“Don’t you just love New York in the Fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies.” - Meg Ryan (You’ve Got Mail)

On the drive home from a recent work trip, my fellow Broadway-loving coworker dropped the question: Should we fly up to New York to see a show? The answer was an emphatic YES!!!

This trip marked my third trip to New York in the past 3 years and I have become completely infatuated with the city. The lights! The energy!! The shows!!! While I am unqualified to give an insider perspective on planning your next NYC trip, I will spill the tea on our recent trip in hopes that it will inspire you to book yours!

Points Redemption Details:

• Flights: My aforementioned work bestie was very generous to share his Delta Companion Pass (earned via the Delta Sky Miles Platinum American Express Card) with me, which cut the cost of our tickets in half. We scoured the internet for the best deals and landed on a midweek trip (Tuesday to Wednesday) due to prices being lower and after learning that many Broadway shows offer matinees on Wednesday (!!) This made the cost of our round-trip tickets to NYC just shy of $120/each.

• Hotel: We booked rooms at the Hyatt Place Midtown-South (between Bryant Park and Herald Square) for 20,000 points each. If you don’t already know, World of Hyatt redemptions are significantly lower than other major hotel brands, and they were a few thousand points cheaper during the week. The hotel was nothing special, but the rooms were clean and comfortable and I scored an incredible view of the Empire State Building! The location was close to the subway and convenient for walking to Broadway, which was the main priority for such a quick trip.

  • We both transferred points earned via Chase Sapphire Preferred Cards for this stay. Typically the sign-on bonus on this card runs at about 60,000 points — enough for a 3-night stay in NYC!

Itinerary:

Tuesday:

We arrived at LaGuardia around 11AM and took public transportation into the city. This was my first time *not* taking a taxi from the airport, and it was honestly so easy — and you can’t beat the $2.90 price tag. We dropped off our bags at the hotel and immediately headed to Ess-a-Bagel in Koreatown for our first NYC bagel fix. (Pro tip: order ahead to cut the line!)

We had a few hours to kill in the afternoon before our first show and no shortage of ways to spend it. We ended up walking up 5th Avenue and stopped into the NY Public Library to see their free exhibit (including the original stuffed animals owned by A.A. Milne’s son — which inspired the Winnie the Pooh books.)

We’d booked tickets for the MoMa ahead of time, and spent a couple of hours admiring the modern art on display, featuring some iconic pieces such as Starry Night by Van Gogh, Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans, and three of Monet’s Water Lilies.

Next up, we booked an early, pre-show dinner at La Pecora Bianca near Bryant Park. They have several locations throughout the city and all of their pasta is made in house. Prices were not bad for New York and we both loved our dishes. S/O to our coworker Elizabeth for this recommendation!

Our Tuesday evening entertainment was Death Becomes Her, based on the 1992 film featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. The show was irreverent, over-the-top, and made us laugh out loud throughout. We also got to meet up with our former colleague, Susanna, who we both adore!! We capped off the night with a couple of G&Ts at Valerie, recommended by Susanna.

Wednesday:

Thanks to daylight savings time, we were up-and-at-’em on the early side on Wednesday. Our first stop was Liberty Bagels (Midtown) for bagels — we consulted this bagel map of NYC for our bagel choices and were happy with both of our selections. Since I know everyone is dying to know, my bagel order is an everything bagel, double toasted with olive cream cheese.

We then headed to the Museum of Natural History and spent a couple of hours learning about dinos and prehistoric people groups (and poking around their many gift shops) before lunchtime. We also found a location of the famous NYC bookstore Strand for a little shopping fix. If you’re looking for cute/non-cheesy NYC gifts or souvenirs, I highly recommend!

Lunch was at LumLum, a Thai seafood bar on W. 49th Street. It has a fun tiki-bar vibe and we were able to walk right in and get a table without making reservations in advance. I had the Khao Soi Gai, a coconut Thai curry with chicken, which was honestly one of the best curries I’ve ever had.

From there, we hustled over to the Belasco theater for a Matinee performance of Maybe Happy Ending — this year’s best musical winner at the Tony Awards. The show is about two retired “helper bots” in future South Korea who go on an adventure and end up finding love along the way. We both LOVED this show and have been listening to the original cast recording on repeat. It was really special to see the original cast, including Darren Criss from Glee! Highly recommend this one if you are planning an upcoming trip.

Following the show, we had just a bit of time to kill before our flight and ended up walking around the Bryant Park Christmas Market, which was so much fun. I wasn’t expecting the Christmas markets to be open in early November, and was pleasantly surprised to be able to do a little festive shopping while we were there.

From there, it was off to the airport! We took the subway back and again, found it to be super easy. We were fortunate not to be impacted by flight delays or cancellations during the government shut-down, and our travel went off without a hitch.

In summary, it was the perfect 36 hour trip to New York. If you’re considering booking your own trip, early November is an excellent time to go (Will and I went this time last year, too). Not too crazy with crowds, beautiful weather, and you might catch a few early Christmas activities.

Quick Notes:

• Weather: 5/5

  • Early November was ELITE: Warm, sunny, and beautiful with crispy fall leaves all around

• Safety: 4/5

  • We felt safe the entire time but it helped to travel in a pair! Might not have been as comfortable at night by myself because I’m just a girl.

• Food: 5/5

  • Fantastic, no notes

• Shopping: 5/5

  • Check out Strand and Bryant Park Christmas Market for the cutest NYC-themed gifts and souvenirs!

• Transportation: 4/5

  • I was previously intimidated by the NYC subway system, but found it super easy to get from airport to hotel and around town.

Check out a live map of of our trip HERE

Since Will and I had both visited Paris in the past, we wanted to skip most of the big highlights and see another side of the city. If it’s your first time in the city, I would definitely suggest researching the big attractions and figuring out what is most important to you — they’re popular for a reason!

Points Redemption Details

• Flights: Will’s flight was paid for by work, and I booked my round-trip flight by transferring a combination of 64,500 Amex and Chase points to Flying Blue (the points partner of Air France) and paid about $300 in taxes and fees. Since we had specific dates we needed to travel and because June is a popular time to visit Paris, I felt good about the redemption value seeing as the cash price would have been around $1800.

  • Since Air France and Delta are partner airlines, I could book my flight via Air France for significantly fewer points than it would take to book the same flight on Delta.

  • One nice perk was that our two international legs had a handful of 2-person rows in economy, so Will and I had a row to ourselves on both flights. Not having a third person in our row really made a difference in how comfortable we were on those longer flights!

• Hotels: During the conference, we stayed on the right bank on the western side of Paris (close to the Eiffel Tower) at the Citadines Trocadéro (in the 16th Arrondisement).

  • This “hotel apartment” has more of a long-term stay vibe and was pretty no-frills in terms of aesthetics, but was really spacious and comfortable (and air conditioned!). It wasn’t in the most central location, but we still got around pretty easily by walking and using public transportation.

• We stayed an additional two days after the conference at the Jardin de Cluny which, in contrast, was in a super central location in the Latin Quarter (5th Arrondis) and was big on aesthetics.

  • Given that I did not have points to use on this hotel brand, we redeemed Capital One points after we got home (having recently opened a Venture X card before the trip), which paid us back for nearly the full cost of the hotel.

Highlights

There is SO. MUCH. to do in Paris. Five days felt like we were just scratching the surface. If you are visiting Paris for the first time, I would suggest coming for at least a week, if not 10 days or more — especially if you want to make time to see all the big attractions.

Despite a lot of research and planning, it was still difficult to avoid tourist traps and the corresponding massive crowds. Paris is just SUCH a popular tourist destination, as recent strikes by Louvre employees have highlighted. No matter what, you are going to encounter crowds, particularly at the larger attractions.

That being said, we tried to avoid the super touristy areas and focus our time on some lesser-known attractions.

Museums

• Musée de L’orangerie — it’s probably unfair to call this one “lesser known” given that this museum houses the famous Water Lilies by Monet, but if we’re ranking the top museums in Paris, this one falls at least several ranks below the big guys (the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, etc.) in size and acclaim. I do wish we had gone earlier in the day to avoid the crowds, but walking into the gallery for the first time truly took my breath away.

• Le Galerie Dior — I did this one by myself while Will was at his conference, but I really enjoyed visiting the Dior Gallery, which highlights the life and work of Christian Dior. The museum featured incredible displays of Dior dresses, accessories, and perfume bottles from the origins of the brand to present.

  

• Musée Carnavalet — this museum in the Marais highlights the history of Paris. We especially enjoyed the section about the French Revolution and the display of old Paris shop signs in the entrance of the museum.

Shopping & Dining

• Lunch at Breizh Cafe — our first meal in Paris was at Breizh cafe in Passy (16th Arrondis) but they have several additional locations around the city. They are known for their crepes, which are made with buckwheat in the traditional Breton style.

• Les Passages Couverts — the Covered Passages were not on my itinerary prior to the trip but they ended up being one of my favorite destinations. These passages were built in the early 19th century and feature small shops and restaurants. They also felt decidedly less touristy than other areas of the city (are you sensing a theme?). I wandered around several passages by myself and felt perfectly safe. This was also where I bought a lot of souvenirs to bring home with me! You can read more about the numerous Covered Passages here.

• Landline — We visited several shops that are Instagram & TikTok-famous, but this is the only one I would recommend. This adorable shop is a little bit off the beaten path, but features home goods and kitchenware made in France. We brought home several souvenirs from here, including linens, cutlery, and an adorable Madeleine pan.

• La Grande Épicerie de Paris — this massive, bougie grocery store has two locations in Paris and we visited both. The one on the right bank (near our first hotel) was significantly quieter and more enjoyable to wander. You can find any type of food souvenir here, and we enjoyed wandering and admiring all of the options (butter! cheese! wine!) throughout the store.

• Dinner at Milagro — Our favorite meal of the trip was at Milagro, located in the 7th Arrondis near the Eiffel Tower. I’d seen this restaurant featured on Paris by Mouth, but completely forgot that the chef is American, trained by Alain Passard at Michelin-starred L’Arpège. The food was incredible, but we especially loved our dining experience. It was a busy Thursday night at the restaurant and the chef, Justin Kent, ended up taking our order and serving us our meal. We chatted with him about Paris and our upcoming trip to Champagne, and it was so delightful.

Exploring

• Day Trip to Champagne — Our biggest adventure was our day trip to Reims, which is part of the Champagne region of France. Reims is only about 40 minutes away from Paris via high-speed train, and it’s amazing how quickly the city fades away and you find yourself in the French countryside. We visited Taittinger, which is one of six Champagne houses whose cellars are located in ancient chalk quarries originally dug in the 3rd century and are now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  

• Coulée Verte René-Dumount — This beautiful walking path that winds through the 12th Arrondis was constructed in the 1980s on a former rail line. If that sounds familiar, that’s because it’s said to have inspired the famous High Line in NYC! There were such lovely gardens and views all along this path and it was fun to see another part of the city from this vantage point.

  

• Île de la Cité — Did you know that Notre Dame is located on an island in the middle of the Seine? On our last night in Paris, we wandered around the periphery of Île de la Cité all the way to the very tip of the island. Will also went for a run all the way around this island and around the Seine, which he loved.

  • Note: We also did a boat tour on the Seine, which was just OK. It was incredible to see the city from the water, but the overall experience was touristy and loud (we also got rained on the whole time).

Quick Notes:

• Weather: 4/5

  • Early June brought warm temperatures and some rain, but was on the whole a lovely time to be in Paris, with flowers in full bloom. Pack an umbrella if you’re going in the spring!

• Safety: 4/5

  • I was honestly concerned about safety in Paris, but I did not encounter any situations in which I felt unsafe. Being aware of your belongings and not using your phone near metro door exits were a few tips I read — I also ziptied the clasps of my crossbody bag which was probably overkill but oh well!!

• Food: 4/5

  • Honestly, I don’t think you can’t go terribly wrong with food in Paris. It’s overwhelming to decide where to eat, and we had mostly positive (and some incredible) dining experiences. Check out Paris by Mouth for specific restaurant suggestions!

• Shopping: 5/5

  • I mean, it’s Paris people!!!

• Transportation: 4/5

  • I was nervous to use the Metro, but found it clean, safe, and easy to use. I took both the Metro and bus solo and it was a breeze using Google Maps to get around. We Ubered to and from the airport which was a little bit pricey (around $65 each way), but navigating the Metro with bags was not something we wanted to deal with. You can buy a multi-day pass or pay per ride.

As a final note, Parisians get a bad rap by Americans for being rude. However, I found that speaking just un petit peu de Francais was greeted warmly on the whole by most Parisians I encountered. I would strongly recommend learning a few French phrases to avoid appearing rude yourself by assuming everyone around you speaks English (which they probably do — but still). I also found that a little research into French etiquette (such as not speaking loudly at a restaurant, saying “Bonjour” when entering shops, etc.) went a long way!

Cheers,

Heather

Over the years, I have taken a keen interest in the art of packing (yes, it’s weird), but when you’re flying back and forth from the US to Singapore ~ in economy~ as I did throughout high school and college, you learn a few things about how to make international travel more comfortable.

In recent years, I have also developed a bit of flight anxiety following some ~ unpleasant ~ turbulence, so preparing myself for maximum comfort and zen during travel helps me combat my panicky feelings when the flight gets bumpy. Thankfully, repeated exposure (and meds) have helped me out significantly, but I still find having all the things I need at my fingertips to be really helpful.

Without further ado, I present to you my Travel Fundamentals for long-haul flights.

The Foundation:

The foundation of a well-packed trip consists of two components:

1. A really good carry-on.

2. A really good personal item.

• Suitcase: My only non-negotiables for a suitcase are that it is carry-on size (I avoid checking bags at all costs) and that the wheels rotate 360 degrees, making it far easier to wheel through the airport versus the old “tilt and pull” method.

  • My TravelPro carry-on suitcase has been with me since 2016 and has held up impressively over the years (exact model is old, but this one is similar). It’s small enough to fit into the overhead bins on most flights, and can expand to accommodate more items if needed (but will need to be checked at that point). This baby is smooth and light, making the dash from security to the gate a breeze.

• Personal item: My non-negotiables for a personal item are also pretty simple: a trolley sleeve and plenty of pockets to keep all my items organized.

  • I’ve had the Calpak Luca duffle for a few years now and have found it to be a fantastic personal item. It’s soft-sided (read: comfortable on your shoulder) and has a trolley sleeve, making it a cinch to slide over your carry-on bag. It has ample pockets for organizing your in-flight essentials, and a shoe compartment that can be house dirty shoes or really anything else that you want to keep separate from your in-flight items. Note: I also find this to be a great weekend bag and I often use it for overnight work trips.

  • If you prefer a backpack, another great option is the Dagne Dover Dakota backpack, which I use as my regular work bag. It’s pricey, but I like that it has a separate laptop sleeve and a trolley sleeve which slides nicely over my carry-on bag.

The Infrastructure:

Ah, packing cubes. I used to opt for the rolling clothes method but honestly I have become too lazy for that method over time. What I really love about packing cubes is that you can keep your suitcase organized by packing like items together (e.g. pants/bottoms, tops, activewear, etc.) which is great for living out of a suitcase for a while. For longer trips, compression cubes are a fantastic option since they squish down your items to be more flat so you can fit more in your bag.

I’ve been using a set of compression packing cubes from Bagsmart (old; similar here) for a few years and have found them to be really durable so far. I also love that this set comes with a laundry bag, which I’ll use throughout my trip. I’ve also used Eagle Creek packing cubes for many years but my set has worn with repeated use and I’m not able to pack as much into them since they aren’t compression cubes.

While I use packing cubes strictly for keeping my carry-on bag organized, you could also use them in your personal item to keep yourself organized while in-flight. I find that keeping my suitcase organized enables me to bring only what I need on the flight with me (no toting around overflow items from my suitcase in my personal item).

The In-Flight Essentials:

Beyond the basics, there are a few essentials that I consider necessary on long-haul flights. There are lots of gimmicky items I’ve seen advertised on TikTok/instagram for long-haul flights (e.g. the ostrich pillow, foot slings, etc.) and while I haven’t tried them all, I tend to be a minimalist in what I pack because of 1. cost and 2. limited space. The below items are all what I consider to be essentials on my flights without taking up too much space or weighing me down.

1. A foldable travel bag. This is a new addition to my travel repertoire, but I am in love with this Travelite foldable travel duffle (not sold in the US; similar options here and here). It’s incredibly small and light when folded up (it fits into the very small front pocket of my carry-on bag) but unzips into a medium sized tote bag (magic!!). I recently bought this on a trip to Europe when I was coming home with a LOT of souvenirs. We ended up checking our suitcases and loading this bad boy up with a bunch of clothes. I will definitely be packing this for future trips when I expect to bring home more than I came with (aka always).

2. A neck pillow. I’m not convinced there is any truly comfortable way to sleep in economy, but I do find a neck pillow to be helpful. I’ve used this Wander+ pillow on my last few international flights and while I’m not sure it’s the absolute best neck pillow out there, it has helped me get some rest without causing major neck or back aches afterward. It’s designed to wrap around your neck so it can be a bit warm, but I find that overnight flights are usually on the chilly side so it works for me. I also appreciate that it has a compact carrying case and can clip onto the exterior of your bag if needed.

3. Noise-cancelling headphones. What did we do before these existed?? I actually initially bought these to help reduce my flight anxiety which was exacerbated by all the dings and announcements coming from the cockpit, but these help drown out any and all unpleasant plane noise from crying babies to annoying neighbors. While this pair is wireless, I also appreciate that they come with a cord that can connect to the in-flight entertainment system.

4. A passport case, because it’s fun and makes me feel cute and organized. #priorities

5. A travel umbrella. Technically this isn’t going in my personal item, but if it’s looking rainy on the the day you arrive, you might consider making a place for it there. This is another recent addition to my bag, but I will never be without it again. We had a pretty rainy trip to Paris recently and this little guy from Vera Bradley Outlet saved me. It folds down to 7.75” which fits perfectly in my crossbody bag and slides easily into its little cover, keeping the rest of my things from getting wet while I’m on the go.

6. Not pictured - a portable charger or power bank. I have this one and used it extensively on my most recent trip. I like that this one is extra compact so it’s easy to slip in your bag, and it charges my phone quickly. Just be aware the battery drains quickly after using it to charge your device, so you’ll need to top up frequently.

The Go Bag:

Perhaps my favorite part of my travel bag is my little “go bag” with all of my little “just in case” travel essentials that truly make my flight experience more comfortable. I like keeping all of these items in one bag so I can pull it out easily from my duffle for a quick freshen-up on the plane.

I use this Aloha pouch that I purchased on sale a while ago for this purpose, and it’s the perfect size and water-resistant. In my bag I have:

• Charging cords

• Hand sanitizer

• Airpods - for when I want a break from headphones

• Oil absorbing sheets - for when I’m feeling gross and greasy

• Emergency snacks

• Advil & anxiety meds

• Hair ties

• Chapstick & moisturizer - for dry airplane air

• Eye mask, melatonin gummies, and ear plugs - for snoozing

A few items I don’t currently have but want to add to my bag are:

• “Wisps” travel toothbrush

• Listerine strips

• Nuun hydration tablets

And that, my friends, is all! All of these items greatly increase my comfort (and sanity) on long flights and travel days, and I hope this list is helpful to you. What am I missing?

As a newcomer to the points travel game, I’ll be sharing my points redemption victories (and likely some failures) in the spirit of inspiring others to travel using points. There are MANY resources out there for getting started with points travel (a few options I recommend are The Points Guy - especially his new book “How to Win at Travel”; Points for Family Travel; and Katie’s Travel Tricks) if you are also new to points travel.

In the spirit of transparency, I’ll be sharing my points redemption details. We were flexible on both the destination and dates of our trip, which helped us when it came to flights, and we ended up booking a four-night trip to Montreal in mid-May.

Redemption details:

• Flights: We redeemed American Airline points for our flights at 24,000 points/each for round-trip, direct flights. These flights were going for about $750 when I booked, so this felt like a great deal.

  • We were upgraded to Business class on our outbound flight, which must have been a fluke since neither Will nor I have much status with AA - but we were psyched! We were in regular old economy on the way home.

• Hotel: We transferred 48,000 Chase points to Hyatt for a four-night stay at the Hyatt Centric Montreal (12,000 points per night). This was a clean and comfortable hotel with a decent on-site restaurant and friendly staff. The area of town felt a bit gritty (near the Old Port) but it was fairly easy to get around on foot and by public transportation.

Itinerary:

Saturday:

We arrived in Montreal late Saturday and Ubered directly to the hotel. Had we arrived earlier, we could definitely have taken public transportation, but given the late hour and rainy weather, this made the most sense for us.

Sunday:

The plan for Day One was to explore the adjacent Old Port and Old Montreal parts of town, which weren’t quite as extensive as we expected. The waterfront area, featuring the Grand Roue (Ferris Wheel), felt a bit deserted and arcade-y (bouncy houses, zip line, etc.). We quickly moved on to other, livelier parts of town, including the Quartier des Spectacles and Place D’Armes (where Montreal’s own Notre Dame is located).

Many thousands of steps later, we found ourselves in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood, which was bustling with young people, dogs, and cool murals. We stumbled upon a micro-brewery called Reservoir and had a fantastic lunch — the spatzle in particular was *chef’s kiss*.

From there, we walked around the Plateau and Mile End neighborhoods, which are full of vintage shops and cool little eateries. Unfortunately for us, the weather was *très mauvais* during our trip, so we schlepped around in the rain for most of the afternoon, popping into shops here and there (V de V and Boucle et Papier were highlights).

From there, we ventured to Fairmount Bagel, one of two famous Montreal-style bagel shops. If you’re unfamiliar with Montreal-style bagels, these beauties are boiled in honey water and then baked in a wood-fired oven, lending a sweet flavor and a delicious crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside flavor. OH LA LA. If you go, make sure you bring cash so you don’t have to do the rainy walk of shame to the ATM like we did (after ordering, no less).

Thoroughly drenched, we headed back to our hotel for a nap before wrapping up the day with dinner at Jacopo, an Italian spot near our hotel with above average food that was slightly pricey but not terrible.

Monday:

We kicked off Day Two in Montreal with an enormous breakfast at Olive et Gourmando, which was featured in the Montreal episode of Somebody Feed Phil (one of our favorite food shows). This place seriously lived up to expectations - the french toast in particular was *delicieux*.

Bellies full, we then headed to a Tourisme Montreal office to purchase day passes to the Metro system. One of our regrets from the trip was not doing this sooner, as the metro and bus system was incredibly efficient and easy to use (not to mention cheap). The day pass cost $11 and a three-day pass cost $21.

From there, we headed to Mont Royal, the famous mountain (hill?) overlooking Montreal. The hike was easy-to-moderate with paved roads and (many) stairs leading to a fabulous lookout point over the city.

Next up, we explored Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy — a famous indoor/outdoor market with vendors selling all manner of cheese, meats, and vegetables. We were still stuffed from breakfast, but otherwise this would have been a great stop for lunch.

After working up an appetite at the market, we ventured to St. Viateur — the other famous bagel shop in Montreal. There is an alleged rivalry between the two bagel shops and having tried both, I must say — I’m team St. Viateur. The bagels were fresh and warm, with that slightly sweet flavor and wood-fired tinge that hit the spot.

After another nap break at the hotel, we headed back out to the Old Port for drinks, and ended up at the Terrasse William Gray. This would have been incredibly lovely on a nicer day, but we enjoyed the views of the waterfront despite the chill and occasional rain blowing on our faces. Their generous cheeseboard made up for the less-than-ideal weather.

Day Two concluded with dinner at Monarque — a beautiful brasserie in Old Montreal that felt downright fancy, yet had incredibly reasonable prices (especially with current exchange rates at about $1 CAD to $.72 USD).

Tuesday:

Our third and final day in Montreal was arguably our favorite. We went back to Olive et Gourmando (it was that good) before renting Bixi bikes and heading over to Parc Jean Drapeau — best known for being the site of the Canadian Grand Prix, for all you F-1 fans out there. It was incredibly cool to bike on the track where a Formula 1 race will take place in just a few weeks!

From there, we biked to Atwater market, the little brother of Jean-Talon, in a quieter and more residential part of town. We were able to take dedicated bike paths all the way from the waterfront to Parc Jean Drapeau (located on an island off the coast) and then down the river to Atwater market, which was very fun.

Our final activity of the trip was a spa afternoon at Bota Bota, otherwise known as the “spa-sur-l’eau” or floating spa. Will and I are not big spa people in general, but this was an incredibly cool and unique experience that we would highly recommend. I had an exfoliation treatment (plus scalp massage) at the spa which was wonderful, and we both participated in the water circuit, which consists of heat (sauna, steam room, or hot tub), cold plunge, and relaxation. Sitting in a hot tub looking out over the Montreal coastline was a major highlight for me!

Finalement, we capped off our trip with an incredible dinner at Jellyfish - a chic, small-plates restaurant in Old Montreal that Will visited on a work trip a couple of years ago. This was our splurgiest meal of the trip, but the service and food were exceptional.

In summary, Montreal was a unique and fun destination for a quick getaway. For a mere 2.5 hour direct flight, we were able to visit another country and experience some of what makes Montreal such an interesting city. One of the coolest parts about the city is how multilingual it is — hostesses, servers, and everyone else we met easily switched back and forth between French and English without batting an eye. While it would be helpful to learn a few French phrases, you can certainly get around speaking English.

Quick notes:

• Weather: 2/5

  • We got unlucky, but the weather in the middle of May was not it. We did not see a single patch of blue sky during our entire trip, but despite the rain and cold, it was still an enjoyable respite from 85+ degree temperatures at home.

• Safety: 3/5

  • Be aware that there is a significant homeless population in Montreal (read more here) — that being said, we never felt unsafe. The areas of town that felt the diciest were Old Montreal and areas surrounding metro stations.

• Food: 5/5

  • The food scene is extensive and diverse with many cultures represented. If we came back, we’d try poutine and Portuguese chicken, which we missed on this trip. You must try the bagels!!!

• Shopping: 5/5

  • Shopping was surprisingly great in Montreal with a mix of local Canadian brands and your major American retailers. Due to the exchange rate, it felt like everything was 30% off! There are also tons of vintage shops in the Plateau/Mild End neighborhood if that’s more your speed.

• Transportation: 5/5

  • The public transportation system was fantastic - modern, clean, and easy to navigate. The metro stations felt a little grungy (we did not take the metro at night), but the actual trains and buses were great. Get the 3-day pass!

Well, there goes my *probably too extensive* travel guide to Montreal. Hope you enjoyed and find the content useful! Let me know if you have any questions. If you’re still reading this, thanks! (hi, mom!)

Cheers,
Heather