Does it seem like you always get stuck with the middle seat? Take these tips to heart to avoid it all together – or at least make it more palatable. (Wouldn’t it be nice if they just made the middle seat a bit bigger?) 1. Check in online as early as possible to avoid the middle … Continue reading The Middle Seat
Handcrafted in Montreal, all-natural Les Industries Groom goodies elevate the art of shaving. $32, lesindustriesgroom.com
Two million people make the trek every year.
Just a few things to think about, regarding the cabin being your oyster. 1. Never book the front row. Sure you’re in the front row and one of the first ones off, but you’re also really close to all the front-door activity and the galley, both noisy, which is especially bothersome if you want to sleep. … Continue reading Best Seat on the Plane
Marrakesh and Casablanca are steeped in
history, with a culture so rich and colourful.
Kiehl’s Grab-and-Go for Him features face wash, shave cream, body scrub soap, moisturizer and a lip balm, for $37.
People-watching cures travel boredom instantly. And it’s free!
Some hotels let you hang out at their pool for a small fee, especially in areas with a high density of tourists.
Do you think you will enjoy high tea? Of course you will!
You don’t have to sleep at fancy hotels to enjoy them. Pop by for a drink at cocktail hour.
Keep travel expenses down by opting for street fare. Some cities have the best food trucks.
Never ever touch the mini bar. Unless you really, really want to.
Skip expensive hotel laundry service and Google the nearest laundromat instead. (Bonus: You can pack lighter.)
The best day to fly? Tuesday, because there is less demand for seats and the prices are lower.
The sweet spot for buying a domestic plane ticket is 55 days in advance.
A travel steamer will save you from cursing at the seen-better-days iron and ironing board in the hotel-room closet.
Sometimes saying “make it a double, please” just feels really right.
Nobody wants to go on holiday with you? Gee, I wonder why. Consider that you may be a complete pill to travel with. Is it time to clean up your act? 1. Be on time for the trip. No one wants to guess if your alarm went off or not. Travel is stressful enough without you … Continue reading Travel Companionship
Go for the music and stay for the bologna sandwich. Or vice versa—whichever gets you down to Nashville, Tennessee, the famed Music City. Nashville is a live music-oriented spot that totally amps up its country roots while making plenty of room for the new talent, just like it always has. The Country Music Hall of … Continue reading Nashville
Packing a suitcase needn’t be an eat-the-frog exercise. Just follow these easy steps.
Abandoned in the 11th century during the Byzantine era, the ancient city of Ephesus near Selçuk in Turkey’s Izmir province was built 3,000 years ago, the largest marble city in the world. An archaeological museum, Ephesus is best known for the Temple of Artemis (built in 550 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient … Continue reading Turkey: Ephesus
Istanbul is incredible, but a one-hour flight into the heart of Turkey brings you to Cappadocia, a historical gem in Nevşahir province. Here, visitors soak up the traditional lifestyle and amazing topography right alongside the apricot farmers, making time for ancient churches and underground cities, roadside markets, regional cuisine, and artisanal rug makers and ceramicists. … Continue reading Turkey: Cappadocia
It really doesn’t get more “bucket list” than the 7th Continent. You wouldn’t think a place with permanent ice and snow would be much of a draw, but you’d be wrong. Antarctica is all about zipping through icy bays on pontoon boats, hiking up glacial hills, kayaking or just plain penguin-watching. And a Quark Expeditions cruise … Continue reading Antarctica
The country charm of Steamboat Springs.
The Mayan Riviera, running from Cancun to Tulum on the Caribbean side of Mexico, is best known for the multitude of resorts anchoring a string of 10 beach towns that dot the coast from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen. All offer the best in sun and white, white sand. And just 40 minutes south from … Continue reading Mexico: Playa del Carmen
The Guanacaste province of Costa Rica has hit the all-terrain jackpot—with beaches, mountains, canyons, volcanos, waterfalls, wetlands, plains, parks and rain forests. This variety, coupled with great weather practically year-round leaves visitors to Guanacaste revelling in the spirit of Pura Vida. Literally “pure life,” this iconic and health-oriented philosophy encourages an appreciation of life, body … Continue reading Costa Rica: Guanacaste
Six of your best bets to ski, snowboard, aprés-drink, conference or celebrate. Red Mountain Resort, Rossland, B.C. Overview: Charming heritage town, really nice people, no lines, terrific skiing. Selling point: The consistent and brilliant snow, top-rated because of the resort’s location along the famous Powder Highway. Meeting space: A new conference centre (120 people, theatre-style) is great for … Continue reading Ski Resort Report
Drop by any one of these Miami Beach hotel hangouts to wet your whistle day or night. (Scroll down for the slideshow.) The Eden Roc Well, this one is actually in Miami Beach proper. The terrazzo floors of the sunken lobby bar at the Eden Roc have welcomed the footsteps of Frank Sinatra, Katharine Hepburn … Continue reading Miami Beach: Hotel Bars
The history, the architecture, the incomparable rhythm of life—Berlin really has it going on. (Scroll down for the slideshow.) Step back in time. While Berlin itself is very in tune with its past, Museum Island is really steeped in history. Much of this five-museum complex has been cleverly restored since World War II, and now houses … Continue reading Germany: Berlin
Select the red-eye flight to shave a night—or two—of hotel rooms off the bill.
Yes, there’s definitely time for a nap. Isn’t there always? Just get up a bit earlier.
Eliminate pocket fishing at airport security by putting everything in your jacket and nothing in your pants first thing in the morning. Pack your belt in the carryon. Wear loafers.
Keep a travel journal so you can share details of your trip with friends down the road.
Don’t over-pack! Leave space in your suitcase for souvenirs. Swiss chocolate and Limoncello are very tempting!
Learn a few key phrases of the language of the country you’re visiting. Know what their police force equivalent of “Freeze!” is.
Choose a destination according to your passions—a food tour in France, a soccer tournament in Barcelona, camping in Switzerland.
The travel agent is right. You’ll be way more comfortable in first class.
Always travel with a small amount of the currency of the country you’re visiting. What if there’s no bank machine at the airport or the exchange kiosk is closed?
Sometimes you just have to have lunch twice.
The moment you see an airline offering a sale, wait until the next afternoon to hunt for a fare, because all the airline’s competitors will be trying to match the previous day’s sale price.
You deserve those little lacy mats they put on the floor at turn-down.
Beat jetlag by conditioning yourself to your destination’s time as quickly as possible upon landing. If it’s midnight, go to bed (maybe with a pill). If it’s morning, have breakfast.
There’s a spa out there with your name on it.
Sadly, booze doesn’t kill bacteria. Here’s how to avoid traveller’s diarrhea. 1. Three little words: “No ice, please.” Only consume ice that you know has gone through a water-purifying system. 2. Drink bottled water, and make sure you witness the cap being unsealed (the same goes for beer). 3. Stick to cooked foods and be wary … Continue reading Avoid Traveller’s Diarrhea
With the exception of a few places (not mentioning any names!), people like it when you at least try to speak in their native language. 1. Buy a couple of different language apps for your phone and practice with them well in advance of your trip. (Read the reviews first.) 2. A pocket phrase book … Continue reading Navigate the Language
Just like clothes-shopping, memorable travel experiences come in with a high-low mix.
If you’ve ever been rolled on the street before you know how utterly soul-sucking it is. Here’s how to avoid pickpockets. 1. Carry your wallet in a front pocket, with the opening facing down. 2. Be alert in busy areas. Pickpockets target train stations, bus stops, crowded street corners and street performances. 3. Be wary … Continue reading Avoid Pickpockets
Ever sit beside somebody who didn’t even bring a book? (Is there a WordPress emoticon for “moron”?) Here’s how to use your travel time in the best ways possible. 1. Use travel time to relax, not to work. Power-down and give your brain a break. 2. Load your iPad with that documentary you’ve been meaning to … Continue reading Use Travel Time Wisely
Improve your airport experience with this checklist.
Try to be as rested and nourished as possible when you board. Then… 1. From the second you board the plane until you are at your destination, never touch your face. Eye and nose rubbing is taboo. 2. Wipe down arm rests and your tray table—especially the latch—with a Wet One. Ignore the looks you … Continue reading Don’t Get Sick on the Plane
Always pack these items in your carryon. No excuses.
Here’s a little magic from my magic bean bag… a.k.a. how to make a travel first-aid kit. Well, it’s more pill-aid than first-aid. My doctor came up with it.
People don’t travel because they think they can’t afford it. This is not the right mind-set. FIND the money. It’s worth it! Here’s how to save for a holiday. 1. Start browsing for vacation packages well before the holiday season begins. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save up before you travel. … Continue reading Save for a Holiday
If you took the American-ness out of Hawaii and replaced it with French-ness, added a dash of exotic class, then took away about a billion tourists, you’d have French Polynesia. When you can wake up, mainline a perfect espresso, pop a bonbon into your mouth left over from the night before, then plunge into a … Continue reading French Polynesia
Hop aboard M/V Cattleya, an intimate eight-passenger boat.
Drinks with Rickie Martin and Orlando Cruz? Sign me up! Wouldn’t that be a dream? I swear I like this town even more every time I visit—and Rickie’s Instagram posts certainly help. Triple respect to Puerto Rico for surviving a flurry of hurricanes in 2017, the neglect that followed, and the pandemic that followed that. … Continue reading Puerto Rico: San Juan
Winter in Charlevoix is pure Canadiana—all cozy firesides, dogsledding, skiing, art galleries, hot apple cider, amazing local cuisine, you get the picture. When life hands Canadians winter, we make it fun. No one knows this better than Charlevoix, which has been doing this for more than 200 years. Tucked up along the St. Lawrence, north … Continue reading Charlevoix
Cayman Islands is a trio of islands in the western Caribbean noted primarily for its plethora of the rich and famous. Think giant seaside homes worth millions of dollars—and how come? With more than 600 banks, Grand Cayman is the fifth-largest banking centre in the world after London, Tokyo, New York and Hong Kong. (Mostly … Continue reading Cayman Islands
Nabbing a cool, mid-century modern bungalow in Palm Springs for a week by the pool could well be one of your better ideas. It certainly was one of mine. The Palm Springs resort community of 45,000 people 175 kilometres east of Los Angeles is a great spot to relax and explore, gold and play tennis, … Continue reading Palm Springs
One of the first all-oceanfront-suite resorts in the Caribbean.
Mainland Mexico is lovely, but the island of Cozumel just south of Cancun is off-the-dial beautiful. A little bit country and a little bit rock-and-roll, Cozumel is regaining its footing since hurricane Wilma crashed through in 2005. Quiet and unhurried, it is considered one of the best places in the world to SCUBA dive, with … Continue reading Mexico: Cozumel
This South American country is like four places in one. You get the Pacific coast, the Andes Mountains with its active volcanoes, the Amazon rain forest packed with wildlife and the iconic Galapagos Islands, all in one package. With these four distinct eco-systems, Ecuador is more than just a jumping-off point for the Galapagos. Exploring … Continue reading Ecuador
Once a prominent Pacific port and shipyard, the small fishing town of San Blas (population 10,000) between Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta is home to giant stretches of beach, winding estuaries and mangrove-laden wildlife reserves. San Blas history dates back to the late 17th century, but the town was founded much earlier than that, in 1530. While not exactly … Continue reading Mexico: San Blas
The remote Australian island of Tasmania is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, as famous for unspoiled natural environment as it is for the Tasmanian Devil. For such a tiny island, Tasmania has a diverse mix of environments—alpine ranges, wetlands and grasslands, coastal heaths and extremely large temperate rainforests. Almost half of Tasmania is parkland and designated … Continue reading Australia: Tasmania
At the first donkey sighting, you know you’re in for more than just a regular few days at the beach. Twisting around sand dunes and scrubland in a 4×4 with the tires deflated for better traction is a surreal experience, like you’re auditioning for The Amazing Race. Then, the town of Jericoacoara appears out of … Continue reading Brazil: Jericoacoara
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MAKE EVERY HOLIDAY MINUTE COUNT?
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