Hit the Internet Highway

What a frostbitten freaking cold day, eh? Makes you want to do a little research on a hot vacation doesn't it?

I love to write and travel but I'm by no means worldly. I haven't seen it all and I haven't done it all. And guess what? I actually have no desire to. At this point I'm not planning any trips to Asia, Antarctica or even Australia. But if you are inspired to do it, I say "GO FOR IT!" Travel wherever you heart and wallet would love to go. I'll even buy your coffee when you get home so I can hear all about it!

There are sooooo many travel blogs better than mine. Here are just a few to fuel your travel fire and get you through this cold, cold week!

1. Toque and Canoe - Truly Canadian!

2. Mike's Road Trip - Incase you're thinking of packing up the kids and hitting the open highway.

3. Dream a Little Dream - They've been everywhere, man.

4. Uncommon Caribbean - So beautiful and thorough. Pick an island!

5. Dave & Deb Travel - A Canadian couple going places. Specializing in couples' trips.


And if Twitter's your thing, make sure to follow these savvy travellers.

@spencerspellman

@mrsaroundtheworld

@hlooman

@Roamingblog

@theplanetd

Maybe win a trip?

I never did get a chance to see any of CTV's Amazing Race Canada, but I did enter their contest a couple of times. The allure of potentially winning a year's flight pass in Executive Class with Air Canada was almost dreamy.

But I didn't win.

But an unlimited flight pass for a year, well, that's my new fantasy.

Until then, I'll maybe enter a contest here or there and dream a bit. That's what gets me through the days when work is hard. I think about a sunny beach or a ball game or my next Vegas adventure.  When you work in an 8 foot stretch of windowless kitchen, you need to have an imagination. I'm testing out potential trips and routes and events in my mind. You really didn't think I was worrying about how much ketchup was left in the bottle, did you?

Here's another fun contest from Air Canada. Each week in October they are giving away 3 free trips. One to each of three destinations: Florida, New York and Vegas.  Maybe if I'm really lucky I'll win the New York trip. I haven't been there...yet!

https://www.aircanada-ssl.com/spintowin/public/en

Baby, Let's Cruise

If you're going to cruise with kids, who else would you choose, but Disney?

There's a bargain to be had out of the Galveston, Texas port later this fall. Now that Disney has 4 Ships (Magic, Wonder, Dream & Fantasy... in chronological order) they can move them around the globe and offer many different cruises.

One example is the Alaska Cruise that the Wonder does in the Summer. Later, the Wonder is the ship that will be repositioned to Texas, and later still, over to Miami for service in early 2014.

If you're looking for a bargain, you can check Disney's own site under the "specials" section. Currently they are offering discounts from Galveston or Miami on fall time cruises. There is consistently a Military discount as well. Sometimes there are offers for Canadians specifically, like when the Wonder cruises to Alaska from the Vancouver port.

I have done the Disney cruise to Alaska. It was in 2011, the first summer it was ever offered. Breathtaking scenery, but something I only ever need to do once.

Cruising, on the other hand, I could probably be convinced to go to the Caribbean.

And with some of the Disney deals, I might actually be convinced.

Check out these comparables:

If you look at the two November 16th cruises, there is a significant price difference. New ship vs old ship. Coastal Port vs Texas port. 

Then the 23rd cruise is from Port Canaveral, on a new ship and travels to Grand Cayman, 2 Mexico Ports and Disney's own Castaway Cay (Bahamas). 

Where's the bargain? As I see it, Galveston. For several reasons.... 1) Ports (Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel) the older ship has the identical famous service and characters and fewer passengers to share it with. 

There's much more to talk about here, but that will be our next chapter.