Planning a family holiday with lots of day trips? Here are three packable items that allow you to be prepared, without the bulk.

Hershel’s new Packables range allows you to travel with a variety of bag options. Featuring a duffle, daypack, or tote that all fit into a small pouch, you can whip them out before a day of sightseeing, or at the airport when you’ve stocked up on wine from the duty free. From $9.99 at Herschel.

If you prefer packing your own meals on holiday, Lunchskins are the perfect companion. The reusable snack bags mean you can travel light, but with the equivalent of 20 tupperwares. They can hold fruit, sandwiches, or treats, and are easy to rinse out in a hotel room. From $8.49 at Rasberry Kids.

The nostalgic Claude Klassic K-Way is a reminder of when we were kids and proudly wore our parka tucked into a little bag around our waist. Featuring a variety of prints and a size range from 12 months to teens, this is an absolute must-have when you are out and about anywhere that might greet you with a downpour (Vancouver, ahem!) $54 at K-Way. http://k-way.ca

—Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

The Main has a new watering hole, and it’ll quench more than just our thirst.

Open in what was once Cafeteria (corner St-Laurent and Prince Arthur), Suwu caters to our wildest late-night cravings with its comfort food inspired menu. If truffle oil popcorn ($5), grilled cheese mac ‘n cheese ($8) or veal meatball tacos ($14) – whipped up by a team with a Toqué background, no less -- won’t hit the spot at 2 a.m., we don’t know what will.

With its stylish yet laid-back and playful vibe – we’re looking at you, vintage pinball machine! – Suwu has successfully lured us back to lower St-Laurent.

Long live the Main! —Christine Laroche

3571 St-Laurent Boul., Montreal, http://suwumontreal.com

Yes, Zurich's clean, organized and easy to get around – but there's plenty of creativity to go around, too. Try these stops on your next visit to Switzerland's financial capital.

pack

Switzerland ain't cheap, so why pay for bottled water? Make sure to bring a purse-size bottle to refill in one of the city's more than 1,200 stylish fountains featuring the city's very drinkable water. (The exception? Any fountains marked with the sign "kein trinkwasser", which we in fact never spotted.)

eat

To the Swiss, fondue's a winter food, but we say tourists get to break the rules. Head to Le Dézaley to get your fix and sample other local specialities like rösti (potato pancakes), spätli (dumplings) and Vaudois sausage.

shop

Look for souvenirs with class at Schweizer Heimatwerk, which sells its selection of high-quality goods – think jewellery, home decor items and kids' wooden toys – both in the old town and at the airport. Off the beaten path, head to West Zurich's Viadukt shopping centre, a reclaimed area nestled in the arches of a working 19th-century rail viaduct, for more offbeat retailers; around the corner, stop by Frau Gerolds Garten to browse through several cute clothing boutiques.

drink

Thursday evenings, take a 90-minute city tour in a classic tram complete with wine or champagne and snacks on the Apéritif Tram, which makes its way past some of the city's top sights. The rest of the week, head up early to beat the crowds to the Jules Verne bar with its panoramic views of the cityscape.

discover

Pick up a 24- or 72-hour Zürich Card for unlimited access to the city's beyond-amazing transit system – that means trams, trains, buses, boats and even the cable car – plus free access to most museums and discounted city tours. Don't miss a guided walk around the historic and well-preserved Old Town.

—Kat Tancock

There are yoga passports and coffee passports but – ding, ding, ding! – we’ve found a winner: The spa passport.

Passport 3B ($150) offers one admission to each of the area’s top relaxation spots: Soak in the sunshine on the deck of Old Montreal’s Bota Bota; get your zen on with a floating session at the Plateau’s Bathroom and make it a day trip to Bromont’s idyllic Balnéa.

Bonjour, bliss. —Christine Laroche

www.balnea.ca/passeport3b/

Veuve Clicquot has selected Montreal as the home of the first-ever Yelloweek.

Until Sunday, the city will take on the colours of the chic champers brand with a variety of events in the worlds of gastronomy (think champagne pairings at Ryu, L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel and more, from $75), fashion (the show, curated by Lolitta Dandoy, is at Birks tonight) and more.

Here’s to a week of fantastic food, fab fêtes and – best of all! – bubbles for all! —Christine Laroche

http://semaineyelloweek.com