What's your path? Your perfect trip?

Are you a trail blazer? 

A patio princess? 

A cafe Cathie? 

A super sports fan?

A water baby? 

You can be them all! Travel is an amazing gift to give yourself.  Find you inner strength, your curiosity and sense of fulfillment.  Choose your own ADVENTURE!

If you are waiting for someone else to give you permission to live your life....here it is. 

You are worthy. You are wonderful and you are CAPABLE. You got this! Now go for it. 

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Pack like a mom

I travel light. I've even taken my family to Hawaii for 8 days without ever checking a bag. And you'll never find me on a suitcase shaming site trying to shove an oversized bag into the overhead bin.

While I don't know everything, and I'll never claim to,  I can sure help the travel newbie.

5 things to pack for EVERY trip:

1. Basic family first aid kit. Make sure to bring any medication you need. Make sure everything is in its original packaging and properly labeled.

2. Snacks. Even if you are travelling to an all inclusive resort, I always make sure to pack granola bars, almonds and trail mix for the flight, the airport delays and the 'hunger crankies' that plague kids on the sometimes exhausting travel days.  The M & M's are for me.  I could never pay $3 at the airport kiosk for my fix!  Snacks can take up very little room. This is one Ziploc sandwich bag.

3.  Distractions.  Batteries die and even kids get bored with their video games. So I always pack a deck of cards (think Go Fish or War) and a tactile puzzle. (See the little wire puzzle.) You can pick up one of these mind bender puzzles at any toy store for about $9. They are deceptively simple and sometimes frustrating, both are awesome qualities and challenge you and the kids in ways you will enjoy. Road trips or airport lounges, these wire puzzles get passed around and around. Everyone loves them and asks me where to get them or even if they can buy it from me. Hours of old school fun!

4. Pack something that makes you feel fashionable and fun. It's YOUR vacation too. And don't forget the hat and sunscreen. You need to model good sun habits for your kids. 

5. Pack a camera. Any camera! And have it with you at all times. Some of the impromptu experiences and sudden joys will be what makes the trip most memorable.  And please print photos when you get home. At least a few! Because we have all heard the stories of broken phones, lost cameras and stolen memories. Don't lose yours. 

I love scenes and signs. Brings back great vacation memories! 

Fast 5 Travel Tips: How to find the YBR bargain

YBR is a small, and relatively new airport in Brandon Manitoba. It has daily service from Westjet Airlines to their hub in Calgary, Alberta.

So far, YBR is not recognized by the major search engines or travel sites, thus making it a challenge to find the best dates to fly. However, using these tips and tricks you'll be poised to find the best deals.

1. Be flexible. If your leisure travel can be tailored to suit the best bargains, you'll save more money and travel for less.

2. Using your favourite APP, like 'Air Fare Watchdog', 'Kayak' or 'On The Fly' set your searches for YYC (Calgary) airport.  When you find the cheapest dates to fly to your destination, from Calgary, THEN go the Westjet flight booking page and look up the price starting in YBR.

3. When there are advertised Westjet sales even from other departure cities, make a point of looking up your favourite destinations. They might be on sale from YBR even though they are not advertised.

4. Book 6-8 weeks before your desired flight. Historically, this is when the best prices are offered.

5. Now that a second daily flight has been added, (After January 15th, 2016) you should look to book trips for January to March, as soon as possible, while supply still exceeds demand.

** Do note that holiday times (like Christmas and Easter) are extremely busy travel times. You are not likely to find a bargain during these high times. It's best to book early and commit as soon as you can.


And of course... the best tip of all:  Subscribe to this blog and hear about deals departing from Manitoba cities!

July 24 Bahamas Sale

Air Canada has answered Westjet's Blue Tag special with their own one day deal. Good prices on select dates on flights to Nassau (Bahamas) or Grand Cayman. Travel prices on sale until midnight on the 24th only.

It's not an exceptional deal. It's a nice deal, nearing the end of hurricane season.  Your call.

So much more that JUST Calgary!

It still makes me cringe when I hear people say,  "I don't want to fly to Calgary. What good is Westjet if there's only one flight a day and it only goes to Calgary?"

OMG NO! Westjet does not ONLY fly to Calgary. Calgary (YYC) is a hub. A hub!! Like Denver is to United Airlines and Minneapolis is to Delta.  Their flight system feeds into their hub and from there you can connect to the world!

From our little airport in Brandon, Manitoba (YBR) you can currently fly (Leaving at 1:15pm) and get to your fabulous holiday destination same day. That list includes Honolulu, Maui, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Nanimo, Comox, Edmonton, Los Angeles and more!

However, there are additional routes (Like SNA, SFO) that require an overnight stay in Calgary (YYC) but, as on January 15th, 2016 Westjet will double the number of flights out of Brandon, with strategic timing so that you can widen your choice of same-day destinations even more.  This is wonderful news!  It definitely has cost savings for the bargain traveller.  When you eliminate the hotel stay in YYC you are saving at least $150.

Let's look at this Las Vegas example:   Look at the flight options in September and January.  Pretty great eh? More vacation for your money. And realistically, back at home at 11:20pm after arriving at YBR. Sure beats that 2 hour & 20 minute trek from YWG!

The future of travel looks bright and includes our YBR. Where do you want to go next?

New Compensation from Air Canada

Well, this is news. It just popped up on Air Canada's website this week and it outlines their new system for re-booking passengers on oversold flights.

While it does not spell out the actual dollar value of potential compensation, industry experts suggest it is $400 or greater, depending on the delay or inconvenience you are caused. (Albeit something you volunteered for.) 

In 2013, the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled against Air Canada saying their schedule of payment was insufficient. In their ruling, they mandated higher compensation, as high as $800 in some cases.  Here's a CBC news article to that regard, from nearly 2 years ago.

Air Canada's new guidelines and explanation is dated July 20, 2015.

This now puts Air Canada more in line with Delta Airlines and their $200/$300/$600 compensation structure. I have, at least 5 or 6 times, been alerted at the kiosk by Delta of their need for possible volunteers. Their kiosk asks you to name your compensation requirement at time of automated check-in. And one can only assume, the passengers who volunteer and offer the lowest bid are selected.

I personally have chosen to 'bump' and indeed our family of 4 was awarded $600 per person in future flight credits. (That's $2400 in free future flights that we received.) It was sweet! And we hardly minded the inconvenience.  Heck, I believe we even toasted Delta on our subsequent free flight to California.

While not making it to your destination on-time can be annoying, it can also be an opportunity for discounted future travel.

September getaway

Here are a few suggestions and current prices for a 3-4 day getaway that are NOT Las Vegas.

Even though the prices listed here are in Canadian funds, and the package prices are very good, please keep in mind that your spending money is only worth 72cents in the USA right now.  This might make you think twice about staying in Canada.

British Columbia anyone?  This samples are for flights only, from Brandon.

**** Different dates will have different prices. Subject to change at any time.

Package samples: 

San Francisco, from Winnipeg. Flight only & with a hotel sample