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  • Born in year of the horse? – Complimentary Afternoon tea offered by Shangri-La Hotel

    Born the Year of the Horse? Shangri-La has a treat for you. Visit the property’s Xi Shi Lounge for acomplimentary afternoon tea offered by Shangri-La Hotel.

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    Available from 31 January 2014 until 28 February 2014, guests a tea tower comprised of various savoury items, including BBQ pork brioche buns, curried tofu and almond wraps, duck spring rolls, and smoked salmon bagels with yuzu mayonnaise.

    Sweets include: coconut rice cake, a twist on the traditional Nian Gao; egg tart; black sesame rice balls in ginger soup; and green tea opera cake; as well as afternoon tea classics like butter and orange infused scones with housemade clotted cream and a selection of jams.

    While enjoying the flavours of the afternoon tea, a variety of live Chinese music and entertainment, including traditional erhu and flute soloists, will be available in the lounge Monday through Wednesday, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

    Xi Shi Lounge, located at Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver is open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m, and open until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The lounge is accessible through the hotel or via its direct entrance on Alberni Street.

    *Offer is valid for one guest per table, with a minimum party of two. Guests must show proof of age; offer is non transferable and non-refundable. Offer ends 28 February 2014. Those born in the years 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002 are Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac.

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  • Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when you fly with Bearskin Airlines–February 2014

    Great promotion from one of my original Aeroplan partners (I used to fly with them living in Thunder bay – great little airline).

    Between February 01 and 28, 2014, fly Bearskin Airlines on all Flex or Liberty* fares and earn double Aeroplan Miles for every one‑way segment. That’s up to 200% of the miles you fly for each eligible Bearskin Airlines flight.

    Eligible routes:

    Between Thunder Bay and:

    • Sudbury
    • Timmins
    • Sault Ste Marie
    • North Bay

    Between Ottawa and:

    • Sudbury
    • Timmins
    • Kitchener‑Waterloo
    • Sault Ste Marie
    • North Bay

    Source

  • CapitalOne Aspire Travel MasterCard 35K bonus points + $75 Cash Back

    When you get approved you will get 35,000 bonus points (worth around $350) and extra $75 cash back when you sign up through our referral link to Great Canadian Rebates.

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    Every year they also give you 10k anniversary bonus points which basically makes the annual fee around $20/year.

    For every $ spent you get 2 points (2% cash back on travel). Points can be used to pay for travel-related purchases. 10,000 points is equivalent to $100.

    Read my detailed review on the Canadian Travel Credit Cards page. This card is highly rated, even though I don’t actually own one!

  • Tour operators impose ‘currency surcharge’ on Canadian travellers

    Transat A.T. (TSX-TRZ.B) spokeswoman Debbie Cabana confirmed Thursday that Canada’s largest tour operator is adding a $35 currency surcharge to sun destinations and Florida effective Jan. 27.

    Published reports say Sunwing and Air Canada Vacations are also both implementing $35 surcharges to offset the falling loonie — Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) effective Jan. 27 and Sunwing effective Jan. 30.

    Sunquest, a unit of Thomas cook, got the ball rolling on the issue earlier this month, warning travellers to book by Jan. 11 to take advantage of lower prices before it began taking measures to compensate for the lower Canadian dollar.

    Sunquest did not give a specific figure for its planned price increases aimed at offsetting rising hotel as well as fuel costs, which are priced in U.S. dollars.

    “The increase will depend on the cost of the hotel itself — the more expensive properties will see a higher increase, for the less expensive ones the increase will be less noticeable,” spokeswoman Kerry Sharpe said in an email at the time.

    Meanwhile, WestJet (TSX:WJA) said Wednesday that it had “no intention” of imposing a currency surcharge on vacations in response to the falling dollar.

    “We are committed to the transparency of our advertised prices,” Tim Croyle, WestJet Vacations vice-president and general manager, said in a release.

    “We believe the base price should reflect the true price of the package, and that the only taxes and fees charged should be those that are passed on to government and regulatory bodies, not used to offset cost increases.”

    Source: Canadian Press

  • Hornblower Cruises – Harbor Cruises – San Diego

    Taking a Hornblower Cruise is the perfect way to see San Diego. We went on Memorial Day and had a fabulous time.

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    We were joined by many other tourists and families looking for a better view of the San Diego Bay (they have a North and South bay tour and we just stayed for the North tour – easier with our baby).

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    We enjoyed a professionally narrated tour of many landmarks from the sea. 9083550061_7047515df7_h-500x200We covered over 13 miles on the Big Bay, passing by Seaport Village, Shelter Island, ship-building and dry-docking facilities, Coronado Island, Point Loma, and Cabrillo National Monument, among many others.9085779616_34cb3dfc03_z-500x2009083548705_e84df43d33-300x200

    The narrators point out marine animals and birds.

    We found many opportunities to take photos and see a new perspective of this big city.

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    I recommend getting a seat at the top of the boat but everywhere on the boat has a nice view.

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    The washrooms are on the bottom floor and can be quiet tight but just leave your stroller in the front room.

  • Save $25 off Hotwire booking with App download

    Book your next hotel with our app for an additional $25 off. Minimum $100 hotel booking. Valid 12/31/13 to 3/31/14.

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    Promo code: APP25

    Source

  • Hotels.com Canada: Save 10% off select hotels with the code 10INJAN14

    You can save 10% off select hotels when using the code 10INJAN14!

    This offer lasts through 1/28/14 and is available in both the United States and Canada!

    Hotels.com®

    Hotels.com Canada: Hotels.com Canada: Save 10% off select hotels with the code 10INJAN14! Book by 1/28/14, Travel by 7/1/14

  • WestJet expansion includes Calgary-New York JFK route

    WestJet announced five new routes and a number of schedule changes that the Canadian low-cost carrier billed as “its most comprehensive schedule release since the airline took to the skies in 1996.”

    The highlight for U.S. travelers likely will be WestJet’s new nonstop route between Calgary and New York JFK, a route that will launch April 27. The carrier will fly one daily round-trip flight on the route using Boeing 737 jets.

    WestJet also plans to add flights between Las Vegas and the Alberta city of Fort McMurray. The airline will start flying the route June 24, offering two flights a week.

    WestJet’s other new routes include:

    – Calgary-Prince George, B.C.: One daily round-trip flight beginning April 27

    – Vancouver-Fort McMurray, Alberta: One daily round-trip flight beginning May 12

    – Fort McMurray-Kelowna, B.C.: One daily round-trip flight beginning May 12

    Elsewhere, WestJet plans to increase the number flights it offers on 20 existing routes and will convert five seasonal routes into year-round service.

    “The latest schedule reflects the varied needs of the many guests who choose WestJet,” John Weatherill, WestJet’s director of Network and Schedule Planning, says in a statement.

    “We have added in-flight service and amenities for those guests travelling for business and additional flight frequency and convenient, non-stop service across all points of the network,” Weatherill adds. “Our goal is to make it even easier to do business affordably and efficiently with our airline. Leisure travelers asking for more frequency to WestJet’s southern destinations will also see their options increase with today’s announcement.”

    In making its Monday announcement, WestJet also touted other upcoming routes and changes — most notably the launch of the company’s first trans-Atlantic route. That route — between Toronto and Dublin — is scheduled to begin June 15.

    WestJet says “other summer highlights” include “service increases to 15 popular southern destinations including Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix in addition to well-traveled Caribbean and Mexican spots.

  • Air Canada Promo Code Canada sale! 15% off Tango and Flex fares: Book by Jan. 22

    Book by January 22, 2014 for travel between January 21 and April 16, 2014. A blackout period applies. This limited-time offer won’t last. Book with this promo code now and save!

    To get your exclusive discount, simply enter this promotion code when booking right at aircanada.com:

    Promotion code: SKY15

    About this offer:

    • Book by January 22, 2014, 11:59 PM from your city of departure
    • Valid on Tango and Flex Fares within Canada
    • Travel between January 21 and April 16, 2014
    • Blackout period applies between February 14 and February 17, 2014
    • Maximum 9 passengers per booking
    • Codeshare flights are not eligible

    Save at AirCanada.com

  • Airbnb – $25 off First $75+ Booking

    Needing accommodations while on vacation and want something a little more homey than a hotel? Check out Airbnb to rent a bed, a room, a private place, or an entire house while on vacation. Click here and get $25 off your first $75+ booking.

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