travel posts

Do you dream of winning the lottery to be able to live like the celebrities?

I remember watching the series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, wanting the chance to visit that lush island resort or being able to step foot in that expensive big city hotel.

For the one per cent, the red carpet is always rolled out to welcome them and their Louis Vuitton wallets. But what about the 99 per cent?

Luxury destinations don't have to be out of reach - and there's several tips to be able to make those dreams become reality.

By Travis Hoium, The Motley Fool

Travelocity Canada in-house travel expert Brian Simpson says that while there are great deals out there for last-minute travellers, people still need to be aware and alert, especially when purchasing a trip for a special occasion.

Usually when you enter the muddy waters airline fare pricing, things can get confusing.

What you see is not always what you get and the surcharges left out of the advertised bottom line can seriously impact what you end up paying for your ticket to the sun -- and not in a good way. But things are looking up for Canadian travelers.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines Inc. announced last week an all-inclusive airfare policy when it comes to their print ads and websites.

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People are angry about having to pay for hidden fees, especially when it comes to travelling.

"I can't stand having to pay for that (expletive) tax, when I purchase a flight" says Jennifer, a 33-year-old program officer from Ottawa, Ontario.

In 2006, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-11, which requires the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to regulate how airfare is advertised. But over six years have gone by and the Act hasn't been enforced until now.

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet has used all-in air price advertising in their display ads, banner ads, website landing pages and print materials since early January 2012. WestJet admits that they have a minor technical glitch that their web provider will resolve within the coming months. Today when you book a flight, you will have to hover over the price and an overlay will provide you with the complete price breakdown of that particular flight. In the near future they hope to display the all-in price without the need to hover over the listed price. This feature is not commonly available around the world, and WestJet expects that this level of transparency will please many consumers. And now, Air Canada, too, is advertising all-in pricing.

There's something strangely satisfying and less stressful about flying with only carry-on luggage.

The first snicker of satisfaction comes when you arrive at the airport with your boarding pass already printed off the internet and breeze past the line of people waiting to check in their bags. The second is knowing that you've avoided paying check-in baggage fees (this is not so much an issue on Canadian airlines, but you really need to watch out for them in the U.S. or on budget airlines around the world -- they hurt. Ouch!) Third is knowing that the airline won't lose your luggage (it's a slim chance, but it does happen.) And fourth is being able to walk straight off the plane, past those waiting for the baggage conveyor belt to start up, and straight out of the airport.

Before you say that there's no way you could fit everything you need into your carry-on, read on.

Winter is upon all of us Canada - and what do we want to do? Fly south.

Whether its to Mexico, Caribbean, Florida or Las Vegas, Canadians are happy to figure out how to get on a plane and get away from snow, ice and cold temperatures.

According to Google Insights, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick residents are looking for the travel deals, closely followed by Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

If plans are to take the better half and the family to a tropical climate, remember to bring the bathing suit, sunscreen and make sure to visit the family doctor.

Can you still find a deal for holiday travel?

For many of us, its not just about finding the right gift for a family member or a close friend, its also about travelling to a destination during the busy festive season.

Although finding a flight or a train ticket may not be impossible, the price in December can be frightful. There are still some deals to be had through Expedia.ca or Travelocity.ca, if you can be flexible about timing.

But there are other ways to save some money and keep your budget in check during the holiday season, and maybe even benefit others, thanks to some hotel promotions now available.

If you're like many Canadians, all you want for Christmas is a free flight home – or someplace hot – for the holidays.
But try as you might, you can't find a way to redeem all those frequent flyer miles or other travel rewards points that you have accumulated through credit card purchases because of restrictions imposed by the airlines and other factors.
The mystery has remained unsolved for years. Well, there is a way, says Patrick Sojka, founder of Calgary-based Rewardscanada.ca.

Does air travel make you happy or nervous?

For many of us, the joy of air travel seems to have disappeared in the past 10 years, with the never ending changes to security requirements, luggage restrictions and the so-called exposure of hidden costs.

Travellers may reminisce happily of the stylish jet age of the 1960s, recently brought back in the debut of the new TV series Pan Am.

But what about the 21st century? Doesn't the arrival of faster commuter aircraft, WiFi and online check-in count?

Travel website Cheapflights.ca recently surveyed travellers to see if the present or the past is preferable when it comes to spending on airline travel.