Archive | Travel and Leisure

Ingenious Hacks For Business Travellers

Many people wish they had a job that entails traveling regularly. However, after getting such a job and spending some time doing it, many people realize that it can be tricky without the right skills. If you have a job that requires you to travel more often, here are ingenuous travel hacks for business travellers that will lessen your stress and make you more productive.

Order Special Meals to be Served First

You most likely don’t want to spend all your precious time waiting to be served at a restaurant. To avoid this, plan ahead and request a special meal. Ordering a special meal in advance will enable you to be served upon arrival. When your food is served early, you will have dinner early and get enough night sleep.

Download the App of Your Airline

There are many travel apps that you can download online. These apps are meant to make the lives of travellers easier, especially when flying first class. Some airlines have invested thousands of dollars in the development of their own apps. These apps provide real-time updates to travellers. These updates cover flight delays, gate changes, and some provide paperless boarding. Downloading the app of the airline that you intend to use will enable you to avoid wasting time in the lounge or missing your boarding call. That’s because you will be updated by the app directly through your phone when it is time to go.

Buy a Worldwide Adapter

Anybody that has gone on a trip to different destinations within a short notice knows the importance of a worldwide adapter. This gadget is an awesome investment because it enables you to keep your electronics charged during the trip no matter which country you travel to. An ideal worldwide adapter works in about 150 countries. If you arrive at your destination and realize that you need one yet you don’t have it, talk to the receptionist nicely. Most receptionists have international adapters in their drawers some of which have been forgotten by travellers in their rooms.

Pack Smart

This is the most important hack for any business traveler. Nobody wants to struggle with heavy suitcases upon arrival. Therefore, pack what you are sure that you will use during the trip. Never over-pack for any reason. There are times when you will roll things or make difficult decisions when choosing what to carry. However, don’t carry things that you can do without or get at a cheaper price at your travel destination.

Stay in a Place with Free and Fast Internet

A major frustration for any business traveler is staying at a place with slow or no internet. Internet is obviously important for a business traveler. It’s part of most jobs that are done by business travellers. As such, the best accommodation providers offer free internet in their rooms. Nevertheless, make sure that the hotel where you book a room provides fast, reliable, and free internet. Basically, these are some of the ingenious travel hacks for business travellers. It’s important that you conduct an extensive research of your travel destination to know what to expect and how to prepare for your stay.

These creative ideas were submitted to us by one of our annual sponsors at DJ Winnipeg, who travel regularly for destination weddings, consulting opportunities and corporate travel engagements.

Arizona – Where to Travel For The Holidays?

Arizona, like many of its fellow western states, is a land of paradoxes. Deep canyons give way to rugged snow-capped mountains. Lush forests melt away into arid deserts. Native American reservations dot a state with burgeoning cities like Phoenix and Tempe. Oh, and did I mention the natural wonders scattered about? Much like its neighboring states, Arizona has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast, including great Arizona campgrounds and the most luxurious RV camping resorts of any state.

There’s so much to see, you won’t have to worry about being bored during your Arizona tour. Let’s head right to the state’s crown jewel, the Grand Canyon. For decades poets and artists have tried to capture the beauty of this place. The only way to truly soak in the immensity of one of the natural wonders of the world is to step up to the proverbial plate yourself. The 1,900-square-mile canyon took nearly 2 billion years to make, and it was worth the wait.For starters, it’s huge – 11 miles wide and one mile deep at one point. And you’re not alone, for the canyon attracts a wide variety of desert wildlife readily spotted once you get off the beaten path. Another thing you’ll find is tourists, lots and lots of them every summer who all seem to flock to the park’s more popular spots in the South Rim. The North Rim offers a bit more solitude, but roads are not as plentiful as its southern counterpart. It might take some effort, but exploring the more remote and less-frequented sections of the park will reward you with dazzling, natural splendor unlike anywhere in the United States.

Southeast of the Grand Canyon lies the equally impressive Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert. Another region eons in the making, these locales offer some beautiful vistas sure to dominate a couple of rolls of film. About the time the dinosaurs ruled the planet, this area was a vast floodplain, where countless trees fell victim to the torrential floods. Millions of years later, the water is gone with the natural treasures of petrified trees remaining. How you choose to see the sights is up to you. The forest offers a pleasant 27-mile drive. You can also put on your walking shoes and explore the several hiking trails found throughout. The northern part of the park offers the Painted Desert, and its name does it justice. Colors, colors, colors.

Along Arizona’s southernmost region sits the 91,000-acre Saguaro National Park. Here visitors can get a firsthand look at the well-preserved Sonoran Desert, a vast expanse that takes up much of Arizona’s southern region. The rolling hills inside the park are sometimes covered with plenty of Saguaro cacti (Arizona’s official state flower, FYI), as well as a wide variety of plants and animals unique to the desert southwest.Just down the road, unique rock formations and unusual landscapes are found throughout the Chiricahua National Monument. Millions of years ago, lava flows covered the region, creating a dense layer of lava rock. Over the years the rocks began to crack and wither away with moisture. The result is truly spectacular – startling rock formations that today make up the Chiricahua Mountains.

Along the state’s southwest border lies the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which gets its namesake from the giant plants that haunt the park’s terrain. A must-see for anyone visiting Arizona, the park offers two fantastic drives: The 21-mile Ajo Mountain Drive; and the 53-mile Puerto Blanco Drive, which traverses through the Puerto Blanco Mountains (where else?). Consider both tours full day-long excursions. The reward, however, is desert vistas, especially for those who make it up Puerto’s highest point, Pinkley Peak, listed at 3,145 feet.And no trip to Arizona would be complete without a stop at Lake Havasu, with its more than 45 miles of shoreline. Here water enthusiasts of all kinds – canoeists, skiers, boaters and anglers – bask in the area’s more than 300 days of sunshine per year. There are also several guided desert or lake tours, which may include a visit to the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge or to Topock Gorge, one of the last remaining pristine stretches along the Colorado River. Havasue Arizona campgrounds require reservations way in advance during summer months and holiday weekends.

Top 10 Best Vacation Spots in Canada

Canada is a gold mine for those who are passionate about travelling and experiencing new places. Whether you love climbing mountains, conquering the surfing waves, walking quietly down a beach, feel awed by majestic waterfalls or seek to commune with whales, Canada is the place for you to be. Canada has many tourist attractions. While many tourists head to see famous spots in bigger cities, the country’s beauty lies in its natural features. Of the many awe-inspiring sights that Canada has to offer, the Northern Lights or the ‘Aurora Borealis’ is truly spectacular. Tourists can visit Churchill town settled on the shores of the Hudson Bay in Manitoba between December and March to catch Mother Nature’s extraordinary light show. The town is also known as the Polar Bear and Beluga Whale capital. For those who wish to catch a glimpse of the beats, a visit between late June and late August is advisable. For the whales, the perfect time to visit is from late June to late August.

Summer is an ideal time for the adventurous to take a trip to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The residents greet you by wishing you ‘Ciad Mile Fàilte’. This means ‘one hundred thousand welcomes’ in Gaelic. What could be more welcoming! The island boasts of a spectacular coast that is over 10,000 sq. km. Tourists can stay in cottages on top of cliffs in towns like Port Hood or Inverness and enjoy sports like scuba diving, watching whales and sailing. For those who are scared of staying on heights, a visit inland to Bras d’Or Lake region will be a wise choice as they can stay in cottages along the shores of a saltwater lake there. The Niagara Falls is another natural wonder that draws people to Canada. The massive, thunderous waterfall is located in Ontario. The falls comprises of the American Falls, the Horseshoe Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls. Tourists can fly in as there are four airports an hour’s drive away from Niagara. It can also be reached via train and bus. And if you do visit, do not forget to take a trip on the ‘Maid of the Mist’ to see the fall really close.

The Canadian Rockies is a trip for those who want to enjoy the most breathtaking journey on earth. Unlike the American Rockies, the Canadian ones have sharp peaks covered in snow. There are also some beautiful, serene lakes in the vicinity to calm the spirits. Tourists can drive through Banff and Jasper national parks to get there. For those who want to enjoy the raw beauty of nature, a visit to the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island should do the trick. It covers Long Beach, a sandy stretch of 40 kilometers, which is also a surfers’ delight. One can get there by car from Victoria or Nanaimo. But book early if you want to get into this popular spot. Another attraction on Vancouver Island is the Hot Spring Cove. Whale watchers can visit during March and April, for storm watchers the perfect period would be autumn or winters. It is accessible by plane and boat. If wildlife is your thing, a visit to Baffin Island is a must. It is the largest island in Canada that houses Inuit villages. You can spot whales, arctic fox, lemmings, polar bears, walrus, caribou and other wild life here. Do not forget to enjoy dog sledding and snowmobiling here. You can reach the island by air.

Thank you to my dear friend at http://www.mobilebarservicewinnipeg.com/ for this guest post. As she has travelled to major cities across Canada for business related training engagements and has added many sight seeing tours to her itinerary during her trips.

African Adventure and Safari Expeditions

If you want to experience Africa in a truly unique, fun and exciting way, consider a safari expedition. This is usually a 4X4 safari trip that can last from 2 days up to 6 months. These are out of the ordinary safari expeditions designed for the fun-loving and adventurous sole. The greatest benefit when choosing an overland adventure is that the traveler can really experience the diversity of Africa by becoming part of it. With Safari Expeditions the other truly great benefit is that the traveler gets to remote, exciting and often off the beaten track areas where the traveler can get a taste of the real Africa.

When choosing a Safari Expedition to travel Africa, it is easy to plan your trip and activities, usually the Safari Company will give you an itinerary and often there is a certain amount of flexibility involved where the individual traveler can manipulate the itinerary to include their own plans. Another consideration when undertaking a Safari Expedition is Budget. When you choose an overland safari the host company will often include your accommodation, food costs and usually visa and gate entry fees into your budget. Often the expedition’s entire cost will incorporate all these costs, allowing you and others to budget for any extra activity you might want to do separately. This optional extra activity can be anything from white water rafting, fishing, horse riding to restaurant meals and buying curios.

An African Safari Expedition is a group holiday; travelers can travel on their own in the group or travel in pairs or more within the overland group. Overland Truck trips can have from 6 to 25 people in a group. As a result, these Overland Safaris are never boring, the days and evenings are filled with activity and fun. On the Safari the group has to perform a limited amount of general duties such as washing dishes and keeping the vehicle clean. These menial duties can often make the group feel united as a team and can promote friendship. Towards the end of the adventure all the members of the group can look back at the fun, excitement and team work that was involved in the entire trip, creating wonderful memories of making great friends along with experiencing the most diverse continent in the world. The traveler can choose the type of overland experience according to the safari company; there are luxury safari expeditions and budget Over Landers to consider. The accommodation on the tour can also range from luxury safari park accommodation to budget tenting.

Tempting Reasons for Flying First Class

There are now so many convenient ways of saving more and flying with the finest class of an airline. However, this concept is still a novelty for many travelers around the globe. And you’d see them most often questioning the need of spending so much on an airfare. This is certainly a matter of choice, and all you have to do to change this mindset is to travel with an airline’s first class and make the most of their countless benefits.

When traveling through the royal class, a passenger enjoys so many benefits that are otherwise only a dream in the economy class. To understand the ma

Pre-boarding

In the past, this mattered little. In today’s time, a traveler is never going to forget about what they experienced at the airport because of the airline. That is why airlines offering first class have perfected the look of their lounges and the services reflect the finest class of the airline. From fine furnishings to the delicious cuisine, transit itself feels no less than a luxury holiday. The smoother check-in process and chauffeured services are only some of these countless benefits. The Golden Lounge of Malaysian Airlines and the first class lounge of British Airways are a perfect example of it.

World Class Seats

When it comes to choosing first class flight for a long haul flight, a lot of this choice is based on the endless comforts of a first class seat. In today’s time, it is way more than only scoring high at being comfortable. To examine it in the finest manner, Emirate A380 First Class is a great example. If you’ve ever wished to become the King, here is the perfect chance. The personal suite and minibar enhance the experience of the luxury flight. Singapore Airlines Suites Class is another fine example of luxury and comfort offered on a first class seat.

Fantastic Food

This is one of the other reasons of flying first class and enjoying many of its benefits. A lot of us struggle to finish the unpleasant meals offered during the flight. With first class, you’d have no such worries. The diverse menu is an excellent benefit on a first class flight. You can follow your own timetable of sleeping and staying awake during the flight because first class offers you the meals as and when you like. Many of the first class flights have an onboard chef that gives the perfect recommendations and caters to the needs of individual passengers.