Get the hotel upgrade AND save money.

Riley loved the automatic pancake maker at the Sheraton Montreal! 

You know those hotels that don't include continental breakfast and a waterslide? Well, truth is, they often have something better.

Let's take for example, the Sheraton Montreal Centre, and the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. But heck, it could even be the Fairmont Winnipeg, Westin Ottawa or the like. What they, and most downtown business hotels offer is a "Club Lounge" or similar.

Basically, there is an open lounge setting, with TVs, couches, tables chairs, workstations and more. It's on the top floor of the hotel, and is included with some room classes, or can be added (for a fee) to regular rooms.

There are three ways to gain access to the club level: 

1) Be a member of their rewards program. Certain levels will earn you complimentary access.

2) Use your membership rewards points for an upgrade. For example, you can book the least expensive room in the hotel and then call to upgrade your room to "club" using 1500 of your Sheraton (SPG.com) rewards points. So, without any additional cash paid, you have upgraded and get all the perks free.

3) You can pay a nominal fee, at check-in, for an upgrade. Typically it's about $20 per person, but you can always try to negotiate that, especially on weekends when there are very few business travellers.

Why upgrade to Club and why is it worth is even if you are travelling with your children?

1) Space. I love having lounge space to use outside the hotel room itself. You can set up a board game with your kids, or spread out and read a newspaper. Both are typically provided. When kids have activities and other adults present, I always find they are on their best hotel behaviour.

2) The breakfasts are fabulous! "Real eggs!!!" As my son would tell you, are always worth it. If you've ever had stale pastries, powdered eggs and orange drink included as your hotel breakfast you will appreciate this obvious upgrade. Club breakfast, is more like Easter Brunch.

3) Complimentary espresso, fresh squeezed juices, bottle water, tea and hot chocolate, plus grab and-go fruit like apples and bananas are available around the clock.  This alone can be worth the $20 a day, if you are used to paying $5 a coffee and a few dollars for snacks and tea while you are on the go.

4) Both Sheraton and Fairmont offer afternoon "happy hour" and hors d'oeuvres in addition to the morning breakfast.  The Sheraton offered warm brie, cold smoked salmon, cheeses, vegetables and even nachos and guacamole. The Fairmont Chateau Frontenac was all this and more, including gourmet spoons, fresh breads and bite sized desserts.  This is great for kids as they can try new things, in small taster sizes, in a supervised setting, without you having to commit to taking them to a fancy restaurant or spending $100 or more to have such choices.

5) Access to alcohol, soft drinks, milk and juices without having to find a corner store. Aren't there times when you are travelling where you just want to kick back and have a single glass of wine, without committing to or wasting a bottle? Or wouldn't you love to have a mixed cocktail without buying all the ingredients and garnishes? After all, you are on vacation! Well, the Club Lounge has your whole bar. And while there is a fee for alcohol, it is certainly reasonable and much more convenient than hauling the groceries back up to your room and trying to keep ice in a leaky bucket.

So, while your thrifty self might routinely choose the least expensive room at the hotel, do consider the Club Lounge next time you find yourself in a business hotel. I expect you will value the food, beverages and space much more than you realized. And at $20 a day, you will see actual tangible savings over your regular spending habits on the road.

I find the greatest value in this practice, when travelling with my teenage son. I also feel it serves as a learning experience in manners, travel and social skills that I can not replicate when at home. And when it comes time for him to host a business meeting, or attend a fancy restaurant he will already be comfortable and somewhat familiar with the environment.

Shrimp cocktail, and oysters included at the Fairmont that afternoon.

Small sample of the afternoon deli selection. 

My morning cafe latte

Club Lounge at The Sheraton Montreal.

Montreal vs Manitoba

There are very clear differences between the City of Montreal and the Province of Manitoba. On  our recent trip to Montreal, my son remarked of the differences from home.

His top 5 teenage observations: 

1. In Montreal, they have cool transportation. Subways, trains, tunnels, all underground, efficient and cool. Manitoba...not so much.

2. Everyone in Montreal is bilingual. You don't have to speak French to get around as a tourist. In Manitoba, we have French in schools but it's rare to encounter anyone in public who is fluent in both. A tourist who only understood/spoke French in Manitoba wouldn't have an easy or as pleasant an experience.

3. Clothing and styles are different. In Manitoba women shuffle around in UGGs everywhere. In Montreal we didn't see anyone in UGGs, everyone wears fancy boots and shoes. Men everywhere wear scarves. Women are wearing patterned nylons (like fishnets, colours, and bold patterns), and tights.

4. It is less expensive to see a Montreal Canadiens game than a Jets' game. But each audience is equal in passion for their team. A lot of people in Montreal were late in getting to the game. (Lots of seats empty at the Anthems.) Whereas Jets' fans tend to be very early and wouldn't dare miss shouting "TRUE NORTH" during the Canadian Anthem.

5. Montreal has a lot of smokers. Outside every office building, restaurant and hotel there were smokers on the sidewalk. You often smelled smoke in the air. In Manitoba, it seems really quite rare to see a crowd of smokers.

$3.25 a ride ticket. This rapid transit was efficient & easy to use.

Metro map showcases the detailed transportation system. 

Underground plaza and shopping centres. You go UP to street level.

A Christmas book to treasure

It was the store window display that caught my eye, but once inside, I knew it was my kind of place.

If I'd had extra money to spend, I would have purchased a dozen or so books for my kids' school library and a few for myself too. There were so many lovely Christmas books on display.

The store is called Librairie Bertrand and it's located in Old Montreal, specifically 430 Rue St. Pierre.

There was a beautiful selection of cookbooks too. If you're in the neighbourhood, do yourself a favour and drop in.

Hockey and Boutique Shopping: A romantic weekend?

May I suggest this, as perhaps the most Canadian, and most fabulous couple's weekend?

Montreal. Yes, Montreal.

You arrive at a four star downtown hotel, you can feel the city's heartbeat. You dress up a little and head to a restaurant down the street. You enjoy wine and craft beers, smoked salmon and local specialties for dinner. So good.

You awake to cappuccino and croissants from the bakery around the corner. At noon, he heads to the Bell Centre to take in the Canadiens' rink tour. ($24 and starts at noon.)

You head over to Rue St. Catherine and hit the trendy shops along the way to the Eaton Centre. Later you meet up with your partner and head to Old Montreal. The cobble stone sidewalks, art galleries and boutiques are lovely for a stroll. Jacques Cartier Square offers entertainment and snacks of ice cream and maple syrup treats before you make up your mind on dinner. So many great little restaurants to choose from!

The next day, you head to a hockey game or a concert at the Bell Centre. It's always a hub of activity.

Post-game you stop into a pub and have a drink and a smoked meat sandwich,  rehash the game and watch the highlights on the big screen over the bar.

Before you know it, the weekend's over. And you've had the best time.

There are daily direct flights from Winnipeg, to Montreal for about $400 on either Canadian airline.

You can expect to pay about $150 per night at the four star Downtown hotels. I can certainly recommend The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth and the Sheraton Centre.

Hockey tickets will vary in price according to opponent but plan for$100 and up. The hotel concierge can help you acquire tickets, or you can get your own through the Canadiens or Stubhub.com.

Bertrand Bookstore, Old Montreal

North Pole Gift Shop, Old Montreal

On non-game days, the tour includes THE locker room

Tour takes about 90 minutes, but budget time for the gift shop and plaza

View from section 321. 

Au Pain Dore, Downtown bakeshop. 

Chocolates and treats from Au Pain Dore

One of the many historic buildings lining Jacques Cartier Square.

The centre of activity, in Old Montreal. Jacques Cartier Square. 

Vancouver or Montreal for 1500 Air Miles

If you can travel in October, Air Miles has a heck of a deal for you! This week's discounted flights (for Gold and Onyx collectors) are to Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal or Vancouver.

Imagine, a direct, return Westjet flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver for $126 and 1500 Air Miles. Fabulous eh?

You will need to book on-line through the Air Miles site, or call their 1-888 to redeem.

Act quickly for best dates.  Offer expires September 13th.

If I had time, I would take a fall season dream trip! I would fly to Montreal, stay a night or two,  then catch the Via train to Moncton or Halifax and see the maritimes (Approx $260 round trip, or $500 in a sleeper car.) Would be amazing! (To learn more about the route click here.)

I would stay at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel (I've been there a few times) which is located at the train station and in the heart of Montreal. Gorgeous hotel and actually not very expensive.

Actually, I would time the trip so I could also see a hockey game at the Bell Centre, which is about 2 blocks from the train station/hotel. Oh how I would love to do this trip! And I bet I could do it at a bargain price! What fun that would be!!!

Montreal in March?

Lots of great dates and direct flights available. Have you been to Montreal? What a great place for a date! What a great couples' weekend destination.

What about a Montreal Canadiens' game?

Westjet and Air Canada are similarly priced right now for flights. (See the Westjet sample) Prices are as low as $405, tax in, return.

Wouldn't a little trip to Montreal be the best Valentine's gift? Write a note in the card and take the trip in a few weeks.

Our Amazing Adventure: Part 9 A Whistle Stop in Montreal

We had about 65 minutes in Montreal between trains. Totally enough time for another challenge! This was styled after the Amazing Race after all... 65 minutes is tons of time! And who knows? Maybe my hockey superstar son will be a Montreal Canadian some day? Knowing where to find the Bell Centre could come in handy!

Seek the story

Every destination has history. Once you visit you will have a history with that destination. These will be your personal memories.  But what about those who came before you?

Some of these details you can find on the Internet. Some of the special details will be found in asking your hotel clerk, your waitress and or the people you meet at the coffee shop.

When we went to Montreal, I looked up the history of our hotel... the grand, the incredible, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. This is a stately hotel. This is a destination in itself. There is a train station built underneath it for goodness sake! It's european and regal and I felt privileged to visit and "live" there for a week.

It didn't take a lot of digging to find that this was the hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous "bed-in" for peace. They wrote and recorded Give Peace a Chance there.  The Fairmont honours this history and has the very room labelled.

One evening, we went up two floors in the elevator and voila! It just added something to our trip.

It's an amazing Canadian icon. It's also pretty affordable. It runs about $100-$150 a night. A little more for the Club Level. (The views alone are worth it!)

Direct flights to Montreal (YUL) from Winnipeg (YWG) run about $400-$450. See Air Canada or Westjet for dates and prices.  The contrasts in the provinces, Manitoba and Quebec, are at times dramatic. Our province feels very young. Montreal, particularly Old Montreal takes you back in time and shows you a rich French culture.  It's a wonderful experience. A weekend isn't enough.