You may have seen my post last week where I posted about my upcoming trip to Coquitlam Centre Mall and my visit to the Avion VIP Lounge. Well it happened! Finding Peace Among Chaos.
Picture this, hustle and bustle of a mall with less than a month till Christmas. Me with two of my five kids, the busiest two. We pull up and jump out of the car curbside. The valet was waiting for us. He takes the car and I walk in to the mall. It was a blustering day and we are bundled up. Before we even get through the automatic doors of the mall my boys (aged two and four) are striping out of their heavy coats. Carrying all the jackets, vests and scarves we begin our trek through the mall.
Table of Contents
Enter my lifeline.
The Avion VIP lounge has been set up for RBC Avion cardholders inside the mall. We walk in and the serenity overtakes me, until my boys find the grand piano anyways.
There are many reasons to visit the VIP Lounge, other than the beautiful grand piano.
Coat Check
Provides a place for all those bulky, yet necessary, items that no one wants to carry through the mall (especially when they are on a mission!)
Parcel Check
Helps once you are part-way through your shopping trip and just bought the cappuccino machine that your husband has been hinting about since July.
Gift Wrapping is my life saver.
I am not what you would call ‘crafty’ and the idea of making 6 inch curls is equivalent to a trip to the dentist in my books. The lounge has a beautiful gift wrapping station. It is open to all and has a nominal charge for non-card holders. All fees are donated to charity.
A Cafe is available
To help warm you up, or in my case, keep little mouths busy when I’m tired of hearing those beautiful little voices. The boys had hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows. I enjoyed a much needed second cup of coffee.
Seating area to use when you just can’t walk anymore.
There were many people in the lounge using laptops, reading or quietly using their smartphones.
Books for children and adults were available.
My kids were thrilled to be able to read their favourite Christmas stories while taking a short break. They also have iPads available to borrow and watch a movie.
During our visit we were also given a card for a free sheet of pictures with Santa. My boys were thrilled to be able to sit with the big man in red and tell them exactly what they wished for this Christmas (which in my four year old is a JetSki).
There is no doubt when shopping with my kids, even if I ONLY have two with me, that refueling is necessary. The lounge was a chance for me to take a break from my agenda and spend a few moments focusing on my most important gifts.
At Coquitlam Centre, the Avion VIP Boutique is open now until December 31st. Yes, that means its is available to card holders for Boxing Day shopping!
Disclosure: I am part of the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Every mall should have a place like that! Love the parcel check, present can get heavy! Coat check is awesome too.
Oh my! Looks like fun!
sounds like a wonderful service – especially at this time of year!
You had me at coat check! Sounds like the Avion VIP lounge is the perfect service for making holiday shopping a relaxing experience!
I just saw one of these lounges at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto today! Caught my eye because it was beautifully decorated and very inviting! I wondered what it was all about, I am assuming ypu need to have an Avion visa to use the services? It definitely is a place I would use, may have to consider the card!
Definitely would use it
This is fantastic! I haven’t noticed any in Montreal though. Have I missed them perhaps? May I just say that your boys are just so darn adorable!!