Canadian Travel Hacking

Year: 2014

  • Vancouver to Europe (KLM) Under $700 return with Taxes!

    Flights to popular cities within Europe from Vancouver on Air France and KLM just dropped to less than $700 roundtrip, including taxes.

    I have paid over $1000 (for my honeymoon so this is a great deal)!

    YVR flight sale
    YVR flight sale

    Travel period varies by destination, with the lowest fares found for travel most Wednesdays in November, January and February. Roundtrip fares with taxes from Vancouver include:

    • Glasgow … $671
    • Edinburgh … $674
    • Manchester … $674
    • Birmingham … $675-$684
    • Frankfurt … $689
    • London … $690

    Note: These Air France and KLM fares, which can be found by using Fly.com’s Fare Calendars, are not part of an official sale and may disappear at any time.

    Here is the link on Fly.com.

  • Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Toronto -Trip Report

    Perhaps one of my favourable lounge experiences yet is the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto. Keep in mind business travel was not on the agenda when I spent my time waiting for my connecting flight  from Victoria, BC – Thunder Bay, ON.

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    As a solo traveller with an infant there are different criteria that parents need. Since having my baby I’m not checking out the bar as often although trip it was hard not to miss with the selection of alcohol available.  After a long flight any parent travelling solo would appreciate the Bailey’s on the rocks! Okay, it is still at the top of the list just not number 1.

    The reason this lounge ranks so high in my opinion was mainly because of the quite private space and the facilities. This makes napping especially achieved, a parents worst nightmare when travelling with young infants and toddlers. My child was able to nap and I was able to refresh, shower and enjoy my Baileys on the rocks.

    The other reasons was the selection of alcohol and food.

    I did walk around the lounge to check out why it’s an award winning lounge.  The private business facilities once again was outstanding with offering an unrivalled level of service in welcoming and comfortable environment.  Definitely not like some of the other lounges I’ve encountered with Alaska Airlines. This Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto offered a variety of amenities required for the business traveller even conference rooms.

    I sat back to enjoyed my visit while my daughter napped all afternoon and I watching television, admiring the airport views and surfed the net.

  • Why I am never going to Jamaica again.

    Never again are we going to Jamaica!

    These were the words my wife and I said to ourselves after taking a Montego Bay tour. My wife and I enjoy to travel and see new things but if you looked are our house you would rarely see any trinkets that we bought from our travels (we feel we would rather spend our money on experiences than stuff).

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    Many of the residents of Jamaica make their money from selling merchandise (usually handmade) and offering services to tourists, such as massage or hair braiding.

    While it may seem like a great way to take a little piece of your trip back with you, unfortunately many of these street vendors can get aggressive in their sales pitches.

    I have never felt more harassed to buy something from a vendor. The vendors in Montego bay (even the retailers) are so pushy! They make a used car salesman look like Gil from the Simpsons.

    I recommend never leaving the cruise ship terminal in Falmouth – the vendors sell the same things as the vendors in town do and are less pushy!

    We started at the Shoppes at Rose Hall where you will have an opportunity to purchase that special souvenir to remind you of your visit to Jamaica. The tour continues to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville by the sea, in the heart of Montego Bay’s Hip Strip where we didn’t find it too hip!

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    We stopped near this beach that looked great but it was too hot for us so we decided to check out the “fabulous Montego Bay” and were disappointed to see how dirty it was. It has tourism cops that are supposed to be helpful but a simple request to a coffee shop to cool off turns into a fight with people just to drink a coffee – I didn’t want any Bob Marley shirts or any tobacco or stuff to buy!

    We decided to stay on the shuttle bus to return to the ship for a better time than being pulled into a shop to buy junk. Another couple from Montreal were soaked for $40 buying junk according to them and also stayed on the bus.

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    So in summary, High murder rate, tourist traps, everyone with their hand out – reasons why we will never return there. So many other beautiful places in the world to visit.

  • Equifax Canada 30 Day FREE Trial – Get your Credit Score for FREE!

    Get your full credit report and credit score for free from Equifax, then cancel within 30 days (need to call in to cancel).

    Equifax Free 30-day trial.
    Equifax Free 30-day trial.

    Special introductory price good for a limited time. At the end of the 30 day introductory period, your enrollment will automatically continue at the regular rate of $14.95 per month unless you cancel your subscription.

    **The credit score provided under the offer described herein makes use of the Equifax Credit Score™, which is a proprietary credit model developed by Equifax. It may be calculated using the information in your Equifax credit file. This score is intended for your own educational use. There are numerous credit scores and models available in the marketplace and lenders are likely to use a different score when evaluating your creditworthiness.

    This deal is available here.

  • Aeroplan Members will no longer be able to convert Club Sobeys points in Western provinces.

    Sobeys is winding down its Club Sobeys Program — As of September 12, 2014, at Sobeys locations and as of September 10 at Thrifty Foods locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Aeroplan members will no longer be able to convert their Club Sobeys/Club Thrifty Foods points to Aeroplan Miles.

    I am disappointed, the ratio was nice to earn Aeroplan Miles and I am a big Thrifty’s fans (they are transferring the plan to AIR MILES).

    Any Club Sobeys or Club Thrifty Foods points that have been converted to Aeroplan Miles prior to these dates or Aeroplan Miles already deposited in the members account will not be affected.

    Members in Ontario who are currently signed up to automatically convert their Club Sobeys points to Aeroplan Miles are not affected by this change and can continue to accumulate miles as usual.

    Members can still earn a minimum of 1 Aeroplan Mile per $1 spent when shopping at Sobeys and Thrifty Foods or any grocer of their choice by simply using your Aeroplan—affiliated financial card.

  • Earn Over 4,000 Alaska Airline Miles With Newest Partner, Rocketmile​s

    Earn Over 4,000 Miles on Your First Stay with Rocketmiles and earn Alaska Miles!

    Alaska promo.
    Alaska promo.

    Better yet, you’ll earn 3,000 Bonus Miles – plus 1,000 to 5,000 miles per night – after you book your first hotel stay with Rocketmiles.

    To be eligible, the hotel reservation MUST BE BOOKED USING THIS PROMOTIONAL LINK (www.rocketmiles.com/alaskaair-3k-bonus) by 11:59PM CT on 30 September 2014 and check-out must occur by 28 February 2015.

    Strictly limited to first time customers of Rocketmiles and subject to investigation post-purchase. Limit one per customer. Limit one per stay. Promotional offer can not be applied to existing bookings or retroactively applied to bookings not made using the link above. Promotional offer cannot be combined with any other bonuses or offers.

    Rocketmiles reserves the right to retract a bonus at any time if it detects fraud, stacking of bonuses, technical errors, cancel/rebooking activity (defined by identical search criteria), or ANY other deceptive behavior attempted to circumvent the limits expressed above.

  • Victoria Clipper Trip Report – Victoria to Seattle Ferry

    There are numerous ways to get from Vancouver island to Seattle however my desirable crossings is using the Victoria Clipper. When you compare time and cost of the journey the clipper offers good value for both. The Clipper is one of the fastest catamarans. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete the journey.

    View of the Victoria Clipper
    The journey not only offers a a quick and convenient way to travel it also gives passengers a panoramic view of the island, mountains and sea with the opportunity to spot seals, whales, and sea lions.
    Another view of the Clipper
    Another view of the Clipper
    The check in is quick and easy with priority boarding for young families and anyone requiring assistance. The clipper has an easy access for wheelchairs and is stroller friendly. Bags are checked in prior to boarding. There is also secure containers foe bikes too.
    On board the Victoria clipper there is gift and duty free shopping.
    Organized and well-laid out.
    Organized and well-laid out.
    The staff is extremely friendly and drop by your both to offer assistance with food and beverage service. I enjoyed the complementary tea and coffee.
    Victoria Clipper Gift Shop
    Victoria Clipper Gift Shop
    What more can you ask for in a early crossing!
    There is child friendly change tables. It is warm with a comfortable temperature onboard. The crossing is smooth for the most part however choppy for approximately 1hr.  The staff offer passengers motion sickness pills for a more pleasurable ride.  Smoking is available outside in designate area.
    Enjoying the crossing.
    Enjoying the crossing.
    I had to leave my stroller which was inconvenient since all my bags and car seat was attached to the stroller.
    We arrived as scheduled but what I didn’t enjoy was the long wait outside to pick up the luggage. It was very cold and seem like a long wait to grab our bags. Luckily for us it was a wed night and there were very few people on the boat. We made it through customs within 30 minutes and right downtown our hotel was only a block away.
    Entry into Seattle (from Victoria, BC).
    Entry into Seattle (from Victoria, BC).

  • Earn a $50 Statement Credit from American Express Canada (Shop.ca)

    We certainly do not have any American Express Syncs like they do in the United States but at least this helps a bit! This is a great promo to stack with their existing coupon codes and promotions.

    AMEX promot
    AMEX promo

    I think some of the prices on this website are quite high but if you can find a great deal (that you can anywhere else online) and remember that you are earning Aeroplan miles you can do well. They now offer many retail cards so if you are an Aeroplan Distinction member like me on a purchase of a $200 Gap Options card (to be used at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic), you can earn 2 Aeroplan miles at Shop.ca per every dollar spent (in addition to every mile you earn on your credit card).

    1. Use a coupon code to save $15 off any purchase more than $30.
    2. Use Great Canadian Rebates to get cash-back when making your purchase (just 4% cash back right now), or Ebates (7% cash back).

    It’s easy to earn your Statement Credit:

    Register your eligible American Express Card between July 23, 2014 and September 30, 2014 at amexnetwork.ca/shopca. Purchases made during the offer period prior to registration of your eligible Card in this program are not qualifying purchases.

    Once you’ve registered, use your registered American Express Card to make a cumulative purchase of $200 or more at SHOP.CA between July 23, 2014 and September 30, 2014.

    After the offer period ends a $50 Statement Credit* will be applied to the eligible Basic Cardmember’s American Express account.

    Here are the special terms:

    To be eligible for one (1) $50 (CAD) statement credit; make a cumulative spend of $200 or more at SHOP.CA. To be eligible, the card must be registered prior to making any purchases. The purchase(s) must be charged to your registered Card during the offer period. The qualifying purchase must be completed by 11:59:59 pm EST on September 30, 2014 and subsequently posted to the account to be a qualifying purchase for this offer. Statement credit may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement and up to 8 weeks to be credited to the account, after the Cardmember has completed the qualifying purchase(s). If the statement credit is being applied to a credit card account, please note that this does not satisfy the requirements to pay the minimum due. A statement credit does not constitute a payment. The Cardmember must continue to make separate payments of at least the minimum due in accordance with the Cardmember agreement and account statement. We reserve the right to substitute an American Express Gift Card or cheque in lieu of the statement credit. American Express is responsible for fulfillment of this offer.

     

  • Hotel WiFi Test Lets You Check Hotel WiFi Speed

    Hotel WiFi Test Lets You Check Hotel WiFi Speed

    One of my must haves is free wifi when I am on the road (as a blogger and someone that is always connected).

    Many hotels offer this but sometimes it could be slower than a Starbucks in Seattle!

    The Wifi speeds are faster than my home connection!
    The Wifi speeds are faster than my home connection!

    Hotel WiFi Test is crowdsourcing its speed data by having you test the Wi-Fi in a hotel. It can pin down your location and run a speed test.

    For many travellers, WiFi speed is a vital feature of a hotel room, and is a major selling point for everyone from businessmen to backpackers. However, most hotels don’t actually care much about the WiFi quality since they can always advertise “Free WiFi”, which doesn’t make any claims about the actual quality or speed. Free is always a good price, but travelers are often disappointed by the WiFi quality they find.

    As its name suggest, Hotel WiFi test is a site that lets you find out the internet speed of hotels around the world. It relies on user generated content though: meaning users have to go to hotels and test the WiFi, simply by running the site and it will automatically pin down your location and run a speed test. After the website uses your internet location to check your approximate location, it shows you a list of hotels near you. You simply select the hotel you are in and the website will check your speed and figure the results into the rating.

    Currently, the website lists a few hundred tested site from popular locations around the world, and in Singapore, over 34 hotels have been tested for their WiFi speed at the time of this writing. Some of the hotels include Marina Bay Sands, which has the highest internet speed of all the hotels tested in Singapore, Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Shangri-La, The Fullerton and many more. Other than Singapore, 33 hotels in Bangkok have also been tested for their internet speed.

    Try it out today (when you are travelling).

  • Compliment​ary night at select Fairmont properties with American Express Platinum Card

    I am currently an American Express Platinum card owner (especially with the current sign-up bonus of 60,000 Membership reward points = $600 of free travel or 60,000 Aeroplan or Avios miles). They even give you a $200 annual travel credit.

    Free night at Fairmont properties with your AMEX card.
    Free night at Fairmont properties with your AMEX card.

    They have teamed up with Fairmont to have a nice promotion.

    Stay an extra night, based on a minimum night stay, at any of the featured Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, compliments of American Express.

    The Fairmont properties featured are also part of the FINE HOTELS & RESORTS program. As a Platinum Card member you can enjoy special program privileges7 such as:

    • Daily breakfast for two people
    • Room upgrade*
    • An additional special benefit unique to each property, such as a food & beverage credit or massage for two people**

    Whether you’re making a quick stop-over or are planning a long-overdue vacation, there is nothing quite like arriving at one of Fairmont’s luxurious Hotels & Resorts. And now, for a limited time, you can enjoy a complimentary night stay at any of these featured Fairmont properties when you book with your Platinum Card. Minimum stay requirements vary based on location – see below for details.

    COMPLIMENTARY 4th NIGHT
    The Savoy
    The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, London | United Kingdom
    Where old fashioned glamour sparkles with a new lustre.

    Enjoy a complimentary 4th night with a minimum paid 3 night consecutive stay when you book by December 26, 2014 for stays ending by December 30, 2014.1† Terms & Conditions apply.
    COMPLIMENTARY 4th NIGHT
    The Fairmont Kea Lani
    The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui | Hawaii
    Hawaii’s only all suite and villa luxury oceanfront resort.

    Enjoy a complimentary 4th night with a minimum paid 3 night consecutive stay when you book by December 17, 2014 for stays ending by December 21, 2014.2† Terms & Conditions apply.
    COMPLIMENTARY 4th NIGHT
    The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa
    The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, Sonoma | California
    Filled with natural mineral hot springs, in the heart of Wine Country.

    Enjoy a complimentary 4th night with a minimum paid 3 night consecutive stay when you book by December 25, 2014 for stays ending by December 31, 2014.3† Terms & Conditions apply.
    COMPLIMENTARY 3rd NIGHT
    The Plaza
    The Plaza, New York City | New York
    A timeless urban resort with a contemporary spirit.

    Enjoy a complimentary 3rd night with a minimum paid 2 night consecutive stay and a bonus $50 Food & Beverage credit when you book by November 16, 2014 for stays ending by November 19, 2014.4† Terms & Conditions apply.
    COMPLIMENTARY 4th NIGHT
    The Fairmont Orchid
    The Fairmont Orchid, Kohala Coast | Hawaii
    Inspired by culture, well-being and genuine Aloha.

    Enjoy a complimentary 4th night with a minimum paid 3 night consecutive stay when you book by December 16, 2014 for stays ending by December 20, 2014.5† Terms & Conditions apply.