Travel Apps :: Live Flight Tracker

I've known about flight tracking apps for awhile, but never bothered to download one---why I don't know---because they can be extremely helpful. These apps are valuable planning and tracking tools, and definitely something the travel app-obsessed should have in their toolkits! Recently flight status apps came back on my radar when my mom asked about options as she filled her iTouch with apps the night before she set off for a multi-city, multi-segment trip to China. There are a few flight status apps on the market. The highest priced, FlightTrack ($9.99 Pro/$4.99 Regular) is the most robust and a frequent international traveller's dream come true. Casual jauntsetters will like the free FlightAware app.

FlightAware App Details

• free
• works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad; Blackberry and Android apps in the works
• real-time flight status and tracking map for any flight in the United States, Canada or UK
• tracks private, charter  or commercial airline flights
• search by aircraft registration, route, airline, flight number, city pair, or airport code

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Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

• Kayak
• 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)

The Chicken or the Egg

When you travel, do you book your flight or hotel first?  Why?

Because both transport and hotel need to be booked, sometimes it's hard to figure out if it's the chicken or the egg!

The Chicken Flight First Here are a few reasons why it's generally more accepted to book your flight/train/bus first:

• airfare (transport) prices are always fluctuating, so if you see a good rate, it's best to book
• book your flight first to carve-out and maximize your time away
• there's always a lodging option, even during high-season and big events, though it may require a half hour journey by train or car to get there
• typically, more lodging inventory exists than seats on planes

*A counterpoint: sometimes your trip style calls for booking the hotel first, for example, if you book your hotel on a super-saver deal, or if you book through a private sale or travel auction site. About 4 years ago I booked a room via Sky Auction at the Villa Vera Resort, and had to secure the dates before my flight. Although this scenario is not my preference, you can always find alternative lodging or stay at an airport hotel if the best travel dates are a day or two off.

[image by gradstudent2007]

Euro Month :: Venezia

[trip style = sightseeing]

In Venice, there's a certain magic in the air; perhaps it's the pea soup-thick morning mist, the male model-like taxi boat drivers, the mystique of a city on stilts, or the serenity of water surrounding you on every side. What this tourist mecca lacks due its wall-to-wall crowds, it gains in romantic waterways, singing gondoliers and Louis Vuitton-clad gelato servers.

Getting There {We arrived in Venice via overnight train from Paris. This is my husband about to eat the breakfast they brought us on the train: packaged croissants, decent cappuccinos and orange juice. I was impressed by the coffees, and needed the caffeine boost given I didn't sleep so well on the rocking train.}

{After leaving the train, we took the public bus-like boat to our home away from home. Public transport boats are cheap and efficient. Although the gorgeous wood-paneled taxi boats with strapping lads/captains were alluring, the price was not: 75-100 euros one way. After a 15 min ride, we arrived at the Hilton Molino Stucky and were excited to have nice, newly renovated room (see my Trip Advisor review here). The best feature: the views from the rooftop pool!}

Eating There {We heard the food in Venice was expensive and less flavourful than other parts of Italy--and it was--so we found a grocery store near our hotel to purchase a few essentials: prosecco, red wine in a box, white wine in a plastic bottle, water, cashews, cheese, crackers, choco cookies and strawberry-flavoured gummies.

{The Italian version of to-go coffee, drinking it at the bar.}

{Indulging in a local specialty, squid in ink sauce. My husband said it tasted like tomato sauce, but I did not verify that claim because I couldn't bring myself to sample this charcoal-coloured local dish.}

{This gorgeous hole in the wall, just off St. Mark's Square is rather famous. Harry's Bar is not only known for its bellinis, it's credited with INVENTING them, so, of course, we indulged, 30 euros later... Harry's is a must-see. This high-end bar and eatery is attended to by servers in white coats, the decor has a classy simple feel and the food is rumored to be very good--even for Venice. According to this month's InStyle, Vera Wang could eat a bowl of their spaghetti Bolognese every day.}

{Dining al fresco at a quiet restaurant beside an out of the way canal. As if the atmosphere wasn't already romantic enough, the sweet sounds of singing gondliers passing in the night always came at the right moment.}

Glamour Shots

City Life {A Venetian garage}

{Drying laundry, Venice style}

{Garbage truck boat}

{Ambulance}

Related Content The City of Lights The Italian Riviera Tuscany’s Lucca

[images by moi]

Travel Trends :: Liquified

Since the airline liquid ban in 2006, savvy retailers have been "minifying" their toiletries and beauty products in response to liquid allowance rules, and the unfortunate airline luggage downsizing and pay-per-bag trend. Although mini toiletries help us pack light, bring less and lower the weight of our carry-on bags, it would be nice to have the option to bring a bottle of perfume/cologne that wouldn't otherwise be used by confiscated at security.

End of an Era? It looks like our mini toiletry toting days might be coming to an end. On Monday, before a 6-day day meeting in Montreal, the secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (IAOC) announced "the (liquid) ban will end." Predicted to come into effect in two years, it is still unclear if the ban will be completely lifted, or lifted but with limitations. Think how much bottled water you could bring on the plane, or not dump out/feverishly gulp at security. Bye, bye dehydration!

Why Will the Liquid Madness Stop? If they can make a controversial machine to scan your body for explosives, I would hope they could make one for liquids too. It turns out they can, and hope to have it installed at most security checkpoints by 2012.

What Will you Do? After 5 years of downsizing my packing, I'm so used to the large liquids ban, I don't know that I'll go back. Given my  preferred packing medium involves a carry on, in order to maximize the bag's real estate, bringing regular-sized liquids like shampoo, creams, etc. doesn't make sense, except for extenuating circumstances when I check a bag. What will you do?

Until the ban is lifted, here's what you can and can't bring on a flight originating in Canada or the US. If you're travelling outside of Canada or the US, check the country's regulations, they could be different!

[image by klyphord]

How to Save on Airfare

I wish there was a magic button we could push to secure the best price for a flight, but sadly this is only a fantasy. The reality of being an amateur jetsetter is having to do a little legwork, which is hopefully simplified due to your daily, faithful devotion to Trip Styler ;). To help you score the lowest airfare for your next trip, here are some tried-and-tested saving methods:

1) Right Timing Almost a year ago, Kayak's chief scientist analyzed data from the millions of daily searches happening on the site. He made some significant and helpful conclusions, one of which was fares were the lowest 15 days prior to departure.  More of his tips are summarized here.

2) Don't Rule Out Spontaneity Another deduction the Kayak scientist gleaned: the last-minute price of a flight was in some cases similar to the 15-day sweet spot. I found this out firsthand last December when I booked a last-minute flight to Maui on Friday night that left Saturday morning. Although this isn't always practical, it shows that there's still room for spontaneous travel!

3) Be Flexible Sometimes our dates aren't very flexible, other times they are. Either way, depending on your trip style or amount of time away, you might have a little wiggle room. Use this wiggle room to your advantage! For example, the price difference between leaving friday night or Saturday morning can be staggering. Therefore, when searching for a flight, always be open to leaving a day--even a few hours--before or after your ideal time, to save money.

4) Magical Midweek I get it, leaving on a tuesday or wednesday is not always feasible, but, if you can plan ahead and pull it off, these magical midweek days are often much cheaper than flying over the weekend.

5) Shoulder to Shoulder This one's a no-brainer, but if you want to take an epic trip, why not travel just before or just after the destination's high season to reap the rewards of lower airfares and greater hotel savings. For example, in mid-August I went to California and stayed at a lovely hotel in Laguna Beach. If I had waited only two weeks later to stay there, my rate would have been 50% less and the weather would have been just as nice!

6) The Sale Rack Airlines are ALWAYS having sales. With the fiercely competitive nature of the airline industry, if one major carrier has a sale, one of its competitors will react and follow suit. If you follow WestJet and Air Canada, you'll find their sales often happen at the same time. If for some reason their sales are not congruent at that moment, it's almost guaranteed at least one carrier will still be having a promotion. One way to make sure you always know about airline sales is to: a) join their email lists b) monitor their Twitter accounts c) check on their homepage or special offers page for details

PS - Victoria's only a hop, skip and a jump away from Vancouver and Seattle, and it just so happens there's a great event happening near the seaside town of Sidney, BC on Saturday, October 16th. Multi-Juno winner and Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy will be performing at an airplane hangar-come Tombstone saloon. This event, which includes a gourmet BBQ, will raise money for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.  Click here for ticket info and other details.

[image by kossy]