Take the Train!

I believe everyone should see the country (at least part of it) by train. It's bucket list worthy!

While your children are young, it is particularly wonderful to do.

Viarail.ca has a number of discounted summer fares already available.  They also have their Express Deals which are discounted trips planned 6 weeks in advance or less.

Can you believe you can go from Winnipeg to Jasper for as little as $87?  With sleeping and dining included it is as little as $282. Definitely worth checking out! I have done this trip with my kids and definitely give it 2 thumbs up! The dining was excellent!

5 Reasons I Love a Beach

1. Victoria Secret linen beach pants.  I have them in 4 colours.

2. Floppy hats

3. Hammocks. My happy place is in a hammock under  palm tree. Preferably with adult beverage service nearby.

4. Nothing to pack but bikinis and flip flops.

5. I love the ocean. The sounds, the colours, the buoyancy, the endless horizon.

5 Reasons to Love a Caribbean Summer

Fast 5: Why go to the Caribbean in the summer

1. It's always 30C and gorgeous in the Caribbean. Even if it rains, it's just for a few minutes and is hardly any inconvenience at all. The locals wouldn't even let rain ruin lunch. All is dry again in 10 minutes anyway. It is NOT scorching hot like some people imagine. 30C and a breeze is the most perfect weather I've ever experienced and it's like that each and every day. People don't discuss the weather like we Canadians do. For them, it's always the same so why talk about it.

2. Low season means the beaches aren't crowded. They are however, equally beautiful to high season.

3. There are no mosquitos, no wood ticks and no weird snow storms. You don't have to gamble that the weather and wilderness will co-operate on your one week off.

4. It's easy-breezy-beautiful on island time. You just don't have the hustle and bustle of North America. That, in itself, is a refreshing change.

5. You don't have weather shock when you return. Grandma won't need to have the boots and parkas in the truck when she picks you up. You can wear your shorts on the plane and back. Heck, you barely have to pack anything at all. Flip flops, a cover up, shorts and a bathing suit. Pick up a t-shirt and straw hat at the market when you arrive! No need to check luggage at all.

Best of all, most Caribbean destinations can offer you a week for under $1000 taxes included from May through September.  Frankly, I would rather go to the Caribbean every second year in the summer, than once every 5 years in the Winter (based on my budget.)

Found at Redtag.ca May 26th.  They also are offering St. Lucia and Antigua just over $1000.

Caribbean Summer

Last year we took the kids to the Turks & Caicos on Air Canada's "Kids Fly & Stay Free" promotion.

It was the first time in 5 years in watching the Turks & Caicos prices that I managed to get it under $1000 per person for a week.  We went in July and it was stunning. We stayed at the Ocean Club right on the beach at Grace Bay.

Grace Bay is constantly named in the top 10 beaches on earth by every travel magazine and web site. And with good reason.

Air Canada's promotion is back. While it doesn't specifically mention flying out of Winnipeg, the offers are still applicable flying from Wpg thru Toronto.  Check with your favourite travel agent if you have difficulty.

We booked thru CAA and had a wonderful, wonderful trip at a great price.

West this September

Westjet has announced it will fly out of Brandon, MB on a trial basis, starting September 2013.

There will be daily flights to Calgary, AB just after lunch time.

Flights from YBR (who knew Brandon actually had an airport code!) to YYC are about $300 return, taxes included.  Price, of course, always fluctuates based on supply, events, sales etc.  But $300 is a fair fare to keep in mind.

With the cost of gasoline going up, and considering your time to drive to Calgary, Westjet is very well priced and is a fantastic option.

Don't think of Calgary as the only destination. Remember that it is a Westjet hub. It's your connection to Vancouver, Palm Springs, Arizona, Denver, Edmonton, Hawaii, Los Angeles and more.

This is another use it or lose it scenario. So, if you can possibly travel this fall, I would urge you to do so and out of Brandon. With Westjet in our community, there's no where to go but up!!

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To book, visit westjet.com

Stretching the travel budget

Fast 5 Travel Budget Tips:

1) Travel after major holidays if possible. It will be less crowded and up to 30% less expensive.  For example, don't travel over the Canada Day long weekend. If your dates are flexible, why not start out on the 6th or 7th and take that week instead?

2) Use your grocery budget creatively to save for travel. What if you used coupons for a few items each time you shopped, and put the cash-equivalent to your coupon savings in a travel jar at home? $5 here and there will sure add up.

3) Use your grocery budget to add Airmiles where ever possible. For example, you can redeem Airmiles for gift cards for hotel stays (like Best Western) and car rentals (Budget). Whether it's your next hockey road trip or a big family vacation, the savings are a tangible benefit and you need to buy groceries anyway.

4) Use your Shoppers Optimum points to buy your travel necessities like toothbrushes, snacks, travel packs, magazines etc.

5) Look for deals on travel sites like Expedia, Hotwire, Redtag etc.  Travel is discounted just as regularly as groceries. Why pay full price if you don't have to?

Choosing the right vacation

I've always said that any destination can be great... as long as it fits your needs. And in order to do that, you must be truly honest with yourself regarding expectations, the setting, your travel companions and your budget.

If you want to sit on the beach and read, and your travel buddies want to hike and go sight seeing and to concerts, regardless of destination, you will be wildly challenged to make everyone happy.

Budget:  If you have 5 star dreams, and 2 star cash, you will have your work cut out for you to find a satisfying trip. But it can be done! I live for the 5 star bargain on the 2 star budget.

For this year's summer vacation we have about a 12 day window without commitments. That's pretty hard to find a bargain without flexibility on dates, however, it can be done.

The kids want activities. They want water slides, amusement parks and golfing. I want rest, relaxation and a little fine dining. (Ok, it doesn't have to be fine dining. I just don't want to cook at all. I want a break from my restaurant life.) Harry just wants to sit, read and enjoy his summer vacation.

Based on our budget, and the airline travel points in my account, I narrowed it down to about 5 destinations. Then I started analyzing the prices for flights and various airports. I then considered hotel costs, entertainment and on-site transportation. Ultimately I had about 8 pages of scribbling. Airport codes, airline codes, hotel offers and more. Really, you'd have to be me in order to read it. Or, maybe a doctor's secretary! LOL

I read trip advisor reviews, looked at real photos of the destination and subscribed to area tweets. I talked to friends for their personal experiences and read travel blogs too. Then I presented my family with 3 options within our budget. A) Disneyland B) Fort Myers, Florida and C) The Bahamas.

Each is a repeat destination. We've been there before. We know these locations make us happy and we feel safe. Whatever the kids choose, or whichever flight price hits the mark, we'll be happy.

And knowing that I have evaluated every single acceptable option. And knowing that I have analyzed the bargain possibilities "six ways from Sunday" I'm happy. Whatever we choose... will be great! The 40 hours of research means that I will get a trip that will suit our needs and at a price I can live with. No regrets or second guessing what deal I've missed. I've done my homework. Now it's just time to sit back and let the kids pick our next adventure!

Vegas and the Hype

Last week I took a quick jaunt to Vegas to recharge my batteries.

It was great fun staying at the MGM hotel the days leading up to the big Mayweather vs Guerrero fight. The whole hotel was a buzz with activity and anticipation of the main event (literally) in the MGM Gardens arena.

Celebrities were arriving and the hotel had a real vibe. The staff were obviously busy with preparations and taking security very seriously. Everything about the week was professional and first rate. The MGM certainly knows how to stage an event. 

I was leaving before the fight, not that I would have attended considering the $1500 ticket price, but I would have loved to see some of the nightclub entertainers and acts that were also booked for the weekend. Hakkisan nightclub/restaurant was also recently opened and was featuring musical acts like Deadmau5 and Calvin Harris.

Vegas is just Vegas. Bright lights, big city. They know how to put on a show and I love that about it. Vegas. Ahhhh, Vegas. When can I go back?

Why Travel?

I love to travel.

Travelling brings new perspective to my life. To see and experience other regions, cultures and climates enhances my appreciation of others.

My problems seems small and insignificant when I find myself looking at things with a wider view. One day outside my comfort zone, where I get to see and learn and experience new things, can change my whole outlook and re-set my balance.

Everyone has their own set of experiences and will see things differently. Your Las Vegas experience will never  be the same as my Las Vegas experience. You may or may not meet a Russian cab driver who tells you about his children and their dreams. You may never find yourself playing blackjack next to a senior citizen from Ohio, and you may never laugh out loud with a perfect stranger seeing something unbelievable happen on the street. But I did.  I may never do the things you get to do. Our experiences will never be carbon copies and that's what makes it great. It makes us human.

Everyday is a new chance to make stupid jokes and take risks, learn and grow. To get to do that through travel is like shaking the kaleidoscope. It's brilliant and beautiful... you just have to mix things up a bit to see it.