The Airfare Dance

We've all danced with airline fares; two steps forward, one step back, not knowing when to purchase the flight we're eyeing. Don't fret my pet: with the explosion of DIY travel, we have access to hundreds of websites which can predict the best time to buy, help us find the best rate and even alert us of discounts after we purchase our fare. Here are some online tools and rules next time you purchase an airline ticket on the internet: 15-Day Rule According to Giorgos Zacharia, Ph.D., KAYAK's Chief Scientist, he observed that semi-advanced booking is advisable, but to avoid being a keener. Analyzing the data generated from KAYAK's millions of daily searches, his team found: - the date-range KAYAK users have been finding the best prices is between 4-weeks and 1-week in advance - the most reasonable price 15-days before departure with prices rising in the last two weeks - the same-day booking price was closer to the 15-day than 365-day mark - the most expensive fare was recorded 365 days before departure

Mid-Week Sale Wait to buy your airline fare until Tuesday or Wednesday. The majority of airlines launch fare sales on these days.

Be Flexible I know that flexibility is hard-to-come-by with the small windows of vacation time employers in North America afford (I think we could learn something--actually many things--from the Europeans), but even shifting your flights slightly (leaving a day or two early and/or coming home a day or two later) can seriously impact your fare. I've saved a bundle on multiple flights with a slight date adjustment. Just think, that's money saved or a nice dinner or two extra at your destination.

Email Set up a fare alert via email. Companies from KAYAK to Trip Advisor to airfarewatchdog have created tools that track fares by flight route, departure point and destination. All you need to do is go to one of these sites, enter the route you wish to track and you'll receive weekly emails updating you with the best dates and costs.

Not all is Lost Did you purchase a flight and now you're worried about the price dropping? If so, consider Yapta next time you fly. Here's how it works: enter your flight details, if refunds are available they email you, then you can claim the difference.

[photo by david jones]

Nails. Before or During a Trip?

After multiple manicures ruined by the wear and tear of a typical trip (packing-airport-unpacking-hotel-packing-airport-unpacking), I decided to ask friends if they get their mani/pedis done before or during a trip. The overwhelming response was before, here's why:

Mani/Pedi - Before or During a Trip?

• Hillary - Hot destination= before trip. i always run to the water before the salon
• Heather - Going to the desert this week & did nails myself because i'm spending all my money at saks "off fifth"
• Lynnal - Both, a little pampering is always good for ya
• Heather - Before, that way you are able to hit the town, and not waste any time on getting ready to hit the town
• Karen - Before, so you show up Fabulous! And then you can pamper yourself in other ways on your trip
• Nicole - I get it done right before I go. That way my nails are nice from the moment I start my trip, and then I don't have to worry about finding a good place to go wherever I am
• Lauren - I think before. When I'm on a trip, I don't want to have to search for a good place (I'm picky about nail places- want it to be clean, nice, etc.) You want to relax and not have to do any work, so going to your regular place at home and getting it over with before a trip makes more sense to me! But a massage...that's another story.
• Christina - Get a pedi before the trip and then bring your polish to do your own mani once you get there. My toes are always fine in transit, but my finger nails always get broken or nail polish chips while travelling and lugging around my suitcase. There's nothing worse than a big chip in your hot pink nail polish for a whole trip. The other option is to get your mani/pedi in a color that you own – so you can bring the bottle for any touch ups while you are away. I prefer my usual nail place as I know what I’m going to get, whereas you are at the mercy of random strangers when you are away!
• Mel - Before! You don't know where their foreign tools have been or if they're sterile!
• Bec - Before! At a place you know and trust. You don't want to be looking for a place when you get there. Besides, you should look your best when you board the plane, maybe you'll get upgraded ;-)
• Buff - Before a trip is the only time I get a mani/pedi. If you can't afford Louis Vitton luggage, than you may as well have nice toes. ha ha!
• Maria - Before.
• Laura - Before a trip for sure. There's nothing better than starting a vacation off on the right foot....being perfectly groomed!
• Karla - Before. A pedi before you hit the beach somewhere sunny is a must! You don't want to waste time in paradise stuck inside a salon.
• Robyn - Always before ...don't want to waste the holiday on that stuff!
• Nicole - Hate pedi's. I do my own pedi's cause I do a good job and have all the fancy tools at home. Haha. Saves me the foot fungus scare also.
• Nicole - If I am traveling to a warm destination I have a pedicure before the trip. A pedicure (french or other) will last an entire 2 - 3 week trip. A manicure is not a priority for me, but on a recent trip to Maui I sought a nail place because my french manicure was chipping. After investigating nail salon options I ended up back at the Fairmont's resort salon, had a nail polish removal, file, and polish change with an amazing woman who gave me travel tips, etc...
• Erin - Depends where I am going. Hot-don't want to waste beach time. Cold and cozy-love a spa experience.
• Jen - Both.

Before & During To avoid compromising my newly-painted nails in transit, here's what I usually do: a) if I get a mani/pedi pre-trip, I bring the polish with me for touch-ups b) if I don't have time to get my nails done before, or don't want to risk ruining them enroute, I bring nail polish with me and do an impromptu 'painting session' at my destination c) if I don't do A or B above, I'll go to a recommended spa or nail place at my destination

Tips

• Bring polish, either for touch-ups or DIY nails at your destination
• Travel can wreak havoc on your mani, be careful with your hands, especially when handling your luggage
• Don't always trust nail places abroad, every country---even area---has different standards of cleanliness
• If you get a mani/pedi while traveling, make sure the nail salon is professional, the tools have been sanitized and the foot bath, etc...is sterile

Pressed for Time? Why not consider getting your nails done at the airport?

• Vancouver (yvr) - absolute spa has 5 locations in the domestic and US terminals at the Vancouver Int'l Airport. Polish change is $30, manicure from $55, pedicure from $75.
• Seattle (sea) - butter LONDON, famous for its non-toxic polish has opened a nail bar at the Seattle Int'l Airport. More details here. Polish and cuticle treatment $15, spa pedi $40.

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[photo credit: Fing'rs]

Travel Trend :: Pod Sleepovers

[trip style = budget]

Compact, pod-like hotels have gone beyond a fleeting trend into a phenomenon of small spaces designed with the efficiency of Asia and the stylishness of Italy. People have been sleeping over in pod hotels for years in Asia, but like most things, we've been slow to catch on in North America.

Rooted in Japan, the popular capsule concept has been around since 1979. The originator created a capsule hotel which--pardon the comparison--offers little, morgue-like sleeping blocks and communal bathrooms. Pods have come a long way since then, growing in size, stature and geography.  I had the opportunity to stay in a pod room earlier this year and I'd totally indulge again! See pics of my windowless room above and below. I was only staying overnight and had just arrived in London from Nairobi. All I wanted was a bed, and a bed, a little space to place my bag and a cruise ship-style bathroom was what I got. And that was all I needed. Off to bed I went, but not before I caught a nightly showing of Wicked, which sent me to bed in song {Po-pu-u-lar...}.

Where's the Sacrifice? This is a serious question. Do we always need lavish offerings like 10 different types of towels, plush terry robes and seven restaurants with celeb chefs? There's a time and place for that trip style. What if you're just passing through and only need a simple place to crash?  So you lose out on space around the bed, big deal. What were you going to do there anyway?  Sit-ups? Yeah right, you're on vacation.

I only stayed in the pod hotel for one night, but I would've stayed longer. It was clean and simple. I wasn't in London to sit in my room; I was there to enjoy the city and sleep when needed.

Finding a Pod Hotel Yotel - At Heathrow, Gatwick and Schiphol Amsterdam airports. A 669-room Yotel is also planned for NYC in 2011. Ironically, the company's flagship property will feature the largest outside terrace space of any hotel in NYC.

Easy Hotels - All over Europe with a strong presence in London. Part of the Easy suite of companies. If you know anything about the company's color scheme, you'll wake up with a strong desire for orange juice.

Qbic - In Amsterdam, Antwerp and Maastricht. Features funky cube-like design, mood lighting, Philipp Starck bathroom finishes and self check-in.

Capsule Hotels - Going to Osaka? Try Asahiplaza. Headed to Tokyo? Check out Capsule Inn Akihabara

Trip Styler Tip: If you're selecting a capsule hotel other than two listed above, check the policy. Some don't allow westerners and given the shared bathroom and sleeping facilities, some aren't set up for women.

Summer Blockbuster Movies + Trip Planning

Have you made your summer travel plans yet?  If not and you need some ideas, why not inspire your travel with this summer's blockbuster movies and live like: - billionaire, playboy, industrialist turned do-gooder Tony Stark - everyone's fave fictitious New Yorker: Carrie Bradshaw - self-discovery aficionado and author extraordinaire Elizabeth Gilbert

Suit-up in Malibu The Movie: Iron Man 2

The Opening Date: May 7

Trip Style = Sun

Setting the Scene: Guys, hit-up the gym for that Robert Downey Jr. physique, grab your crew and fly to Cali.  Rent an Audi R8 and cruise the PCH to Point Dume state park in Malibu, arguably one of the most gorgeous stretches of land in the area as well as the location producers of Iron Man chose to superimpose his swanky pad for the movie.  Then, get back in your sweet ride and drive to Las Vegas to play roulette and drink an extra dirty martini while you're at it.  Bonus: in keeping with the upcoming sequel,  try to get your hands on the new R8 Spyder.

Get Carried Away in NY The Movie: Sex & the City2

The Opening Date: May 27

Trip Style = Urban

Setting the Scene: Why not take a girls getaway to NYC and live like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. Watch the movie in NY, sip a cosmo at Scout (O'Neal's Speakeasy), savour a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery (downtown location) or browse the Art Gallery (Louis K. Meisel Gallery) where Charlotte worked.  If you're feeling really adventurous, rumour has it the girls are jet-setting to the Middle East.

Going Solo The Movie: Eat Pray Love

The Opening Date: Aug 13

Trip Style = Adventure

Setting the Scene: Although this movie-inspired trip plan takes you a little further than NY, I don't know anyone who has regretted going to Italy.  Whether you pull a full-on Elizabeth Gilbert and visit the three I's (Italy, India and Indonesia) or travel to just one location (like my hairdresser who ventured to Ubud for a visit with Medicine Man Ketut Liyer), there's something to be said for venturing solo.

[All this talk of movies and travel takes me back to my cherished solo movie-going adventure in London: Bridget Jones' Diary.   Watching the movie in the place where it took place seemed to personalize, intensify and authenticate the movie experience.  It's something I'll never forget.]

[photo credit in order of appearance: Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios; NewLine Cinema, HBO Films; Columbia Pics]

Travel iPhone Apps :: Convert Everything

When travelling, the need to convert currencies, temperature, distance, speed, weight and power is a constant reality. Experiencing differences is part of the joy in travel, so don't let unit and currency variations daunt you; embrace them with Convert Everything!

Convert Everything App Details

• free version (convert everything free) and paid version $0.99 (convert everything)*
• works with iPhone and iTouch
• convert between units (distance, area, weight, temperature, etc)
• convert 41 languages online using google translate
• convert 34 currencies with rates updated online

*I have the free version on my iTouch and it's excellent.  One opportunity for improvement would be adding timezone conversion.

Other Travel iPhone Apps we’ve Reviewed

• GateGuru
• Kindle for iPhone
• Packing Pro
• Skype
• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Medical Concierge
• Tourism British Columbia :: Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat'l Geo World Atlas
• Hostelworld.com
• Kayak first class
• Flight control (game)