Canadian Travel Hacking

Category: General

  • Introduction to Slow Travel

    If you are reading this article you’re probably new to the term “Slow Travel” and wondering what is slow travel? It is new to me too, though I would consider myself a well traveled individual. Inspired by Lottoland’s article on slow travel, we’re all learning along the way. 


    What is Slow Travel?

    Slow travel is exactly what it says, traveling slowly with a deeper connection to our destination and the people we meet along the way.  It’s best put as defining moments of travel that transform our lives and forge new paths to reinvent ourselves and relaxation.

    Going on vacation has turned into a bucket list of activities and sites to explore leaving us in a state of needing a vacation from going on vacation. Families are now coming back after what was meant to be a break, more exhausted than when they left. Slow travel leaves room for some rest and relaxation. 

    To some people, slow travel might look like experiencing the local dining spots in a centralized region or in my case by foot or bicycle. 

    My Experience of Slow Travel

    Back in my early 20’s while studying abroad, I took a trip out to the Isle Of Wight, a small island off the south coast of England. It was an intended getaway from finishing the heavy workload and a much needed new, fresh approach to what was becoming the norm. I took my bike on the train from Waterloo station in London to Portsmouth. I then jumped on the Wightlink Ferry and started pedaling. I popped into the local brewery for a cold beer on a hot day and I was fortunate enough to be invited into a private party celebrating one of the owners birthdays. It was there that I found my summer gig. I ended up spending the rest of my summer exploring the island by bike and working at the brewery pouring pints of beer for the locals as well as the tourists. The six weeks that followed exploring the small island lead to memorable days, a committed love to island living and long life friends all over the world. 

    Slow travel brings many forms of great enriched experiences from personal growth, culturally and long term friendships. It is my preferred way of travel even now as a parent of three little kids, it’s still my preferred way to travel. The experiences for both myself and my family provide much more than a trip to Disneyland. I want to enhance and teach my kids about the location we visit through slow travel.

    There is a huge difference when traveling slowly with the connection to your destination versus hopping on a plane to your favorite resort in the Caribbeen.  To me after the slow traveled vacation there will be no need to feel like another one is necessary. You’ll feel that relaxation at a different level.

  • 15x Air Miles on all Stores via Air miles shops – (Apr 25-30, 2019)

    LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Between 00:00:01 a.m. ET on March 21 and 23:59:59 p.m. ET on April 25, 2019, get 50 AIR MILES® Bonus Miles when you make an eligible purchase of $100 or more, excluding shipping, duties and taxes, in a single transaction, through airmilesshops.ca at participating online stores. One Bonus Offer per Collector Account. Collectors must sign in at airmilesshops.ca before purchasing in order to get Reward Miles and qualify for this offer. Offer can be combined with other Bonus Miles offers.

    This offer does not apply to purchases or sign-ups made at the following online stores: eHarmony, Wealthsimple, Weightwatchers, and any travel online stores (including, but not limited to, travel bookings, car rentals, and hotel stays). This offer is valid on the purchase of gift cards only at online retailers who regularly offer Reward Miles on gift card purchases. See airmilesshops.ca for details. All online stores are subject to change and may be withdrawn at any time.

    Please allow up to 75 days after the Bonus Offer end date for Bonus Miles to be posted to Collector Account.

    LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Get 15x AIR MILES® Reward Miles on qualifying purchases made from 00:00:01 a.m. ET on April 25 to 23:59:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 2019. Offer applies to the total Base Miles collected on qualifying purchase amount excluding shipping, duty and taxes. Base Offer may vary per store. Click on store logo at airmilesshops.ca for details. Collectors must sign in at airmilesshops.ca before purchasing in order to collect Reward Miles. Offer can be combined with other Bonus Miles offers. Offer is valid on the purchase of gift cards only at online stores that regularly offer Miles on gift card purchases. See airmilesshops.ca for details. For travel online stores (including travel bookings, car rentals, and hotels), travel must be booked by April 30, 2019 and completed by August 31, 2019. This offer does not apply to purchases or sign-ups made at the following online stores: eHarmony, Wealthsimple, Weightwatchers. Bonus Miles will be posted to your Collector Account within 75 days after the promotional period. ®™ Trademarks of AM Royalties Limited Partnership used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. Partner trademarks are owned by the respective Partner or authorized for their use in Canada. *airmilesshops.ca Base Offer: Get 1 AIR MILES® Reward Mile for every $20 CDN that you spend per transaction per online store excluding shipping, handling, duties and taxes. Base offer may vary, click “Store Info” on online store logo on airmilesshops.ca for offer details. All online stores are subject to change and may be withdrawn without notice at any time. Collector must sign in at airmilesshops.ca before purchasing in order to get Reward Miles. Reward Miles will be posted to your Collector Account within 60 days. **airmilesshops.ca Multiplier Offers: LIMITED TIME OFFERS. AIR MILES® Reward Miles multiplier offers apply to the total base Reward Miles earned on qualifying purchase amount excluding shipping, handling, duties and taxes. Online store offers are subject to change without notice. See specific online store on airmilesshops.ca for offer details and any restrictions. Bonus Reward Miles will be posted to your Collector Account within 75 days. Prices are not always in Canadian Dollars. Please refer to each individual online store’s page on airmilesshops.ca to determine what currency is being displayed. While we make every effort to assure the accuracy of product information, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. Product information including price, availability, sales tax, and estimated shipping costs are provided by the affiliated online stores. LoyaltyOne, Co. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or timeliness of information provided by the affiliated online stores. Please check the individual online store websites to confirm the accuracy of the information provided. ****Earn twice when you use your BMO AIR MILES Mastercard to make qualifying purchases online through airmilesshops.ca [and enter your AIR MILES Number]. The amount of Miles you get depends on the earn rate offered by the AIR MILES Partner and the earn rate offered on your BMO AIR MILES credit card. ®™ Trademarks of AM Royalties Limited Partnership used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. Partner trademarks are owned by the respective Partner or authorized for their use in Canada.

  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Offer – 30000 Aeroplan Miles + FYF (Ends June 2, 2019)

    Apply online by June 2, 2019 to get a full Annual Fee Rebate for the Primary Cardholder for the first year and up to 30,000 Aeroplan Miles (that’s equivalent to 2 short- haul roundtrip flight rewards) as follows:

    • Welcome Bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan Miles when you make your first Purchase with your Card. 
    • 15,000 Aeroplan Miles when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of Account opening. 
    Aeroplan Offer

    This card comes with some great Air Canada benefits when redeeming Aeroplan miles.

    With the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, Air Canada benefits (the complimentary first checked bag, priority check-in and priority boarding) apply whenever the Primary Cardholder travels using an Aeroplan flight reward, only, on a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge or under the Air Canada express banner. Flights operated by other airlines are not eligible. To access these benefits, the Primary Cardholder must redeem their Aeroplan flight reward (defined as Fixed Mileage Flight RewardsTM or Market Fare Flight RewardsTM) with miles from their Aeroplan account. To access these benefits, the Primary Cardholder must also ensure that the name on the Air Canada flight booking is identical to the name on the Aeroplan account profile of the traveler. Where zonal boarding is available, the priority boarding status will be recognized by a Zone 2 descriptor for the Primary Cardholder and companions travelling on the same reservation checking-in at the same time, which will be displayed on the Air Canada issued boarding pass. Priority check-in may also be extended to companions travelling on the same reservation checking-in at the same time as the Primary Cardholder. To access priority check-in and priority boarding, the Primary Cardholder may be required to show their TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to the Air Canada agent. Please allow two weeks from receiving your Card for these Air Canada benefits to be activated. The complimentary first checked bag, up to 23kg (50 lb), applies whenever the Primary Cardholder travels using an Aeroplan flight reward, only, on a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada express banner. Flights operated by other airlines are not eligible. To access this benefit, the Primary Cardholder must redeem their Aeroplan flight reward (defined as Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards or Market Fare Flight Rewards) with miles from their Aeroplan account. To access this benefit, the Primary Cardholder must also ensure that the name on the Air Canada flight booking is identical to the name on the Aeroplan account profile of the traveler. The complimentary first checked bag applies solely to the Primary Cardholder, and service charges for additional/oversized/overweight baggage may apply.

    The earn rate for the card is great for everyday spending as well.

    Earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, drugstore and aircanada.com purchases (excluding Air Canada Vacation packages) made with the Card (capped annually on the first $80,000 across these categories)
    • Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases made with the Card

  • Dissecting How to Have the Most Awe-Inspiring Canadian Road Trip

    Deep wilderness and stunning views are just two of the many reasons why Canada has made the list of the top 20 places to visit in 2019. Rugged and delightfully awe-inspiring, Canada is the perfect backdrop for any travel lover looking to go on a road trip. With more than enough to see and do and plenty of wide open roads to drive down, the hardest part about a Canadian road trip is figuring out where to go and what to do.

    Photo by James Wheeler from Pexels
    Photo by James Wheeler from Pexels

    What to Know About Road Tripping in Canada

    Before deciding on a route, it’s important to understand the basics of driving in Canada in order to make your trip the easiest and most relaxing possible. To rent a car in Canada, you’ll need a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record and you must be at least 21 years of age. If you’re planning on a really long trip, making comparisons of vehicles to buy might be a more budget-friendly option in the long-run. While there is generally a variety of accommodation in each stop you’ll visit during your Canadian road trip, it can be a good idea to think about hiring an RV for your trip as it can offer up an opportunity to really get the full natural experience. However, for insurance and driving safety purposes it might be easier to opt for a 4×4 or SUV.

    The Cross-Canada Road Trip

    If you’re looking to get the most bang for your road trip buck, you’ll want to plan a trip from Montreal to Vancouver. Driving from Quebec all the way west to British Columbia will have you traversing 4,600 kilometers of varied landscapes. From the history infused French culture of Montreal you’ll be able to move on to Toronto and other stunning sights throughout Ontario. Then, you can head over to Winnipeg and then on to the heart of the Canadian Prairies. Plan a stop in Calgary next, or opt for the more scenic, Instagram-popular Banff. Prepare your cameras for the next leg of the trip as the drive between Calgary and Kelowna is awe-inspiring and will have you exploring the lesser known Okanagan Wine Region. Then, end it all in Vancouver with either relaxing vacation activities or heart-racing outdoor adventures like jogging along the seawall or climbing Grouse Grind.

    Stargazing and Dramatic Coastal Scenery

    If your plan is to really immerse yourself in the abundant nature that Canada has to offer, you might want to plan a trip along the Icefields Parkway in Alberta. Full of waterfalls, jagged mountains and glaciers, this route is great for a three to four day road trip and will take you between Banff and Jasper by way of the Rocky Mountains. You’ll get to experience both Jasper National Park and Banff National Park where you’ll be able to witness some of the most stunning stargazing opportunities in the world and learn about Canadian geology during one of many guided hikes offered in the Saskatchewan glaciers. If you’re looking for a longer road trip route, try the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, which will take about five days and lead you along the North Atlantic. Hiking trails, moose, and lots of viewpoints welcome you here and make for a great low-energy yet still active trip option.

    Exploring the Wonders of Canada

    Laid-back charm and an abundance of natural wonders await you in every corner of Canada. Planning a road trip is a great way to experience a variety of different locations all around the country while having the freedom to explore where and what you want as you go. Renting or purchasing the right car will help ensure you have a great experience, while remembering to enjoy and take a lot of photos will really make for a memorable trip.

  • Aeroplan Transforming to Become the Best Travel Loyalty Program in Canada

    Aimia today unveiled further details of the future Aeroplan program, focused on three pillars: offering increased flexibility, delivering leading value and improving the member experience.

    Recently-appointed Aimia Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Rabe, commented on the future of the program: “The value Aeroplan already delivers to members is unmatched in the Canadian travel loyalty rewards industry. In transforming Aeroplan to be the best travel loyalty program in Canada, we will maintain our differentiation on exceptional value and deliver a more flexible and enhanced experience for our engaged base of five million members. Given our strong assets and unparalleled purchasing power, Aeroplan has an incredible opportunity ahead to capitalize on the growing travel market.”

    Increased Flexibility

    Canadians love to travel and are travelling more often. Seventy-two per cent of Aeroplan Members surveyed reported that expanding redemptions to any airline would be a “big improvement” to the program1. Aeroplan’s offering will respond to Canadians’ demand to travel more often with more airlines by expanding the broad reach of destinations currently offered through Aeroplan beginning July 2020.

    “We are strengthening our air offering and beginning July 2020, Aeroplan Members will be able to choose any seat on any airline*, anywhere at any time, bringing them closer to their travel ambitions, whether that be a sunny getaway, spending time with friends abroad or exploring the world,” said Rabe.

    Aeroplan is also introducing greater flexibility through the introduction of a unique points transfer program with Kaligo Solutions in July 2020. This strategic partnership will allow members to convert their Aeroplan Miles into close to twenty airline frequent flyer programs covering all major airline alliances, along with numerous hotel loyalty programs. As a result, members will be able to select economy, business and first class reward seats on a wider selection of global airlines and also access thousands of premium hotel rooms across the world.

    While flight rewards will continue to be a core differentiator for Aeroplan, the program will expand its redemption options for a wide variety of other travel, leisure and entertainment experiences including concerts, spas, private jets and more.

    Great Value

    Members have long benefited from the great value Aeroplan offers and the average member has been with the program for ten years. In 2017, members redeemed for two million flight rewards, with close to 80 per cent of rewards redeemed booked to North American destinations.

    “Our members have told us that the value of their Aeroplan Miles is critical to them,” said Rabe. “That’s why come July 2020, we’re committed to continuing to offer our members great value on flight rewards.”

    The following round-trip flights will be offered beginning at the following Aeroplan Miles:
    • North American short-haul: 15,000
    • North American long-haul: 25,000
    • Mexico and Caribbean: 40,000
    • Europe: 60,000
    • Asia: 75,000

    “These mileage levels are the same that we provide our members today. Together, these destinations represent close to 95 per cent of flight redemptions through the Aeroplan program.”

    With robust member travel history data and lengthy booking windows and with members typically booking well ahead of their planned travel, Aeroplan can predict members’ travel intentions and procure attractive flight options in advance to meet the demand.

    Leveraging its significant volume, Aeroplan plans to use bulk and block purchasing, stand-alone charters on key routes and preferred airline partner relationships to allow it to secure discounts of between 5% and 40%, keeping costs low and providing exceptional value per mile redeemed and attractive itineraries come July 2020. With the ability to purchase seats on any airline*, Aeroplan will also have the potential to purchase the cheapest available fares and offer market fare flight rewards to the same destinations for fewer miles.

    Value is also created by earning miles faster, allowing members to reach a reward sooner. Aeroplan is committed to strengthening miles’ accumulation options, evidenced by the recent renewal of partnerships like Home Hardware and new opportunities to earn under recently announced arrangements like Amazon.ca.

    Improved Member Experience

    Aeroplan will build on its strengths as one of the most recognized travel loyalty brands in Canada to become even more top of mind when members plan travel.

    Starting this September, Aeroplan will introduce a new online travel booking tool. In addition to redeeming their Aeroplan Miles for flights and cars, members will be able to rent a car or book a stay at one of 250,000 hotels world-wide using cash. With each reservation paid for in cash, members will earn Aeroplan Miles. The ability to obtain flights using cash or miles redemption will follow, evolving Aeroplan into a broader online travel booking service.

    Alongside these updates, a mobile-first approach and the introduction of further digital tools, enhanced by artificial intelligence, will evolve the member’s user experience to be best-in-class.

    “In the near future, we will enable our members to earn or redeem miles for every part of their travel journey,” adds Rabe. “With our ability to better understand our members through our industry-leading analytics capabilities and use of AI, we will revolutionize our engagement with members, giving Aeroplan a significant advantage in the travel rewards landscape.”

  • Daily Cap for in-store AIR MILES® Cash redemption adjusted to $100

    the AIR MILES Reward Program is announcing it is adjusting the daily cap for in-store AIR MILES Cash redemptions to $100 (950 Cash Miles), effective immediately. The cap for in-store redemptions at Shell is $60 (570 Cash Miles) per transaction. Gift cards and near-cash products will continue to be excluded.

    AIR MILES is also announcing several enhancements in their digital capabilities and dedicated fraud detection processes, including:

    • The AIR MILES App has been updated with a mandatory PIN at sign-in and the ability to lock and unlock AIR MILES Cash balances directly from the App.
    • The Program has made enhancements to www.airmiles.ca including the requirement for PIN as well as entering a captcha code to view Account balance.
    • AIR MILES continues to have comprehensive fraud monitoring processes and procedures within their dedicated Anti-Fraud team.

    “We’re constantly innovating and adapting the Program to provide the best possible experience to our Collectors,” said Blair Cameron, President of the AIR MILES Reward Program. “We feel confident that the enhancements we’ve made to our digital capabilities and our dedicated fraud detection processes will provide increased security for Collectors and Collector Accounts, ensuring they are able to get and use their Cash Miles safely.”

    On June 26, 2017, the company communicated this change to all Cash Collectors through an administrative email, updates on www.airmiles.ca and proactive media relations. The information is also posted in stores at AIR MILES Cash Partner locations.

  • Air Canada Launching new Loyalty Program in 2020

    Huge news this morning that affects Aeroplan. In 2020, Air Canada will introduce it’s own loyalty program.

    This will become the new frequent flyer program for Air Canada, replacing Aeroplan, which is separately-owned and operated by an independent company, Aimia.

    1. What does this mean to me as an Aeroplan member?

    Nothing has changed for Aeroplan members. You can keep on earning miles on Air Canada eligible flights and redeeming for flights on Air Canada and Star Alliance partners as you normally would while we continue our discussions with Air Canada and in any event, until June 2020.

    Our members will continue to be at the centre of our program. We’ll continue to provide updates as soon as information becomes available.

    2. Should I keep collecting?

    Yes. The partnership is still in place for three more years. You can keep on earning Aeroplan miles at any Aeroplan partner, including Air Canada and book flights up to one year in advance.

    3. What’s the impact on my current flight rewards bookings?

    There’s no impact on current flight rewards.

    4. What will happen to my miles if the contract is not renewed?

    While Aimia remains open to further discussions with Air Canada, the company’s strategic planning had already contemplated other post-2020 alternatives in parallel to ensure Aeroplan members retain access to a strong redemption offering around air rewards.

    5. Will you stop offering flight rewards before 2020?

    No.

    6. What will happen to my TD /CIBC/AMEX Aeroplan affiliated card? Should I cancel my card?

    Nothing has changed for Aeroplan members, including Aeroplan financial cardholders. You can absolutely keep on earning Aeroplan miles and redeeming rewards as you normally do with your financial card and at our other partners.

    The contract is in place for three more years. You can keep on earning Aeroplan miles on Air Canada eligible flights and redeeming for flights on Air Canada and Star Alliance partners for up to a year in advance as you would normally do.

    We are currently exploring a range of options beyond 2020 if our contract with Air Canada is not renewed. Our members will continue to be at the centre of our program. We’ll continue to provide updates as soon as information becomes available.

    7. I thought Aeroplan was owned by Air Canada, who is Aimia?

    Aeroplan has been owned and operated by Aimia since 2002. With about 2,300 employees across 15 countries, Aimia partners with groups of companies (coalitions) and individual companies to offer best-in-class loyalty programs to consumers around the world. Aimia’s coalition loyalty programs include Aeroplan in Canada, Nectar in the U.K.

    8. What happens to my Altitude status with Air Canada / Star Alliance?

    We invite you to contact Air Canada directly for questions related to Air Canada Altitude.

  • AIR MILES Cash option temporarily stopped because of Fraud

    Another interesting twist in the Air Miles saga. I only use Cash miles so this heavily affects me.

    I received an email from Air Miles this morning:

    Dear Steven,

    This note is to make you aware that through our regular fraud monitoring processes, we have identified irregular activity occurring within a small number of in-store AIR MILES Cash transactions, where Cash Miles have been stolen. The personal information of all Collectors remains protected and has not been compromised. We are working diligently to resolve the situation and have already contacted our retail Partners, the police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

    While this fraudulent activity impacts only Cash miles and not Dream miles, the security of Collector Miles is of utmost importance to us and therefore we are sending this update to all Collectors. In a desire to protect AIR MILES Cash Miles, we have temporarily removed the AIR MILES Cash option for in-store purchases. Collectors are still able to redeem Cash Miles for e-vouchers online at www.airmiles.ca. These reward options include brands such as Staples, Starbucks, Cineplex, the Bay, and more.

    As we work through this issue, we ask that you continue to protect the security of your AIR MILES Account by maintaining the confidentiality of your Collector and PIN number.

    To view your balance or update your Account information please visit www.airmiles.ca.

    I have no idea why Air Miles was changed from all Dream Miles to these cash miles. Previously you could redeem your miles online for e-vouchers. Isn’t this less complicated?

    If someone found my Air Miles card they could redeem without identification.

    These loyalty programs should keep redemptions simple.

  • Excellent Changes to Alaska Airlines program for Canadians!

    I have always been a fan of the Alaska Airlines program.

    With Alaska Airlines’ new distance based award chart, the shortest award flights will cost just 5,000 Alaska Airlines miles one-way, and the longest only 12,500 miles one-way.

    Here is an example of a redemption to Seattle from Victoria, BC for just 10,000 miles return for just $44 for taxes!

    While many other airlines are heading in a different direction and simply looking at how much people spend, we’re focused on rewarding people across the board for how much they fly. That means:

    • They’ve lowered our lowest award tier so Mileage Plan members can now book award travel on Alaska Airlines flights using as few as 5,000 miles.
    • They’ve bumped up mileage earnings on flights in business or first class on 10 global partners by up to 80 percent.
    • Also, elite members now are eligible for complimentary upgrades on award travel on Alaska-operated flights when they book main cabin tickets.

    Here is a link to the blog post.

    This is a great reminder to get the Alaska Airlines Mastercard for the $75 annual fee – $60 Cash back from Great Canadian Rebates!

  • Traveling To Vegas

    If you are going to be traveling to Vegas in the near future, then a bit of forward planning may be required to ensure that you are able to make the most of your trip. This can actually add to the whole experience because making plans builds up anticipation for your trip. There are certain things that can make your trip much less stressful if they are planned in advance.

    A good place to start when planning your trip is to familiarize yourself with the Strip. This is probably going to the place where you spend most of your time so if you have a vague idea of where everything is it can save you quite a lot of time while you are there. If you have already have an idea of which hotels you want to visit you can start breaking this down into what you are going to do on each day.

    One of the main reasons that people travel to Vegas is for the casinos. If this is something that you want to do when you get there, then it is a good idea to decide beforehand when you will visit the casino and how much money you want to spend. If you have never visited a casino before you may want to practice some of the games that you could play at Red Flush Online Casino so that you have some idea of what to expect.

    There are many free visitor guides that can be found which are full of useful information. These guides have comprehensive listings of all restaurants, shops and hotels in the city so you get a real idea of exactly what you can expect to find. These guides will give you more information about places that you have already decided you want to visit and you may also find attractions that you may not have thought of before but are now definitely on your list of things to do before you leave.

    It can also be useful for you to find out what the weather is likely to be like at the time you are visiting. As Las Vegas is in the Nevada desert it does not get much rainfall throughout the year and so this is not really something that you have to worry about. The summer months are the warmest and it can get quite cold during the months of January and February. There are many resources online that give statistics about the weather at different times of the year so you can see what sort of weather you can expect.

    Depending on where you are traveling from, the journey to Vegas can be a long one. If you know you are going to be on the road or in the air for a while, then it may be a good idea to plan to take some entertainment along for the journey. Why not go mobile at Red Flush Online Casino to get in the mood for when you arrive in the city itself.