Like most of you, I find I work long hours, so finding time to connect with my friends who have equally busy schedules can be a challenge. So with much excitement, I headed to Montreal for the weekend to spend some quality time relaxing with my female friends.
If you are looking on how to spend a fun and relaxing ladies day in Montreal here is my suggestion on how to have the perfect day.
Bota Bota
Bota Bota is a spa boat docked in the beautiful old Montreal port and is the perfect spot to begin your ladies’ day. As the spa is located in the center of Montreal it is very easy to get to and offers amazing views of Montreal and the surrounding water while you soak away all your stress in the nordic baths. While aboard the boat is hard to imagine how you are in the heart of Montreal as the entire environment is perfectly silent without the loud noises you might expect being in the heart of a major city.
After checking in at Bota Bota you will be given a towel, plush robe and waterproof bracelet with key to your locker in the changing room on the lowest level of the boat. One of my favorite parts about the change room would have to be that there is a long counter dedicated for ladies who want to dry their hair or freshen up their makeup after the spa and there are flat irons, hair dryers, and other beauty supplies available.
Once you have changed into your bathing and put on your robe you can go ahead and explore the many floors of Bota Bota. Each room or outdoor space is well designed so that you can enjoy the view of the water, and I found aside from the hot tubs my next favourite experience was just sitting and enjoying the views of the water in the soothing environment.
When going to Bota Bota is best to plan for spending several hours as you simply will not want to leave. My friends and I left Bota Bota feeling completely relaxed and eagerly planning when we will return for the next ladies day.
Visit Bota Bota for more information on rates.
Cirque Du Soleil
Just a few minutes walk along the port in Old Montreal is Cirque du Soleil, where you can watch the beautiful Luzia that will sweep you off to a dream-like Mexico. Every moment in the show is carefully crafted and spectacular, from before the show started and there are two small robots in a field of flowers to the last moment of the performance I was spellbound by the talent of the acrobats.
Luzia, a combination of the Spanish words for light and rain are central themes to the show. In particular, the water elements of the story enrich the story and further highlight the talent of the acrobats as they perform at times under heavy rainfall or within a pool of water.
Throughout the show costumes and sets masterfully reflect Mexico. While more iconic imagery such as hanging or Lucha libre Mexican wrestling costumes are easier to identify, the show is rich in cultural references such as hummingbirds which were important in Aztec culture in relation to the soul, Bahlam a Mayan half man half jaguar god, or the monarch butterfly in reference to Mexico being the place where Monarch butterflies spend their winter hibernation.
After the show ended it felt like waking up from a lovely dream, and I found myself sad the show was over as I enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend this show, you won’t regret it.
Visit Cirque du Soleil to purchase show tickets.
La Champagnerie
To end you ladies night, there is no better way than with bubbly, and as luck would have it there is the perfect spot to grab a glass of champagne right next to Cirque du Soleil. La Champagnerie is a Montreal’s only champagne bar that offers a selection of champagne and champagne cocktails and dishes that highlight local cuisine.
One of the truly remarkable things at La Champagnerie is that you can learn how to saber a bottle of champagne!
There is nothing like swinging a sword to slice through pressurized glass bottle to make you feel badass and start you evening off with flare. So after a quick demonstration, it was time to saber the bottle of champagne and get our ladies night started.
It is remarkable how easy it is to open a bottle of champagne with a sword, and after the bottle has been opened the top of the bottle is collected behind the DJ booth in a decorative glass wall where you are invited to make a wish before dropping your bottle top.
La Champagnerie also bottles their own signature champagne, which is delightful. While I am a huge fan of bubbly, after having a glass of La Champagnerie’s own signature champagne one of my friends discovered that clearly she had been drinking the wrong bottles as her glass made her fall in love with champagne.
To eat we decided to go for sharing plates to sample a variety of dishes, such as the charcuterie board and giant Cachanga which is a chocolate beavertail with ice cream and bananas.
To go along with food I also decided to have a champagne cocktail called Sertagoa which mixed cucumber, lemon juice, ginger, Hendricks, Peychauds and bubbles for a refreshing drink perfect for a hot summers day.
It is hard to not fall in love with the casual chic champagne bar in Montreal, that blends a fun environment, friendly service and the thrill of saber. All 3 of us highly enjoyed our time, and can’t wait to return.
Visit La Champagnerie to make reservations and learn how to saber a bottle of champagne.
I visited Montral as a press trip in partnership with Montreal Tourism. My guests and I were provided complimentary entry to Bota Bota and Cirque du Soleil along with a bottle of Champagne to learn how to saber at La Champagnerie as part of a press trip. All opinions are my own.