2009 Advent Holiday Deals are Here

Think of it as your 2009 adult advent calendar, and each day you get to open a new travel gift.  Today is the last day of  Starwood's 3-day sale and tomorrow Fairmont posts their monthly great rates for Presidents Club Members (free to join).

With the onset of Advent, travel operators will be spending major dollars hoping you'll want to escape the bleak winter weather for a hot holiday or cool getaway.  With the spread between Christmas and New Years being one of the biggest, most profitable travel times for trip providers, they are hoping you'll be caught by the imagery of the blue ocean lapping against a white-sand beach and decide to throw caution to the wind and book on impulse.

There's a catch.  Due to recession worries still top-of-mind, high season prices will likely be lower.  This makes it easier for you to justify a jaunt down south.

Normally I like to stay away from traveling in high season, but last year we bit the bullet and paid a little too much to lounge on the beach and sip bevvies at an all-inclusive in the Bahamas (more on this in a later post).  While at our resort, the Assistant General Manager said "we pray for bad winters in the US + Canada, this way, our bookings increase."

It's rare that the weather is great between Christmas and New Years, so if you want to escape for warmer conditions, here are a few tips:

• figure out your budget before you start looking for your winter getaway!!!!
• peruse your newspaper's travel section for competing offers
• if you are part of a hotel group's loyal club, check out their internal rates
• if you want a package vacation, look online:
  • Canada: itravel2000.com, jubileetravel.com, exitnow.ca
  • USA: applevacations.com, expedia.com, vacationstogo.com

News Flash :: 3-day Sale :: Starwood Resorts

[Trip Style = Sun & Ski]

For the 72-hours, Starwood Resorts have dropped rates by as much as $200 for peak-season dates cross the U.S., Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and get this: French Polynesia.

This promotion is valid for stays January through April at both beach and ski resorts.  This sale ends Wednesday, Dec. 2. Book early for best availability.

Sample Resorts & Prices -Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (Oahu) ... US$109 -The Westin Trillium House (Ontario) ... C$129-$159 -The Westin La Cantera Resort (Texas) ... US$159-$179 -Sheraton Waikiki ... US$179 *Highly recommended.  Ka'anapali, beachfront, in front of one of the best snorkeling locations in Maui.  Mightly torch-lighting ceremony ending in sunset dive. -The Westin Aruba ... US$275

Deal & Splurge If you saw the movie Couples Retreat, it was filmed at the St. Regis Bora Bora. This resort is part of Starwood's 72-hour sale!

This Starwood sale is getting me very excited about booking a winter vaca.

Travel TV :: Departures

[Trip Style = Adventure] In this 'episode' of Travel TV, we're excited about featuring Departures -a personal favourite!  What started as two Canadian guys leaving their daily lives to travel, has turned into an authentic, visually mesmerizing and fascinating travel show aired in 40 countries worldwide.

I first discovered this show last year when I was sick in bed for five days straight.  Since the only thing I could do was muster-up energy to open my eyes and watch TV, I naturally gravitated to this interesting and funny-without-meaning-to-be travel show.  Since then, I can't get enough of it and look forward to the third season launching in March 2010.

Whether hang gliding over Rio's city-scape or traversing Mongolia's barren landscapes via vintage Soviet van in search of a Nomadic Raindeer Tribe, Scott and Justin's friendship, personalities and banter add extra laughs to an already entertaining show.

Anyone whose Trip Style = Adventure and has a penchant for seeking new and remote destinations will appreciate Scott and Justin's travel style.  Seeking to step into well traveled and remote locales, the guys don't just blitz a place to 'say they did,' rather they spend time with locals to learn their customs and embrace their culture.

In their words "it's as much about the journey as it is the destination."

In Canada, check oln.ca for info on air dates and to view episodes online.  For additional information: Departures Facebook Group | Departures Website | Departures YouTube Channel

KLM Heading into the Green

Airline travel is FAR from green, yet on Monday a KLM 747 powered one of its four engines using half US-sourced biofuel and half conventional Jet fuel. This hour-long flight is unique in many ways, namely, because it is one of the first green flights to carry passengers: 40 including the flight crew, the Dutch economic affairs minister and the KLM CEO.

Now spearheading a SkyEnergy Consortium to further develop biofuels, KLM is taking a leadership position to both research and develop more future-friendly travel. KLM contines to test the technology and hopes to use it on commercial flights within the next few years.

Although the aviation industry has a long way to go in reducing their carbon footprint, it is encouraging to see strides and continued innovation toward creating a greater sustainability in airline travel.

Bonjour Fellow Trip Stylers

What's your Trip Style? a) Sun and sand b) Trekking up Kilimanjaro c) Cruising d) All-inclusive e) Traveling through Europe or S.E. Asia f) All of the Above

Hi, my name is Trish and my answer is: f, all of the above. There is a time and place for all travel. Each season of our life tends to bring about a new style. Open your mind, relax, get out of your comfort zone and journey into the wild blue yonder... without breaking the bank.

Trip Styler was born out of a desire to help you book your perfect getaway online, so you can find: - what you want - when you want - where you want - how you want - the price you want

Come journey with me.