Vegas & Westjet

A very classy combination. Guaranteed a good time.

Check out this deal:

I don't think I've seen a better Westjet deal. And this is a fabulous hotel. No discount Imperial palace here! LOL.

I'll go. Who wants to go with me?

Never been to Miami

At this price, this looks like a good time. A quick little get away from the everyday.

I spied this one on Redtag.ca on Sunday afternoon. While I've never been to Miami, it sounds like a great hotel on the beach. What could be better for a quick break in the sun? 

Vegas baby!

I must want to travel again. Seems I'm on the hunt. Check out this super bargain. I've stayed at the Tropicana. I love it!

So that's 4 nights, air and tax included  $301.20 per person. Yeah!!

Coyotes & the Playoffs

Allegiant Air has some super cheap flights to Phoenix/Mesa right now. Like $45 plus tax (under $70 per direction tax & fees in) .  And while it's a little short notice for the bargain hunters to go NOW to see the beginning of the playoff series between Chicago & Phoenix. (Hockey for those who don't know my life revolves around hockey.) The flight there is $70 but the return flight is over $300 on the 15th.  But, if the Coyotes get deep into the playoffs, a person could perhaps go and stay on-site at the Hampton Inn (I've stayed there. Love it!) for $402.02 . Right now, Allegiant Air has a package that includes the on-site hotel, May 13-17th, for $402 per person, air, hotel & tax included.   That's a nice little bargain for the hockey fan.
But that assumes the Coyotes make it to the 3rd round. And that's indeed possible.

Or, should they not make it, you could still take advantage of the super cheap flight, stay at a resort hotel like the Westin Kierland (amazing!!) and do some golfing and shopping. Either way, a nice break and cheap.

There are plenty of Minot to PHX, or Grand Forks to PHX flights in the amazing bargain category over the next 2 months.

Favourite Trip

Without question, my favourite destination has been The Bahamas. I have an almost spiritual connection to the pace, the landscape and the turquoise water. I just feel at home. It truly is, as corny as it sounds, my happy place.

The first time we went to The Bahamas was in 2009. We went in August and split our stay between two different hotels. We stayed at The Atlantis Resort for four nights, then the Sheraton at Cable beach for another four. There were two key reasons for splitting the stay. The Atlantis is very pricey, with rooms averaging over $300 per night. As well, the Miss Universe pageant was taking place at The Atlantis Hotel and I wasn't so sure that I wanted to spend my whole vacation amongst the most gorgeous young women on the planet.

As it turns out, the beauty queens hardly bothered us. LOL.  It was though, a fast paced and exciting time at The Atlantis. The grounds are expansive and we walked a lot.  There are more than a dozen pools, incredible aquariums, exciting night life, a grand casino, amazing restaurants and exquisite shops. At every hour, of every day, there is something to do at The Atlantis Resort.

We stayed in the Coral Towers. It was an ideal location to everything we wanted to see and do. My kids loved the water park. I feel head over heels in love with the Marina and the boardwalk area. My husband enjoyed the thrill of the challenger water slides and we all loved the pools.  I just can't think of anywhere on earth that suits our varied interests better. And since it was our first time, we tried to do it all.

We went swimming with the dolphins. We took a boat ride out onto the ocean. We walked the beaches. We went to the straw market and we sought out local cuisine. But it was a little tiring. CJ, my youngest child, was a mere 4 years old at the time. He couldn't even do the waterslide through the shark tank because he was too young. And since that is a "must do" activity, we had to take him back.

The second part of our trip in 2009 was to the Sheraton at Cable beach, as mentioned earlier. Ahhhh. It was so relaxing! It too felt like home. But with a clean, modern, beach-y decor. Our room was at the far end of the hotel, but hardly half the walk of The Atlantis.  There at the Sheraton, we enjoyed the 2 pools and the oceanside. The beach was gorgeous and hardly crowded at all.  While there was only 2 restaurants and a snack bar, we found they more than met our needs.

We won't forget the hospitality shown to the kids at the fine dining restaurant at the Sheraton. It was of Italian cuisine and had remarkable food. Our waiter, Charles, made a lasting impression. He introduced me to Nassau Royale Rum, and served the best chocolate cake that I have ever had in my life. I swear our second trip to The Bahamas was so that I could have that cake again, and pick up a couple more bottles of rum!

The Sheraton took the speed of our trip down from a 10, to the pace of a 3. That, was amazing. We felt rested and safe and re-charged. By the time we left for home, I feel that everyone in the family was completely satisfied and indeed had their personal perfect vacation.

Our second trip, we stayed exclusively at The Sheraton. Our third trip back, we stayed exclusively at The Atlantis. But would we do a split stay again? Yes. Would I go back there tomorrow if I could? Yes!

I really can't wait to go back to The Bahamas. I love to travel and I like to try new destinations, but I really can't think of anywhere I'd rather be, than The Bahamas.

Quickie travel update

Allegiant Air (from Minot & Grand Forks) have a few bargains on the website right now. Should anyone wish to go GF to Orlando, there are some $50 flights (one way. With taxes $71) available in May. Also, looks like similar bargains to last year available to Phoenix/Mesa the first two weeks of September 2012 - if you are able to book early and commit now.

Vegas looks like it's running about $350-400 per person, round trip for 4 nights most of the spring and early summer. No bargains jumping out at me in that regard, but always a fair price.

Also note that just this week, Allegiant opened up their booking window to Nov 13, 2012. So, if you're so inclined, you could grab a decent price on September or October long weekend travel, before demand drives up the price.

My kind of restaurant

I have always said that my restaurant was a neighbourhood kind of place. I liken it to Happy Days, or Cheers, or the coffee shop from Friends. It's a warm friendly place, where we genuinely do care about our customers, our community and our City.  We may not know the names of everyone, but more often than not, we know what our customers like to eat and how they like it prepared. We have connections;  meaningful connections to many of our guests.

No such connection more evident than the other day when we had a regular customer, a senior woman, remark that her husband had passed away. Indeed, less than 48 hours earlier. Without hesitation, the cashier came out from behind the counter to give the dear lady a hug. While our guest sat alone for the first time at the restaurant, we treated her with extra care and affection. That was just automatic.

At closing time, the cashier remarked to me that we should probably pass along the news to a previous employee who would also recognize the couple and appreciate hearing the news. I did, and it was appreciated.

My point is, there is no handbook, no training session or lesson that you could impart on staff that could get them to care (in this way) if it wasn't genuine. It's just not part of the job.

BUT, it is the part of who we are and how we value and respect others at my restaurant.  A sad loss, but a brilliant and warm lesson that makes me so proud of the people I work with and the kind of restaurant we have made together.