Just last year, I finally found a way to not dread that stressful Christmas shopping. Actually, this is an understatement because it actually made me eagerly look forward to it! The RBC Avion Holiday Boutique is back! My family is just so excited to go back to Yorkdale Shopping Centre this year, and go back we did, several times since November! So yeah, I was having a hard time taking a break from all the Christmas workload at the comfort of my own home, but not at all in a busy shopping mall!
I am lucky to have attended the launch event at Yorkdale, where we were served sumptuous food and we got to enjoy live entertainment from celebrities. Of course, I can’t just let this VIP experience just be for myself, so I took my husband and kids with me in the next day.
As always, the perks of being an Avioner really took away my holiday stress. Right from the moment our car drove in, we just had to hand our car keys to the friendly valet. I really appreciate the free valet parking for RBC Avion cardholders, because we saved a lot of time from waiting for ages looking for a parking spot. The next thing we had to do was just check in at the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique and deposit our coats at the coat and parcel check station, where we can also leave our shopping bags before dining or shopping again. This is just a huge convenience, especially that we have kids with us.
We also took advantage of the free gift wrapping service to save more time from doing Christmas tasks at home, and to make our gifts look more glamorous. I just had to accept my creative limitations and admit that nothing beats a gift that is professionally wrapped!
No matter how hustling and bustling the crowded mall was, I wasn’t feeling stressed anymore because we came prepared with our Christmas list, and we know we have a place to go for our much needed VIP-treatment break and relaxing retreat. So when it was time for us to give our tired feet some rest, we chilled at the VIP lounge and café and helped ourselves with the Boutique’s sumptuous snacks, desserts, and hot & cold beverages. Again, for free!
The RBC Avion Holiday Boutique is open from November 27 to December 31 at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Halifax Shopping Centre in Halifax, and St. Laurent Centre in Ottawa, exclusively for RBC Avion cardholders. Non-Avioners can avail the gift-wrapping services though for a nominal fee to be donated to their supported charities.
There’s nothing else I could ask for in this piece of oasis. Just the comfy feeling of lounging in the Boutique’s white couches is such a huge relief from the mall chaos. Then I listen to the soothing background music while charging our gadgets at the charging station, and let my kids entertain themselves at the mini library. And when it’s time to go, the valet would just have to get the car ready for us. How would I not love Christmas shopping as an Avioner?
*Disclosure: I am part of the RBC® Avion Holiday Boutique Influencer Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.