All-Inclusive VS Non All-Inclusive

[trip style = all-inclusive]

As you may have already guessed, we're doing a month-long feature on all-inclusives! Great for group, family or couple getaways, this trip style easily lends itself to totally unwinding without having to lift a finger. Two weeks ago we covered an introduction to the topic honing in on and dispelling the often-cheesy stereotypes. Last week we played matchmaker Valentines-style with hand-picked options for every trip preference.

This week we're doing the math between staying at an all-inclusive, versus a typical vacation combining flight, hotel, food and incidentals. So we compare apples to apples, we'll use two 7-night, 5-star examples in Mexico, originating from Vancouver. *Details: March 6th departure, based on double occupancy, prices approximate and per person. Unpackaged example is staying at Fairmont Mayakoba, and packaged option at the El Dorado Royale all-inclusive, both in the Riviera Maya.

Conclusion Sometimes going the route of an all-inclusive is cheaper, sometimes it's not. If all you want is sun, sand, mediocre foods and watery pina coladas, a 2-star all-inclusive will be cheaper than an unpackaged vacation. In the above example, the unpackaged holiday is slightly pricier, but not by much. However, comparing unpackaged versus packaged holidays really comes down trip style. Do you feel like this type of trip style for your upcoming trip or not?

All-Inclusive Month :: Coming Up Monday, Feb 21st – From the Archives :: All-Inclusive Tricks of the Trade Friday, Feb 25th – Fashion Friday :: Rockin’ the All-Inclusive

Related Content All-Inclusive Month :: Introductions {Getting over stereotypes} All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking {Finding the right fit your vacation style}

Travel Trends :: Prank Calls

Have you every had something weird happen to you at a hotel? This story definitely falls into the weird category. This week's travel trend is off-base to say the least. It involves a prank call, some hotel guests, an in-room sprinkler and hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.

Recently, a bunch of businesses and restaurants, as well as guests in hotel rooms in North Vancouver, BC received calls from pranksters posing as fire inspectors or hotel managers instructing them to pull the pin out of the sprinkler, immediately setting it off and causing major water damage.

What likely convinced guests was the call's urgency: if they didn't pull the spinkler's pin, the room would supposedly explode within 60 seconds from a gas leak. {read more about it here.}

Although you might think, I'd never follow those hanous instructions, imagine if you'd just travelled for 36 hours, were exhausted, sleeping in a strange room, and well, you get the point.

Hotel Room Safety

• Go with your gut, if something sounds off, it probably is. Get a second or third opinion.
• Remember, anyone can call you at a hotel, so if you get a suspicious phone call, inform the front desk.
• Always cover the peephole.
• As soon as you get to the room, lock the door behind you, using the deadbolt and chain.
• When leaving the room, ensure the door is locked tight.

[photo: dynamic sprinkler systems]

Wifi on Trains

[trip style = train]

Have you ever wanted to take the train to a destination, but opted for other transport because the travel time was too lengthy? Some train travel is bullet-fast and crazy efficient as evidenced in Asia and Europe, other times it's slow and steady, but does that win the race? Full wireless connectivity on trains is a trend that's been around for a few years on the east coast and major routes, but has taken awhile to make its way up the West Coast. Until now.

Why I Love Wifi on Trains Earlier this summer I took a Via Rail train from Ottawa to Montreal, and LOVED the fact I could immediately connect to wifi in the terminals and on the train. It made the journey efficient {thus enjoyable} because I was able to get lots of work done, which meant I could spend more time in my destination exploring.

Where is the Love? Over the past few months, I've taken two trips to Portland and despite desperately wanting to take the train, both times got there road-trip style. Why? Because the Amtrak Cascades, the train running between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR didn't have wifi. Yes, I know the scenery is stunning, but 8 hours {in the middle of the day} on a train sans wifi? Non Merci.

The Love Thank goodness Amtrak is getting on track {pun intended} with not only wifi, but free wifi! Redeemed! I bet it will seriously increase their ridership, which was already record-braking in 2010! Whether you wifi your way to Seattle or Portland, or take the Coast Starlight all the way to LA, your trip just got a little easier and more entertaining with wifi. Hulu anyone? {Hulu is a website featuring a ton of popular TV shows which you can only access in the US.}

Now, if only they'd allow dogs...

Related Content Portland {part deux} Portland Seattle :: Springtime in the Emerald City

[photo: you gotta be here]

Travel Apps :: Google Translate

—Get more travel tips & updates like this by subscribing to RSS or email. —

Just released last week, the Google Translate app dazzles. Seriously, I can't stop playing with it and trying to stump it with strange translations. Using the app for the first time, the possibilities are endless for travel usefulness and crossing language barriers.

What makes it awesome: a) the laser speed by which it translates b) the amount of languages it supports (57) c) it's free d) the audio function * translate by speaking the text instead of typing it (15 languages) * listen to your translations spoken aloud (23 languages) e) the full screen mode, making the translation easy to show others f) offline support: star your favorite translations for quick access when you're not connected to wifi

How it Works After setting your translate from and to languages, write {or paste} text or speak into your iPhone for a split-second translation. Per the above point, this app does rely on the internet, so if you're offline, I highly suggest saving some phrases you'll regularly use so you can access them in a pinch!

Details

• Works with iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad
• For other mobile platforms, use the google mobile app {which contains a translate function}

Other Travel Apps Don’t forget to peruse the other 60+ travel apps we’ve reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits, to trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Instagram
• Airbnb
• Book Crazy
• TomTom
• Get Packing

Packing 102

A little while ago I wrote about Mastering the Art of Packing, aka packing 101. In it, I talked about well- and lesser-known space-saving packing tips like "slip underwear, socks and electronic chargers into shoes" and "place belts around the perimeter or your bag." I religiously put these tips {and others} into practice when I travel, and along the way have reformed my egregious overpacking tendencies into carry-on bliss.

Feeling pretty proud of my ever-evolving packing techniques---affording me a small carry-on for a 6-day trip last month---I thought I might actually have packing semi-mastered. Not so much. Conde Nast Traveler's Wendy Perrin reminded me of this while reading her Perrin Report column under a grass-topped beach umbrella in Mexico. It was entitled Confessions of an Unfashionable Traveler, yet I firmly believe you can pack stylishly AND light. There's always room for improvement!

Packing 102 Here are a few things Wendy taught {and reminded} me:

1} "You can't be a slave to the fashionistas when you're a slave to the overhead storage bin." My translation: keep the size of your bag in mind while selecting garments and shoes. Bring a few key peices that work together and double in the program. For example, when I went to Mexico last month, I wore a vintage, waist-length sweater-jacket with my plane outfit, a) because it kept me toasty getting to the airport in a cold climate, and b) so I'd have a warm option for wearing over dresses on breezy evenings.

2} "Not only can I fit {everything}... into my {carry-on} wheelie, but I can find anything at a moment's notice and NOTHING gets wrinkled." Impressive. I haven't totally mastered the no wrinkles thing, but I've dabbled and now swear by dry cleaner bags. Why? I learned: wrinkles are caused when fabrics rub up against other fabrics. So, put your fancier, wrinkle-prone items in individual dry cleaner bags and gently fold flat at the top of your bag. You can also avoid wrinkles by folding items over each other, like in this 1-minute video. *If you still have trouble getting out wrinkles and hate using hotel irons like me, pick up some wrinkle releaser next time you're in the USA. I just found some and it works well.

3} "Go light on the items you plan to shop for during your trip." This one's a given, but we so often forget this rule while frantically picking the just-right items for our trip's limited wardrobe. Take Vegas for example, I can't speak for guys, but if a girls trip to Vegas happens, you know it's going to involve at least one trip to the mall, likely for a dress! Similarly, when you go to Peru, hold off on bringing toques if you know you want to buy a llama one there.

4} "I always pack a LeSportsac nylon duffel in case I accumulate so many purchases they can't all fit in my wheelie. In that case, for the flight home, the duffel becomes my carry-on and I check the sturdier wheelie." I've mentioned this tip before, but it's so important. Plus, Wendy agrees and she's a rockstar traveler.

5} "Carry two or three accessories that instantly dress you up and send a signal to airport and hotel employees that you're a professional." Words to live by when traveling---whether you're backpacking, weekending or traveling like Posh Spice. I always wear some nice, understated, non-metal-detector-beeping jewelry and scarves for this very reason. They can dress up any outfit. For men, a scarf works well too.

Related Content {Apparently I'm a little obsessed with this topic} Mastering the Art of Packing High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat? A Summer Weekend Packing List Go-To Carry-On Toiletries Choosing the Best Type of Carry-On Travel iPhone Apps :: PackingPro The Art of Carry-On Travel Going Away? Packing and To Do List

[photo by ben husmann]