Archive for the ‘Travel tips’ Category

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What would you do if, while you were travelling, someone in your party fell ill? Lost their passport? What would you do if a natural disaster struck and you were unable to reach your family to let them know you were OK?

Last week I took part in a chat with our lifestyle editor and a member of the Canadian Red Cross to discuss tips and best practices for dealing with emergencies at home and abroad. By taking some time to do a little planning and research before you travel, you’ll be prepared for any emergency you encounter on the road.

Q: What steps should people take when travelling outside of Canada in case of emergencies? - Mike

Register your travel plans with Foreign Affairs before leaving home. If there’s an emergency abroad or back home, having registered with the government could help locate you or reconnect you with your family. To register, visit travel.gc.ca

Contact the Canadian consulate in your destination if you run into an emergency. Before you go, write down the phone number, address and other contact information for the consulate in case you need to get in touch with them when travelling. Consulates can help with a number of things, including finding emergency medical help from registered, local doctors and medical facilities and contacting your next of kin if you are injured. You or your family back home can also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at anytime by calling 613-996-8885, toll-free at 1-800-387-3124 or emailing sos@international.gc.ca. This is only for Canadians in emergency situations.

Plus, make sure you have ample travel insurance coverage. The cost of a stay at a foreign hospital can add up very fast!

Q: I’m travelling to Greece this summer and I’m freaked out about pickpockets. What do I do if I lose my passport and wallet? - Melissa

Know where the Canadian consulate is in the country you’re travelling to and the contact information for that consulate. Consulates can help obtain emergency travel documents if you lose your passport and offer assistance if you are robbed or assaulted. Visit travel.gc.ca for a list of contact information from all Canadian embassies.

Some other smart tips: Make sure medications and valuables are also in your carry-on baggage, not your checked luggage, just in case the checked bag is lost or stolen in transit. Don’t flash jewellery or expensive items and keep money tucked in a purse or money belt that is on the front of your body to avoid pickpockets. Use the safe in your room for other valuables.

Q: My girlfriend and I are going on a cruise in a few weeks and I’ve heard they have a reputation for “covering things up”. What should we do if something illegal happens? – Brian

There are a number of things you can do to keep yourself safe on a cruise. Familiarize yourself with the location of the onboard medical centre and the emergency evacuation routes on your cruise ship. Know where your exits are and how you’ll get yourself – and your family out – in an emergency. Attend the emergency training session at the beginning of your cruise to learn about exits, safety boats and emergency evacuations. Follow the safety precautions you would on a night out at home: Stick to main, well-lit corridors that are well populated and make sure your group knows where you’re going if you decide to venture out alone.

Safe travels!

Jessica Mulroney.

I had a great time chatting with Jessica Mulroney yesterday about March Break travel. Thank you to all Canoe.ca and Sun Media readers who submitted questions and took part in our hour-long chat!

Jessica, mom to twin two-year old boys with hubby Ben Mulroney, offered readers some fantastic tips on travelling with children, from keeping kids busy in the car on road trips to getting through airport security with a baby. Here are some of Jessica’s top March Break travel tips. To read our full chat, click here.

Q: We aren’t going far, just doing some small day trips in our province.. but the kids can still get restless in the car… any advice?

Jessica: Long or short road trips can be tricky… it is never easy to keep kids entertained in the car! I always suggest each child gets their own set of earphones so they can listen to their own music. Music is a great distraction. Always have snacks and water handy in the car to avoid pit stops and spending money uselessly on the road.

Q: Any tips on getting through airport security with a baby?

Jessica: I would suggest to check as many things as you can, you need far less than you think on a plane with a newborn. This avoids feeling like an insane person at security. Pack one diaper bag with the essentials. A few extra bottles and perhaps just the car seat. Officers are usually nice enough to help but the less you carry, the easier it is. Remember, it is never an easy task to go through security whether you are alone or with child. As long as you are organized, the process should be slightly painless.

Q: How do you keep a newborn from crying on an airplane?

Jessica: Ok, so I truly believe this is luck of the draw. As a parent, you have to be prepared for anything! You never know what you are going to get on what day. We have to stay realistic. However there are some tips on how to create a comfortable environment on a plane to help avoid crying. I would definitely not forget to pack food and milk. Little toys and blankets.Anything that works at home should work on the aircraft. Create a comfortable environment for the child on the plane. Always try to have everything within arm distance as well.

Q: I currently travel with one, but with one on the way, what are the issues with travelling with two youngsters?

Jessica: I find the biggest hassle is airport travel. Each child must be accompanied by an adult at that age. That is a big restriction if you need to go somewhere with the children on your own. Double the luggage… double the trouble. Try to streamline your packing as best you can to avoid excessive luggage. Sometimes it can be a bonus. Perhaps your older child will feel the need to help take care of the younger child and will be more calm because of it!

Q: What are the two travel items you can’t live without – as a woman and a mom?

Jessica: As a woman, a fabulous book and a big and comfy scarf that turns into a blanket on the plane. As a mom, a great diaper bag and tablets for the kids. I also find it hard to live without my husband’s help on the plane!! But have to sometimes suffer without him.

(Photo: QMI Agency files)

Many women either want to or find that they need to travel while pregnant.

The rules surrounding flying while pregnant can be confusing, especially when every airline has its own regulations on how far along a woman can be in her pregnancy while still being able to fly. Air Canada, for example, allows travel up to week 36; WestJet requires a doctor’s note to travel past week 32.

Travel site Cheapflights.ca has put together a guide of information pregnant women will want to know before taking off on a trip. Here are the top five tips from their pregnancy travel guide:

- Make yourself comfortable! Request a seat with extra leg room, one that allows you to easily stand and one that is along the aisle. You’ll want to be able to move easily and often during the flight if you’re feeling uncomfortable.

- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of caffine and alcohol-free fluids before, during and after your flight. “Dehydration on airplanes can be worse when you’re pregnant,” say the editors of Cheapflights.ca.

- Carry documentation on your due date, blood type and your doctor’s contact details in case you should need it for any reason.

- Keep a list of local hospitals from the local tourist board or embassy with you while on vacation.

- Pack foods that are rich in vitamins, nutrients and that will travel through security without problem. “Fruit such as grapes, plums, oranges or dried apricots” fit the bill, suggests the editors of Cheapflights.ca.

Visit Cheapflights.ca for more tips on flying while pregnant.

“The hotel you choose can directly affect your vacation, either for the better or worse,” says Anthony Annunziata, vice president of marketing for Niagara Falls’ Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa.

I have to agree. I’ve found the quality and location of a hotel can either provide a great jumping-off point for experiencing a city or be a detriment to exploration and budget.

I stayed at lovely properties on trips to both Nashville and New York City, but my Nashville hotel was near the airport, about 20 minutes away from the city centre and the major attractions were nearly impossibly to access without a car. As a result, a good deal of my vacation budget was eaten away by cab fares.

In New York City, I scored a great deal on a hotel just a block from a subway station and Central Park. The convenience of the location and access to public transport was appreciated by my tired feet and wallet several times through the trip.

But it’s not only location that matters when searching for a hotel. In a press release, Annunziata offers his top five things all travellers should look for before booking a hotel.

Convenient Location – “It is important to ensure you book a hotel that is close to all of the destinations you have on your ‘vacation-to-do-list’ so that you can spend more time at your destination instead of travelling to it,” says Annunziata.

Clean, Comfortable and Safe – “After a long day of sight-seeing and being on their feet at the end of the day most travellers want to head back to their room, take a hot bath or shower and crawl into bed and relax,” says Annunziata in the press release. ”If you want to avoid questioning the cleanliness or comfort level a hotel can offer choose a hotel with a recognizable name or one that has been recommended to you by family or friends.” 

Points/Rewards Program – “If you are a frequent traveller, especially in North America, make sure you take advantage of hotels that offer points or rewards programs,” suggests Annunziata.

On-site Restaurants – “Make sure you choose a hotel that offers a variety of restaurants either on-site or within walking distance so that you can not only enjoy the dining experience, but also have a variety of options so that you don’t get bored of the food by the end of your trip,” says Annunziata.

Price – “Make sure you get the best deal possible, but, always remember that the price is typically relative to the amenities that the hotel provides,” advises Annunziata.

(Shutterstock image)

Planning on taking your pet along on your next vacation? Before you pack Fido securely in his crate and head to the airport, read this list of tips for travelling with your pet from the editors of Cheapflights.ca. You may save yourself headaches later if you follow their advice now…

1. Calculate the costs: All airlines charge different rates for transporting a pet. Cheapflights recommends looking for pet-friendly flights with smaller airlines, as they often charge less for your pet’s flight.

2. Call the airline: Check the website of the airline you’re flying with for rules on crate sizes and to see if there is a limit on how many pets can fly in the cabin, but be sure to call and confirm all rules and regulations over the phone.

3. Rehearse at home: Will your pet get nervous at 35,000 feet in the air? Cheapflights recommends taking your pet on subways, trains or buses to familiarize them with a public form of transportation.

4. Visit the vet: Your vet can provide you with a travel first-aid kit designed for pets should any emergencies strike while travelling. Vets can also certify that your pet is healthy and provide medical certificates for airlines that require one.

5. Prepare the kennel: Cheapflights recommends investing in a carry crate that allows pets room to stand and turn around. Food and water dishes, bedding and “live animal” stickers for the crate are also recommended.

6. Use ID tags: Attach proper identification to your animal’s collar and crate. This should include your flight information.

7. Exercise the day before: Cheapflights suggests treating your pet to extra exercise the day before travel. A tired pet will ensure a more relaxing flight for all.

8. Pack food and water: Make sure to offer pets food and water before checking-in for your flight.

9. Avoid food after check-in: While you should make sure pets are hydrated and fed, make sure you leave enough time for food to settle before take off. Queasy pets do not travel well.

10. Prepare for anything! Don’t lose your cool if you find your flight delayed, your cat sick or a mess in the dog crate after landing.