During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Air Canada posted new outrageous deals whenever a Canadian athlete won gold. The deal would start at midnight and often be all snapped up by dawn.
I remember one night seeing YWG to YUL for $49 each way. Or YYZ to YUL for $29. That's crazy! Crazy good! But, having just stumbled upon the deal late at night, and not having ever discussed taking a weekend in Montreal with my husband, I didn't jump at it. The next day when he said "you should have just booked it" I felt a little down. Like coming 4th place in the Olympics. I hesitated and lost out.
So after that, each day I'd cheer more for our Canadian athletes and if/when they won, bubble over with excitement waiting for the deal to pop up. Then when Jon Montgomery won (remember the athlete who grabbed & downed the pitcher of beer in a post-victory celebration!) gold, I got MY deal. At midnight, flights to NAS (Nassau, Bahamas) went on sale from across Canada. I grabbed tickets for $99 each way and in April, hubby and I went to the Bahamas for a 3 day weekend. It was crazy and spontaneous and the best quick trip bargain EVER! The Bahamas are my happy place. No place on earth I'd rather visit. Even if it was just for 2 nights. (Sounds crazy. But probably one of, if not my absolute favourite trip ever.
So, the point of this little jaunt down memory lane is to say that AIR CANADA IS DOING IT AGAIN!!! It's a little different this time, but still good and worth looking into. Each day they are offering a different Olympic special. July 30-August 12. There is a new special each day. The first one was a deal on flights to London. The second one was 10% off Executive Class. I hope there will be some really special deals in there like last time. I'll be watching.
Simply go to Aircanada.com to see their deal of the day. Who knows, you might just strike gold! This, my friends, is the Olympics of travel bargain hunting. Typically you have a day or two to decide when a bargain price pops up, this time, if it's truly good, it will be a few hours at most to decide. Time to put your credit card and you desk calendar in their ready positions. On your mark... get set....
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Phoenix/Scottsdale for Thanksgiving?
Air, hotel, car and taxes for under $500 per person for a holiday long weekend. Amazing! Perhaps I should mention it's not really a hotel.... it's an AMAZING world class resort. It's the Arizona Biltmore. Do follow the link to observe the luxury! Do check out Trip Advisor to see all the glowing recommendations.
There are some other fabulous resorts in the area, but none quite as good a deal this time around.
Do check out Allegiantair.com for some great deals on September travel from your local US border city.
There are some other fabulous resorts in the area, but none quite as good a deal this time around.
Do check out Allegiantair.com for some great deals on September travel from your local US border city.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
I would rather have a cheeseburger in paradise that a filet mignon at home. Or at least that is the basic philosophy that I employ when travelling. Don't get me wrong, I'm not meaning a literal "CHEESEBURGER" because as many of you know, I live on and with cheeseburgers, but what I am trying to say in my own cutesy - Jimmy Buffet-style, is that I will cut costs on meals while on vacation, just as long as I still get to travel.
I love going to the Caribbean, but lets face it, the Caribbean is kind of expensive. So I wait and wait, and save, and when the air and hotel prices come within range, I jump at the chance to go to the Caribbean. And since many of the resorts are NOT all-inclusive, and I choose not to go all-inclusive with my children in tow, food is the single most costly budget line on the vacation. (After air and hotel.)
A quick side note here, it's not that I don't think all-inclusive packages are great for adult travellers, I just choose not to expose my kids to the over-indulgence of alcohol that plagues many adults on vacation. And secondly, as a person with a wealth of restaurant experience, I choose NOT to eat at buffets. I especially choose not to eat at buffets where food quality issues and mass crowds intersect. I much much much prefer single-serving, made to order meals, where food is not made in mass quantity and stored on a table for hours in tropical heat.
I digress. Sorry. But as a restauranteur, I do carry my strong feelings about food quality with me 24/7.
So, my point is even on vacation, we try to make some of our own meals, pack snacks and choose carefully. Whether it's at Disneyworld, or Alaska or anywhere in between, it also makes economic sense to pack a few snacks from home. I take Sunrype 100% fruit strips. They are very compact, a box of 48 takes up 2 inches, by 5 inches by 5 inches. Easily packed in a suitcase or carry on. I also bring granola bars. They are great "stomach fillers' when the kids' tummies are growling. A granola bar, high in protein, fibre and nutrition can definitely fill the in-between meal gaps. I like Kashi bars.
You can't pack anything liquid in your carry on bag, but you can certainly bring pre-packaged trail mix, granola bars or the like. There have been many occasions where the snacks in my purse have saved the day on a long flight, a delay, a cab ride or in the moment when someone is all of a sudden "starving" and there is no store in sight.
I also pack a big ziploc bag with dry soup packets (Knorr or Lipton Chicken Noodle), instant oatmeal packages, instant hot chocolate and of course, instant VIA packets by Starbucks. Now of course none of the above mention snacks are glamourous, but they are popular with my kids and sometimes I have found myself in situations where there is absolutely nothing on the menu the kids will eat or even try. That's when Lipton Chicken Noodle saves the day back in the hotel room.
Little kids especially can get "homesick" on vacation, even right next to their parents. I think they get overwhelmed by the new things and the different culture and surroundings and just cry out for anything that they know as "normal." Hot chocolate can be very comforting on a cool evening and you aren't always able to leave the hotel room or find a coffee shop or WANT to spend $5 on a hot chocolate.
So I am absolutely content to pick up some grocery store sushi, or eat instant oatmeal for breakfast on my vacation as long as I get to go on vacation! If fact, I know my kids think it's fantastic when they get to eat those little tiny boxes of cereal on vacation. It's a highlight. At home, we don't buy those tiny boxes and I never buy fruitloops - so they consider it their vacation treat. Use the bar fridge in the hotel room! Buy a litre of milk (even at hotel gift shop prices!) and use the plastic spoons you brought from home. My kids don't see this as mom being cheap. They see it as mom (finally) being awesome and buying those tiny boxes of cereal they always want.
What I DO budget for, and always insist upon is (at least one) lunch and one dinner at a local restaurant during our week. We skip the chain, franchise-type places and go somewhere recommended by the locals or the fabulous people of Trip Advisor. I have never been screwed over by Trip Advisor recommendations.
So, if my food budget is $400 for the week, we probably spend $250 of it on eating out and the rest on "eating in." Less money on food equals more money for the next vacation. I do have a one track mind, don't I?
I love going to the Caribbean, but lets face it, the Caribbean is kind of expensive. So I wait and wait, and save, and when the air and hotel prices come within range, I jump at the chance to go to the Caribbean. And since many of the resorts are NOT all-inclusive, and I choose not to go all-inclusive with my children in tow, food is the single most costly budget line on the vacation. (After air and hotel.)
A quick side note here, it's not that I don't think all-inclusive packages are great for adult travellers, I just choose not to expose my kids to the over-indulgence of alcohol that plagues many adults on vacation. And secondly, as a person with a wealth of restaurant experience, I choose NOT to eat at buffets. I especially choose not to eat at buffets where food quality issues and mass crowds intersect. I much much much prefer single-serving, made to order meals, where food is not made in mass quantity and stored on a table for hours in tropical heat.
I digress. Sorry. But as a restauranteur, I do carry my strong feelings about food quality with me 24/7.
So, my point is even on vacation, we try to make some of our own meals, pack snacks and choose carefully. Whether it's at Disneyworld, or Alaska or anywhere in between, it also makes economic sense to pack a few snacks from home. I take Sunrype 100% fruit strips. They are very compact, a box of 48 takes up 2 inches, by 5 inches by 5 inches. Easily packed in a suitcase or carry on. I also bring granola bars. They are great "stomach fillers' when the kids' tummies are growling. A granola bar, high in protein, fibre and nutrition can definitely fill the in-between meal gaps. I like Kashi bars.
You can't pack anything liquid in your carry on bag, but you can certainly bring pre-packaged trail mix, granola bars or the like. There have been many occasions where the snacks in my purse have saved the day on a long flight, a delay, a cab ride or in the moment when someone is all of a sudden "starving" and there is no store in sight.
I also pack a big ziploc bag with dry soup packets (Knorr or Lipton Chicken Noodle), instant oatmeal packages, instant hot chocolate and of course, instant VIA packets by Starbucks. Now of course none of the above mention snacks are glamourous, but they are popular with my kids and sometimes I have found myself in situations where there is absolutely nothing on the menu the kids will eat or even try. That's when Lipton Chicken Noodle saves the day back in the hotel room.
Little kids especially can get "homesick" on vacation, even right next to their parents. I think they get overwhelmed by the new things and the different culture and surroundings and just cry out for anything that they know as "normal." Hot chocolate can be very comforting on a cool evening and you aren't always able to leave the hotel room or find a coffee shop or WANT to spend $5 on a hot chocolate.
What I DO budget for, and always insist upon is (at least one) lunch and one dinner at a local restaurant during our week. We skip the chain, franchise-type places and go somewhere recommended by the locals or the fabulous people of Trip Advisor. I have never been screwed over by Trip Advisor recommendations.
So, if my food budget is $400 for the week, we probably spend $250 of it on eating out and the rest on "eating in." Less money on food equals more money for the next vacation. I do have a one track mind, don't I?
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Our Caribbean Province?
The beautiful Turks and Caicos islands have for decades entertained the possibilities of an alignment with Canada. Over the last four decades, the Canadian House of Commons has heard discussions and had varying levels of support for a political union between Canada and the Turks and Caicos. There has been talk of the islands joining Nova Scotia, or becoming their own 11th Canadian Province.
In 2009, the Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, Peter Goldring sent correspondence in an effort to re-open dialogue with the government of the Turks and Caicos. It is certainly an interesting read and does indeed show there is still interest in pursuing discussions. Link to the letter from the House of Commons.
The Canadian influence can certainly be seen across the Caribbean with three of our banks being the largest operators of banking institutions in the English speaking Caribbean. I can't say for certain which Canadian banks those are, but I CAN say absolutely, without a doubt, we drove past a CIBC location and an RBC location in the Turks and Caicos. Later, I used an instant teller at the airport that was Scotiabank. And, the grocery store in Provo was located right next to a beautiful, modern Scotiabank building. So, without better research, I state those three as my best guess.
Canadian banks can be seen and used readily in the Bahamas as well.
Canadian tourists are welcomed and should feel comfortable in the British West Indies. We have long since invited and supported trade and development in these areas and in 2009 added the Caribbean on our government's list of preferred foreign aid recipients.
Every year tourism continues to grow as an industry. The people of the Turks and Caicos welcome over 200,000 tourists to their islands annually. If you are interested in learning more about what the islands have to offer, visit their official tourism website.
In 2009, the Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, Peter Goldring sent correspondence in an effort to re-open dialogue with the government of the Turks and Caicos. It is certainly an interesting read and does indeed show there is still interest in pursuing discussions. Link to the letter from the House of Commons.
The Canadian influence can certainly be seen across the Caribbean with three of our banks being the largest operators of banking institutions in the English speaking Caribbean. I can't say for certain which Canadian banks those are, but I CAN say absolutely, without a doubt, we drove past a CIBC location and an RBC location in the Turks and Caicos. Later, I used an instant teller at the airport that was Scotiabank. And, the grocery store in Provo was located right next to a beautiful, modern Scotiabank building. So, without better research, I state those three as my best guess.
Canadian banks can be seen and used readily in the Bahamas as well.
Canadian tourists are welcomed and should feel comfortable in the British West Indies. We have long since invited and supported trade and development in these areas and in 2009 added the Caribbean on our government's list of preferred foreign aid recipients.
Every year tourism continues to grow as an industry. The people of the Turks and Caicos welcome over 200,000 tourists to their islands annually. If you are interested in learning more about what the islands have to offer, visit their official tourism website.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
How do you do it?
I don't shop for leisure. I do not go out for lunch. I don't go to movies or concerts, except for maybe once or twice a year. I don't circulate in a typical manner. I don't go for drinks after work and it's extremely rare that I would go out for a sit down meal. Quite literally, I might eat dinner out with my family once every 2-3 months. (That's not to say that they don't do these things without me.)
I do my shopping on-line, or at 11pm at night. I am a regular at Shoppers' Drug Mart as they are open to midnight in my area. As far as I'm concerned, you can buy just about everything you need at SDM!
The other thing I have come to know as gospel, after owning a restaurant for several years, is that you can try to take a day off, or an evening off, but something typically comes up. Equipment or staff issues require immediate attention when you are open 7 days a week, 11 hours a day to the public. Your customer expects consistency, prompt service and reliability regardless of what issues are going on behind the scenes. Therefore, a "day off" is kind of like a four leaf clover.... you know they exist and you have seen them, but they are not always easy to find.
If I am within cell range, the work world of advertising reps, suppliers, regular customers, staff and people looking for sponsorship will find me. So, I have myself convinced that the only true way to get a holiday or a breather, is to leave town. So that's what I do whenever possible. That in reality is 2-4 times a year.
I have very capable staff and a support team of suppliers and repair folks. They can survive a few days without me. They make good decisions and I trust them. They key is to just "walk away" and tune out work for a few days at a time. I love my 3 day getaways!
If you can imagine spending $150 a week on leisure activities like movies or dining, or events and another $50 on liquor or treats, I simply take that and put it towards my jet-away getaways. Plus, the real "trick" or my key to travel, is my points. I'm talking about credit card miles, Aeroplan points and the like. They are like chocolate to me.... I crave them, stash them and devour them regularly. I would rather use $200 worth of points for a discount weekend away, rather than try saving for 2 years and take a bigger vacation for free.
Plus, I hunt for travel bargains like a hyena on the range. I don't care if I pounce on a zebra or an antelope, or slow warthog. I just want a tasty little vacation. I keep my eye on a few destinations and when the right one hits the right price, I pounce. For goodness sake, I waited 5 years for the Turks and Caicos!! But I do know that if I'm really hungry for a break, I can always find Vegas or Phoenix at a bargain and that will tide me over until I can grab a feast.
That's just restaurant life. You miss out on some of the regular, ordinary (wonderful) things, but you do have other fantastic opportunities. I suppose for people who travel all the time for work purposes, they would equally value a quiet day at home or in their hometown. For me, in my pressure cooker of a windowless environment, I escape through travel. I love it. I love everything about it. I love the restaurant, the people, the independence, the self-reliance and I love the chance to jet-away and recharge. It's all good!
October - November travel
If you have anywhere in Canada to travel this fall, the time is NOW to book your flights. Westjet has a sale on for one more day that is quite good. Most round trip fares are discounted at least $$75-150 off the tax included price. So rather than pay $488 to Vancouver, you can grab the flight for $379 or the like. Calgary/Edmonton/London (ontario) are down $360. Anytime you can save 20% or more on a domestic flight is a good deal. In this case, it pays to plan ahead.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Activities & Adventure
Quite often when we travel as a family we have a well researched, planned activity scheduled at some point during the week. Like when we went to the Bahamas we paid to splash around and kiss dolphins. I would be wrong if I called it "swim with the dolphins." That would make it seem much more glamourous. This was a controlled encounter with dolphins, perfect for young kids. That was in the Bahamas and we loved it, and of course, we paid for the overpriced tourist photos.
When we went to Maui, I organized a private surf lesson for our family. It was my Christmas gift to everyone. That was a blast. We all rode the waves and thought we were rockstars. Again, I bought the touristy photos. But doesn't my boy look like he was born to surf? Takes after his mama!
When we went to Maui, I organized a private surf lesson for our family. It was my Christmas gift to everyone. That was a blast. We all rode the waves and thought we were rockstars. Again, I bought the touristy photos. But doesn't my boy look like he was born to surf? Takes after his mama!
We have had the character breakfasts at Disney World and panned for gold in Alaska. When we were planning a the trip to the Turks and Caicos I was really tired. I was out of planning energy. I could hardly lift a finger to research any more beyond studying our resort. I thought, perhaps, I would consider planning an excursion once we arrived on the island.
Instead of pushing for another adventure or splurging on a once-in-a-lifetime activity we all agreed to just chill. And holy heaven that was nice! No praying for good weather on our whale watching or rushing to catch a charter just to stand in line. No $200 photo package to purchase. Instead we simply walked on the beach, played on the beach, swam in the pool and generally just lounged around like lizards. Lounge lizards! And we all loved it.
I'll admit, there were times before the trip that I worried the kids would be bored. When we arrived I worried that they were going to be expecting something magical... another one of mom's fun travel surprises. But rather, they surprised me. They went all old school.... sandcastles, imagination activities, physical fun (swimming/running/jumping/diving/walks) mixed in with some cards, some reading and a couple ipod games. Oh, and "Jimmy" aka Mr. Crabs, the hermit crab they found. He was 3 hours of fun for sure! They kept building him new fortresses and making sandcastles to contain him. They had fun.... without me ever having to plan it, pay for it, or buy the photo package. Ahhhh. Score one for true relaxation!
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I've finally joined Twitter. I basically plan to use it to tweet travel tips, and bargains that I spy. If you are at all interested, please follow me. @cdntripseeker But be prepared for a few tweets about hockey. I'm a hard core hockey fan. And I likely will gush about my new favourite tv show Dallas, from time to time. JR Ewing is mixin' it up again and you won't want to miss that new John Ross. Hey, maybe I should plan a trip to the Lonestar state?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Not a meat & potatoes kinda place
The Turks and Caicos are not what I would call meat and potatoes islands. In fact, being that it is so small, there is very limited agricultural production on the islands. It really makes you feel rich in North America for our vast landscapes, fertile soil and ability to raise our own cattle (etc) and grow our own vegetables in the kinds of quantities that can feed the masses.
It also justifies why the grocery store prices are a little crazy for some things. Tetra packs of juice in the one litre were around $6-7 depending on the brand. A 24 of Coke was $17. Red peppers were $7 per pound (current Canadian price is about $3 per pound) and Campbell's Soup cans were just under $3. Peaches were listed at $5 per pound, while coconuts were a mere $1. Prices were reflective of the import/shipping costs to bring them to the island it seemed.
However, things like milk, cheese, chicken and fish were typical Canadian Safeway-type store prices. So, you just needed to be aware, be selective and adjust your expectations for meals to stay on a reasonable budget.
Restaurant meals were similarly priced and reflective of the cost of goods. A modest lunch for two adults and 2 children at a beachside cafe was typically around $75.
We did plan for, and thoroughly enjoy, a dinner out at a 4star restaurant once during the trip. We were aware and embraced the regional cuisine. The Jerk spices, fruit salsas and seasoned rice accompaniments were absolutely delicious. Pictured below was my meal of snapper, which was the catch of the day.
Pictured below was a salmon salad. It was diced tomato, smoked salmon and spinach with a balsamic reduction and a regional cheese layer. Great taste and lovely presentation.
Ultimately, I came to know the Turks as a "fish and rice" kinda place, rather than meat and potatoes. The food was certainly delicious and memorable. I'm sorry I don't have more photos... the fish tacos, the fish burgers and the fresh catch salad were also winners!
It also justifies why the grocery store prices are a little crazy for some things. Tetra packs of juice in the one litre were around $6-7 depending on the brand. A 24 of Coke was $17. Red peppers were $7 per pound (current Canadian price is about $3 per pound) and Campbell's Soup cans were just under $3. Peaches were listed at $5 per pound, while coconuts were a mere $1. Prices were reflective of the import/shipping costs to bring them to the island it seemed.
However, things like milk, cheese, chicken and fish were typical Canadian Safeway-type store prices. So, you just needed to be aware, be selective and adjust your expectations for meals to stay on a reasonable budget.
Restaurant meals were similarly priced and reflective of the cost of goods. A modest lunch for two adults and 2 children at a beachside cafe was typically around $75.
We did plan for, and thoroughly enjoy, a dinner out at a 4star restaurant once during the trip. We were aware and embraced the regional cuisine. The Jerk spices, fruit salsas and seasoned rice accompaniments were absolutely delicious. Pictured below was my meal of snapper, which was the catch of the day.
Pictured below was a salmon salad. It was diced tomato, smoked salmon and spinach with a balsamic reduction and a regional cheese layer. Great taste and lovely presentation.
Ultimately, I came to know the Turks as a "fish and rice" kinda place, rather than meat and potatoes. The food was certainly delicious and memorable. I'm sorry I don't have more photos... the fish tacos, the fish burgers and the fresh catch salad were also winners!
Why the Turks and Caicos?
Several years ago I saw a documentary on how the Turks and Caicos islands were looking to leave British rule and were lobbying/considering becoming a part of Canada. It was there on television I first saw the beauty of their beaches and heard about this place.
Then the two biggest players in the Canadian Airline industry started travelling there regularly. With Westjet and Air Canada introducing their vacation packages, the location became less exotic and more "domestic". With more regular flights, the tourism industry grew and the availability of flights increased and prices came down. But not that much. It's still one of the more expensive Caribbean destinations.
I have travelled to the Bahamas and I feel quite strongly that I am most happy and blissful in the Bahamas. Though I still seek adventure, I wanted to try something/somewhere similar to the Bahamas. And since the Turks are very nearby.... a mere 30 minutes by plane further than the Bahamas, with similar climate and culture, it seemed a safe bet.
Safe it was! No armed guards at the resort, no warnings from the Canadian consulate. The locals speak English and the common currency is the US dollar.
It is a very small island/series of islands. That in itself presents a unique situation agriculturally speaking and some unique shopping experiences. More to come .....
Then the two biggest players in the Canadian Airline industry started travelling there regularly. With Westjet and Air Canada introducing their vacation packages, the location became less exotic and more "domestic". With more regular flights, the tourism industry grew and the availability of flights increased and prices came down. But not that much. It's still one of the more expensive Caribbean destinations.
I have travelled to the Bahamas and I feel quite strongly that I am most happy and blissful in the Bahamas. Though I still seek adventure, I wanted to try something/somewhere similar to the Bahamas. And since the Turks are very nearby.... a mere 30 minutes by plane further than the Bahamas, with similar climate and culture, it seemed a safe bet.
Safe it was! No armed guards at the resort, no warnings from the Canadian consulate. The locals speak English and the common currency is the US dollar.
It is a very small island/series of islands. That in itself presents a unique situation agriculturally speaking and some unique shopping experiences. More to come .....
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Air Travel with Kids
So this fabulous, trip of a life-time (that I had been eyeballing for about 5 years) finally came into focus this Spring. I have been watching and hoping that the Turks and Caicos islands would fall into our budget range for a very long time. Then, Air Canada offered it on a "Kids Stay, Play & Fly for Free" sale.
What? Kids fly free? Yipee! Frankly I'd never really seen a kids fly free promotion that was legit. "Stay and Play" free - well, frankly that's a given. It is, in my opinion, that your kids stay free at any hotel. So I crunched the numbers and it was about 40% less for a family of four that the typical price. 40% off!! Wow. I then gave it a really good look.
Air Canada Vacations was offering this package at a few select 3 and 4 star resorts. In fact the resorts were of higher grade that I had been watching or potentially budgeting for. So the resort that we chose, in consultation with my favourite CAA travel agent, was the Ocean Club.
In the Turks and Caicos the Ocean Club operates two resorts (Ocean Club & Ocean Club West) on the same stretch of beach about 1 mile apart. The suites are condo-style units with complete kitchens and even in-suite washer and dryer. The feature we liked best was the screened in balcony which was big enough for a dining table and lounge chairs. Our suite overlooked the pool. It was perfect!
The resort was very clean, very safe and was in a superb location on the beach. Grace Bay beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches on earth and I absolutely agree. Within a simple 5 minute walk we had access to 2 great pools, a perfect stretch of oceanfront beach, tennis courts, 2 restaurants and a golf course and a convenience store. Easy proximity to everything for us and the kids.
More on the resort in another chapter. But I briefly want to touch on Air Canada's shortcoming in this promotion. Our first flight was delayed 4 hours on account of mechanical difficulties. This couldn't be helped and it wasn't a big deal. The only issue was that I had 2 very worried kids who were very anxious that we were going to miss our connecting flight. I was pleased with the A/C counter agent who helped me explain to the boys that even if we missed our connection, A/C would still get us there the next day, for sure.
The issue I had was simply that Air Canada did not anticipate or prepare in any thoughtful way (that I could see) for having a a plane-load of children on 4 hour flights (to & from Toronto to the Turks).
I had to believe that this was a higher than normal number of kids and it was in direct proportion to their (fabulous!) kids fly free promotion. (.... Incidentally, there was no "catch" or "shell game" to this promotion. All I paid was $95 in taxes per child. And the adult fare was not doubled, in case that's what you were thinking. ) The Flight Attendants were composed and courteous as always, but certainly paid no special mind to the children on board.
On the return flight, it was nearly 2 hours in and the seat belt sign still had not been turned off. (Light turbulence and I do not question the pilot's judgement - safety first.) It was at this point, my 6 year old turned to me and said, "we are never flying Air Canada again. It's been forever and there are no snacks and no one is helping these little kids." He was right. There were restless kids all around us. Exhausted parents were doing the best they could but washroom breaks and snacks and a change of scenery (or activity) were really required.
But what my son had concluded in his mind, from our 4 flights that week, was that Air Canada didn't care about the kids on the plane. It was a keen observation. And simply all it would have taken to remedy the situation was a few aviation or island themed colouring books, or custom snack packs or a few plastic planes as gifts. It was like we were invited to the party and then treated like furniture.
My son, even at 6, is a ridiculously experienced traveller, having been to several states, including Hawaii by plane, and the Bahamas (x2). He has flown 4 different airlines. done a cruise and a cross country train trip as well. And as his mother, I had toys, granola bars and other travel necessities in my bag, but he was worried about the other kids who were struggling.
I loved the trip, the resort and the promotion. But I do agree with my son's observation. Just a little recognition or special touch would have really made the kids feel important or at least, more comfortable.
What? Kids fly free? Yipee! Frankly I'd never really seen a kids fly free promotion that was legit. "Stay and Play" free - well, frankly that's a given. It is, in my opinion, that your kids stay free at any hotel. So I crunched the numbers and it was about 40% less for a family of four that the typical price. 40% off!! Wow. I then gave it a really good look.
Air Canada Vacations was offering this package at a few select 3 and 4 star resorts. In fact the resorts were of higher grade that I had been watching or potentially budgeting for. So the resort that we chose, in consultation with my favourite CAA travel agent, was the Ocean Club.
In the Turks and Caicos the Ocean Club operates two resorts (Ocean Club & Ocean Club West) on the same stretch of beach about 1 mile apart. The suites are condo-style units with complete kitchens and even in-suite washer and dryer. The feature we liked best was the screened in balcony which was big enough for a dining table and lounge chairs. Our suite overlooked the pool. It was perfect!
The resort was very clean, very safe and was in a superb location on the beach. Grace Bay beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches on earth and I absolutely agree. Within a simple 5 minute walk we had access to 2 great pools, a perfect stretch of oceanfront beach, tennis courts, 2 restaurants and a golf course and a convenience store. Easy proximity to everything for us and the kids.
More on the resort in another chapter. But I briefly want to touch on Air Canada's shortcoming in this promotion. Our first flight was delayed 4 hours on account of mechanical difficulties. This couldn't be helped and it wasn't a big deal. The only issue was that I had 2 very worried kids who were very anxious that we were going to miss our connecting flight. I was pleased with the A/C counter agent who helped me explain to the boys that even if we missed our connection, A/C would still get us there the next day, for sure.
The issue I had was simply that Air Canada did not anticipate or prepare in any thoughtful way (that I could see) for having a a plane-load of children on 4 hour flights (to & from Toronto to the Turks).
I had to believe that this was a higher than normal number of kids and it was in direct proportion to their (fabulous!) kids fly free promotion. (.... Incidentally, there was no "catch" or "shell game" to this promotion. All I paid was $95 in taxes per child. And the adult fare was not doubled, in case that's what you were thinking. ) The Flight Attendants were composed and courteous as always, but certainly paid no special mind to the children on board.
On the return flight, it was nearly 2 hours in and the seat belt sign still had not been turned off. (Light turbulence and I do not question the pilot's judgement - safety first.) It was at this point, my 6 year old turned to me and said, "we are never flying Air Canada again. It's been forever and there are no snacks and no one is helping these little kids." He was right. There were restless kids all around us. Exhausted parents were doing the best they could but washroom breaks and snacks and a change of scenery (or activity) were really required.
But what my son had concluded in his mind, from our 4 flights that week, was that Air Canada didn't care about the kids on the plane. It was a keen observation. And simply all it would have taken to remedy the situation was a few aviation or island themed colouring books, or custom snack packs or a few plastic planes as gifts. It was like we were invited to the party and then treated like furniture.
My son, even at 6, is a ridiculously experienced traveller, having been to several states, including Hawaii by plane, and the Bahamas (x2). He has flown 4 different airlines. done a cruise and a cross country train trip as well. And as his mother, I had toys, granola bars and other travel necessities in my bag, but he was worried about the other kids who were struggling.
I loved the trip, the resort and the promotion. But I do agree with my son's observation. Just a little recognition or special touch would have really made the kids feel important or at least, more comfortable.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Caribbean Adventure
I think I could write 10 pages on our recent trip to the Turks and Caicos islands! It was absolutely gorgeous. The most white, and soft sand beaches. Crystal clear turquoise water. A caring, safe host environment. It was ideal. It was, the ultimate in relaxing beach vacations. BUT, and because this is real life, there is always a BUT. The tourism industry has grown so quickly they have outgrown their airport. Any "island vibe" and love for the peace and relaxation of the Turks was absolutely destroyed in the chaos and over crowding of their airport at departure. In another instalment I will fully discuss the airport issue, but not today.
I am so glad we took our kids to the Turks and Caicos. It's a wonderful island. (series of islands - but we only visited the main area of Provo) I will treasure the memories of my kids' creative stories and their imaginative interactions with the hermit crabs, fish and their resort friends. It was a great experience. And, for me, it was done on a pretty strict budget. We certainly got good value. And I have 800 pictures to prove it!
I am so glad we took our kids to the Turks and Caicos. It's a wonderful island. (series of islands - but we only visited the main area of Provo) I will treasure the memories of my kids' creative stories and their imaginative interactions with the hermit crabs, fish and their resort friends. It was a great experience. And, for me, it was done on a pretty strict budget. We certainly got good value. And I have 800 pictures to prove it!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Vegas again!
Super cheap! From Minot, ND September 10-13. Stay at any awesome resort for $300 per person, air & tax included. Here's a screenshot with the Paris Hotel. Someday I would love to stay at this resort. Rooms are a little fussy for my decor choices, however, the crepes are amazing! The Bistro is amazing and the location is absolutely perfect.
It's Allegiantair.com
It's Allegiantair.com
What's your flavour?
What kind of vacation makes your mouth water? Do you like it spicy and adventure filled? Do you like it candy floss sweet? How about a nutty and earthy camping vacation? I like them all. But to truly relax, I need a pina colada vacation.
As in... bring me 2 pina coladas; I want one for each hand. (Garth Brooks)
I love the beach. I love the sun. I love the breeze. I love turquoise ocean water. I love sea shells. I love the island pace. I love steel drum music.
I don't want to rent a condo and cook meals myself. For goodness sake, I own a restaurant and literally cook for 1000s of people every week. Why would I want to cook on vacation? Heck I could survive a week on pretzels and pina coladas if it meant I didn't have to cook. It wouldn't bother me one bit!
I definitely don't want to bike across the country and experience the dirt in my teeth and sweat on my brow.
I definitely don't want to spend more than 4 consecutive hours in a car with my family. Ever! I've done it. It's hell.
I want to stay in a hotel with amenities. I want the deluxe view. And I want to see palm trees.
Sight seeing.... frankly, I can take it or leave it. While I do love to learn about cultures and climate and industry, I don't really need to see it myself to believe it. A bed, the ocean, a lounge chair and an umbrella are all I really need to be happy on vacation. I have learnt, that in all my happy places palm trees are present. My ideal vacation requires palm trees.
Truly, that's the beauty of things. There are as many "flavours" of vacations, as there are individual tastes. If we are lucky enough to find our happy place, and through self-discovery find out what truly makes our hearts soar, then we are blessed.
As in... bring me 2 pina coladas; I want one for each hand. (Garth Brooks)
I love the beach. I love the sun. I love the breeze. I love turquoise ocean water. I love sea shells. I love the island pace. I love steel drum music.
I don't want to rent a condo and cook meals myself. For goodness sake, I own a restaurant and literally cook for 1000s of people every week. Why would I want to cook on vacation? Heck I could survive a week on pretzels and pina coladas if it meant I didn't have to cook. It wouldn't bother me one bit!
I definitely don't want to bike across the country and experience the dirt in my teeth and sweat on my brow.
I definitely don't want to spend more than 4 consecutive hours in a car with my family. Ever! I've done it. It's hell.
I want to stay in a hotel with amenities. I want the deluxe view. And I want to see palm trees.
Sight seeing.... frankly, I can take it or leave it. While I do love to learn about cultures and climate and industry, I don't really need to see it myself to believe it. A bed, the ocean, a lounge chair and an umbrella are all I really need to be happy on vacation. I have learnt, that in all my happy places palm trees are present. My ideal vacation requires palm trees.
Truly, that's the beauty of things. There are as many "flavours" of vacations, as there are individual tastes. If we are lucky enough to find our happy place, and through self-discovery find out what truly makes our hearts soar, then we are blessed.
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