travel posts

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.

Whether its a business trip or a week-long vacation, its becoming rare for many of us to walk in the doors of a travel agency and work with a travel agent.

According to a recent survey by Swedish travel website Tripl, social media is rapidly changing the way we view travel. Tripl's Social Travel Revolution analyzed how travelers using Facebook and Twitter, as well as how access to the internet is changing.

The numbers reveal that we're all getting more connected, checking our fave social media sites and more than likely to do it from a mobile phone than any other electronic accessory. According to Tripl, 72 per cent of us access social media daily when we're traveling.

But does that preclude expert advice?

Recently, I saw a billboard for a company called the FlightNetwork touting a one-stop service for booking air travel. They claim to have better pricing and a rate protection guarantee. But are they worth the extra shopping clicks online?

A summer road trip can be a wonderful chance to bond with your children while they learn about other places but this mode of travel also poses a few problems. Kids, as they say, will be kids and parents could be in for a rough ride as boredom gives way to backseat bickering or other unpleasantness.

You'll have a fighting chance for at least a few peaceful miles, if you prepare in advance. So here are five ways that the dollar store can help keep kids happy on road trips.

Summer has to be the favourite season of Canadians - long weekends, family reunions, festivals - all lures for us to enjoy time away from work and happily be on vacation.

For those of us who are more spontaneous planners and haven't confirmed time at a cottage, there are deals to be found for those who want to spend time in the confines of a hotel where the bed is always made and there are always clean fluffy towels in abundance.

A few things to remember - if you're a member of an association like the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), military or retired, remember to mention this when booking as it will generally mean a discount on hotel accommodation.

For the deals from five favourite hotel brands - here's the list: