few weeks now (when it’s not raining), and I had forgotten how easy and quick it is to get around town with it. The winter break is really just too long to be away from my white Peugeot! (See #WhiteCabanaBikes for a few Peugeot highlights).
Back in the fall, when I was talking to someone about Montreal, she started raving about her new discovery – Hotel Birks. She told me that she wandered into the Birks store, kept walking around, only to discover a hotel attached to it. She said the lobby was beautiful, and that considering my interest in luxe hotels, I must check it out. So I did.
Hotel Birks gets reviews like “exceptional” and “outstanding” on Trip Advisor, which made me that much more eager for my weekend stay. One of the things I noted in the reviews were the reviewers’ use of staff names. I take note of things like this because it means that staff and guests had real interactions or they interacted more than once. I also liked that I saw responses from the Rooms and Reservations Managers. When I see hotel staff interacting with Trip Advisor comments, I feel like they’re taking them seriously. So…all-in-all, my pre-trip research was positive! (Note: I received a press rate for my stay.)
My friend Shannon and I stayed for three nights, and we both commented on how much we enjoyed the beds. They were extremely comfortable and the linens were top-notch. We also made use of the fireplace in our room; it was perfect to warm up the room on the surprisingly cooler days of May. The hotel provided robes and slippers, and I made use of both.
The bathroom had every product we would need, and I was smitten by the use of marble throughout.
Our room had a little wet bar, which was perfect for our morning coffee and evening tea break. Beyond the room, the lobby of the Hotel Birks is full of charm and old architecture. The building was restored beautifully, and the main floor Brasserie Henri was lovely.
Service was good. I found the front desk team and concierge to be genuinely interested in helping. The room service was a touch inconsistent. Turn down service was different each night, and one day the cleaning crew completely missed our room. I’m not sure why, but the issue was resolved quickly.
The location is central. Hotel Birks is on Saint Catherine – one of Montreal’s main shopping areas – kitty corner to The Bay. From here, we were able to walk to the train station, to the Bell Centre, and to stores and restaurants. We also walked from here through Chinatown to Old Montreal. When we didn’t feel like walking, we easily grabbed an Uber to take us to places like Outremont and Atwater Market.
I didn’t have a chance to experience the Spa or Brasserie Henri on this trip, but both looked luxurious and inviting.
Would I stay at Hotel Birks again? Most definitely!
Note: I received a press rate for my stay. All opinions and photos are my own.
This post is sort of a variation of my “things on my mind” column that many of you seem to really love! Today, I’m sharing 5 articles that I have come across in my Internet travels. I enjoyed reading each of them, and they all taught me something new.
1.What you can do to help women in states with extreme abortion bans by Amanda Arnold for The Cut.
2. The most disruptive office distractions, ranked by Michelle Cheng for Quartz at Work.
3. It list 2019: Our editors’ picks of the best hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure.
4. Resonance: How to open doors for other people by Farnam Street.
5. 11 great reader comments on friendship by Caroline Donofrio for Cup of Jo.
