" I see travelling as a great learning process, and my biggest dream is to travel the world." Pooja Hegde

Travelling the world — literally what I want to do in life — one of the best things you can do for your own personal growth. It gives you such a new perspective on life, makes you feel incredible emotions and turns you into a better version of yourself. Our world is beautiful, with so many wonders to see that I have set myself to witness as much of it as possible. Whether near Montréal or in places farther away.Two weeks ago, Jacques and I needed a romantic getaway to relax and reconnect. The Estérel Resort perfectly delivered the magical experience we needed. 

LOCATION

The Estérel Resort is a luxury resort located in the Laurentian region, approximately one and a half hours away from Montréal. The spectacular views there are such a great way to connect with nature. En route to the resort, I was admiring the scenery, the enchanting snow trails and chalets. Upon arrival at the hotel, the reception was amazing. We were greeted by the most courteous staff, who provided a smooth and pleasant check-in. What a great start!I've been asked during our stay ( via Insta-stories ) if it was a kid-friendly resort; I'd say no. This is a place to go and relax with your significant other or friends. 

THE SUITES

The Estérel resort offers two accommodation experiences through two hotels — The Emotion hotel and the Evolution hotel — connected by a ground-level "bridge " ( you can walk from one hotel to the other without going out ).Are you looking for a romantic and sensual getaway with spectacular views? The Emotion hotel is what you need. We stayed in one of their suites and what a great time we had! The rooms have an open-floor plan layout and are welcoming: a home away from home. There is a see-through fireplace to warm up the place and set the mood for a relaxing night, a giant king size bed I wanted to take home with me, a bathtub and separate glass shower, and WIFI ( we all know how important this is lol )!The rooms come with a kitchenette equipped with an espresso machine, a mini fridge, a microwave and all the essentials you need for your stay. Our favourite thing however was by far the spectacular panoramic nature views overlooking Lake Dupuis. I even set my alarm in order to witness the sunrise and it was truly magical.The Evolution hotel is more focused on comfort and relaxation. Whether you choose garden or lake views, with beach access and/or a private spa, you will be at one with the most natural and soothing environment.By the way, all the rooms on the ground floor have a private jacuzzi. Something to consider when booking your room.

WHAT TO DO

There is so much to do at Estérel Resort no matter the season, it looks beautiful year-round: check out these amazing pictures.Below is a list of  what we did and what we are planning to do when we go back.

Eat

There are 3 onsite restaurants: the Bistro à Champlain, the ROK and the 260° Restaurant Bar Terrace. Our reservation was at 8h30 pm on the day we got there. We indulged in a 5-course dinner and goodness was it delicious! By the time they served us dessert we were so full, so we took it back to our suite. P.S.: Don't forget to make a reservation for the restaurant of your choice while booking your suite. This way, you'll be certain to have a spot!

Nordic Spa

Pénélope Bikini Top & Florence Bottom from Selfish Swimwear

Jacques and I absolutely enjoy the experience of Nordic spas and we couldn't wait to spend a few hours at Estérel Resort's nordic spa. It was as relaxing and stress free as we were hoping for. It was also not crowded, which we loved because we could actually have a nice conversation and take our time to enjoy the amazing view.I'm wearing a swimwear set from Selfish Swimwear, which is a local Montréal company ( I've shared a few words about it HERE ). As an entrepreneur myself, I always love to support small businesses because I know how we put a crazy amount of work into our labour of love. The designer Naomie has a vision I truly admire. She " creates shapes and models that value different body types in order to increase women's self-esteem [ ... ] She uses asymmetrical lines to emphasize the uniqueness of each woman."

Health and Beauty Centre

Feeling like extra-pampering?! The Amerispa centre, which has an amazing view on the lake, offers massages, body and face care packages, a room dedicated to manicures and pedicures. The whole thing guys!

Exercise

Being on vacation or on a getaway does not mean you can't keep up with your gym life. Estérel resort makes it easy to stay on track as they have a very well equipped gym onsite.

Outdoors

We didn't have much time for outdoor activities; however we plan to go back so we can enjoy some winter activities. There are 5 ski stations within 30 minutes of the resort ( Mont Saint-Sauveur, Mon Avila, etc ... ); 33 km of ski slopes in the beautiful scenery of the Laurentian region and skidoo trails that you can access directly from the hotel. You can even rent skidoos at the hotel. If you're a fan of winter sports, you will enjoy all that there is to do there.We seriously had an amazing time at Estérel Resort. Too short I must say but, we can't wait to go back. Stay tuned and make sure you are following on Instagram as I might have a sweet surprise for you guys by the end of the year / beginning of 2018.Scroll through to see all the amazing pictures we took!

As always, thank you for reading

Josie ♡