Canadian Travel Hacking

Category: General

  • How to work on a flight without WIFI

    WIFI on a flight is great – you can do a tweet or share your favourite Facebook photo or even tweet a photo of your meal.

    However, if the airline you are flying with does not have WIFI or if it is too expensive but still need to work, I have some ideas:

    1. Offline Gmail

    This is a free Chrome Plugin. It syncs with your Gmail inbox, and you will be able to get your messages.

    Google Offline Plugin

    2. Power on the plane.

    I find it frustrating when the flight I am on down not have outlets (more are coming). This is why I love to fly Air Canada on their newer planes (not Jazz planes).

    The iCarrier with 5V@2A/ 1A outputs is capable of charging a tablet (2A) and Smartphone (1A) at the same time.

    If you have a notebook, look at the products from Hypershop.

     3. Use Pocket App for offline reading

    Put articles, videos or pretty much anything into Pocket. Save directly from your browser or from apps like Twitter, Flipboard, Pulse and Zite. If it’s in Pocket, it’s on your phone, tablet or computer. You don’t even need an Internet connection.

    pocket-app
    Pocket App for offline reading on the plane.

     

    What other apps or devices do you use for travel that help you work?

  • 10 reasons why you should never stay at a hostel

    I had a great experience for my first ever hostel stay at the Painted Turtle Guesthouse in Nanaimo, BC this past weekend, but there were still ten things I hated about staying at a hostel.

    Painted Turtle Guesthouse Nanaimo Dorm Room
    Painted Turtle Guesthouse Nanaimo Dorm Room

    I have a followup post on ten reasons you should stay at a hostel (to show both sides).

    I stayed in a room with three other males in bunk beds and it was clean and comfortable for the price I paid ($26 / night). It was just me travelling (rest of family in Chicago).

    1. No upgrades or private lounge.

    Being a Hilton Gold and IHG Platinum member I have had access to some incredible lounges.

    2. Constant noise from bunkmates.

    I love to have peace and quiet, and I absolutely cannot fall asleep unless my room is absolutely quiet. My two night stay was marred by street noise, window opening, smartphones buzzing, and noise in our hostel room.

    3. Having too many names to remember.

    I had three roommates my first night and two new roommates the second night. It was challenging to keep remembering new names.

    4. Interesting Strange characters.

    I met one guy that was from Switzerland and was staying ten days in Nanaimo and three months on Quadra Island! Who stays ten days in Nanaimo? 

    5. No privacy.

    If you love privacy, don’t bother staying at a hostel (the only privacy you will have is in the bathroom). You won’t be able to close a door and shut yourself away. However, many youth hostels now offer four-person, two-person and even single rooms; they cost more per person than dorm bed space. I find many of these single rooms to be on-par price wise with a hotel.

    6. No pool or spa.

    I love to take a dip in the pool or hot tub when I travel after walking a lot during the day.

    7. Charged for small items.

    You’ll also need to bring soap, shampoo, and even face cloths as these are not available. The front desk had a sign of all the small things that they sold to guests.

    8. Security

    I had my laptop with me so when I went to Tofino for my day trip I took my laptop (which was OK but I didn’t feel comfortable leaving it there and the in-room safe was for smaller objects.

    9. Wake up calls.

    I love to have a good wake up call when I stay at a hotel. It gives me a comfortable feeling when I have a flight or an appointment scheduled the next day. This amenity was not available during my stay.

    10. Unexpected wake up calls.

    One of my roommates had to get up and pack their bag at 5am (unexpected wake up alarm).

    If you are not comfortable around strangers, a hostel is probably not the best place to stay. Most people I found were travellers that were very friendly and looking to stretch their travel dollars.

    What are your thoughts on staying at a hostel?

  • Air Canada Baggage Fee Hacks

    Checked baggage is getting to be so expensive when you fly that it is good to know the policies and prices before you get your ticket. It can make the difference if you fly with Air Canada vs Westjet or another carrier.

    Here are five ways to help save money on baggage with Air Canada:

    1. Calculate Air Canada baggage fees before flight

    As of July 24, 2013, when you travel on an Air Canada or Air Canada rouge flight or on an Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz, Sky Regional, Air Georgian or Exploits Valley Air, your complimentary baggage allowance is determined by your fare, destination, date of travel and frequent flyer status.

    They have a free tool where you enter your itinerary, elite status, and class of flight (economy, business, first class) and it tells you how much luggage you can bring and what the costs are for additional bags.

    Checked baggage allowance calculator for Air Canada
    Checked baggage allowance calculator for Air Canada

    2. Check your elite status.

    If you’re a frequent flyer within the Star Alliance check your status. If you are Star Alliance Gold, Air Canada will waive the fee for up to three checked bags starting at Gold.

    3.  Learn to properly pack.

    Martha Stewart shares how to properly pack a suitcase.

    Martha shares some great tips including techniques on hanging, layering, and overlapping. She explains that to avoid leaks caused by pressure changes during air travel, fill travel-size plastic bottles partway, squeeze out excess air, and cap them, creating a vacuum.

    I always stuff my shoes with socks or anything else that will fit. If clothes wrinkle, I just hang them during a hot shower.

    I like to use plenty of Ziploc bags to pack items (good idea for packing underwear all together, socks all together).

    4. Carry-on everything

    The easiest way to avoid baggage fees is to not to check any bags.

    Air Canada has decent carry on policy:

    Here are examples of items you can bring on board in addition to your carry-on allowance:

    • Coat or other outer garment,
    • Small purse measuring no more than 25cm x 30cm x 14cm (10in x 12in x 5.5 in). Larger purses will be included in your carry-on allowance.
    • Infant care item (e.g. diaper bag),
    • Stroller – collapsed diameter not to exceed 25.5 cm (10 in) and length not to exceed 92 cm (36 in),
    • Child restraint device if a seat has been purchased for the child/infant,
    • Special needs items (see ‘Special Items’ section below),
    • Small electronic device such as cell phone or MP3 player.
    • Snacks or food to eat on board:
      • All food must be wrapped or in a container.
      • You may not consume your own alcoholic beverages on board.
      • Always purchase liquids after you’ve passed the security checkpoint.
      • See guidelines for liquids.

    Air Canada does have a weight and size limits on carry-on items.

    [styled_box title=”Standard article” color=”black”]Maximum size:
    23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm
    (9 in x 15.5 in x 21.5 in)
    Wheels and handles included.
    Maximum weight:
    10 kg (22 lb)[/styled_box]

     

    [styled_box title=”Personal article” color=”red”]Maximum size:
    16 cm x 33 cm x 43 cm
    (6 in x 13 in x 17 in)
    Maximum weight:
    10 kg (22 lb)[/styled_box]

     

    5. Send your luggage with Greyhound

    Shipping luggage on a Greyhound bus is a great way to transport luggage where you will be traveling to later and do not want to have to worry about carrying your own luggage. You will need to ship the luggage in advance so that it arrives at least one day before you are set to arrive.

    I have personally used Greyhound to send luggage from Ontario to BC when we were travelling on parental leave last year. The cost for a very large suitcase was around $40. It worked out well as this was for our summer clothes that we used on our trip to Florida (that we did not need in Europe).

    What are some tips you have to avoid paying high baggage fees on Air Canada flights?

  • No Credit Card Surcharges for Canadians!

    I earn many frequent flyer miles with my everyday spending when I use my credit cards (see resources for the credit cards I use).

    No Credit Card surcharges in Canada.
    No Credit Card surcharges in Canada.

    A major decision was made today as Canada’s Competition Tribunal has dismissed a major case against Visa Canada Corp. and MasterCard International Inc. that argued the credit card companies impose undue fees on merchants.

    Merchants basically want to pass the fees to consumers and as a consumer that pays for everything with his credit card this is a good thing!

    The Canadian Bankers Association weighed in Tuesday, arguing that this decision was in the best interest of consumers. “This decision means that Canadians can continue to choose how to use their credit cards and to enjoy the benefits of credit card use that they have come to value,” president Terry Campbell said in a statement.

    [quote]Has anyone that paid cash for anything really received a discount? [/quote]

  • 5 New Places To See On Google Street View

    I love Google Street View! This is a must have tool for travellers as it lets you get better aware with the area or city you are travelling to.

    Google Street View Harry Potter studio
    Google Street View Harry Potter studio

    They have recently added places that let you preview your bucket list and plan your trip more!

    1. Burj Khalifa “At The Top” Observation Deck (124th Floor), Burj Khalifa, Dubai

    Described as a ‘Vertical City’ and world’s first truly mixed utility tower, Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest man made structure standing at 828m in height and is the centrepiece to the 490-acre development known as Downtown Dubai.

    Source

    2. Shackleton’s Hut, Cape Royds on Ross Island, South Pole

    The hut served as the base of operations for the British 1907-1909 Nimrod Expedition, an early attempt in the race to the geographic South Pole led by a young Ernest Shackleton

    Source

    3. Diagon Alley, the real-life Harry Potter set at Warner Bros. Studio in London

    Source

    4. Kala Patthar, a stop along the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek.

    While on the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal you can stand face to face with Mount Everest, the “Goddess Mother of the Earth”, from the easily reached high-point of 18,192-foot Kala Pattar. Trekkers climb this peak before dawn to catch a glimpse of Everest at sunrise.

    Source

    5. Singapore

    To get a taste of modern city life in Singapore, simply search forMarina Bay Waterfront Promenade and Fullerton Heritage Promenade and use Street View to explore the city’s popular bay front and bay skyline. If you’re planning to travel with family or are simply an animal lover at heart, you can also now go on a virtual adventure to the Singapore Zoo.

    Source

    What place do you wish that they had on Google Street view?

     

  • How Canadians can travel to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

    I am a big football soccer fan.

    Fifa World Cup 2014 for Canadians
    Fifa World Cup 2014 for Canadians

    The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil starts next year Thursday, June 12 in Sao Paulo and ends on Sunday, July 13 at the  Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Here is a link to the complete match schedule.

    I wanted to share some ways to travel to Brazil for Canadians and how they can get to Brazil on points using Aeroplan and Air Miles. I recommend booking ASAP because flights are going to be difficult to find during this popular event.

    How to get to Brazil World Cup with Aeroplan

    According to the Aeroplan rewards chart, Brazil is classified as Southern South America. An economy return ticket will cost 60,000 Aeroplan miles from anywhere in Canada.

    I could not find availability from Victoria for this redemption but I recommend calling the Aeroplan contact center to get in touch with an agent that can create an itinerary and find potential options.

    How to get to Brazil World Cup with Air Miles

    Air Miles considers this season to be high-season so it would cost 11,025 Air Miles and 8,269 Air Miles if you were a Gold member.

    Tickets will go on sale on FIFA.com on August 20, 2013.

    Brazil Visa Requirements for Canadians

    To find out more about the Visa requirements, visit the Consulate General in Vancouver website fee schedule. Be prepared to spend another $100 (at least).

    Have any of you gone to a World Cup?

  • How to skip the lines at Disney World

    I have never been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World or even Euro Disney but everyone hates lines!

    How to skip the lines at DisneyWorld and Walt Disney Land.
    How to skip the lines at DisneyWorld and Walt Disney Land.

    Fastpass

    Both parks, Walt Disney World and Disneyland, you can acquire a Fastpass.

    Disney FASTPASS Service is a complimentary benefit to all park Guests that allows you to enjoy the rest of the Disneyland Resort while your place in line is saved.

    Here are a list of the rides covered at the two main parks in Disneyland:

    Disneyland Park

    Disney California Adventure Park

    VIP Tour

    Starting at $175 an hour, with a six hour minimum, you can hire a Disney Guest Relations host to escort you and your family or group around the park (this does not include admission costs).

    The VIP host essentially serves as an unlimited FastPass for your entire group. The VIP host can escort you into any FastPass line at any time, regardless of when the posted return time is or if the ride’s FastPasses are all distributed for the day.

    When I heard about this unethical trick to get to skip the line at Disneyland I was floored.

    [styled_box title=”Disclosure” color=”red”]I do not condone this and consider this unethical.[/styled_box]

    Disabled Tour Guide

    Did you hear about this interesting story last month about guests hiring physically disabled tour guides so they can skip lines at Disney World.

    [quote]The Disney corporate policy allows each guest who needs a wheelchair or motorized scooter to bring up to six guests to a more convenient entrance. [/quote]

    I was so shocked when I read this story (I hate hearing stories where people take advantage of a disability).

    Would you ever use any of these services?

  • Porter Airline – Baggage delivery guarantee – Pros and Cons

    Porter Airlines is introducing a checked baggage delivery guarantee. All checked bags will reach the baggage claim within 30 minutes of aircraft arriving at the gate of any airport, or a $25 voucher valid for future Porter travel within six months will be provided.

    porter-airlines

    In the event of a delay beyond 30 minutes, a passenger simply needs to file a report with an on-site Porter agent at the baggage claim within one hour of flight arrival to be credited with an electronic voucher on their file. One voucher is issued per qualified passenger for one or more checked bag. The offer does not apply to oversize or special handling items, such as golf clubs, skis or assistive devices.

    All changes take effect for travel beginning August 1, 2013, for flights booked as of today. Pre-existing rules apply for flights booked before today or for travel occurring before Aug. 1.

    Pros: 

    • If bag does not reach the baggage claim within 30 minutes of aircraft arriving at the gate of any airport a $25 voucher valid for future Porter travel within six months will be provided.
    • Checked bag weight allowances are increasing to 23 kg (50 lb.) and 158 linear centimetres (length + width + height) per bag. Previously, the weight allowance was a combined total of 23 kg (50 lb.) for all checked bags.

    Cons:

    • Something to watch out for if flying to the US on Porter. (additional cost to budget when comparing airlines)

    [quote]I don’t like the name, updated fees, from the press release – isn’t this just a new charge?[/quote]

  • Review of Aeroplan June 2013 Program Changes

    Aeroplan made some major changes this morning (all for the better in my opinion).

    aeroplan

    Redeem For One-Way Trips At 50% Of The Miles Needed For Roundtrip Flight Rewards.

    Today, one-way ClassicFlight Rewards require 67% of the miles needed for a roundtrip flight reward. As of January 1, 2014, a one-way trip will require exactly half the amount of miles you need to redeem for a roundtrip ClassicFlight Reward.

    Cancellation of the seven-year mileage redemption policy

    Aeroplan announced the cancellation of their Seven-year mileage redemption policy. Under this policy, miles unredeemed seven years following their accumulation date would have been removed from your account. Now miles will not begin expiring on January 1, 2014, as originally announced. Your miles will not expire as long as you stay active in Aeroplan. Now, you can keep accumulating miles knowing that they will be there when you need them.

    The miles in your account will not expire as long as you have one accumulation or redemption activity every 12 months.

    New market fare flight rewards

    As of January 1, 2014, their ClassicPlus Flight Rewards will be replaced by Market Fare Flight Rewards, which will require up to 20% fewer miles than current ClassicPlus Flight Rewards. Distinction members will enjoy up to an additional 35% off. Market Fare Flight Rewards offer you greater availability on flights operated by Air Canada and under the Air Canada Express banner at variable mileage levels, which are derived from market fares at the time of booking and the conversion of these fares into mileage levels. Mileage levels are influenced by factors that fluctuate including destination, time of booking, time of travel, demand, and conversion of fares into miles.

    As of January 1, 2014, enjoy limited-time surprise deals on certain flights, offering you even lower mileage levels than ClassicFlight Rewards.

    Award Chart Update (more mileage).

    As part of the overall changes to the Aeroplan Program, the following ClassicFlight Business and First Class mileage levels will be increasing as of January 1, 2014.

    FROM/TO FROM/TO CURRENT REQUIRED MILES
    Business/First Class    		 REQUIRED MILES AS OF JANUARY 1, 2014
    Business/First Class
    Canada/
    Continental US    		 Asia 1 125,000/175,000 150,000/210,000
    Canada/
    Continental US    		 Asia 2 130,000/180,000 155,000/215,000
    Canada/
    Continental US    		 Middle East/
    North Africa    		 135,000/190,000 165,000/230,000
    Canada/
    Continental US    		 Australia/
    New Zealand/
    South Pacific    		 135,000/185,000 160,000/220,000

    Click here to read more on Aeroplan changes.

  • Free Virgin Atlantic Silver Status

    I love having status – you get treated way better (trust me).

    banner_silver_otsideUK_tcm5-805383

    Some of the benefits over the base Red include:

    • You’ll earn 50% extra base flown miles on every flight you take with them.
    • You’ll have full use of their Premium Economy Check In area, whatever class you’re traveling in.
    • If the flight you’d like to book is already full,they will bump you up the queue.

    Thanks to View from the Wing for the head’s up.