Short Stay Holidays Under $1000

The best bargains on this page are to Orlando, and to Palm Springs. Under $700 each is a pretty nice package price for 5 nights.

That being noted, there is nothing wrong with the prices to Anaheim (sadly, just 3 days) and to Maui. Maui is one of the nicest destinations you'll ever experience. It should be on everyone's to do list. But at a 5 night stay, you might feel a little rushed and have trouble adjusting to the time change. I'd recommend at least 7 nights in Maui.

With the US dollar rising and our Canadian dollar falling, package prices this good, will soon be a memory. Enjoy the deals while they are here.

Deals are current as of today's date and were found at www. westjet.com.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Going Solo

I recently completed, and thoroughly enjoyed, my first solo vacation to another country. I certainly picked a great destination for this first foray into the unknown. Bermuda was ideal in that it is very much a British colony, with first world living conditions, is safe and maintains laws and standards very similar to Canada.

Five things I learnt going solo: 

1. I did more research. Before I ever left Canada, I felt like I KNEW Bermuda and what to expect, thanks to the hours of research on Trip Advisor and similar sights.

2. I was more aware of my surroundings. In doing this, I also feel I saw more and experienced more of the little things that otherwise might go unnoticed.

3. I was more open to having conversations with staff and strangers. Whether it was at the pool, or walking along the beach, or sitting in the airport, people felt more inclined to say hello or engage in small talk. This is fairly logical in that when you are travelling with your own family or friends you are your own little "clique" and are more likely to stay within your group. People who spoke up and introduced themselves were other women. This was really refreshing. I had many interesting conversations and also learnt from their experiences in Bermuda.

4. Being alone, I could choose what, when and where I ate. There were no negotiations, no compromising. No surveying the group to see who wanted Chinese and who wanted tacos etc etc.

5. I took more pictures of the scenery than anything. It was hard to take a "selfie" that I liked. Setting the camera up on a ledge and using the timer was also a poor way to take a photo.

Would I travel by myself again? Absolutely. Bermuda was a great place to sit on the beach and just observe the ocean. It was therapeutic and everything I wanted from this trip.

Finding YOUR travel bargain.

Just a few quick tips on how to start planning your next trip.

1. Use the technology in your hand.  There are several apps designed to help you find the best price on airfare, hotels and car rentals.  Seek them out. I like Kayak, OnTheFly and Hotwire to name just a few. But there are literally dozens and dozens of helpful apps to choose from.

2. Use social media. Follow people on Twitter with similar travel interests/styles.  "Like" the Facebook pages of places you would like to go. This way you will be very likely to see their sales and special offers.

3. Collect points. Whether it is Aeroplan, Airmiles. Skymiles etc these points programs will subsidize your travel and quite frequently offer additional discounts to members.

St. Kitts for Easter?

Air Canada Vacations has some super deals on St. Kitts right now. For just over $1000 you can explore this Caribbean island for 7 days and nights this April.

St. Kitts is near Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The island is 69 square miles and has a population of just over 31,000. There are many beaches to explore and activities to keep you busy. You'll find there's just about something for everyone in St. Kitts.

Their official tourism site can be found here. Definitely check out the picture gallery! You'll be dreaming of the island and planning your next getaway before you know it.

The 7 night vacation shown here includes the Easter Weekend (April 18th-22) and might just save you a little holiday time. It's certainly a great price for a holiday date.  There are many hotels offered at similar prices. The Marriott is one of the most popular and highly rated offered by Air Canada.  But you should check out Trip Advisor for yourself.

St. Kitts.... definitely not a cookie cutter holiday!

Bermuda: Must See Jewelry

I was out shopping in the city district of Hamilton, Bermuda when the rain started. I detoured into the Washington Mall, but at the time I didn't exactly know where I was. I wandered a bit and was starting to feel lost when I was absolutely captivated by a window display and thus drawn into a boutique store selling jewelry.

At first glance, the soft pinks of the designs reminded me of the Bermuda beaches. Upon opening my eyes, that's EXACTLY what I was seeing! Hand made jewelry and designs inspired by the beauty of the island's landscape.  I took the time to examine the pieces and found myself quickly in a crowd of shoppers who had stopped in to meet the designer herself. People were here on recommendations, others had read on FB that she would be in the store that day and had made the trip specifically to talk with her and purchase their pieces from the designer herself.

It wasn't long before I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Mosher and learnt of a Canadian connection. I was so impressed with her designs and her story that I HAD to break my own rule of "no souvenirs" and purchase a necklace for myself. Actually, truth be told, I would have bought 6 or 7 pieces if the budget had allowed. The "melt" collection and the "caviar" collection are stunning.

I was absolutely thrilled to make a friend that day and learn of her entrepreneurial path. Alexandra is living her dream and there's nothing more inspiring.

I'll return to my own entrepreneurial endeavours later this month, feeling re-charged and inspired to create again and further pursue success. That's exactly what I needed. There are no wrong turns. There are simply NO wrong turns!

This was the gem that is Bermuda to me.

Last Minute Flights from Aeroplan

This week's Aeroplan flight offerings are as follows:

With just a few clicks of a mouse you can cash in your points and be on your way to somewhere warm, somewhere cosmopolitan, somewhere culturally rich or somewhere sporting! The choice is yours.

No points? You can change that too. To sign up and start collecting Aeroplan points is free. Just visit their web site. To get a free flight, sign up for one of the Aeroplan branded credit cards. Then start earning mega miles on grocery and gas purchases. It won't be long before you're in the air!

Bermuda: The Fish Chowder

There are two dishes that stand out in the authentic Bermudian culinary experience. One is their fish chowder, the other is Sunday cod and boiled potatoes.

This photo is of the fish chowder served in The Jasmine Lounge of the Fairmont Southampton. The fish chowder is NOT a creamy potato and clam blend like that of New England. It's not a clam chowder at all. Nothing like that!

It is dark brown, is thin, tomato based, spicy and not particularly "fishy" tasting. If you look closely in the photo the soup looks as if it has separated, but that's not the case at all. In Bermuda your soup is served, and then it is drizzled with sherry pepper sauce and dark rum at the table.

I eagerly dug into this gorgeous soup and was anything but disappointed. It was such a rich blend of spices and flavours, I can say that no two spoonfuls were the same. At times, I really couldn't tell if it was the temperature, or the delicious spice that was setting my tongue on fire.

The soup was just $11 and was served with a sweet Johnny Cake and butter.  I found it quite filling and positively satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I did not get a chance to experience traditional Sunday brunch, though I do understand it is as much about faith, family and community as it is the food. It has brought people together in churches and homes as a way to feed and nourish all, especially the needy. The tradition has continued and Sunday is known as the day to gather and enjoy cod, boiled potatoes, onion, avocado and bananas. It sound interesting, if not appealing. Logically, it is the food most plentiful in the region and has been for generations.

The history of the land, the people and their faith are often told through cuisine. You can learn a great deal about a culture from experiencing the food and respecting the manners in which it is prepared and served.

If you are interested in trying these dishes at home, recipes are plentiful on the Internet.