What would you do if you had a weekend without the kids? What are some of the things that would make it on to your to do list? We had the chance to get away for the weekend and leave the kids with their grandparents for the first time, getting away to spend a weekend at the Matrix Hotel, downtown.
We Slept In until 10 am – For the First time in Ages
Do you remember the last time that you slept in until 10am? Me neither. Until this weekend. Staying up late watching movies uninterrupted and eating skittles is one of those staycation perks that prelude the extra long sleeping in and leisurely waking up.
Tip: Skip the room cleaning and you get a $5 credit for in room refreshments. That’s like a feature that calls our name. We regularly skip the room refresher on all of our vacations because the kid stuff is all over the place - how cool is the Matrix Hotel for offering up perks for Do Not Disturb?
Eating without Crayons and Adult Conversation
Sleeping in until 10 am gave me just enough time to head down to the executive breakfast buffet with options like organic, free range eggs Benedict with pork capicola and house made hollandaise and artisan sausage, room service and dinner at the Wildflower Grill – we ate without the rushing, without the kids menu and without the crayons and with lots of non-rushed conversation. We had a late night dinner lounging at Earls and lunch at the Burg after the Saturday market, trying a few new things and discovering a few new favorites.
Rediscovered the City Market & the Mall
Saturday night, after spending the day in bed eating cupakes and watching the millionaire matchmaker marathon on slice we decided that we would try our luck and head to the casino for some healthy competition. $20 - whoever lost their money first declared loser.
Downside: I didn’t get asked for ID when we walked into the casino
Upside: I won “big” on the nickel slot machines with $96.00
After the slot machine win, we left for dinner at the Cactus Club Cafe and to check out Anthropologie and score some deals at the 40% gap sale.
We Drank Wine & Ate Cheese
One of the perks of staying at the Matrix is the wine tasting in the evening. For a couple of hours, you can head to the Mezzanine and grab a glass of wine or two, sample some cheese and meet new friends, every evening except for Sundays. Comfortable chairs, a great atmosphere and the friendliest staff were some highlights of the evening wine tasting.
See? You really don’t have to leave the Matrix on your weekend Staycation!
We Fought Over Shampoo
You know when you go to a hotel and there’s a mad dash for the local store when you realise you forgot your shampoo? That didn’t happen at the Matrix. Peppermint shampoo, citrus cleanser and shea butter bars would make you argue over the shampoo too. Fun tip, don’t use the entire bottle in the jacuzzi tub unless you want bubbles for days. The kids would love that.
Did you know that right now you can enter to win the Diamonds and Dreams luxury package? You can win a two night stay in the Platinum suite at the Matrix with a pair of Diamond stud earrings. Enter to win, here.
Staycation Savings tip: Plan ahead and book at least 14 days in advance to get 15% off of the best available rate. The delicious executive breakfast buffet is a bonus and can save you even more during a weekend staycation - and it’s delicious too.
