Travel Apps :: Kayak

The Kayak app is where it's at. Although I downloaded this app awhile ago, they've recently made some significant enhancements that make it a virtual buffet of travel tools, and in my humble opinion, one of the most valuable travel apps currently available. Features Featuring most of the options they offer online and then some, this full-featured app combines the ability to: - book flights, hotels and cars - view and organize your trip itinerary - get gate and airport info (due to integration with GateGuru) - track your flight status - look up baggage fees - plan what you'll bring with packing lists - send an email or text to someone who is picking you up with your exact location on a map

First Class As of last week, the most recent update to the app included the ability to search and book business and first class flights. This enhancement is significant because until now, Kayak had a separate app for this purpose called Kayak First Class, which used to cost upwards of $3.99.

Kayak App Details - free - works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Blackberry and Android

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Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

• SkyMall
• OnTheFly
• 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)

Shows that Make you Want to GO

It's that time of year. Fall TV frenzy has set in. What shows do we keep, drop and adopt? So far, no dropping has happened on my end, simply adopting. Thank goodness for PVRs, DVRs & TiVos! Every time I watch these 5 new and existing shows, I wish my couch was the first class cabin on a plane, and I was being whisked away to one of these great destinations. What shows inspire you to see a destination?

Honolulu Hawaii Five-0, Mondays, CBS [Show Style = Drama] I'm not sure if I'm sold on the new Hawaii Five-0 yet, but I'm sold on the destination. Thanks a lot, Hawaii Five-0, for taunting me with your sprawling beaches, golden sun and aqua waters. Sheesh. After a few trips to Waikiki in years gone by, next time I hit up Oahu, I look forward to exploring a calmer side of the island.

World The Amazing Race, Sundays, CBS [Show Style = Travel Reality] What would a post about TV show-inspired travel be without a mention of the The Amazing Race? With the newest season debuting last night, my already overflowing travel bucket list is going to be bursting at the seams!

Australia The Block, Wednesdays, Nine MSN [Show Style = Home Renovation Reality] Probably my favourite show of all time, The Block follows 4 groups of aspiring renovators as they transform a dilapidated condo block into a finished, sellable product in 8 weeks. Set in Australia, this show only confirmed I must visit this gorgeous and diverse island! I started watching this home reno show 6 years ago when it aired on HGTV Canada. After a 5-year hiatus, it's back and it's airing right now in Australia!

Miami Burn Notice, Thursdays, USA Network [new episodes premiere in November] [Show Style = Spy Drama + Comedy] After a few blissful days spent in Miami 4 years ago, watching Burn Notice (one of my fave shows on the tele) makes me want to book a trip to sassy South Beach. Fighting crime with Micheal, Fiona and Sam, relaxing on the beach and staying at the Delano would be perfect!

Los Angeles Entourage, Sundays, HBO [final season premieres Summer 2011] [Show Style = Drama] Although season 7 was a little on the dark/serious side of sitcoms, the Entourage boys always leave me laughing. They also have a way of showcasing LA's hotspots. My love for LA was recently re-invigorated when I talked shop with the LA Tourism Board's VP Media & Communications. Beyond the sunny climate, amazing restaurants and shopping galore, I heard Cirque de Soleil is getting ready to open a show at the Kodak Theatre in summer 2011.  See you there!

Euro Month :: City of Lights

[trip style = sightseeing]

Standing atop the Eiffel Tower at sundown you witness a transformation. Trying to find landmarks in the urban sea of sandy grey buildings, you wait for the sun to fall and moon to illuminate the Parisian landscape. But in Paris, the moon---normally the grandest of nightlights---fades into the horizon in the twinkling City of Lights.

I had such high hopes for Paris. Having been there before--once solo, once with girlfriends---I couldn't wait to go with my husband/trusty travel partner. We could kiss under every bridge (and there are a lot) on a Seine River Cruise, toast the city with champagne on the top tier of the Eiffel Tower, wander the streets for hours to work off the chocolate macarons and people-watch from marble-topped tables at bistros. Unfortunately, our time in The City of Lights was anything but bright. Given our fall visit, it was dark, downpouring and dull.

Describing Paris like this makes me sick. The city, the people and the spoken language of love stir an excitement in me that makes me want to scream baguette and cheese please! Looking back, I think my expectations were too high. It was dark because it was October, it was raining chats et chiens because it was fall, and it was dull because I was probably sad about the rain and never found my groove. All this said, there were pockets of fabulosity. And really, being disappointed in Paris is akin to drinking drip coffee in Italy---it's lame. Looking ahead, I'm not sure when I'll have the opportunity to return, but I will, and my next trip will be croissant-filled, fashion-fabulous and chic.

Paris in the Fall

This scene is what I love about Paris, the gazillions of petits cafes elegantly serving coffee and croissants on every street corner.

Tour Eiffel at night

On the second deck, looking up

Arc de Triomphe at night. Tip: Get some great pics of yourself by standing above one of the massive lights shining up from the street toward the Arc.

After a little shopping, we head to the Georges Pompidou National Museum of Modern Art. Tip: Check out their gift store, the unique artifacts they've culled are half the fun.

One of my favorite art installations at the gallery---a series of flying carpets.

Also at the gallery, wishing the mid-century modern furniture was mine.

Leaving the gallery; it's lunchtime, apparently I'm in need of a pick-me-up.

Day 2: walking along the grey pebble pathway--common in Paris parks--towards the Louvre. Even though the weather isn't at its best, the landscape redeems it.

The Louvre, randomly closed this day for a private function...not meant to be.

{La Samaritaine: one of my favorite Paris destinations, sadly closed since '05 because the building was apparently unsafe. Shame, as the art deco interior was chic and charming. Rumor has it the store will re-open in 2011. If it does, put this historical building on your Paris to-do list. Tip: Assuming the store re-opens, hopefully it will retain its amazing open-air observation deck pointing out city landmarks near and far.

Things are looking up with blue skies above Notre Dame.

You don't normally see multi-story stained glass windows with an open pane. Cool effect inside Notre Dame.

One of the many Seine River Cruises offering a casual tour or dinner service.

Au revoir Paris! My husband on the top bunk of a two-person sleeper room in the overnight train en route to Venice (more on that next Friday).

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Travel Trends :: Yurts & Canvas Tents

[trip style = camping + glamping]

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Ever considered forgoing a hotel stay to indulge in the understated comfort of a yurt, tee pee or canvas tent? Alternative lodging is making a comeback, not only evidenced by the ultra-hip Ace Hotel Palm Springs using yurts for some of their spa treatments, but according to Oregon State Parks, yurts are "a quickly-growing national phenomenon." Not sure if it's because the recession caused people to think twice about how much they spend on travel, or if it allows people to get away from it all with a little more comfort than nylon tenting; either way, alternative camping-like lodging is where it's at.

Low-End Pampering yourself in a permanent-esque shelter at provincial, state or private campgrounds provides a happy medium between fumbling with tent poles and staying in a hotel. What's great about this type of accommodation is you can partake year-round: most yurts---even those at campgrounds---have heating. Two years ago my husband and I had our first yurt experience in mid-November when we went surfing with friends in Oregon. At first I was scared that the cold weather and chilly waters of the Pacific would never allow my body temperature to reach normalcy, but within minutes of getting back to our yurt, we were warm and toasty thanks to its heating system. > Renting yurts and canvas tents at campgrounds ranges from $35 in low season to $89 in high season.

High-End Don't be fooled, luxe camping isn't always cheaper. Some hotels offer this type of accommodation at a premium for people who want an authentic rustic experience in the wild, like at the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, which is glamping at its best. Speaking of glamping, at this time last year I was about to fly to Africa to stay in a luxury canvas tent at the Fairmont Masai Mara (see my hotel review here). My experience there was the most glamorous camping I've ever encountered: a gorgeous off-white canvas tent avec mesh windows and an attached front deck overlooking the hippos in the Mara river. Our tent sat on a concrete platform covered with browny/copper-toned rustic tiles, accompanied by a cozy 4-post bed, brown leather directors chairs, shower, bathroom and area to get ready.  Heaven. > Prices for high-end camping vary; however, luxe camping can be much more expensive than staying in a hotel.

Resources If you don't want to go as far as Africa to glamp, here are a few local options: - Whistler, BC ~ yurts + cabins at Riverside campground - Interior, BC ~ canvas tents at Kumsheen's campground - BC Parks' Yurts ~ Mostly in BC's Interior - Oregon ~ State Park cabins + yurts - Washington ~ State Park cabins + yurts

Tips for Staying in Yurts or Canvas Tents - most yurts are outfitted for year-round stays, especially those on the temperate West Coast - bring earplugs---the rain can get loud at night - yurts usually sleep 4, canvas tents 2-4 - often pets are not allowed

[images by diamondmountain, dave and @tripstyler]

The Caribbean's ABCs

[trip style = sun + beach]

Last week I talked about my Autumn top-pick destinations for low season travel, and I've saved the best for last!

Hurricane Season During the late summer and better part of fall, most of the Caribbean is susceptible to significant hurricanes. As a result, people tend to avoid this tropical playground in fear of getting caught in a hair-raising, wind-blowing and storm-frenzied pickle. I don't blame you.

A Secret Here's a little-known secret, the Caribbean includes Islands situated outside the hurricane belt. The ABC Islands (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) or Netherlands Antilles sit at the base of the Caribbean near the central tip of South America. This means, traveling to these destinations during hurricane season is a safer bet than elsewhere within the Caribbean.

Caribbean Another fun fact is that some airlines consider the ABC Islands to be part of the Caribbean when determining general 'areas' for miles redemption. For example, next fall I plan on redeeming my American Airlines (airline alliance: One World) miles to fly to Aruba or Curacao, because in hurricane season AA includes the Caribbean within the lowest tier of its Continental US miles allowance. In other words, thanks to AA thinking most people won't go to the Caribbean during fall, I can fly there for one of its lowest points redemption rates! > Find more strategies for going the distance with your airline miles here.

Sample Fall Fares (oct 18 - 25) From YVR to Aruba: 1 stop $1585, 2 stops $957 From SEA to Aruba: 1 stop $714, 2 stops $626

[image by Salvatore.Freni]