Canadian Travel Hacking

Month: June 2015

  • Sea Life Sydney Aquarium Review

    I loved our stay in Sydney and our trip to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium was very interesting.

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    It is conveniently located in Darling Harbour just north of the Pyrmont Bridge. My wife and my 2 kids went in. A child is considered 4 – 15 years. 3s and under enter SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium free of charge (great policy).

    It was very well designed for kids as many tanks were eye level and easy for them to experience (my daughter will never forget the shark tank!

    I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. The walkways through the shark enclosure is just amazing and if I lived there I would get an annual pass.

    I think my favourite exhibit was the shark tank (I have been to many aquariums around the world) and it made up for the previous disappointing tanks. The following exhibits for the Great Barrier reef really showcased the area well and the guides were very knowledgeable.

    Tickets can cost as low as $25 (online) and remember that kids under 3 are free!

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    Cool starfish - Sydney Aquarium
    Cool starfish – Sydney Aquarium
    Daughter smiling in the Shark Tank
    Daughter smiling in the Shark Tank
    Sydney Aquarium - Perfect Eye level for kids.
    Sydney Aquarium – Perfect Eye level for kids.
    Sydney Aquarium - So much to see and do!
    Sydney Aquarium – So much to see and do!
    Sydney Aquarium - Girls loved the shark tank
    Sydney Aquarium – Girls loved the shark tank
    Sydney Aquarium - I spy a manta ray!
    Sydney Aquarium – I spy a manta ray!
    Assorted sealife
    Assorted sealife
    Nice colouring area where kids can draw a fish.
    Nice colouring area where kids can draw a fish.

  • Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbour Australia Trip Report

    Early in 2015, I took several months parental leave and enjoyed a trip with my family to Australia/New Zealand.

    We stayed for 10 nights at the Four Points by Sheraton (almost felt like we moved in) and had an amazing time.

    The location is perfect (close to Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bridge, and about 40 minute walk to the Opera House, close to City Center where you can take a bus almost anywhere).

    We had an amazing 12th floor view of the Pyrmont bridge where we saw a fireworks show (Friday nights) and had an amazing view everyday!

    Here are some highlights:

    Outside the bathroom
    A nice little area outside the bathroom to put our junk!
    Comfortable 2 double beds.
    Comfortable 2 double beds.

     

    VIew of the Room (Enhanced View)
    View of the Room
    Pyrmont Bridge from our Window
    Pyrmont Bridge from our Window
    Nice area to relax in.
    Nice area to relax in.
    Small sink and bathroom.
    Small sink and bathroom.
    Standup shower only - no bathtub.
    Standup shower only – no bathtub.

    This hotel stay was amazing  and having 2 little ones we were pleased with the service and the black-out blinds.

    We didn’t eat at the hotel but we had a small mini-bar fridge and coffee (Australian instant coffee).

    I used my Starwood SPG points and used the Nights and Flights and saved 20,000 points by staying 2 different times (I transferred the miles to my Alaska account after).

    If you are looking to save your miles for a special trip I recommend using the Starwood points here. Hotels like this usually go for at least $300 – $400 a night (we went in March and the weather was still +30 C).

  • Vancouver Only – Air New Zealand 75th anniversary with incredible one-day $475 round-trip fare sale

    Air New Zealand announced today that in celebration of its 75th anniversary, it will offer a one-day, $475* fare sale for tickets from Vancouver, Canada to Auckland, New Zealand.

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    Seventy-five (75) tickets at the incredible price of $475* including taxes, a significant savings compared to the average published fare to New Zealand, will be on sale for one day only on Wednesday, June 17. Tickets will be available at Flight Centre Canada’s Vancouver flagship store, Flight Centre Ultra Shop, at 625 Howe Street (Space 125). Doors will open at 9:00am, with pre-sale activity and entertainment taking place at 8:30am. Promotional coupons and complimentary merchandise will be available during the pre-sale event.

    “Air New Zealand has been connecting travelers for 75 years, and we are excited to celebrate our anniversary by offering these unprecedented fares,” says Air New Zealand Vice President of the Americas Chris Myers. “We’ve come a long way in 75 years, and by end of the year’s peak travel season, we’ll be operating over 40 flights from North America, including up to daily services from Vancouver to Auckland.”

    Customers can win a chance to ‘jump the queue’ at Flight Centre by entering their information on the Air New Zealand Canada Facebook tab found here. Five lucky customers will be selected to ‘jump the queue’ on June 17. Exclusive discounts for Flight Centre Canada on Air New Zealand will also be available on the day of ticket sales. Customers are encouraged to join the conversation surrounding the $475* fare sale on social media by using the hashtag, #AirNZ75.

    Flight Centre Canada, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is partnering with Air New Zealand to provide Canadian customers with a dream come true flight to New Zealand. Aaron Stubbings, Western Canada marketing manager at Flight Centre says, “Every day is a different journey in New Zealand, and we’re incredibly excited to offer customers an opportunity to experience all that the country has to offer, including world-class adrenaline sports and mind-blowing countryside to explore.”

    Tickets to be sold in Flight Centre Canada’s Vancouver Ultra Shop:

    • 25 tickets departing September 25, 2015, returning October 7, 2015
    • 25 tickets departing September 26, 2015, returning October 9, 2015
    • 25 tickets departing September 27, 2015, returning October 10, 2015

    Air New Zealand flies nonstop to Auckland from Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and starting inDecember 2015, from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Beginning Oct. 25, a fleet of completely refitted Boeing 777-200ER aircraft will exclusively operate the Vancouver–Auckland route.

    The refitted Boeing 777-200 includes Air New Zealand’s award-winning Economy Skycouch™, comfortable ink-colored luxury leather seats with leg rests in Premium Economy, as well as lie-flat beds in Business Premier. In addition to delicious Kiwi-inspired cuisine and a great selection of New Zealand wines, customers can also enjoy over 1800 hours of on-demand inflight entertainment available via personal touch screens.

    *Terms & Conditions May Apply. Customers must be present when buying at Flight Centre Canada’s Vancouver Ultra Shop. No plus ones will be available. Offer not available online or by phone.

    Issued by Air New Zealand.

    For more information contact:

    Lauren O’Gorman, Communications & Social Media Manager, The Americas,  +1-310-648-7039

    Charli Sharp, MWW, +1-213-405-3780

  • Jeopardy contestants get entire ‘Canadian Cities’ category wrong

    Jeopardy is my favourite game show – you learn a little obscure knowledge every time you watch it.

    Our friends in the US had problems with this category!

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    I wonder though how many Canadians would have got them all right (I even had problems with 1 of them at first – it is not where I live)!

    Enjoy the clip from YouTube:

  • Avion 50% conversion to BA Avios – Expires July 15, 2015

    The 50% conversion rate promotion from Royal Bank (RBC) Avion to British Airways (BA) Avios is back again and runs from now until July 15, 2015.

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    RBC Avion cardholders and clients who hold other eligible RBC Royal Bank products or services that earn RBC Rewards points†, have the option of converting their RBC Rewards points to Avios◊. As a member of the British Airways Executive Club they can spend them on a range of rewards, including flights with BA and their oneworld® partners, flight upgrades, hotel accommodation and car rental¤.

    You must be a member of the British Airways Executive Club‡ in order to convert your points.

    Here is a link to the promotion.