Elevation of New Orleans - Be a Part of the Process

After more than a year, Hurricane Katrina seems to be a distant memory for most of us. People are watching The Saints, New Orleans NFL team back in action...they're watching the French Quarter being rebuilt and seeing life slowly returning. What most aren't seeing, is that amongst the new homes, the football stadium and the French Quarter, there are still devastated homes, lives and many, many pieces still left to be picked up.

Homes that people have been waiting over a year to return to, wondering if life can ever return to normal for them. People want to come back and they want to see the full elevation of New Orleans.

As you read this, there are volunteers everywhere helping to restore New Orleans to what it once was and helping families rebuild their lives. House by house, there is an organization called Rhino, Restoring Hope in New Orleans, looking for volunteers to help with their mission to restore what you're not seeing. What you're not seeing are the parts and homes of the city that remain to this day, untouched after the devastation of Katrina. There is still a great deal to be done and it will be years before New Orleans can truly recover.

You too can help bring home to the lives and families of those in New Orleans. Too often we live 'out of sight, out of mind', and today I'd like to put New Orleans back into your thoughts and prayers. If you're thinking about visiting this incredible city, or you'd like to and you'd like to be a part of the elevation of New Orleans, then don't just think about it, do it! Open your minds and your hearts to those still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. For more information on Rhino and how you can help, please visit: Restoring Hope in New Orleans.



Happy travels!

Volunteer Travel Opportunities Aboard a Cruise Ship

Most everyone has probably envisioned a fantasy of themselves aboard a luxury cruise liner sailing off in the sunset to spectacular destinations but have you ever thought about lending a helping hand to poorer nations aboard a cruise ship?

My guess is probably not, I had never heard of this organization before today but knew that it was significant and that more people deserve to know about it. Volunteer travel opportunities are plentiful, yet there are few of us that actually partake in them.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has been operating hospital ships in developing countries since 1978. They sail around the world providing free medical and emergency assistance to less fortunate nations. Once the ship has been docked, the Mercy Ship teams spill out into the local communities and help with a variety of tasks.

If you're thinking that you couldn't provide Mercy Ships with your volunteer services because you're not a doctor or a nurse, you couldn't be more wrong! In fact, Mercy Ships very much encourage volunteers to join their international crew and lend their services for periods of 2 weeks, right up to a year.

People are needed for any number of things from teaching English and computer skills, to helping build local communities and outfitting them with things such as wells for clean drinking water.

There are a wealth of volunteer travel opportunities available for people with a variety of different skills. To find out more information about this organization, please visit their website at: http://mercyships.org





Happy travels!

Air Travel Tips For Children - The Key to Getting the Best Service With Kids

I was recently reading an article that for any of you parents who love travelling and love to travel with the family in tow, yet maybe you've found that service for you has been less than appealing; then you might want to check it out.

Have you ever wondered why it is that when you show up for your flights and you'd like an upgrade, or hotel, or maybe you're just looking for a better seat in a restaurant but for some reason, you keep getting denied over and over again.

Think your kids aren't the cause?

You might want to think again, and while this certainly isn't fair, I have found a solution for you.

Here's an article that will answer all of these questions and also teach you how to get what you want AND gives you the tips on how to get GREAT service, even with the kids!!

You can check out that article here.

Happy Travels!

Flying the Pet Friendly Skies...For the Travelling Pet Lover

Here is some news that I have seriously been waiting a long time to hear...you travelling pet lovers, brace yourself for...

The world's FIRST Pet Friendly Airline!!!

Finally...an airline for not only the family, but one that also welcomes your furry, 4 legged member of the family, who is more often than not, excluded from 'most' typical family outings.

Yes, you heard that right, all you animal lovers yell for joy because there is hope on the horizen.

For those of you who have never had to experience the hassles and pains that not only you must go through but also your pet, in order to travel on a plane with you, this is absolutely incredible news.

Soon, we can only hope that other airlines will follow suit and also offer a service like this. Maybe there will come a day when no family pet must fly solo in the cargo hold along with everyone's luggage and the many hazardous, potentially fatal potentials.

Conpanion Air - Where pets and families fly first class

Now that's what I'm talking about!!

While Companion Air hasn't yet begun their first service, definitely check out their site and sign up for their mailing list so that you can be the first to learn about them going 'live'! Although from what I can tell on their website, the routes that will be offered in the beginning are only between US cities and I would imagine that is because it would take a significant amount of time before an airline as specialized as this one, could start to take their 'passengers' through multiple countries.

It's a dog's world out there!

Check it out at: www.companionair.com

Happy travels!

Our Personal Travel Map and How to Get Your Own!

Here's a really cool website for travellers that we've just come across, that lets you create your own personal travel map!

Here's a look at ours, man that world of ours is BIG! We've covered only 6% of the world's countries, yet we've seen so much at the same time.

Sign up for your own travel map from http://www.travbuddy.com and show us all the places that you've been to!

Happy travels!

100th Blog Post!!

Well, this is our 100th Blog Post!! Sounds great to start off the next 100 with more awesome information for you folks.

We also are just moving into our new place, here in Edmonton, Alberta. Finally deciding to settle down in Canada once more.

We are also pleased to announce that for you U.S Citizens, you can now purchase your passport online!! Check out our resources page for details! Right now and moving forward, having a passport is a very big thing, so make sure to get yours before going on your next vacation.

Until next time,
Happy Travels!