luxury Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Couples Resort – A Romantic Anniversary Retreat

Paula — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:21:11 +0000

Couples Resort is romantic getaway for any couple that needs to relax and reconnect, without the kids in tow. Last week Jim and I dropped our youngest daughter off at camp in Muskoka near Huntsville. I had heard of Couples Resort and we hadn’t yet had time to celebrate our 25th anniversary, so I planned to surprise my husband with two nights away. We headed up past Algonquin Park after dropping Ainsley at camp and Payton at her aunt’s house. The drive from Huntsville was about 90 minutes. I’ve never been through Algonquin Park and loved seeing the Moose Crossing and deer crossing signs. On the way back we popped into the Park entrance and I noted all the wildlife that had been spotted in the park the week we visited. Beavers, black bears, herons and moose! You can’t see those in London, Ontario! Spending time at Couples Resort was a gift just to us. We travel often with our family and I write about that a lot. But we rarely have time just for us. Between parenting, Jim’s job, my blog, my consulting business and all the family and business obligations that come along with all of that, it’s rare for us to get time away together. Like so rare it’s been 5 years or so. And while that’s to be expected when you have a family, sometimes it’s nice to get away and get some one-on-one time with the person you married before all the responsibilities of life kicked in. That’s why Couples Resort was such a welcome opportunity. Couples Resort is All About Romance From the moment you enter the resort, you can tell it’s different. First it’s quiet. Peaceful. No Partying campers next door, no loud jet skis ripping up the water. Just a beautiful rustic resort nestled near the shore of Galeairy Lake close by Algonquin Park. This destination is unique – romantic, calm and pretty all year round. Everywhere you look, you see the beauty of nature, the gorgeous grounds, and accommodations that are rustic on the outside and super cozy and comfy on the inside. As soon as you arrive, you know you’ve come to the right place. Couples resort is a great spot to celebrate an anniversary or just rekindle that sense of being together. At a little over 3 hours north of Toronto and around 3 hours west of Ottawa, Couples Resort isn’t a long trip for many. It wasn’t long from Huntsville, but all told from London it was easily 5 hours. Since we were celebrating and in no rush to be anywhere else we were happy to take the time. The drive down Highway 60 was pretty straightforward and it was worth it. The Rooms The buildings have a feel of rustic simplicity that is really nice. But once you enter, you’ll be immediately struck by how well appointed the rooms are. While they may look rustic on the outside, on the inside, they are 5-Star all the way. Each room and cottage is individually designed with themes ranging from Old European to Boutique Algonquin. We stayed in a junior suite on the top floor. It was cozy and inviting, with lots of wood, and earthy tones to lend the decor warmth. It was comfortable immediately and not at all overwhelming. With warm wood and a big Jacuzzi tub inside and a hot tub on the balcony of every unit, it was perfect for relaxing. Room Styles: Chateaus: At Couples Resort the rooms are organized in many different price points and sizes. There are extremely well appointed chateaus with maximum privacy. Some of the most beautiful features of the chateau are: the steam room; the in room jacuzzi which looks extremely fancy, double sided fireplace and the extras. For instance with a chateau you get the window seat at dinner every day. That’s magical. There are some in room extras too – like the spa goodies included. In several other rooms there’s a surcharge for those. Espresso machine too. Spa Villas: Lovely private lakefront again. Cabin style. There are six with private driveway as well. Set back a bit from the suites. Sauna/ steam room gazebo and sundeck. Espresso machine too. Chalet: The chalets are private too. Furnished with cedar the rooms are dark, bathrooms are marble and the shower is a rain shower. Exotics: Exotics are decorated with an African flare. There is an exotic junior suite and a grand exotic at two different prices. Master Junior Suites: All named for painters. Decor and furniture are a big more opulent and European than the junior suites. Junior Suites: We stayed in a junior suite so most of the photos you see here are of that space. It was a large room and perfect for us. Loved that hot tub on the balcony. There was also a jacuzzi in the room. The shower was beautiful as well. There was a large King bed and a sitting area. All the rooms: Exceeds 5 Diamond and 5 Star Room Standards. Have real wood fireplaces Free Internet and Wifi Streaming Netflix The Time This was the biggest thing on my and my husband’s agenda for Couples Resort. The time we had was amazing. Being able to decompress from the daily responsibilities of our jobs and parenting was perfect. Our room had a Keurig machine and a mini-fridge, where we could store wine as needed. There is a wine steward at dinner and you are able and encouraged to bring your own wine in. TIP: Do it – wine is not included. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” —Lao Tzu So our 25th wedding anniversary was back in June but we were ridiculously busy then. Sunday we took our youngest to camp in Muskoka and drove up to @couplesresort – semi-formal dinners are a treat for us. We enjoy dressing up. The meals here at the adults only, all season, all inclusive, 5 star luxury Couples Resort, are a highlight. Bring your own wine. Don’t forget your tie. Oh and no cell phones 📱 in the dining room. Not going to wait so long for a couples travel next time. This was a really great idea. This lake is pristine, remote, quiet and charming. Worth the drive and the investment in you. . . . #travel #hosted #ifwtwa #love #canada #ontario #muskoka #outdoorliving #lakelife #lakelifestyle #canoeing #watersports #travelblogger #traveling #travels #travelmassive #happy #mybestthingsinlife A post shared by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Aug 15, 2017 at 12:45pm PDT Couples Only and All-Inclusive SCORE! Couples Resort is an all-inclusive, couples-only affair, which means that my husband and I were free of any worries about extra costs and there were no kids anywhere. I love kids. I have two. That being said, kids are not what you want to see when you’re on a romantic retreat. You can choose from various packages at Couples. If you love it, you can probably find it there. Fine Dining The food at Couples Retreat is top notch. My husband and I love a good dining experience, so that’s important to us. After all, we are in charge of the meals for our family, or when we dine out we opt for the family friendly restaurants. Chain restaurants are good for kids’s birthdays and Sunday dinners, but they will never compare to a leisurely five course gourmet meal plated beautifully and served with wine. They use fresh ingredients to bring a variety of first class dishes that will delight any palette. For your information they have a large organic garden on property where they get some of the ingredients for meals. From breakfast to dinner, Jim and I were able to share lovely meals that added to the overall feel of the entire trip. And because Couples Resort is couples only, dinner is a quiet, romantic semi-formal affair. Men: bring your ties and fancy shoes. Ladies: cocktail dresses and nice shoes too. Dressing up is part of the experience. If you sit to eat meals in your room you can do that instead. BUT, I highly encourage you to go the distance and enjoy the dining offered here. NO extra tipping. It’s all included which is nice as a patron. Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis, and a Pool Each room has a private hot tub and jacuzzi for some great relaxation as I mentioned. And they have a salt water pool that is open May until Labor Day weekend. There’s a self service patio with lakefront view and a double fire pit so you can sit and enjoy a nice fire in the evening. The Spa Couples Resort features a top-notch, fully appointed spa if extreme relaxation is your thing. Couples can get massages, hot stones, manicures, pedicures, scrubs, wraps, facial, waxing, and more. Book in advance. We did not do this because we didn’t have time and really had other priorities for our visit. Activities Couples Resort offers a wide variety of activities for you and your partner to enjoy. When we visited we did some canoeing, hiking and cycling too. Of course we went swimming a couple of times. You can also do horseback riding, kayaking, paddle-boating, row boating, fishing motor boating, tennis, and more. They also have indoor activities like ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard, and darts in the recreation room. In winter months there’s cross country skiing, skating and various other winter sports. Get Back to Nature You can enjoy the beauty of nature not only on the grounds but around the grounds, as well. Head from Couples Resort to nearby Algonquin park to enjoy 17 hiking trails, canoeing, wildlife spotting, the Art Center and Logging Museum, the Algonquin Art Gallery, and more of that’s your style. And by the way there’s a small museum and an art gallery right at Couples Resort. Don’t forget to visit Gertrud’s Gallery. She was the owner of the resort until a short while ago when her family took over that responsibility. She is extremely friendly and will be happy to tell you anything you want to know about Couples. Gertrud also did several of the art displays around the property. Couples Resort – The Best Time You Can Have with Your Partner We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Couples Resort. It was amazing to have a weekend just for us and the food was memorable. There’s something so valuable about getting away – just you and your partner – and hiding from the responsibilities of parenthood for a while. It was one of the best weekends we’ve ever had as a couple, and it was long overdue. In fact I think we might have even realized we love quiet adult only travel as much as family adventures. We were hosted while at Couples Resort which means we received our accommodations, activities and food in exchange for this post. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Staying in the World’s Largest Log Castle – Chateau Le Fairmont Montebello

Paula — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 14:07:44 +0000

A chance to stay in the World’s Largest Log Castle? Yes, please. This summer my family traveled to Quebec’s Outaouais Region. We stayed in Gatineau and explored the beautiful parks and had a big adventure zip lining at Arbraska Lafleche Caves and Aerial Park. Then, after a visit to the incredible Parc Omega we drove an hour down the road towards Montebello. This rustic log castle has so much history and style. Add it to your list of incredible accommodations in the region now. Make it the setting for your yearly family vacation destination. If you have not heard of Montebello before, I’ll forgive you. Time to discover this incredible spot. You need to put this showstopper Fairmont on your list of must visit family resorts. Imagine 300 acres of European style fun and one one of a kind accommodations. Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello is ridiculously classy and how often do you get to stay in or see the world’s largest log castle? The itinerary for our Quebec summer trip was intriguing and when both my husband and I noticed we were scheduled to stay in the World’s Largest Log Castle, Chateau Le Fairmont Montebello well we were excited to see what that would look and feel like. A castle is a dream stay for anyone, right? The outside of the 5 star Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello is exquisite and completely unique. It is an architectural marvel, with deep history, and to be quite honest it’s unlike any place we have ever stayed before. How are the Rooms? There is a rustic elegance about the rooms. There are 211 rooms in this the world’s largest log castle and each room is lovely. Ours had 2 double beds which is not ideal but was at the least cozy. We were staying in Montebello for one of the busiest time periods and every room was booked for the two nights we stayed there. The couch above was a pullout. We had a nice view from both of the windows in our room. The rooms are lovely and clean. Dark wood warms the rooms and creates a sense of intimacy, with plaid fabrics adding a little bit of colour. The bathrooms are smaller than we are used to, so be warned. There is a Keurig coffee maker in each of the rooms. The Fairmont itself is dark, and natural feeling with all that wood and stone. My husband was in awe of the gigantic floor to ceiling stone fireplace built in the middle of the lobby. Get Outside This is the kind of resort where you really want to get out and do some exploring, and we did. There’s a lot more to do than I would ever have imagined. The activities schedule is set up to please every member of the family. Open year round, you could easily picture this being idyllic for a winter family vacation or a romantic getaway. There are over 40 exciting year-round activities including golf and Canada’s only Land Rover driving school experience. So Many Activities There are horses and stables on the grounds and you can choose to do riding lessons while there. The cost for that is extra. You can even take a horse wagon ride. The winter season brings a fantastic set of activities that you really need to experience – from dog sledding to snowshoeing, hockey and tubing. The Indoor Pool A gorgeous indoor pool that was once built to Olympic standards will satisfy swimmers of all ages at any time of the year. Also the roof in the indoor pool building is incredible. I tried to take a close up of the details but it didn’t really convey how much work was in the ceiling. Where Can You Find One of the Largest Indoor Swimming Pools at Any Resort in North America? Enjoy an indoor swim at the pool inside the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, one of the biggest indoor pools at any family resort in North America. I just loved the architecture of the building where the pool and spa are located. We stayed two nights and did not have time to explore the spa features but would do so another time if able to return. There is also a fitness area indoors off to the side of the pool and spa and a covered tennis court beyond that. I even took a photo of the change rooms for the pool and spa at The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. Even the change room after you had a swim at the world’s largest log castle was ridiculously epic. Totally befitting a castle! These were the cleanest swimming pool change rooms I have ever seen in my entire life and we are swimmers. I know that’s an oddball thing to fixate on but it was stunning. Outdoor Pool Of course there is an outdoor pool as well and it is private and large with catered food and bar service nearby. There is also a life guard on duty and towels at the entry way. The grounds are immaculate and the breakfast buffet was well worth the extra. Choose to add it to your stay. The croissants were shareable and so perfect. The ideal combinations of moist with crunch and flakiness. Best pastries I have ever had. HIKING and a Word About Bug Spray Bring your hiking shoes and bug spray too. There are many hiking paths and there are forested areas that are very leafy. One night at dusk we raced back along the path towards the Fairmont and the mosquitoes were vicious. This is Quebec after all. Don’t forget to cover up or bring the bug spray in summer months while walking the grounds. Marina I have captured a few of the activities but there’s also a marina which docks directly to to the Fairmont. There is an underground trail that will lead you to the lobby and your room from the marina. We walked the pathways after swimming one night. You could hike for hours if you wanted to. The walk to the small village of Montebello is not far. There are quaint shops with local chocolate makers, a local bar that sells only area micro-brewed beers and a cheese factory. Do ALL The Activities There is mini golf, a playground, rental bikes, and many games throughout the day. On the last day we visited, my younger daughter made friends with a girl who comes to the world’s largest log castle at the Fairmont Montebello every single summer. Together they went off to the cookie decorating workshop. There are paddle boards and other water sports nearby as well for a fee. After breakfast with all those pastries you might want to give one of those sports a try. The food on property is wonderful. We ate on property the first night there. There is a kid’s menu, which made my kids happy. However, the prices are not inexpensive, so you might consider walking to Montebello and trying one of those restaurants if you are staying longer than two nights. The Fairmont Le Chateau World’s Largest Log Castle: The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello was built in 1930 at onset of the Great Depression. This massive log castle was completed in only 3 months. An unusual structure, it was built into the form of a six point star with 10,000 hand-cut and set red cedar logs all transported from B.C. via the Canadian National Railway. The front of the resort overlooks Outaouais River and behind are the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains. Once Upon a Time The world’s largest log castle was once a private retreat called the Seignory Club, with members including prime ministers. In 1970 the resort was opened to the public. It has also been the setting of a G7 summit, a NATO conference and a North American Leaders Summit attended by Stephen Harper and George Bush. We were guests of the Fairmont Montebello and we very much enjoyed our stay. My opinion is all my own and it is honest.

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