Ever since the spare room got turned into a nursery our visiting friends have had two options: spoon with the toddler or shell out on a hotel.

If it’s the latter, we’re sending them to Hotel Ocho, a new 12-room gem in prime downtown location. The rooms are lofty, spacious and bright and designed with hip, young travellers in mind. Ask for a third floor suite with views of the Spadina streetcar and the backstreets of Chinatown.

Manager Kenneth McElheran and his team are so laid-back and friendly you almost feel like a guest in someone’s home.

Only you won’t get woken up at 6 a.m. —AT

Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Ave., Toronto, 416-593-0885, www.hotelocho.com

Coco Chanel worked in a chic Parisian flat but slept each night in a private suite at the Hôtel Ritz.

With glass-blown chandeliers, heated floors and California Closets, we’ll happily lay our head at Toronto’s stunning new Ritz-Carlton. The décor is crisply Canadiana with bronze maple leafs embedded in the lobby floors and bouquets of maple syrup candies perched by the beds.

For good eats, throw on some pearls and visit the decadent cheese cave at chef Tom Brodi’s (of Canoe fame) TOCA restaurant or park yourself at the solid pewter bar for sustainable caviar served with candied ginger cocktails.

Add a spritz of No. 5 and it’s just like home.

Rooms from $500. The Ritz-Carlton, 181 Wellington Street W., Toronto, 416-585-2500, www.ritzcarlton.com/toronto

See photos from our tour of the Ritz-Carlton opening on our Editors' Diary.

You’re bonkers about this bloke, so why not invite him for a little nookie between fancy hotel sheets this weekend?

The Drake has pulled out all the stops with a Valentine package that can only please. Think petals on your pillow, strawberries dipped in chocolate, an exclusive ‘pleasure menu’ and, well, you can imagine the rest.

Adding to the playfulness, is a custom invitation in the form of a goose down pillow, sent to your man’s door just before your Drake sleepover.

A little pillow talk is always a nice way to get things started.

Room rates begin at $229 per night. Call 416-531-5042 ext. 3 for details. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W., Toronto, www.thedrakehotel.ca

When Canadians go to Europe they want cheese and pastries. When Europeans come here, they want pancakes. And stacks of them.

Treat your guests to a decadent diner meal at The Counter. The Thompson Hotel’s 24-hour eatery takes diner food up a notch with gourmet pancakes, waffles and burgers that will impress even a snooty Parisian palate.

We gorged on the gooey and delicious mac ‘n cheese ($12), loaded burgers ($12) and pancakes stacked as high as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The décor is super plush with velvet booths and Cuban tile flooring, while the servers are good-looking twentysomethings sporting gingham bow ties.

The Counter, The Thompson Hotel, 550 Wellington St. W., Toronto, 416-640-7778, http://www.thompsonhotels.com

Last time we sojourned in New York, we chose a luxe hotel over spending sprees in the West Village. This time, we’re sacrificing Frette linens to shop, shop, shop. Herewith, our best on-a-budget picks:

If you don’t mind sharing a washroom (two of them feature claw-footed, free-standing bathtubs), The Harlem Flophouse is a unique experience. Doubles from $100. 242 W. 123rd St., New York City, 212-662-0678, harlemflophouse.com

Stylish and high tech, choose bunk beds at The Pod and enjoy your BIG romance. Doubles from $107. 230 E. 51st St., New York City, 212-355-0300, www.thepodhotel.com

The newly renovated Chelsea Lodge is a brownstone gem. Doubles from $128. 318 W. 20th St., New York City, 212-243-4499, www.chelsealodge.com

The Washington Square Hotel evokes 1930s Paris. Doubles from $190. Some rooms have a view of the park. 103 Waverly Place, New York City, 212-777-9515, www.washingtonsquarehotel.com

(All prices in USD.)

The Swiss Alps are magical in the winter, but summer is glorious too. We swapped our skis for a pair of old hiking boots and hit the hills.

stay
This chalet-style hotel is ideal for families with small children. There’s even a kid’s spa with an adventure cave and tree-house sauna. From 195 SFr, www.steigenberger.com/en/Gstaad_Saanen

do
From river rafting on the Saane to paragliding high above the mountains there is no shortage of alpine adventure. It’s hard not to belt out "The Sound of Music" as you walk across endless lush green meadows. www.gstaad.ch/en

eat
If you’re trekking from Rougemont to Saanen, treat yourself to a fondue at the Sonnenhof. In Gstaad, the restaurant at the Post Hotel serves the best rösti schnitzel dinner you’ll ever eat.

shop
With its charming selection of handicrafts, antiques and contemporary décor, the village of Saanen is always worth a visit. For vintage wooden skis, cowbells, furs and antique linens we suggest timing your visit around the annual summer brocante.

Of all the Greek islands, no other achieves simple sophistication quite like Folegandros. Home to endless goat trails, exquisite beaches, a stunning Chora and the warmest people on earth, this Cycladic jewel is worth every step of the journey.

stay
Try to find a view more breathtaking than the one from Anemomilos Hotel. Perched on a cliff-edge, this family-run gem is truly unique. Rooms are typically Cycladic with vintage accents. Don’t miss cocktail hour at sunset. From €120. 00 30 22860 41309, www.anemomilosapartments.com

eat
Don’t expect souvlaki and chips. The food on Folegandros is really aunthentic—think homemade gigandes (giant beans), bourekia (cheese-filled pies) and freshly caught octopus grilled to perfection. Kritikos (00 30 22860 41219) in the main square serves fantastic pies and meats and Mimi’s in Ano Meria (00 30 22860 41377) is a local institution. Wash everything down with well-iced ouzo.

do
Rent an ATV/car and explore the island’s far flung beaches. The more intrepid traveller will come across beaches that will blow you away. Don’t miss Katergo, Ambeli and Aghios Nikolaos. If you’re more of a trekker, there are some extraordinary trails on the island.

drink
The town really comes alive after dark when the music and dance begin. Sit on an old stone wall, sip Rakomello (a local drink of Raki and honey) and watch the world go by.

Grab the girls and head to the mountains for a weekend of spas, steaks and sun. 

dine
The brand new Sidecut steakhouse at the Four Seasons Hotel boasts an infrared grill that creates the perfect crispy char. Customize your steak with a choice of dipping sauces and rubs, like the spicy and smoky Edison’s Medicine. Sit on the pretty patio and marvel at the serene views. Is that a bear up there? www.fourseasons.com/whistler

drink
The Bearfoot Bistro’s new Miami-style poolside patio opened officially on July 1. If you can’t take the heat, duck into the restaurant’s new Belvedere Ice Room, don a Canada Goose-down parka, and taste specialty vodkas stored in a wall of ice. Now that’s cool. www.bearfootbistro.com

recover
The new Scandinave Spa off the Lost Lake Trail is a self-contained hydrotherapy haven. Detox in the Finnish sauna and steam room then refresh in the hot and cold plunge pools. Relaxation rooms stocked with contemporary magazines and a policy of silence will help with your head, as will a restorative bowl of lemongrass-miso soup in the bistro. From $55, www.scandinave.com

relax
Consider taking the Rocky Mountaineer train to Whistler and arrive already relaxed after a spectacular 3-hour journey through valleys, rivers and waterfalls not seen from the highway. A complimentary drinks cart (remember those?) is a welcome retro touch. Now that’s our idea of “personal training.” From $129, www.whistlermountaineer.com

More than just two-steppin’ and trailers, in Austin, Texas you’ll find slow food cuisine, effortless cool and lots and lots of tequila. Yee ha!

sleep
With its rock ’n’ roll décor and laid-back vibe, the Hotel Saint Cecilia is like having your own SoCo bolthole. Our poolside bungalow was fitted with a shower for two (or three), vintage turntable and mini-bar filled with flatbread and brie. We sat on our private terrace, sipping spicy margaritas and listening to Al Green records from the hotel library. Rooms from $350, 112 Academy Dr., Austin, TX, 512-852-2400, www.hotelsaintcecilia.com

eat
The burgeoning 2nd Street District is home to La Condesa serving up Mexican City street food with a modern edge. Give them three days notice and they’ll roast a whole suckling pig just for you! We tried mini tostados with squid, tuna and chipotle mayo ($12) followed by Carne Aasada ($32). With over 80 varieties on offer, do indulge in tasting flights of Mezcal and Blanco tequilas (from $15) while the ‘sommelier’ explains smoky vs. smooth.  Muy caliente! 400a West 2nd St., Austin, TX, 512-499-0300, www.lacondesaaustin.com

eat more
Austin’s hippest new 'hood lies east of the I-35 where we discovered East Side Show Room, a former 1920s grocery store revamped with a breezy back patio, local art and farm-raised food (all suppliers are listed on the menu) like antelope tartar ($14) and snapper baked in parchment paper ($22). 1100 East 6th St., Austin, TX, 512-467-4280, www.eastsideshowroom.com

do
Take yourself to the roller derby show for live bands and babes on skates. Every weekend the Lonestar Rollergirls compete on a banked-track, knocking down teams like the Tonya Hardings and Rhinestone Cowgirls. We wouldn’t want to meet these gals in a dark alley but after a couple of Shiner beers we found ourselves cheering wildly for the Cherry Bombs. Tickets from $13 at www.txrd.com

see
For something tamer, the LBJ Library and Museum celebrates the former president and his flower-loving wife, Lady Bird. Her hosting prowess, elegant gowns and pink-toned office reminded us that Jackie wasn’t the only glam first lady of the 1960s. 2313 Red River St., Austin, TX, 512-721-0200, www.lbjlibrary.org

shop
At modish boutique by george (524 North Lamar Blvd., 512-472-5951, Austin, TX) you’ll fawn over Balenciaga purses, silk Dries Van Noten dresses and sassy platforms from Fiorentini & Baker. Can’t break the bank? We took the staff’s advice and drove 30-minutes south to San Marcos Premium Outlets (the third largest in the world) for jaw-dropping deals on Fendi frocks, La Perla panties and Ferragamo flats. Premium Outlets, 3939 South IH-35, San Marcos, TX, 512-396-2200.

For more on Montreal editor Marianne Wisenthal’s Austin adventure, visit today’s Editors’ Diary.

If it’s good enough for Jennifer Aniston, it’s good enough for us. Mexico’s pristine and serene San Jose Del Cabo on the Sea of Cortes (think Cabo’s sophisticated sister) had us at “Ola.”    

stay
At the Mexican-owned Marquis Los Cabos resort, they’re so serious about relaxation, they’ll bury your BlackBerry for you. While pondering the hotel’s impressive collection of art and sculpture, enjoying spacious private casitas and eavesdropping on the international clientele, you won’t miss it a bit.

swim
The resort’s pool is a good metaphor for the pleasures you’ll have: absolutely infinite. If the soft, sandy beaches, crashing surf and grey whale sightings don’t get you, how about baby sea turtles?

spa
Sunrise yoga on the breezy spa deck will get those limbs limber for beach walks. Follow with an all-organic Holistic Breakfast of egg white omelets and celery smoothies and you’ve now earned those margaritas.

do
Take a trip onto the charming village of San Jose, where the boutique hotel Casa Natalia tucked off the main square offers sublime cocktails in a romantic courtyard, perfect for a marriage proposal. www.casanatalia.com

I Do
The stunning arch of the open-air lobby of Marquis Los Cabos mimics the shape of the Baja Peninsula. Could there be a more memorable setting for a sunset wedding?

To view rates and packages, visit www.marquisloscabos.com