Travel Apps :: OnTheFly

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Last week I talked about the wonders of ITA Software---an MIT grad's brainchild and the power behind KAYAK, Orbitz, Bing Travel and mulitple airlines. Even though the software is used by these major players in travel search, it's also available for the public to use as a flight research tool. Many industry insiders swear by ITA's search capabilities, and recently the company launched an app, aptly named OnTheFly.

Savvy raod warriers and semi-techy geeks, this apps's for you. Offering an advanced and comprehensive way to search for any flight itinerary, the app displays each flight option in what can only be described as a 'dreamy' format---one of the best I've seen---comparing options across airlines, dates, and alternate cites/airports.

OnTheFly App Details

• free
• works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad (android and blackberry apps planned later in 2010)
• like the website, this is a research-based tool, so once you find the flight you want, you must book with the provider by phone, email or online
• the flexible airport selection suggests additional airports and allows multiple airports to be selected
• search flight(s) by one way, round trip or multi-departure/arrival
• choose your cabin of choice: coach, business, first
• granular control over search parameters allows you to specify number and type of passengers (such as adult or child), departure and arrival times, number of permitted stops, etc...

Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

• Photoshop Express Mobile
• Happy Hour Apps
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts App
• Disneyland Apps
• Ultraviolet Rays
• Wine Touring in BC
• Air Canada
• BC Ferries Tracker
• 6 Free Camping Apps
• Epicurious
• BorderWait
• OpenWays
• TripIt
• Trip Advisor
• StayHIP
• Trip Journal
• Bug Spray
• CameraBag
• Convert Everything
• GateGuru
• Kindle for iPhone
• Packing Pro
• Skype
• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Medical Concierge
• Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat’l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

Travel Regrets & Lessons Learned

They say you learn from mistakes. I tend to agree. With this in mind, here are some of my silly and semi-serious travel mistakes/regrets. On a more positive note, in each regret there's a take-away for the future! What are your travel mistakes and lessons learned?

1. I didn't take a better camera on Safari in Africa Lesson Learned: Take a good camera if going on a photo-fabulous trip like a Safari in Africa. I took a basic 8.1mp Sony Cyber-shot, but I should have purchased a new one, or borrowed from someone in my family. I think my rationale was I didn't want to be carrying around a lot of stuff and gear while there, but I could have found a way to travel inconspicuously with a camera slightly bigger than my hand, given most of the cameras other people brought were bigger than my blender! [Photo above: taken with mentioned camera; decent shot, but would have been neat to get some super close-ups of lions!]

2. I didn't figure out sooner how to travel for discounted rates Lesson Learned: Traveling smart = cheaper + farther trips. Here are my travel rules: a) become loyal to one (or two) airline and hotel groups to amass miles and points for free flights and stays b) when redeeming airline miles, go as far as you can & travel in the off-season to get the most out of your miles c) try to buy everything with your travel credit card to get points for future trips d) when possible, travel in low or shoulder season

3. I've never purchased anything from SkyMall Lesson Learned: Skymall has so many redonkulously awesome, amusing and sometimes useful items. I don't want to look back on my life and regret my lack of at least a one-time indulgence in the mall on high!  Why, because I could buy these lighted slippers!

4. I stayed at a hotel vs hostel when traveling solo in Paris Lesson Learned: When traveling solo---especially when you're young---stay in a hostel. The communal life is much more conducive to meeting people than a solitary hotel room. Why I didn't figure this out still baffles me. Being in Paris for 4 days and barely saying a word to anyone---even when knowing the language---was an unfortunate state of affairs!

5. I haven't yet purchased noise-canceling headphones Lesson Learned: Noise-canceling headphones are everything on a flight: they make make movies better, dampen noise and most importantly, allow you to listen to calming nature sounds during crazy turbulence.

6. I didn't bring a few basic meds to Africa (& had to buy some that didn't even work for $25) Lesson Learned: I've had to buy meds in Peru, Africa and Paris---all of which weren't that effective. Taking a few extra mins before your trip to bring a few key meds in a small kit, saves your health and money abroad!

7. I haven't been anywhere really, really exotic Lesson Learned: Mix up your travel and save your points for that remote or lux trip style ! (Yes, I'm overly grateful for the places I've visited, but I guess our human nature---or mine at least---is to push the envelope.) One day I'll visit these places on my travel bucket list: Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, etc...

8. I didn't travel more when I was first married Lesson Learned: There's so many excuses not to go, but I've never come home from a trip thinking "that trip was terrible, I got nothing out of the experience."

9. It's taken me so long to go to Australia Lesson Learned: Just go when you have the opportunity, or, do your darnedest to create the opportunity. I'm trying to create mine right now!  For some reason, I feel like visiting Australia is a right of passage for me, meaning I can grow up a little once I've gone...

10. I can't take my dog @NachoKing on every trip! Lesson Learned: For all trips that don't involve a flight, seek out dog-friendly destinations!

Euro Month :: Italian Riviera

[trip style = sightseeing] [more pics below]

Heaven? For as long as I can remember, pictures of the Italian Riviera beckoned me to visit. Could it be that a land exists where lemon trees dot the countryside, you can buy a bottle of prosecco for one Euro and gelato isn't a treat, but part of the daily diet? Is this heaven? No, it's earth, and this place is called the Cinque Terre.

30 Days Last September my husband and I set out on a 30-day adventure starting and ending in Italy with stopovers in Africa, London and Paris. Exploring two continents was the whirlwind trip of a lifetime involving: hiking, biking and eating with friends in Italy; attending a wedding in Nairobi; going on safari in the Masai Mara; seeing Wicked (Broadway show) in London and sipping bellinis (at their birthplace) in Venice!

Cinque Terre The 5 towns dotting the tumbling and rocky shore of the Mediterranean seem true to their roots, yet basking in the wealth of tourism. The old buildings, traditional dress and lack of anything new seems to indicate an aversion to travel's commercialism; still behind the scene upgrades have been made to accommodate the region's burgeoning tourism, highest in the spring, summer and early fall.

Magical We arrived in Monterosso---one of the more popular towns to stay---deliriously tired from lengthy encounters with planes, trains and automobiles. Despite our extreme tiredness, we were boosted by a sense of excitement: that night we were to meet up with friends at 6pm for a glass of prosecco, for the first of many toasts on our indulgent journey. The whole experience was magical, and the pear and asiago ravioli I enjoyed that night confirmed it!  I'm not sure if it's the light mist, twinkling lights, intimate courtyards, cobblestone walkways or wineries kissing the edges of each town, but Monterosso is one of the most romantic places I've ever been.

Check back next Friday for more euro pictures and parables. Every Friday this month we'll be featuring Italy and France. Each post will be picture-intensive since my prose can only do the region so much justice!

Pictures {Us in Riomaggiore, overlooking the Mediterranean}

{Lovers locks. In case you're not up on the trend---I wasn't either until there---people who are in love attach locks in special places they visit to bind their love 'forever' and mark the significance of the destination.}

{And more lovers locks, in such an inventive, original spot}

{Pathway between towns 4 and 5. This one was easy. The paths between the other towns can be steep and tiring, but the reward is a) amazing views and b) working off the pasta you eat at every meal.}

{Manarola ~ notice the grape vines surrounding every corner of this town}

{A diff view of Manarola ~ we ate lunch, pizza & salad under the yellow umbrellas fronting the ocean}

{Man going about his daily business}

{Pizza Shop, notice the stacks upon stacks of choices}

{Vernazza, looking up}

{Vernazza, looking down ~ a taste of the stunning views the hike between towns offers}

{Views coming into Monterosso}

{Monterosso ~ where our humble, yet 250 euro (per night) 'hotel' sat somewhere in there}

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Travel Trends :: Even Greener

In the initial stages of hotels going green it was enough for them to communicate "if it's okay with you, we aren't going to wash your sheets and towels everyday." Circa 10-15 years ago, they may have also put a brick in the toilet to conserve water! Times have changed, but one thing's for sure, hotels going from green to greener is a trend that's not going away. Green has morphed from a nice to have to a full-blown expectation with guests leaving perturbed if basic green initiatives (different for everyone) aren't followed.

An Accidental Green Topic Discussing all things hotel with one hotel executive recently, not surprisingly, the topic of green came up. She mentioned how any reference to green has to be well-documented because potential guests are seeking out these properties and following up on the claims before they book! Further to this, if some eco-lovers see a few green claims, they take it a step further and ask about a host of sometimes-obscure items, like if the mattresses have green composition.

FrontRunners Now, hotel chains and boutiques are competing for green status and accolades just like they are for star and diamond ratings. Some frontrunners include: Accor including its Motel 6 brand, Fairmont and Bayan Tree. Interestingly, within these groups there's even some friendly competition to out-green one another.

What Does Green Mean at Hotels? Aside from not washing linens daily, here are some of the ways hotels have been greenifying themselves:

• recycling (even though this one sounds obvious, it's incredible how many hotels don't yet even offer this service)
• green roofs
• honeybee programs
• herb and veggie gardens
• solar panels
• geothermal heating/cooling systems
• low-flow toilets and showers
• low voc paint
• motion-sensor lights and thermostats
• food-waste composting
• free valet for hybrid vehicles
• free bike use to encourage cycling vs driving
• doing away with plastic water bottles
• installing reusable dispensers vs countless packaged hotel toiletries
• landscaping with native plants requiring less water and care

Are hotels' green initiatives important to you?

Green Resources

• LEED, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the grand-daddy of all certifications sparingly handed out by the U.S. Green Building Council and Canadian Green Building Council. LEED certification indicates a building has been designed and constructed to meet standards in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and stewardship of resources.
• The Hotel Association of Canada's Green Key Program (affiliated with the global eco-rating program)
• Perform a green hotel travel search using Travelocity.

Related Content Want more travel trends? Check out our other Travel Trend posts published the second, third and fourth Thursday of every month.

[photo by pnwra]

Master of Flight (Re)Search

I'm a KAYAK girl. I've spent more time KAYAK-ing online than I have on water; in other words, my go-to search engine for flights (and sometimes hotels) is kayak.com. BUT, I recently found out that the software powering the travel search giant is available for public use AND Google just acquired them, much to Expedia's dismay.

Behind the Scenes ITA Software powers some of the biggest names in Travel: Bing, Air Canada, Hotwire, Virgin Atlantic, Orbitz, etc...  and the software behind these online search giants is also available to you, me and your grandma, through their Flight Matrix (pictured above). The matrix, not to be confused with the movie, provides a snazzy, simple and robust way to search for flights using the same tools you'd have access to if you were snooping around the back room at Bing Travel!

The Research Master Although using the site makes you feel travel agent-esque, it should be noted that the flight search capabilities ITA offers the public are research-driven versus transaction-driven. With ITA, you can only research the flight you want, after that, you must book it directly with the airline that best suits your needs (ie - price, airline alliance, times, direct vs multi-stop, etc...). When you find the flight you like, there's no direct link to the fare, so you need to make a note of the info, navigate to your airline of choice and go through the booking process until you find the flight ITA found for you. Even though this sounds cumbersome, some DIY travel aficionados never veer from searching with ITA first before booking their flight. You be the judge.

Trip Styler Tips Here are some best practices for using ITA combined with other travel tricks to book the best fare with the most points:

• I like and will use this site for research purposes
• When I've narrowed down my results: I'll opt for a carrier within the airline alliance where I collect miles
• Once I know the flight I want: I'll book the flight on my Travel Credit Card's site to get extra travel points over and above the miles I'll get with my preferred airline alliance