Denver: A city with a pulse

We were walking home from Coors Field, after a baseball game and happened upon a huge gathering of bikes. Pedal bikes! It was a large group of 20-somethings out riding, playing music and socializing on the downtown streets.

It was definitely a crowd that caught your attention. At one of the stoplights, I asked a nearby rider what was going on. She told me they were the Denver Cruisers and it was just what they did on Wednesday nights. She told me that they even had their own web site where they announced their meet up locations and times.

It was cool! A city with a pulse... and personality! Definitely gave me the impression that Denver was a cool city. It looked like they were having a lot of fun.

The Suite Life

5 Tips for landing a sweet deal on a hotel suite.

1. Book directly with the hotel, whether on line or by 1-800. Your chances of being upgraded (at no cost) from a basic room, to a suite are far greater.  Book through a discount or generic travel site like Expedia.ca and the hotel is sharing a commission with them. This means you paid less, than someone booking directly with the hotel, which means you will likely receive less even though you paid exactly the "same" amount out of pocket. Nearly all chains have a "best price guarantee" offered at their own site.

2. Call a few days ahead and ask the hotel if there are any options or discounts to upgrade your room before you arrive. (Most hotels will give you at least 50% off the charge of an upgrade this way.)

3. Be important to them. Have their Players Club card (Vegas) or loyalty passport (Hyatt) or President's Club (Fairmont) etc. The more you stay, eat, spend, gamble, the more valuable you become. Even if it's your first (or potentially only) time with them, the clubs are free.

4. Dress nicely and use your best manners checking in. Look and act like you deserve the best.

5. Ask. It never hurts to ask at check-in, if there is a room available with a view, or near the pool, or with whichever amenities you favour.