Last week five journalists and I set off from London Gatwick on WOW air’s inaugural flight to Montreal, stopping in Iceland en route. The trip, in collaboration with Quebec Tourism, showcased the destination to journalists from The Daily Mirror, Independent.co.uk, i, The Sun and Bristol Post.
Following a ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference at the airport with Skuli Mogensen, WOW air’s charismatic CEO, the first four days of the trip were spent in the cosmopolitan, French-speaking city of Montreal.
Our diverse itinerary included tours of the city’s iconic sights such as the Notre-Dame Basilica, Chinatown and the brand new Au Sommet Place Ville-Marie, offering panoramic views of the cityscape. A sunny afternoon was also spent at the first ‘First Friday’ food truck festival of the year at the Olympic stadium, where we sampled delicious, internationally-inspired dishes. In the evening WOW air lived up to their fun reputation, hosting a cocktail reception at the brand new restaurant HVOR in the trendy Griffintown district.
Our next stop was Quebec City – a charming, historical province just a three-hour train ride through the Canadian countryside from Montreal. Highlights included a tour of the cobbled streets of Old Quebec, a bus ride round Île d’Orléans and a visit to the breath-taking Montmorency Falls, which even rivalled its cousin Niagara Falls.
It’s safe to say we all fell in love with Montreal and Quebec, and of course WOW air!
By Rachel Sewell
