Get the hotel upgrade AND save money.

Riley loved the automatic pancake maker at the Sheraton Montreal! 

You know those hotels that don't include continental breakfast and a waterslide? Well, truth is, they often have something better.

Let's take for example, the Sheraton Montreal Centre, and the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. But heck, it could even be the Fairmont Winnipeg, Westin Ottawa or the like. What they, and most downtown business hotels offer is a "Club Lounge" or similar.

Basically, there is an open lounge setting, with TVs, couches, tables chairs, workstations and more. It's on the top floor of the hotel, and is included with some room classes, or can be added (for a fee) to regular rooms.

There are three ways to gain access to the club level: 

1) Be a member of their rewards program. Certain levels will earn you complimentary access.

2) Use your membership rewards points for an upgrade. For example, you can book the least expensive room in the hotel and then call to upgrade your room to "club" using 1500 of your Sheraton (SPG.com) rewards points. So, without any additional cash paid, you have upgraded and get all the perks free.

3) You can pay a nominal fee, at check-in, for an upgrade. Typically it's about $20 per person, but you can always try to negotiate that, especially on weekends when there are very few business travellers.

Why upgrade to Club and why is it worth is even if you are travelling with your children?

1) Space. I love having lounge space to use outside the hotel room itself. You can set up a board game with your kids, or spread out and read a newspaper. Both are typically provided. When kids have activities and other adults present, I always find they are on their best hotel behaviour.

2) The breakfasts are fabulous! "Real eggs!!!" As my son would tell you, are always worth it. If you've ever had stale pastries, powdered eggs and orange drink included as your hotel breakfast you will appreciate this obvious upgrade. Club breakfast, is more like Easter Brunch.

3) Complimentary espresso, fresh squeezed juices, bottle water, tea and hot chocolate, plus grab and-go fruit like apples and bananas are available around the clock.  This alone can be worth the $20 a day, if you are used to paying $5 a coffee and a few dollars for snacks and tea while you are on the go.

4) Both Sheraton and Fairmont offer afternoon "happy hour" and hors d'oeuvres in addition to the morning breakfast.  The Sheraton offered warm brie, cold smoked salmon, cheeses, vegetables and even nachos and guacamole. The Fairmont Chateau Frontenac was all this and more, including gourmet spoons, fresh breads and bite sized desserts.  This is great for kids as they can try new things, in small taster sizes, in a supervised setting, without you having to commit to taking them to a fancy restaurant or spending $100 or more to have such choices.

5) Access to alcohol, soft drinks, milk and juices without having to find a corner store. Aren't there times when you are travelling where you just want to kick back and have a single glass of wine, without committing to or wasting a bottle? Or wouldn't you love to have a mixed cocktail without buying all the ingredients and garnishes? After all, you are on vacation! Well, the Club Lounge has your whole bar. And while there is a fee for alcohol, it is certainly reasonable and much more convenient than hauling the groceries back up to your room and trying to keep ice in a leaky bucket.

So, while your thrifty self might routinely choose the least expensive room at the hotel, do consider the Club Lounge next time you find yourself in a business hotel. I expect you will value the food, beverages and space much more than you realized. And at $20 a day, you will see actual tangible savings over your regular spending habits on the road.

I find the greatest value in this practice, when travelling with my teenage son. I also feel it serves as a learning experience in manners, travel and social skills that I can not replicate when at home. And when it comes time for him to host a business meeting, or attend a fancy restaurant he will already be comfortable and somewhat familiar with the environment.

Shrimp cocktail, and oysters included at the Fairmont that afternoon.

Small sample of the afternoon deli selection. 

My morning cafe latte

Club Lounge at The Sheraton Montreal.

Fast Five Travel Notes: Destinations of 2014

2014 was a good travel year. I took many photos and left nothing but footprints. I enjoyed new foods, new beaches and made new friends.

Over the next few posts I'll detail these adventures in quick little "fast five" blog bites.

I might be feeling reflective, but I don't have a lot of reserve energy after the "un-holiday" that is Christmastime.


Five new destinations I visited in 2014.

1. Bermuda - this was in February. I wrote a lot about Bermuda and would definitely recommend it for a new or nervous traveller, those who want beaches but not scorching sunshine, or those who are celebrating retirement.

2. Devil's Lake, North Dakota. I stayed at the Holiday Inn, bought travel snacks at the new Wal-Mart and used their airport to fly United Airlines. Yes! You can connect to the whole world via DVL and United Airlines. Their twice a day service started in July 2014 and is growing strong. No lines and free parking make this one of North Dakota's best kept secrets.  Did you know you can pick up a round trip to Denver, Colorado for about $270 US? Now you know!

3. Denver, Colorado I had the privilege of experiencing this city with a new friend who already loved and had visited Denver. This gave me the chance to sit back and let someone else lead for once. I greatly benefitted from her knowledge and love of the city. Together we went to cafes, The Union Train Station  stumbled into some weird zombie walk/parade, and cheered as the Denver Broncos beat the 49ers and Peyton Manning threw his record breaking 509th touchdown pass.  What a weekend!

4. Quebec City, Quebec  My son and I took the train to Quebec City and saw this city for the first time together. It was fabulous! I would highly recommend it and can't wait to do it again. I wrote a great deal about it, back in August.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii  This trip wasn't as smooth as most. There were some logistical issues but once we arrived, Honolulu was heavenly. Great reviews (which I still have to write) were largely due to the amazing Sheraton Hotel on Waikiki Beach, and the great travel buddy along for the adventure. I hardly got the chance to see the island, so I think there will be a do-over at some point in my future. But, for 2014 it DOES count, as I did experience Honolulu for the first time.

Top 3 Hammocks

People like different things from a vacation. I like my hammock time. When life starts stressing me, I start strategizing ways to get back to a hammock.

Things I look for in a hammock are comfort, location, proximity to water, and beverage accessibility.

My top 3 hammocks are:

1. At the Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando Florida. First of all, there were 3 hammocks available. Never did I have to wait for a chance to sit and relax. It was also a fabric hammock which is certainly more comfortable than a rope hammock. It was a glorious rich purple colour. It was near the man-made lake and had some sun shelter. It was also near the kids' area which included a rock wall. Though I did have some concerns about wrecking my bliss with the sound of screaming kids, that never did happen. One morning I even did some parenting from the hammock and cheered for my son on the rock wall while I relaxed. There is a pool bar and waitress service in the area should you wish to have a beverage. Each hammock also had its own side table perfect to keep your belongings and/or beverage nearby. What puts this hammock over the top is that in the evening, you can see the Disneyworld fireworks in the distance. What could be more perfect than that?

Ocean Club (east) Turks and Caicos Islands

2. At the Ocean Club in the Turks and Caicos. I loved my hammock time here. For a long time the photo of me and this hammock served as my Facebook profile picture. However, it's not my all time favourite anymore. It was a rope hammock, at the edge of the beach restaurant/bar, and next to the ocean. It was under a palm tree in the caribbean, which makes it pretty damn perfect. However, you kind of felt on display to the diners and folks sitting at the patio tables 20 feet or so away. While you could hear the lounge music, which was very soothing, you could also hear other people's conversations and kids yelling and splashing in the pool. BUT, it is located at a near perfect resort, at the edge of one of the world's top beaches (Grace Bay) and I loved my time there.

3. At the Sheraton Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Hawaii. It was the least comfortable of the hammocks, but its location was amazing. It was mere steps away from the ocean, it was tied to a palm tree and it was available when I wanted it. While it lacked beverage service, it made up for it in the view. You could see Diamond Head in the distance.

Do you have a favourite hammock? Please leave the locations in the comment box. I'm always on the lookout for new destinations.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando. Best hammock ever!

Sheraton Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Comparing the Bahamas

Here's a bargain if you can go in the next 5 weeks. Sure, the weather here at home is still nice, but it's not BAHAMAS nice!

The hotel is the Wyndham. I've stayed at the twin sister Sheraton on the same 1/2 mile stretch of beach. (Cable Beach and it is seriously gorgeous!) I've even wandered thru the Wyndham but I have never stayed in the rooms. The Sheraton Cable Beach is amazing and I would stay there again in a heartbeat. It is about 10% more expensive than the Wyndham here on average.

For comparison, I searched the same week and destination for each of the next 5 months. All are Westjet packages and are the same flights. So... apples to apples.  As always, I recommend NOT making a decision on price alone. Do check the recent Trip Advisor reports on the destination and specific hotel BEFORE you book.

Typically the price in the 5star column for the Bahamas is Atlantis Resort. Which, as you know, is my favourite place on earth.

Alaska Anyone?

Grab a pen and get ready to scratch this destination off your Bucket List! Alaska is half price!!!

This little bargain is good on countless dates between this weekend and June 2014!  Their tourist season is May through September, but as a Manitoban, you'd be comfortable in a sweater any time of year!

Grab the flight alone for $428 round trip on United or Delta. Each is tax included from YWG (Winnipeg) to ANC (Anchorage). The United flights are shorter and mostly 1 connection flights. You either touchdown in Chicago or Denver.

The Delta flights are each 2 connections, and are further as they back track to their Minneapolis hub before (typically) stopping in SLC on the way to ANC.

Stay 4 nights or a dozen... it's up to you. The flight combos are pretty endless here. And right now (August 12th) they are about half the price of normal.  Bring a friend for free!

Partner it up with a hotel and it can be as little as a $606  (4nights included) vacation. Choose from lodge style hotels, B&B cottages or a Sheraton. Anchorage has everything. If you are hoping to spy a view of former Governor Sarah Palin, you may wish to stay in nearby Wasilla Alaska!

To search for flights use your favourite APP or visit the airlines own website www.united.com. You can book packages similar to those shown below at www.Expedia.ca. Or as always, call your favourite local travel agent.

A Week in Vancouver

This bargain is from Westjetvacations.com , but I spied the deal at Redtag.ca

The Sheraton Wall Centre is a fabulous downtown hotel. 7 nights in this hotel would set you back over $1000 typically. However, in this package, it is included with roundtrip Westjet flights and all taxes for $815.

It's a good deal. Maybe wait out the snow melt and end of Winnipeg winter by escaping to Vancouver?