About Us

Accommodations

Gadgets and Apps

Travel Information

Flights

 

Preparation

Our approach to travelling is to enjoy all aspects of the experience including getting ready to go. We find it fun to plan a trip, research a destination and to find ways to save money while doing so.  We appreciate and take advantage of the advice of seasoned travelers regarding how to pack, budget and get around; where to go and what to see; and what is important to understand about the experience.  We take pleasure in engaging authentically with the people and places we visit. We strive to stay safe and healthy without being overly fearful.

Pre-Planning

 The sites below offer checklists and links to use to pre-plan before leaving home. They are updated to reflect post-Covid considerations.

NEW  30 Important Things to Prepare Before   Traveling Abroad The Ultimate Checklist Before Traveling Abroad

The Colorful Man mural by artist Fluke in Calgary elicits a sense of wanderlust

 

See the Travel Information page with more specific information about planning tools and booking sites.

 
My 50 Best Travel Tips After 10 Years Traveling the World provides tips about planning, packing, and saving money for making travel easier, safer and more fun.

Rick Steves Travel Tips offers a range of practical tips for travelling in Europe (but useful elsewhere) such as being strategic about sightseeing, using technology, tipping, staying healthy and getting medical care, planning meals, managing money, packing light, avoiding thefts and scams, understanding signs and procedures for driving, taking trains, using public transit and toilets, and behaving in culturally appropriate ways.
 

         Being prepared with print and audio guides, flexible gear and clothing, and open minds

Becoming Familiar with Destinations

 A lot of the fun in planning is to become familiar with places before we arrive. For this purpose we use online resources such as:

Google Maps offers street maps, satellite imagery, 360° panoramic street views, route planning for travelling by car, transit or foot, and real-time traffic conditions. It is available as a GPS navigation app.

GPSmyCity is an app for acquiring self-guided walking tours in over 1000 cities. They are prepared by locals and highlight and explain the major attractions. Different walks are available for different interests such as museums, religious buildings, nightlife, etc. There are also travel article app giveaways.

Tripadvisor Travel Forum provides an interface to directly ask questions and get advice from people more experienced and familiar with locations. The site may be browsed by destination or by theme.

NEW IQ Cruising: Reviews and Port Guides for 2023, Cruise Port Wiki and What's In Port provide detailed information targetted to cruise ship passengers about their ports of call. They provide maps and advice about logistics, transportation choices and tips for seeing the top sights.

NEW Tours By Locals connects travellers to guides who will customize private tours in various locations in 171 countries.

  

            Sample downloadable maps from GPSmyCity and What's in Port
 

Practicing Cultural Sensitivity

We travel with the intention of being respectful and appreciative of cultural differences and welcome the learning opportunities that arise from the uncertainties of being in a new place and experiencing a new culture. Here are some sites we have found useful for gaining understanding of different cultures.

Culture Crossing Guide is an evolving database of information about 200+ countries. It provides information about basic cultural tips, as well as information related to conducting business or being a student.

Commmisceo Global provides country guides on topics of language, society, culture, food, beliefs, business practices and social etiquette to build skills to improve communication and act appropriately.

It is important to be aware of the cultural and legal aspects of our behaviour and clothing, such as the expectations when entering places of worship. Another aspect of culturally respectful behaviour is verbal and non-verbal communication. We always try to learn a few phrases of the language and a few of the gestures of a place we are visiting. While not necessarily improving communication, showing that we’ve made the effort shows respect, builds acceptance and warmth, and frankly makes others more willing to give us a hand when we need some help. An online search of “survival phrases in X language” or “X language basic words for travelers” yields helpful lists and videos. See the Gadgets and Apps page for ideas about translation tools.

Staying Safe

We appreciate that in the majority of places we travel the local people are helpful and kind and proud of their homeland. We are thankful that many countries have developed or are developing useful tourist infrastructure. We believe that for the most part, the world is a pretty safe place.  However, it is still prudent to take safety precautions, to avoid thefts, scams or mishaps, and in a sense to prepare for the worst. Things to pay attention to ahead of time include required travel documents, medical issues, and financial and digital security. See the pre-planning checklists above for things to consider.

The Government of UK Foreign Travel Advice provides information about countries' entry requirements, laws and customs, safety and security, natural disasters,  and coronavirus situation.

The Government of Canada Travel Abroad website provides a wealth of information on health and safety, travel documentation, border crossings, travel advice and advisories, and vaccination requirements.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes advice for hundreds of destinations on getting immunizations, staying healthy while travelling, accessing medical care, and packing necessary documents, medicines and first aid supplies.

In addition to health considerations, there are many other common-sense approaches for mitigating risks and keeping yourself and your valuables safe.

TripSavvy Trip Planning: Safety and Insurance offers tips on numerous aspects of travel safety from trip insurance coverage, to covid re-opening plans, outdoor survival and advice for specific destinations.

 

from Rick Steves Europe: Travel Tips

25 Important Travel Safety Tips Everyone Should Know Solo Travel Safety: 50+ Tips for Those Who Travel Alone   Tips for Reducing Travel Stress

 

Getting Around

While preparing for a trip it is important to pre-plan how to get around to both maximize your time and stretch your budget. Depending on the destination, the best alternatives may include flying, going by train, ferry or bus, renting a car, using taxis, water taxis, shuttles or ride shares, or relying on organized tours.  In cities, it is often best to use public transportation (metros, buses, trams), and to select accommodation based on access to stations, terminals and stops. The popular hop-on hop-off buses are also a convenient and inexpensive way to access major tourist attractions in many cities.

 Rome2Rio: Discover How to Get Anywhere is probably the best site for comparing travel options by air, train, ferry, bus or rideshare. It searches any city, town, landmark, attraction or address across the globe with thousands of multi-modal routes to easily get you from A to B, listing all the possible ways to get to a destination including time and cost. Booking tickets can also be done on this site.

Articles like those below address some of the available transportation choices and considerations to be made while deciding on the best options. Turo is a new option for rentals of privately owned vehicles. Check what your car insurance policy covers through the S.E.F. 27 clause.

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours Complete Guide to Train Travel in Europe Transportation Options in Asia 10 Tips for Renting a Car Abroad Tips for Booking a Rental Car in Europe Turo Car Share Marketplace

  

Packing Appropriately

One of the easiest ways to enhance the travel experience and to stay safe is to travel light. Carrying as little luggage as possible allows you to get around more easily, especially when doing things like traipsing along cobblestone streets or boarding trains. Traveling light can save money by avoiding luggage fees on planes or extra charges for taxis.   It is possible to dress well by packing a few interchangeable pieces of easily-laundered clothing that can be layered for varying weather. Depending on our destination, we carefully consider which toiletries and gear are essential to pack and which are better purchased on arrival. There are packing methods that allow for very efficient use of space.

Why You Should Pack Light and How to Do It Packing Like a Pro and Travelling Light Travel Tips on How to Pack Light The Ultimate Carry On Travel Packing List

from Mark Marek, Packing Like a Pro

 

Managing Finances

The challenge of dealing with foreign currencies can be alleviated with a few tools. We have recently discovered that Canada Post delivers foreign currency with low exchange fees. We have also found a credit card that charges no currency exchange transaction fees. Here are some tips we have found useful.
 

How to Manage Your Money When Traveling has some excellent tips for finding accounts with low fees, using credit and debit cards, accessing ATMs, and using cash.

Rick Steves’ Travel Tips: Money has cash and currency tips for Europe, including advice about tipping practices, theft-proofing, using PIN and chip cards, and claiming sales tax rebates.  

XE Currency Converter provides a tool for converting any currency into any other currency. The website also has additional resources such as tips for preventing fraud, and tips for reducing foreign exchange costs.