UGH! Holiday shopping. GROAN! Holiday stress. COMPLAIN! Holidays that feel nothing like a holiday. For anyone who needs to escape from it all for a night or a few, but doesn’t want their to-do list looming over their head like a Charlie Brown black cloud, Gladstone Hotel is offering The Gladstone Urban Shopping Experience. Not only a great way to get ‘er done while getting away, but a great gift idea for friends or family from out of town who are eager to explore the city’s local offerings.

The Queen West jewel considers itself an ‘icon of locality,’ and is using the Urban Shopping Experience to encourage favourite local retailers. Booking a room will come with discount shopping coupons to stores we love like Made You Look, 69 Vintage, Shopgirls, Nearly Naked, KOMA designs, heel boy, Magic Pony and MORE!

For $195, you can have a night’s stay in an artist-designed room (upgrade to a Gimme More room for $215), and relax and rejuvenate in a cozy urban hideaway. There is something naughtily indulgent and luxuriously sneaky about escaping to a hotel in the city. So refresh your over-worked holiday brain for a night, then arm yourself with coupons and cross people off your list giving them the best Toronto has to offer-local, unique gifts that promote a "healthy local micro economy." Nothing healthier than avoiding the mall in December. HALLELUJAH! Or, give the package for as a gift: running until April 30th, there’s no better way to give your loved ones "a feel for the real Toronto."

More info? http://www.gladstonehotel.com/roomspecials-full.html#shop