It’s only the best for our precious pooch.

The owners of Chien Zen take a refreshingly holistic approach with their pet spa. All treatments (from $50) start with a skin and hair assessment, followed by therapeutic touch therapy focusing on Poochie’s pressure points, and an aromatherapy massage using essential oils. Doggie’s nails are clipped and filed (so no scratched up floors) then treated with paw protection butter homemade from organic beeswax, coco butter and Vitamin E. We love that this animal oasis sells eco-friendly, locally-sourced toys and doesn’t smell one hair like dog.

Bow wow, indeed.

Chien Zen, 3805 Jean-Talon W., Montreal, 514-564-0222, www.chienzen.blogspot.com

The flight’s late, your nerves are rattled and you’re positively parched.

For trying travel and long layovers we’re turning to the Canadian Beer Lover’s Airport Guide. Compiled by Cheapflights.ca, it lists locally produced brews at terminals from coast to coast. Sip a crisp Okanagan Spring 1516 at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel, savour Blanche de Chambly pale ale at YUL’s Marriott Bijou Bar, Bellegeule at Quebec City’s Aéroport Jean-Lesage or Alpine Lager at Moncton International.

At this rate, we might switch to a later flight.  Bottoms up!

www.cheapflights.ca

It might take two to tango, but we think the dance of fine laundering works best in threes. 

In the name of eco-efficiency (and a very small apartment), we’re thrilled with Purex’s new 3-in-1 laundry sheets (from $6.99). Each contains concentrated detergent, softener and anti-static properties in a single sheet that can be transferred from washer to dryer.

We tested one on a week’s worth of whites. Result? Short of our own personal washerwoman, this is as good as it gets.

At Metro stores, www.metro.ca

With carry-on luggage rules as fickle as a Montreal winter, we’re checking all and sundry. 

Hunting for the lightest suitcase in town, we’ve fallen for Rimowa’s new Salsa Air (from $429). This Czech-made rolly has indestructible polycarbonate casing, smaller wheels and single tier handles, making it 26 per cent lighter than other lines. 

We love the state of the art cylinder lock and eye-catching shades like Ultra Violet, Inca Gold and Aqua Marine. A new suitcase might not save us from full-body scans but it’s awfully pretty coming round the carousel.

At Taschen! Ogilvy, 1307 Ste-Catherine Street W., Montreal, 514-288-6219, www.ogilvycanada.com

Between blogspots and Twitpics, we believe there’s a little paparazzo lurking inside all of us.

With the launch of Lomography’s snap-and-shoot Pop9, we’re getting in touch with our inner Perez. This fantastical 35mm gold-encased camera (US$40) has multiple lenses creating a wallpaper of nine identical images on the same print. But unlike the paparazzi, you’ll just have to show zen patience while it’s being processed the old fashioned way.

Snap snap.

At www.lomography.com/pop9

Take a reprieve from January doldrums with a mini-break in historic Charleston, South Carolina and revisit the old-world charm and weeping oak trees of our favourite guilty pleasure movie, The Notebook.

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With its wrought iron balconies, courtyard fountain and handsome young bellhops, the downtown Mills House Hotel is the perfect hideout for a Southern-style getaway. In the lounge, linger over sweet teas while curled up in a giant wingback chair and listen to the charming drawls from nearby tables. Rooms from US$161, www.millshouse.com

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Put on your party shoes, grab a supersized clutch and wander along the cobblestone streets of the city’s hopping market district. The live jazz band at quaint Italian resto Mercato is the perfect backdrop for gossiping and trading bites of Wild Mushroom Risotto ($14.95) and Linguini Scampi ($16.95). www.mercatocharleston.com

drink and dip
Head to the terrace bar of the Market Pavilion Hotel to savour twinkling city lights. Sample the tarty house speciality Paviliontini ($9.50), then take a dive in the heated rooftop pool. Warning: After two strong cocktails, all the boys will start looking like Ryan Gosling. www.marketpavilion.com

We know that outdoor pursuits are good for the soul but we’ve never been fond of freezing.

Instead of letting ourselves fall into an abyss of winter SAD, we’re getting some Vitamin D and keeping our tootsies toasty with Little Hotties adhesive toe warmers ($2.49/pair). After sticking an air-activated pair onto the top of our socks, we took a determined hike to the top of Mount Royal.  Five hours, one hot chocolate and a whip around Beaver Lake later and our feet were still warm.

At this rate we’ll be making snow angles until spring.

At Zellers, www.zellers.com

Spend a week (or two) escaping slushy streets with sun, sand and a few monkeys at the RIU Guanacaste nestled along Costa Rica’s gleaming Gold Coast.

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With its Dolce Vita-style fountains, massive guest rooms and endless beach, this luxurious new resort is a sun-seekers dream. On our visit, musicians Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk were holed up in a two-story corner suite with canopied beds, terra cotta floors and sweeping views of the ocean. We imagine they spent their evenings on the terrace watching the sunset (and composing duets) in the outdoor bathtub as they sipped glasses of Guar. www.riu.com

sand

Stretch out under swaying palm trees (with a cold Costa Rican Imperial Beer) while cheering on the mating sea turtles (they’re at it for two days straight!). Sign out a kayak and paddle towards the empty beach down shore, or saddle up a horse for a ride along the Pacific coastline. Even better, book yourself a post-ride, ocean-side rub-down by a resort masseuse or a steam-bath and Pur Vida massage ($90) at the gorgeous Renova Spa.

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Even beach bunnies need a break. Get your adrenaline pumping while zip-lining through the tropical dry forest among bellowing Howler monkeys. Or, take a quiet Tempisque River cruise through Palo Verde National Park spotting crocodiles, white-faced monkeys, iguana and blue heron. The Congo Trail Canopy Tour, +506-2666-4422, congotrail@racsa.co.cr, $50/two-hours. Palo Verde Boat Tour by Swiss Travel, +506-2667-0606, $65/half-day.



Sunquest offers weekly flights to RIU Guanacaste, from $1437/week, all-inclusive, www.sunquestvacations.ca

See photos from Marianne Wisenthal’s Costa Rican adventure in today’s Editors' Diary.

Sometimes charm trumps square footage. Herewith, our favourite boutique hotels.

With gold-leaf mahogany beds, French tapestries and Louis XV-glam, it’s impossible not to get the lovey doveys at Auberge Pierre du Calvet. Built in 1725, celeb fans include Aidan Quinn and Benjamin Franklin. From $295, www.pierreducalvet.ca
Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor

The perfect hotel for party people and culture vultures, Toronto’s Drake Hotel hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s hipper than ever with ‘What’s in the Box,’ a Boxing Week music festival that celebrates the best of 2009. Five bands, five nights, five bucks. From $189, www.thedrakehotel.ca
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

The 15-room Hotel Deseo in Playa Del Carmen is beachy minimalism at its best. And it’s the little touches that make it magical, like classic Mexican movies projected on the exterior wall and the phrase ‘away from you’ that reflects up from the bottom of the pool. From US$178, www.hoteldeseo.com
Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor

For understated luxury check into the Hotel Raya on Italy’s Aeolian Islands. Playing briscola and sipping Campari on a whitewashed terrace at sunset is pure bliss. From $450, www.hotelraya.it
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

For its warm ambiance and fine design, Le Petite Hotel is an ideal spot to hide away and forget about the world with your man. From $140, www.petithotelmontreal.com
Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor

For a weekend of stateside skiing in luxurious style, head to Vermont’s new slope-side resort, Stowe Mountain Lodge.

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After a soak in the marble tub and a glass of bubbly by the roaring in-room fireplace, we lazed like logs under bamboo bed linens. Travelling en masse? Book the two-storey, three-bedroom mini chalet, then take the hotel’s Mercedes for a little spin around town. Winter rates from US$259, 7412 Mountain Road, 1-888-4-STOWE-VT, www.stowemountainlodge.com

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Chef Sean Buchanan’s farm-to-table ethos guides the menu at Solstice restaurant. We indulged in foie gras crostini with Vermont cranberry chutney ($11), steak from a local farm ($22) and a side order of truffled mac-and-cheese ($5). Do finish up with a tasting of local cheeses (6/$20) and lovely glass of Spanish Garnacha ($8). www.stowemountainlodge.com/stowe-vermont-dining-solstice.php

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First time snowboarders can sign up for the Stowe For Starters program, including two 90-minute group lessons (from $92) with all-day ski pass. No need to carry your own skis to the mountain: let the hotel’s ski valet do it for you.

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After an out-of-body java jolt from the spa’s Espresso Mud Energizing Body Wrap ($150), take your ski-sore muscles to be sauna-ed and steamed into submission.

See more from our adventures in Vermont on today's Editors' Diary.