Travel Answers

Here are the answers to this season's most frequently asked questions:

Internet Issues

Q: Am I missing something if I don't use the Internet to research and book my vacation?

- Peter T., Winnipeg

A: Opinions on this vary widely, so let's start with researching. The Internet is one of the easiest ways research destinations and it makes planning a breeze. Paying money over the Internet is the larger issue, although millions of people are doing it every day. Its main strength as a booking instrument is the ability to find unpublished accommodation at attractive prices. Buying from a Web site is not a guarantee however of the best price available. There are comparative deals with traditional channels too, including travel agents who can give you face-to-face advice and will be your advocate if something goes wrong. The middle ground is a Web site that offers the option of "live" personal assistance. If you do buy on-line, a general rule of thumb is to buy from a Canadian source, in Canadian dollars. If prices are quoted in a foreign currency, double check that your conversion mathematics is correct.

Cruising Comfort

Q: On cruise ships do we need to worry about a lot of second-hand smoke?

- Jane R., Barrie, Ont.

A: It depends on the cruise line and where you are sailing. Europe, Mediterranean and Asia Pacific cruises have more relaxed smoking rules, but if you choose any of the mainstream, American-based cruise lines, chances are you will not encounter second-hand smoke until evening in some of the clubs and bars. Restaurants are generally smoke-free but the casino is not. Cruise advocates will tell you that the ratio of non-smoking areas has been increasing with every new ship. If a non-smoking environment is a top priority however, choose one of the Caribbean cruises offered by the MS Paradise. It is the only totally non-smoking cruise ship in the world and this season passengers can book either an Eastern, or Western Caribbean itinerary. The luxury, US$300 million, 2,052-passenger MS Paradise delivers a commendable cruise experience and is one of the more recent additions to the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet.

- News Canada

About The Author
News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

"Roughing" It In Style

You've seen the Expedia.com commercials with the couple in the beachside bungalow with mosquito nets... and the thought of going on vacation to stay in a tent gives you the creepy crawlies already. Not to worry, you won't need a sleeping bag and a bottle of Off! for this exotic vacation. When was the last time you stayed in an air-conditioned, 790 square-foot tent with wooden floors, embroidered interior canopies, private gardens, outside deck for sunbathing, king size four-poster bed, freestanding rolltop bath and separate shower? And just to make sure you don't feel like you're "roughing it," your tent comes with a DVD player and minibar.

It's seems contradictory that the words "luxury" be used to describe a tent but at the Oberoi Vanyavilas, located between the Aravali and the Vindhya mountain ranges in South-Eastern Rajasthan, India, the concept is far from novel. Nestled among 20 acres of landscaped gardens, lemon and mango trees, and lakes and fountains, are 25 tents, bordering on one of the most extraordinary wildlife reserves in the world, Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve, which is home to the majestic Indian tiger, as well as deer, leopard, and crocodile.

Now, before you think that this is an isolated retreat, consider the fine dining options and extensive spa services available. In the Dining Room and Inner Courtyard, Executive Chef Saurav Banerjee and Indian Master Chef Arjun Singh Yadava present an impressive spread of Western, Thai and Indian cuisine from a revolving menu. The exquisitely decorated restaurant features hand painted frescoes of flowers and animals by the celebrated miniaturist Mohan Singh Kumawat. Outside is the walled terrace of the Inner Courtyard which is lit at night by a massive log fire (camp fire songs optional).

As with any quality resort, there is a spa, where you'll find steam rooms, showers and private therapy suites and a long menu of spa treatments, massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Try the stimulating Indian Spice Wrap and a delicious Orange Wrap. All the massage and aromatherapy treatments are aimed at relieving stress and promoting a deep sense of relaxation and wellbeing. And for fitness buffs who can't miss a workout, there is an exercycle, rowing machine, steppers and a treadmill, as well as an outdoor heated pool.

About The Author
Amy Covington passion is writing about the good things in life: food, wine, fashion, and travel. Her writing credits include Downtown San Francisco Magazine, Dining Out San Diego Magazine, among many others, as well as numerous consumer and luxury websites such as http://www.justluxe.com and http://www.luxeescapes.com.

The Best 28 Traveling Tips

I have compiled 28 of the best traveling tips out there into one simple article. Not only that, but I have organized them into small subjects, so finding those subject specific tips is no challenge. Lastly, there is also an added page of bonuses to make these tips even more worthwhile.

The topics breakdown in this order...

o Research
o Pre-Trip Reminder
o Packing
o Travel
o Activities
o Food
o Transportation
o Money
o Random... These are just a few that don't quite fit anywhere, but are still extremely important!

**Research**

1. Information can save you time and money! One of the best things you can do is research your destination of choice. Be sure to know what events will be going on while you are there, where the "hot spots" are located, and what other activities are available for you to enjoy.

2. Talk to people... They are a wealth of knowledge! Don't be afraid to talk to some locals to find out where good places are to eat, or good art, or good entertainment. It would only improve your vacation.

**Pre-Trip Reminder**

3. Make sure that your home and pets are taken care of while you are gone. When vacationing, you should have someone watch your house, check the mail, water plants, etc, and take care of your pets, unless you plan on housing your pets at a kennel of some sort. Also, make sure to leave them an itinerary so they can get a hold of you if necessary.

**Packing**

4. Shoes... Make sure that you pack worn-in shoes to avoid getting sore feet from exploring. Plus, you'll save money if you don't buy new ones!

5. Don't pack too much. Many travelers end up packing way more items than necessary on a trip. To achieve this pick items that are multi-use and multi-weather appropriate. Mix and match, durable, easy-care – all words that describe good items to pack.

6. Checklists can save you LOADS of time. Create a checklist of everything you need to take, and as you pack them, check them off. This will help you to avoid packing unnecessary items, and from leaving necessary ones behind.

7. Liquids + Plastic Bags = Genius! Make sure that any liquids are packed in plastic bags to avoid soiling all of you clothing before you even get to your destination!

8. Carry all valuables on your carryon. This is a good idea in case your luggage is lost, then you won't lose all your valuables with it. Valuables could also include some toilet paper and tissue!

9. Don't forget a camera! Disposable cameras and digital cameras are getting smaller and smaller. Don't forget this essential item in documenting your vacation.

10. Prepaid phone cards can save money while trying to keep in touch with those people at home. International calling fees can be insanely expensive, so to cut down on costs purchase a prepaid phone card.

**Travel**

11. Travel packages that are too good to be true? Great travel packages do exist, but make sure that you read the fine print such as cancellation fees, vacation insurance, and refund policy.

12. Seating arrangements can be crucial, especially when traveling with other people. Many ticket purchasing sites allow for you to choose your seating on flights, so choose wisely.

13. Check the details of your flight and leave yourself plenty of time. Security can be a huge travel hassle, so make sure that you arrive plenty early, and make sure you know what time your flight is at so you can know when "early" is. Another detail includes how much your luggage can weigh, so to avoid charges verify the amount of weight allowed.

14. The carry-on is essential for any traveler. Make sure to have some essentials including: clean change of clothing, reading material, plenty of water, and snacks. These will also really help you on those long-haul flights.

**Activity**

15. There are many different options for activities... No matter where you go! You could go on a walk, or a hike; you could go shopping in the central shopping areas and meet people. If you have no ideas, people are the hotels you are staying in are more than willing to share some insight with you.

16. Remember to leave yourself time to ENJOY your vacation. It is important to not have a jam packed schedule that allows you no flexibility. That way, you can fill free time with resting, exploring, or taking advantage of once in a life time opportunities.

**Food**

17. Snacks are very important to any traveler. When on tours, meals may be spread out over long periods of time so it is always a good idea to carry a few small snacks such as nuts or crackers with you.

18. Water, water, water! Make sure that you are drinking a lot of water. This will help keep you from wearing out during your travels.

19. Enjoy the cultural food while you have the chance. This cuisine is a treat for you, so enjoy it and take in some of the culture with the meal.

20. Don't forget that nutrition still applies on vacation. No one wants to gain weight while vacationing, so be careful about your food choices and don't skip meals. Also, if you have special dietary needs you will have to make arrangements for that in your budget.

**Transportation**

21. Don't forget your license! Being able to travel within a town is essential to doing what you want to do on a vacation, and you'll definitely need your license for that. Also, try to figure out the cheapest ways to get around by starting with your hometown and finding the cheapest ways to get around to all of the popular spots; then apply those money saving tips to your foreign country.

**Money**

22. Currency exchange information is vital. Be sure to check the current exchange rate so that you can plan your budget accordingly.

23. Traveler's checks are guaranteed funds, and REPLACEABLE! Traveler's checks can be a great way for people to keep their money organized when traveling, and they are accepted virtually everywhere. Plus, if they are lost or stolen, you can call the traveler check company and get replacements.

24. Always carry a little bit of cash, and a personal check or two. This is a strong suggestion for those times when traveler's checks are not accepted. Carry smaller bills and not very many because you can lose money when your convert them back into American dollars, and personal checks may come in handy because they don't have fees associated with them.

25. Credit and debit card fees can really hurt your travel budget. Watch out for these fees. They tend to add up quickly, and most people don't realize just how quickly until they get home.

26. Make sure to have some extra money budgeted for emergencies. What if there is a major rain storm on a tropical island and you don't have a jacket? That's where this fund would step in, for those incidentals that almost no one would think of.

27. Keep a spending log... That way you know for sure you won't go over budget!

28. Souvenir budgets are often overlooked and they shouldn't be! Buying those loved ones at home a gift should not be overlooked. Decide early on how many people you are buying for and your limit for each, and then stay within it! Even the smallest gift can mean the world to someone.

About The Author
Shelly Walther has written multiple articles on a variety of subject matter. She has most recently been writing series on traveling and leisure and has posted work on http://www.fieldtravel.com.

Bed and Breakfasts - Romantic and Relaxing

Thankfully the days are long gone when staying at a bed and breakfast entailed sleeping in someone's spare room with basic amenities (possibly including a tired shag carpet) and a shared bathroom "down the hall". Hardly romantic!

In fact, the change is so pronounced that smaller boutique hotels are now incorporating some of the successful qualities of bed and breakfasts into their renovations. The bywords of good quality B&Bs are perfect for those seeking a romantic retreat: intimacy, cosiness, high quality surroundings and a relaxed quiet friendly atmosphere.

According to the Travel Industry of America, over 42 million people in the USA had at least one trip last year for occasions such as a honeymoon or anniversary. This is a market to which bed and breakfasts have responded. Many are in attractive older homes which ooze charm, furnished by antiques set in lovely décor. You can lazily luxuriate in fine linens on a comfortable bed, soak in a two-person bubbling whirlpool bathtub and snuggle up in armchairs to enjoy the ambience of a fireplace - just the place for a romantic break.

At our Victoria bed and breakfast we love to hear the oohs and aahs as our guests first enter their room, beholding the beauty of the surroundings they have chosen for their special time. It is very rewarding. Even more rewarding has been the discovery that some guests have become good personal friends.

Personable hospitality is provided by the innkeepers in whose home you stay. They are not there just for an eight hour shift for a pay cheque twice a month. Their livelihood depends on what they offer and how they offer it, so you will rarely be disappointed.

Planning.

Whilst there can be pleasure in acting spontaneously it is best to take some time in advance to plan your retreat away. Use the internet to research B&B websites in your area of choice to find the right amenities and setting at the right price. Browse through local B&B associations' websites as well as those of individual establishments. Some will feature romance packages. Perhaps the trip could be a surprise for your partner.

Plan to stay for more than one night to allow time to unwind and enjoy the locality as well as to relax. If the occasion is special it merits paying a little extra to enjoy the finer things of life. Remember that a B&B may be less expensive than an equivalent hotel if only because a full memorable home-cooked breakfast is included in the overnight rate.

Activities v non-activities.

Togetherness in a different environment is wonderful therapy. Mix rest and activity;

perhaps reading in gardens or strolling on a beach and visiting a local attraction or browsing through antique shops. (Leave work behind – no such conversation, no laptop, perhaps no cell phone.)

Bring special treats with you like favourite CDs and DVDs, wine, chocolates, bubble bath etc. Do check if candles and massage oil may be used.

Bed and breakfast hosts are glad to extend genuine helpful hospitality so ask your innkeeper for local recommendations - cosy restaurants, a spa, shopping guidance, activity suggestions and the best places for whatever you are interested in.

If this is your first bed and breakfast experience it will probably not be your last.

About The Author
Martin Vernon, and his wife Linda, have operated a Victoria Bed and Breakfast in British Columbia, Canada for nine years. The Gazebo has been selected as one of "Victoria's Finest Bed and Breakfasts": see www.gazebo-victoria.com.
stay@gazebo-victoria.com

Why Will You Choose Florida Vacation Rental Home?

Accommodation plays a major role during vacation. If you have planned to spend your next vacation in Florida, then you will have to start finding accommodation over there. Suddenly, if you come to know about vacation rental homes wherein you can stay while holidaying in Florida, then the immediate question will come in your mind that why I will choose vacation rental abode in Florida. What additional advantages can I get there? To explain these questions, the following points are appropriate.

Suitable to cope up with purposes and persons:

You can go to Florida for honeymoon purpose, or for making a family holiday. The vacation rental homes in Florida are available in various sizes. Some are appropriate for romantic couple; some are made for larger group. But, this facility is not all time available in hotels. Furthermore, for obtaining these condos, you will have to spend as much as hotels generally charge.

An opportunity of holidaying in seclusion and own way.

Your craving for holidaying in seclusion and comfort can be fulfilled at the Florida vacation rental home. Accented on travelers' privacy and coziness, all vacation condos will enable you to enjoy vacation in your own way. Whether you want to observe the dark beauty of sea from terrace or want to walk through the beaches late at the night, all you can do here without any restriction.

After traveling whole day, relax at a homely atmosphere:

This unmatched facility is only obtainable at Vacation rental condos. After enjoying the day on seashore, or sight seeing, you need some relaxation at night. Unlike hotels, here you can avail more space, choose a cozy place and unwind yourself by listening to music, watching TV, enjoying movies in CD players or reading books. And if you feel hungry, cook your desired dishes at the well-equipped kitchen. All together, at the vacation rental condos, you won't miss your home at all.

More Facilities ...More Fun:

Have you ever thought that after holidaying, you will come back your home with fresh clothes? It is unbelievable! But, at Florida vacation rental abodes, it is possible. Here you can access washer and dryer. So do not worry about cleaning clothes. Besides, other amenities, like swimming pool, indoor games, Telephone and at some Florida vacation rental home, you can avail the internet accessing facility as well.

Start searching...Opt for the best one:

Are you interested in staying at vacation rental home during Florida vacation? Start searching for that. On the internet, you can get various sites, where you will avail information about Florida vacation rental home. Availing combo package that includes plane fare, accommodation and car rental together can be profitable for you too. Besides, you can opt for vacation rental home directly from property owner.

About The Author
Sylvestor Johnson is offering loan and rental advice for quite some time. He is working as financial consultant for ThinkRentals. To find Apartment rentals, Florida vacation rental home , Condo rentals, Rental homes, Vacation rentals, Beach house vacation rentals at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.thinkrentals.com

My Introduction To Northwest Coast Native American Art

I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child and it was during that time when I was first exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians. It was the towering colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation. It took about 30 years later during a return trip to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native American art caught my eyes again.

I was in Vancouver for business and landed at the city's new airport terminal. One could not help but notice the huge native carvings near the arrivals area. Later on during my stay, I decided to wander around in the Gastown district. It was in these shops and galleries in Gastown where I fell in love with Northwest Coast Native American art. I saw many wonderful wooden plaques representing different animals. There were also art prints, paintings, masks, wooden bowls and even furnature with these animals either painted or carved right into the pieces.

The colors and designs, which might be considered a bit exaggerated to non-native eyes, were striking as well as bold. I knew at that time that I wanted to include some of this magnificent artwork on my walls back at home. So I bought two plaque carvings and carried them home like newly found treasure.

Historically, the native Indians who lived along the river valleys and coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest were all hunters and gatherers. The region was blessed with abundant resources from both the seas and forests. These people captured in their artwork the animals they hunted and observed. These included bears, killer whales, eagles, ravens, salmons, wolves, hummingbirds and even frogs. Chiefs and mythical characters important in their legends such as thunderbirds were also included as art subjects.

Northwest Coast Native American art is just only recently gaining some major attention in some galleries and museums around the world. Compared to other native arts such as Inuit (Eskimo), exposure of Northwest Coast Native American art is still rather limited to the northwest coast of Canada and the United States. This form of artwork is virtually unknown to most parts of the world including many regions of North America. This will hopefully change as more people from around the world travel to Vancouver. The future winter Olympics in 2010 up in Whistler, BC will also have a positive impact on the region's Native Indian art. I personally believe that Northwest Coast Native American art has a lot of potential to be internationally recognized and accepted.

(To see this article complete with photos of actual carvers and their artwork, go to http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca)

About The Author
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca), an online gallery specializing in Inuit and Northwest Native art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles on both Inuit and Native art as well as free eCards.
info@FreeSpiritGallery.ca

Hosting an Event: Doors Open Ontario

From April to October each year, communities open the doors to some of their most intriguing and charming heritage sites. Admission to those events is free. And everyone is invited to experience these hidden heritage treasures first-hand. Communities boast of their commercial buildings, courthouses, places of worship, gardens, and natural heritage sites.

In early spring 2006 we were asked to participate in the Doors Open Event in our County.

Doors Open started in France in 1984 and soon spread to neighboring countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Scotland. In 1991, these events were united as European Heritage Days

In 2000, the City of Toronto started the first Doors Open event in North America and in 2002, the Ontario Heritage Trust launched the province wide Doors Open Ontario. It is now held across North America with events now being held in Newfoundland, Alberta, Massachusetts, Western New York State, New York City and Denver.

We own a modern Equestrian facility, home to a breeding farm of Warmblood horses and a riding school. We've organized many tours over the years and we were quite willing to participate. We were asked to send a good photo of our facility and this photo, along with a short description of our site, was published in the official Doors Open magazine. This magazine is available at all tourists' information booths.

Several information sessions were held where we were given information about what to do. We were given Doors Open T shirts for our volunteers, tracking sheets, survey sheets, and many flyers.

Having about 40 horses, mares, stallions, young stock and schooling horses, we had some very busy days before hand.

The riding school students had been practicing a musical show, called a quadrille, where they preformed to music on horseback. It is always a very nice opportunity for the students to show off to the public what they can do. The day before the Event they all came to wash their horses, braid them and fancy them up. White ponies all of a sudden had a pink tail and main thanks to Cool Aid juice.

Riders and horses were color coordinated, with orange or yellow ribbons and beads in their mane, and the same color polos and saddle pads.

On the days of the event people started coming in at 10 am and a steady stream of visitors came in till we took the signs away on the road at 5 pm. We had a program for our days, and although we did send it to the organizing committee and the radio, most people did not know about the program, missing out on some of the parts they would have liked to see.

Besides the musical performance by the students on horse back, we also had one of our stallions jump on an artificial mare while we collected his semen. We then had the people look at the semen under the microscope so that they could see how that looked. This was definitely one of the most popular events as not many people get a chance to see it.

We closed the day off with a demonstration free-jumping, a training aid for young horses. Free-jumping is when horses jump over a series of jumps without a rider on their back. This is so we can judge their natural ability as jumpers.

We also took the people around through the barns explaining the equipment we have, like a computerized exercise machine and other features of the facility.

The purpose of a Doors Open Event is so that people can discover what heritage is in their area and see facilities they normally would not have a chance to see.

Several hundreds of people passed through our facility those two days and many commented on how wonderful the Doors Open program is. If there is a Doors Open Event in your area, attend it, it is definitely worthwhile.

About The Author
Francine Gielis immigrated to Canada in 1971. She has been an employer, an employee, an importer, exporter, entrepreneur and long time volunteer. She considers herself a happy, successful and fully integrated and passionate Canadian citizen. You can subscribe to Francine's monthly newsletter, Stay in Touch, about life in Canada from her website http://www.the-happy-immigrant.com/newsletter.html

Guidelines for Safe Traveling

Guidelines for Safe Traveling

It's important to be prepared for any eventuality when you are heading out of town. You can never tell what kind of situation you might have to face. So, be prepared to handle situations like disease, crime, or loss.

If you're traveling out of the country, you want to check to see if there are immunizations that are required to enter. You can check with the country's health department to see if there are any recommendations. While you have to complete some, you might also want to look into those that are just recommended. Talk with your doctor as to where these are given and get them well before you leave in case there are side effects that you experience.

You will also want to talk with your health insurance company to see what their policy is in other areas. You may need to pay for additional coverage for foreign travel, so be sure that you are covered no matter what happens.

When it comes to health abroad, it is best to keep away from tap water when you're abroad like most people do. For the same reason, if you are served with tepid meals, ask that they heated through thoroughly. And try not to go for the raw or semi-raw foods, or those not cooked a hundred per cent for fear they might contain bacteria?including guacamole and salsa dips, unless of course they are fresh, made when you order them.

Remember to carry some anti diarrhea drugs in case you get food poisoning. And if you do get it, drink lots of water and other fluid to re-hydrate yourself. Don't take chances if your symptoms persist -- do see a doctor, or visit the local hospital for treatment.

You need to safeguard yourself against crime while traveling. Try not to carry too much cash with you, and avoid attracting attention by displaying your wealth. Do not bring all of your expensive clothing and jewelry to wear. It's better to wear travel clothes and remain low key so that thieves don't get interested in you.

Carrying traveler's checks in place of large check amounts is also better -- because you need to show your identification and sign them twice to en-cash them. If someone steals them, you just simply call the issuer of the checks to replace them.

Additionally, to make sure you don't lose out in case something does get stolen or lost, try your insurer first. You might be able to get a valuables insurance cover policy to cover you while you are abroad. It will insure your new purchases abroad as well as protect your rented car and the items you carried for your trip.

All it needs is a little planning to make your trip as safe as possible. If you take the necessary precautions you will enjoy your exotic trip as though you're traveling anywhere in your home town.

About The Author
Vern Paserge runs the website Y Travel Y which is the complete Travel research center providing easy access to absolutely everything you can possibly imagine Travel related. Please vistit http://www.ytravely.com for any questions or comments about this article.