http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel Travel tips 'n bits from Travel Editor Nicole Feenstra en-CA hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel/2010/02/08/i_m_going_to_disney_world 2010-02-08T20:52:45Z nfeenstra Live from Disney World! On Feb. 10, I will grab my suitcase, pack my laptop, and head off to Walt Disney World, Florida on a press trip celebrating Disney's volunteerism campaign. Yes, just like new Super Bowl champion Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints did, it's my turn to declare, "I'm Going to Disney World!" No doubt you've seen Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion. Residents of the United States and Canada can volunteer for one day with an approved charity (enter ...
Yes, just like new Super Bowl champion Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints did, it's my turn to declare, "I'm Going to Disney World!"

No doubt you've seen Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion. Residents of the United States and Canada can volunteer for one day with an approved charity (enter your postal code here to see what's eligible in your area) to get a free ticket for one-day admission to a Disney theme park.

It's a win-win deal, and one that celebs from Taye Diggs to Desperate Housewives' James Denton have signed on to support.

In addition to volunteering with "some very familiar faces" (Diggs? Miss Piggy?) while at Disney World, I hope to discover much about the Happiest Place on Earth during my visit. I wonder why it's such a popular destination for Canadians, if adults can enjoy a trip sans-children, and, as Valentine's Day falls on the Sunday of my visit, what does Disney offer the romantic?

I will be blogging throughout my trip and Twittering via the Canoe Travel Twitter feed.

- Nicole Feenstra]]> http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel/2010/02/05/great_canadian_olympic_moments 2010-02-05T18:10:58Z nfeenstra General In 2003, Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee. In 2006, the Olympic flag was passed to then-Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan during the closing ceremonies of the Turin Games. In early 2009, commercials began airing on televisions across the country asking Canadians if they believed this would be the first year a Canadian athlete would win a gold medal on Canadian soil. Now, in just one week, the Olympic flame will arrive in Vancouver and shine a light ...
In 2006, the Olympic flag was passed to then-Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan during the closing ceremonies of the Turin Games.

In early 2009, commercials began airing on televisions across the country asking Canadians if they believed this would be the first year a Canadian athlete would win a gold medal on Canadian soil.

Now, in just one week, the Olympic flame will arrive in Vancouver and shine a light on the opening ceremonies of the 21st Winter Olympics.

Though it may be hard to believe the Games are finally here, competitors in sports ranging from curling to luge to skiing have long been preparing for this moment, perhaps hoping to give the next legendary Olympics performance, the one Canadians will never forget.

The editors of CheapFlights.ca took a moment to reminisce about Canada's top Winter Olympic moments. Here are their five most memorable:

1. Myriam Bedard became the first North American athlete to win an Olympic biathlon in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994.

2. Sandra Schmirler led Canada's curling team to a gold medal at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan, the first year curling was an official Olympic sport.

3. Ross Rebagliati won the first ever gold medal in snowboarding at the Nagano Games.

4. Canada's men's and women's hockey teams defeated teams from the United States to take the gold medals in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002.

5. Kathy Kreiner, at 18-year-old, won the gold medal in giant slalom. It would be Canada's only medal at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

What are your favourite Canadian Winter Olympic moments?

- Nicole Feenstra]]> http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel/2010/02/04/is_love_ready_for_takeoff 2010-02-04T14:38:57Z nfeenstra What we want With Valentine's just days away, lovers who are having difficulties deciding on that perfect something for their sweetheart may want to consider the gift of travel. A survey of 6,500 travellers by Yapta.com reveals many are already turning to travel as a gift, with 60 per cent of respondents revealing they plan to take a romantic getaway with their significant other this year. Only 14 per cent said Valentine's Day would prompt them to do so, though, perhaps indicating love is ... Valentine's just days away, lovers who are having difficulties deciding on that perfect something for their sweetheart may want to consider the gift of travel.

A survey of 6,500 travellers by Yapta.com reveals many are already turning to travel as a gift, with 60 per cent of respondents revealing they plan to take a romantic getaway with their significant other this year. Only 14 per cent said Valentine's Day would prompt them to do so, though, perhaps indicating love is alive and well in the world year-round.

The destination of choice for couples is Italy, with 22 per cent of respondents claiming the country as their ideal romantic locale. Hawaii was a close second with 18 per cent of the vote, while France and the Bahamas or Caribbean each received 10 per cent of the vote.

Single travellers looking for love need not despair. Thirteen per cent of Yapta.com survey respondents said they have found romance while at the airport or on an airplane.

Locally, I find Niagara Falls to be quite a romantic destination for me and my boyfriend, and, though I was single while there, I always fondly remember Paris as a place where love was just part of the ambiance.

What are your favourite romantic destinations?

- Nicole Feenstra]]> http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel/2010/02/02/the_most_useful_travel_sites 2010-02-02T19:17:13Z nfeenstra Reviews Each day, the creators of the Webby Awards brighten the inboxes of many with Netted, an email service spotlighting the web's best, most innovative, and most useful websites. Launched in late 2009, Netted has highlighted many travel sites and phone applications in its short lifespan, several of which I've reviewed myself, including HazelMail, a personal postcard creator; Oyster, a site comparing real and hotel-photographed images; and TripIt, a fantastic site allowing users to create and manage their own itineraries. In fact, Netted ... Webby Awards brighten the inboxes of many with Netted, an email service spotlighting the web's best, most innovative, and most useful websites.

Launched in late 2009, Netted has highlighted many travel sites and phone applications in its short lifespan, several of which I've reviewed myself, including HazelMail, a personal postcard creator; Oyster, a site comparing real and hotel-photographed images; and TripIt, a fantastic site allowing users to create and manage their own itineraries.

In fact, Netted has a whole category dedicated to great travel sites which promise to make your life - and travel - simpler. Other favourite travel services of the Webby Awards gang include Taxi Magic, an app that allows you to find, track and pay for a cab from your phone; Gas Buddy, a service that allows you to find the lowest gas prices in your area; and FlightCaster, a service that predicts the likelihood of flight delays on any given day.

Do travel sites and apps like these make your life easier or more productive?

- Nicole Feenstra]]> http://blog.canoe.ca/travel/travel/2010/01/28/is_public_transit_the_better_way 2010-01-28T20:45:41Z nfeenstra General Yesterday, Canoe.ca Travel ran a gallery on the world's most popular, busiest, and most aesthetically pleasing subway systems. Montreal's Metro was the only Canadian system to make the list, though Vancouver's SkyTrain certainly could have been included, with its exemplary automated service and the honour of being the longest automated rapid transit system in the world. In what was perhaps no surprise, the Toronto Transit Commission was omitted. What was once considered a shining example of public transit, complete with state-of-the-art ... world's most popular, busiest, and most aesthetically pleasing subway systems.

Montreal's Metro was the only Canadian system to make the list, though Vancouver's SkyTrain certainly could have been included, with its exemplary automated service and the honour of being the longest automated rapid transit system in the world.

In what was perhaps no surprise, the Toronto Transit Commission was omitted. What was once considered a shining example of public transit, complete with state-of-the-art streetcars and several underground subway tunnels, the TTC has become the subject of ridicule and contempt among its 1.5 million daily passengers.

It has been reported riders file complaints about service interruptions more than anything else, with rude encounters with TTC employees coming in second. Streetcar and subway stoppages are not uncommon and often come without warning. I recall times when I've put my token in the collector's box, only to arrive on the subway platform and find the train was not even running.

A recent scandal in which not one, but three TTC ticket booth operators were photographed snoozing on the job has only added to the furor of riders already feeling the pinch. Fares were raised on Jan. 3 to $3 from $2.75. Why raise the cost if the service isn’t improving, TTC riders wondered.

TTC chairman Adam Giambrone recently announced measures to improve customer service and the rider complaints process, though one has to wonder if he's simply trying to bolster his public image before his expected bid for the Toronto mayoral seat next week.

This was certainly something TorontoSun.com readers were wondering when commenting on a Jan. 27 article on the pending customer service improvements.

"Getting nicey nicey with the TTC riders - read voters - is Giambrone's way of sniffing the air for his possible bid for the office of Mayor of Toronto," said Mike B. "All he's going to get back is a foul stench."

"We had two TTC strikes on his watch (one legal and one illegal)," posted Madmen. "We just had a fare hike. The TTC experiences regular service delays and breakdowns. Where was his concern for the riders then?"

The multitude of problems have added up to what Giambrone called a "perfect storm" for the TTC, though calling it an imperfect storm may be more appropriate. In light of these issues, it must be asked: is public transit really the better way?

- Nicole Feenstra]]>