Canadian Travel Hacking

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  • Introducing Uber Family Profiles

    Uber launched their version of a family ride sharing plan, which allows you to share your account and payment options with nine other people. The best part is those nine people can be family, friends, or coworkers.

    uber-family-profiles

    One feature passengers have frequently requested is an easy way to pay for family and friends. That’s why they have announced Family Profiles, a new feature we’re launching in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix that lets up to 10 riders safely and easily share one payment method.

    Here’s how it works:

    For the Family Profile organizer:

    • Make sure you have the latest version of the Uber app.
    • Go to Menu and choose Settings.
    • Scroll down to “Add a Family Profile” and select the contacts you would like to add.
    • As soon as the Family Profile rider accepts the invitation, they can begin requesting rides from their own phone using the Family Profile as their payment method.
    • The cost of the trip will automatically be billed to the Family Profile and the organizer will receive a receipt for every ride.

    Here is a link to their blog with more info.

  • Awesome Super Mario-Themed Subway Maps!

    I loved this game growing up (many moons ago)!

    vancouver-skytrain-map-smb31

    Geek designer Dave Delisle has so far made 9 maps covering: Atlanta, Calgary, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington D.C. San Francisco’s map is even called MarioBART using a Super Mario Brothers theme.

    This is really cool!

    Here is a link to this map (you can order these online).

  • 20 most photographed tourist attractions according to Google-powered photo-sharing (and hastags)

    A new infographic has revealed that it’s actually a museum that’s the most snapped – the Guggenheim in New York in the world based on data from a Google-powered photo-sharing app to provide the rankings, this infographic, produced by ParrotPrint, reveals how many times each sight has been hashtagged on Instagram. 

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    Interesting results!

  • Destinations on Google Is a One-Stop Travel Planning Tool

    Search with Google on your mobile phone for the continent, country, or state you’d like to travel to and add the word “destination” to see an easy-to-browse collection of options.

    Destinations_on_Google_2_030816

    Destinations integrates a deep understanding of all the places in the world withGoogle Flights and Hotel search, so you can see available flight and hotel prices instantly. So instead of jumping between a dozen links or tabs to get the information you need, you can sit back and scroll—and leave the heavy lifting to Google.

    Add “destination” or “vacation” after the location you want to visit (i.e. new zealand hiking), and Google will quickly show you all your options. You can compare airfare and hotel costs across popular cities in a region, see popular itineraries, and find out when the weather is good and when the destination is most popular for travelers.

    In the “Plan a trip” tab, find the highs and lows for hotel and airfare over the next six months—an awesome feature if your travel dates are flexible.

    Here is a link to hear about it!

  • Secret Button to Raise the Armrest of an Aisle Seat on an Airplane?

    Psss – Did you know that there was a Secret Button to Raise the Armrest of an Aisle Seat on an Airplane?

    Many aisle seats have a hidden button or lever that will let you raise the armrest.

    There are a few planes that do not have movable aisle armrests. However, most of them have a small lever or button on the underside of the armrest, near the hinge. Pushing or sliding this lever will release the hinge lock, allowing you to raise the armrest.

    armrest-e1295244727156

    This tip comes to us via Reddit.

  • The cost of a Starbucks Latte around the world

    One of my barometers of how expensive it is in a city is how expensive the fancy drinks are at my coffee favourite, Starbucks.

    If you are in Zurich, Switzerland be prepared to fork out a whopping $6.69 compared to just $1.49 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

    The survey discovered the price of a Starbucks latte in 30 countries around the world.

    starbucks

    The study was compiled by Thrillist who analysed the cost of grande lattes around the world last month.

  • Aeroplan Members will soon have the option to fly cash-free!

    Aeroplan Members will soon have the flexibility to use their Aeroplan Miles to cover the cost of taxes, fees, charges and carrier surcharges when making a flight reward booking via aeroplan.com, the Aeroplan Mobile app or through Aeroplan’s Contact Centre.

    aeroplan

    Here is how it works on aeroplan.com:

    1. Find your flight reward via aeroplan.com
    2. Select ‘Pay it all with miles’ when given the choice online about taxes, fees, charges and carrier surcharges
    3. Enjoy your cash-free flight!

    This option will be available to members in early April for both of Aeroplan’s Flight Reward products.  In Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards, which offer the best value in the industry with a fixed number of seats exclusively offered to members on Air Canada and Star Alliance and in Market Fare Flight Rewards which provide access to any available seat on Air Canada at competitive mileage levels that vary based on market fares at time of booking.

  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card: 30,000 Aeroplan Miles and First Year Free!

    I found a great new offer for you to pad your Aeroplan miles!

    aeroplan_visa_infinite_affiliate_card

    In addition to the free 25,000 American Express Membership Reward Points (convertible to 25,000 Aeroplan miles) with no annual fee for the first year, TD has a new offer to give you 30,000 Aeroplan Miles and the first year free!

    • Receive a Welcome Bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan Miles with your first Purchase
    • You could receive another 10,000 Aeroplan Miles when you keep your Account open and active for 90 days after Account approval
    • In addition, you could receive 5,000 Aeroplan Miles when you add an Authorized User to your Account by May 27 (Authorized User must call and activate their Card by July 15, 2016)
    • Annual Fee Rebate for the first year(Primary Cardholder only) – that’s $120 in savings!
    • Offer Valid until May 27, 2016
    • Earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, drugstore and aircanada.com Purchases made with your Card.
    • Earn 1 mile for every $1 you spend on all other Purchases on your Card.
    • Earn miles twice when you pay with your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and present your Aeroplan Membership Card at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and with 100 online retailers
    • Your Aeroplan miles will not expire as long as you are a TD Aeroplan Credit Cardholder
    • Enjoy an extensive suite of travel insurances8 for peace of mind on your next getaway.

    Air Canada Benefits:
    • Your 1st checked bag is complimentary when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)
    • You get Priority Check-in when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)
    • You’ll enjoy Priority Boarding when travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward operated by Air Canada (for Primary Cardholder)

    So to summarize, you get 25,000 for meeting their requirements and 5,000 to add another authorized user (costs you $50). I would be happy with my 25,000 for no cost!

    Here is a link to signup.

  • The world’s most powerful passports revealed (and it isn’t the UK or US in the top spot)

    Germany has claimed bragging rights in an annual ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, while the UK and US each fell multiple spots.

    Best passport in the world - Germany
    Best passport in the world – Germany

    All three countries shared first place in last year’s study, but the UK and US have dropped to third and fourth, respectively, in this year’s list.

    German citizens hold the world’s most powerful passport as they can visit 177 countries without a visa, while British travellers can enter 175 and US tourists can travel to 174.

    Good news Canadians we were #6! 

    With a maximum attainable score of 218, the visa restriction index by Henley & Partners, a citizenship and planning firm, ranks nations or territories based on the number of countries their citizens can travel to visa-free.

    It is based on visa restrictions that were in place on 1 January.

    Germany claimed sole possession of first spot this year after three countries lifted visa restrictions for its citizens, edging Sweden, which finished second with visa-free access to 176 countries.

  • Leap Year Into Savings at Starwood Hotels

    Starwood Hotels and Resorts across Canada are offering guests savings so great they only come around once every four years.

    Today only (Feb. 29), participating Sheraton, Westin, Four Points, Le Méridien, W, Element and Aloft hotels are offering travellers the chance to enjoy up to 29% off stays through April 30.

    The Leap Day sale is a limited time offer that must be booked by 11:59 p.m. EST today (Feb. 29). Rates vary by property, based on single/double occupancy and availability.

    A limited number of rooms are available at each property and blackout dates may apply. Rates require full advance pre-payment, rates are non-refundable, plus taxes and are commissionable to travel agents. These rates are not applicable to groups.

    Here is a link to the promo.