Canadian Rockies Excursions - Huge Summer Savings!

If you've not been to the Canadian Rocky Mountains before, let me tell you that they are spectacular! I will never forget my first glimpse of them...

There is so much beauty, wonder and nature. It's refreshing and even just spending a day there, makes you feel like you're on top of the world!

Summertime is an awesome time for Canadian Rockies excursions; it's peak season, the weather is fantastic right now and there's no one who could possibly get bored there!

What you need is the Banff Summer Adventure Passport! This is your guide and passport to enjoy all that the Canadian Rockies have got to offer in not just Banff but also Canmore, Lake Louise, and Kananaskis.

With an Adventure Passport, you can save over $1000 on your visit to Banff! You'll get up to 50% off at over 40 of the top Banff and Lake Louise attractions, museums, adventure trips, activities, river rafting, horseback riding, ATV, and hummer rentals, hiking, fishing, restaurants, pubs, night clubs, and spa offers, just to name a few!!

Right now you can save 25% off the cost which has a really great price of $14.95 to begin with! It's really an awesome deal because for those of us who go, know that Canadian Rockies excursions don't come cheap!

Go check it out!



Happy travels!

Visit Edmonton, Alberta With Eddie. The Bus That Is!

Let's talk about Edmonton, Alberta today! Edmonton has been our home now for the last 6 months and what a great city it is!

Like every other city in the world, Edmonton has its pros and cons but it is a city that has a lot to offer. When most people think about Edmonton, the first thought that pops into one's mind is generally 'West Edmonton Mall'! And an awesome mall it is but there is a lot more to Edmonton than just that.

Now that the summer if Finally here, it's a great time to take advantage of some great sightseeing and that's exactly what Jason and I plan to do. The winter was pretty darn cold here!

We've taken in the season opener of the Eskimos, Edmonton's CFL team, we've been getting entertained at Rexall, we've spent a great deal of time at that famous mall we were talking about and now, we're going to discover Eddie.

Hop on, Hop off...Ride the Eddie!

That's Eddie Bus Sightseeing tours and it's one of the most affordable and best ways to take in all the great attractions that this city has to offer. For only $12 you can jump on and jump off this bus as many times as you want at any of the 17 attractions it takes you to! Or if you'd like more than 1 day, for $20 you get 2.

Eddie starts running on June 30 and stops on September 3, it runs 7 days a week with the first trip starting at 9am and the last returning bus at 5:41pm. It's an awesome way to get a really good look at this city; we are definitely going to be trying this one!

And don't forget, if you're planning to visit Edmonton, Alberta this summer, make sure to look at the calendar of events because we are festival city here! You wouldn't believe the talent and events that make their way here all throughout the summer months! We can't wait to hit it all and tell you all about it!





World Waterpark, West Edmonton Mall. Get your all-inclusive pass for WEM here!

Happy travels!

Discover Tamarindo Weddings in Costa Rica

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular with couples who are looking to take their day in the sun, literally in the sun! If you're looking for the perfect beach town; surf, sand and lots of sun, Tamarindo weddings in Costa Rica could be just what you're looking for!

It's an ideal place for honeymoons and weddings, as well as, couples, families and has a lot to give for our eco-adventurerers! Tamarindo has so many things to offer you in a destination. Sailing, surfing, sport fishing, golfing, diving, jungle boat rides and that's just to name a few!

A multi-cultural community that is filled with bakeries, outdoor markets and more than 40 restaurants, definitely ensures that your guests will have the finest food for your Tamarindo wedding.

The sun shines here just about 365 days a year and the temperature is a fantastic warm all year round. There is a rainy season from May to October where you can expect a brief shower in the later afternoons but trust me, you won't mind! The beach after this, is going to just glow and you're going to be witness to some extraordinary sunsets.

The beach is a stretch of about 3.5 Kms that boasts white sands and incredibly warm blue waters. National parks surround the North and South while the East features mountains with absolutely breathtaking views. Nature is everywhere in Tamarindo...from Leatherback Turtles to Howler Monkeys to Iguanas peeking their heads up to you in restaurants; it is very evident!

You can find every type of accommodation here; luxury to budget hotels, private beach houses to cabanas, condos and B&Bs. With maid and laundry services available to make your stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible, there are accomodations to fit every budget.

Why choose Tamarindo for your wedding in Costa Rica?

It has a near perfect climate in a spectacular location.

It's affordable.

The food is amazing.

Nature is everywhere.

There is never a shortage of things to do. For anyone.


Most of all, you will come home happy, relaxed and totally refreshed. Your Tamarindo Wedding in Costa Rica is something that will be unique and special to you. Something to be treasured because no one else will have it like you!






Happy travels!

Air Travel With Pets BANNED From Air Canada (Warning: Rant Enclosed!)

Well Air Canada has done it again! Succeeded in making me and many others, a NOT happy camper that is!

Good 'ole AC has amended their rules regarding pets, that rule being that they're NOT going to fly your pet period! Last year, by September of '06 they'd stopped taking pets in the cabin, which was bad enough and now, they've just gotten rid of them period. Yes, not even in the luggage compartment.

As of July 15, 2007 air travel with pets will no longer be possible via Air Canada. If you already have an existing reservation for your pet, this will be OK but no more reservations are being taken for them.

Now you may be wondering why this is something that effects me. Well we ourselves are pet lovers and we have an amazing little dog named Cammy who god rest her soul, travels everywhere we do. From the time she was 4 months old, Cammy began her traveling adventures and now at 2, she's seen more of the world than what a lot of people that we know have!

Air Canada's decision last year to not take pets in the cabin had already affected us and also caused AC to lose out on international tickets from us. While 2 tickets aren't going to cause them to blink but the fact is, it's not just 2 tickets...there are A LOT of people like us. People who love their pets the same as they do family because that's what they are and they only get the best.

In my opinion, being a person who has been traveling since early childhood years, who has taken countless flights with Air Canada, I beg anyone to argue with me!! That AC's service has just gone to Shite! Honestly, I just don't really have a nice word for this company but you know what??

Unfortunately, they have a domination hold over Canada because we don't have other options! Not when it comes to international travel. There are only so places YET, though that West Jet can take you! A million bucks says that if West Jet could run the same routes as AC, it would have been bye bye Air Canada a LONG time ago.

The only positive thing that I can say about this company is that on long-haul flights, you've got a good amount of room. Is that enough for me? Certainly not. I will at all times choose another carrier if at all possible.

There you have it, my rant for today. If you'd like more information on Air travel with pets being banned from Air Canada, then check out this CBC article.


Could You Say No to this face?
Meet Cammy!

Happy travels!

Things to Do On the Cook Islands

In the heart of the South Pacific, lies a collage of 15 islands...they equal in size to that of India, yet there are only 16 000 people who call the Cook Islands 'home'. They have their own government and language, and appreciate the diverse culture that exists between each of the islands! These Polynesians are unique, very friendly and welcome you to their islands.

You won't find high-rise hotels here! Even though there are more than 90 000 people who visit Rarotonga, the capitol island, the Cook Islands are very much unspoiled by tourism. This is a different type of vacation and it's ideal for anyone seeking a South Seas experience and instead of the hotel experience, you've got beach buggies with none of the commercialism that we find with a usual hotel stay!

Here are just a few ideas of things to do on the Cook Islands!

Walk the incredible beaches and just relish this incredible opportunity that you have, try one at night too so that you can see stars like you've never seen them before!

Go snorkeling in a lagoon!

Talk to the locals, get to know them and a little bit about their life. You would be amazed how such a seemingly small thing can make such a big difference in your world and your understanding.

Then join them for an 'island night' and dance the night away with your newfound friends!

Visit more than one island! and do it all again!!

Take the most memorable pictures, grab a tacky souvenir and...





Happy travels!

Visiting Exuma, Bahamas in the Out Islands

The Bahamas Out Islands make up an archipelago of 698 islands and got their name because they are the most remote in the Bahamas but are certainly not boring!

There are tons of activities to be found on these secluded islands that seem unending because the further you go, the farther away that the 'real' world gets and you are fully immersed in the Bahamian culture. You're free to be as you want; completely relaxed or as energetic as you want it to be!

Traveling to the Out Islands, you'll be visiting Exuma, Bahamas and the Exumas make up about 365 of those cays and islands and stretch for about 120 miles. The 2 main islands, Great Exuma and Little Exuma make up the southern tip while the harbours, bays and hidden coves throughout just call out to the yachters and the sports fishermen!

Discovering the Out Islands and visiting Exuma,Bahamas is an awesome way to get a feel for the culture. Often times when we think about exotic destinations like the Bahamas, we think about going to all-inclusive resorts and think about all the perks that come with those but a trip WAY out there means having not only an island experience, but also a cultural one.

Those are the ones that always mean the most because you come home a different person, one who's been introduced to a new kind of life...it gives you perspective and you just can't beat that!





Happy travels!

Latest US Passport Rules! Good News For US Travelers...

Since the new US passport rules, as you're probably aware, has made obtaining a passport just a nightmare! With 71% of Americans not being passport holders, let's just say that the waiting times for getting one are just a little bit crazy!

Right now, it's taking about 10-12 weeks for routine service and about 3 to get one expedited. Given the swamped passport offices, the latest US passport rules have deemed that so long as a US traveler has proof that they've applied for their passport, then they can travel to Canada, Mexico and also the Caribbean until Sept. 30; you'll also need just a government issued photo ID.

There you have it, that's the latest US passport rules, just make sure that you're not going to try this after Sept. 30th! Check your US passport status here and as always,

Happy travels!

Papua New Guinea Vine Bridge - Explore the Benaria Valley

Papua New Guinea is actually one of the world's LEAST visited countries and is truly a 'last frontier' for travelers.

P.N.G is an area that is isolated not just by geography but also history. It wasn't until 1951 that the government took control of the country and to this day, the Huli people are governed by sorcery and their ancestral beliefs.

An awesome way to explore this culture, which is just phenomenal really, for this day and age to live NOT anything like our traditional sense of society but from practices that are 1000 years old; is by exploring the Benaria Valley, also where you'll find the Papua New Guinea vine bridge, waterfalls, the local market and sacred caves. You can do this with Huli Wigmen and learn about this extraordinary culture on an incredible trek and your accommodation will be in village houses!

P.N.G is a tropical wonderland, amazingly infused and a living example of what culture was like for man over 1000 years ago. A land of contrasts...mountains, rain forests, beaches lined with palm trees...this is not your every day vacation, it is just absolutely unique!

Papua New Guinea is a group of more than 600 islands and 800 different languages; amazing!





Happy travels!

Milage Between Cities and Meeting In the Middle

What do mileage between cities and meeting in the middle have in common with each other? Well that's what I'm going to show you with a really cool new website that I just discovered.

What this site has done, is incorporated a neat little tool that combines Google's genius maps! The website is called a.placebetween.us and what this tool does, is it will find a place to meet right smack dab in the middle of any 2 destinations. And it's not just limited to the US, you can use this tool for anywhere in the world!

As a user, you'll just enter in the address or zip code and then you'll enter in the other address and voila! You'll know just what's in the middle, and it could be anywhere! A grocery store, hotel, theatre...it can be anything!

I think it's a really cool idea, especially if you've ever been in the situation where you want to meet up with someone but you don't know where and somewhere in the middle would work, maybe you're not sure what the milage between the cities are...and now you can!

Happy travels!

Flamenco Beach at Culebra Island - A Peaceful Oasis

Flamenco Beach at Culebra, is one of many beaches on this island just off of Puerto Rico. Culebra is a stunning 7 miles of beautiful white sand beaches, with a smashing of open-faced rocks that are great for climbing. Flamenco beach takes up 1 mile of this spectacular coastline.

Flamenco Beach is part of a public park and is very popular among the locals. It's a laid back escape that features camping spots for overnight stays that are so close to the ocean that you'll fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. A mixture of peaceful beauty.

Culebra Island is one of those rare finds in a getaway. It's managed to avoid massive development and you're not going to find these huge resorts with casinos galore...instead you're going to find a little town called Dewey that's inhabited by about 15oo spanish speaking islanders but don't think that a vacation here would be boring by any stretch of the imagination!

There are all kinds of adventures that are waiting for you on Flamenco Beach at Culebra Island; sailing, sea kayaking, diving, and of course climbing if that's your fancy!

How would you get to this tropical oasis? From San Juan in Puerto Rico, you'll jump onto a little prop plane for about 20 minutes, over a dry tropical forest before landing on a single lone landing strip. Another mile and a half journey will bring you right to Flamenco Beach and on the weekends, you'll be joined there by tons of Puerto Ricans coming in on the ferry!

Culebra Island Pics:


Ariel of Culebra Island


Flamenco Beach, Culebra Island

Happy travels!

Welcome to the New Tropical Beach Destinations!

Welcome to our new pages! We've put a lot of time, energy and work into developing what we hope will be one of the most user-friendly online travel booking websites, that you have used. That is our goal and mission and we hope that this is a good start!

So please, take you time...explore and have fun. We hope that you'll like what you find and we encourage you to post any comments that you may have. We like the good and the bad, either way, it will always make for improvement and consistency from us to you; we appreciate you stopping by!

Happy travels!

An Overnight Stay in Cape Town

Cape Town is 'The Place' to see when visiting South Africa. It is one of the world's most beautiful cities and it is one happening little spot!

Fused with a mix of African and European cultures, it has a cosmopolitan allure that beckons to you. Infamous for its hospitality, an overnight stay in Cape Town will not leave you bored by any stretch of the imagination!

It has a fantastic cultural scene and music permeates through every corner of the city in an open minded and relaxed atmosphere.

Cape Town is filled with historic wine estates and vineyards, it has Table Mountain as its backdrop which is one of the most famous images of South Africa and some of the world's best land based whale watching spots can be found in Hermanus which is just outside the city.

Any time of the year is a great time to go because there is never a shortage of things going on and the weather is fairly consistent, though it can get pretty chilly in the winter.

If you're fortunate enough to be taking a trip there, hopefully you can have longer than an overnight stay in Capetown, as there's so much to see and do but make sure that if that is all you have, you take full advantage because this is a trip of a lifetime!

For a day, why not take a cultural tour to get a true feel of this South African city? Here's a little snippet of what you can be doing!

Cultural Cape Town - Langa and Khayelitsha
This cultural tour showcases some of the oldest monuments and historical sights in Cape Town. See Langa, the oldest formal township and the Gugulethu township. Visit the largest informal settlement - Khayelitsha, before popping in to a shebeen where you will meet and interact with the local community.



Happy travels!

Hidden Beaches That You Want to Read About!

Beaches are my most favourite places to spend my time...the ocean, the smells, the sun, sand and people...everything about it!

I grew up by the ocean though, I'm a water baby. I've also spent a good many days on beaches that were so packed, you could barely walk around! Some of the nicest ones that I've been to were actually the ones that not everyone knows about; they're special.

I just read an article that describes 5 hidden beaches to you and I think that you'll really like it! One of the ones mentioned, is so close to my hometown in Canada and I thought that was really cool!

So head on over and discover these hidden beaches that have been identified for you and just so that you know, they are all in the US and Canada.


Prince Edward Island, Canada

Happy travels!

A Couples Island Vacation - Great Getaways for 2

An island vacation may just be one of the best ways to really enjoy your time together while fitting in spectacular sites.

I think going for an all-inclusive resort is a perfect couples island vacation. The reason for this is because if you're going for 'couple' time, then staying at an all-inclusive resort means that all the details are already done, you're free to enjoy each other and you can totally relish being in a new, beautiful surrounding.

Simply put, islands offer sandy beaches, waterports and romance. It's an awesome way to celebrate your time together!

Outside of the resort, you can take day excursions and tours to see the different things that you want to and experience this new culture, wherever you may be.

A couples island vacation will give you everything you need; a spectacular destination that's also cost effective because everything is included and an atmosphere that you can't help but fall in love with. Having someone who can share this with you minus any stress that might normally be prevalent will give you something special that only the 2 of you have shared!

Check out these Caribbean Hot Deals
for an island vacation that you just can't beat!



Happy travels!

Luggage Checked by Airlines No Longer Free??

Seriously, enough is enough. Do you remember the days of flying when you bought your ticket, you happily brought your luggage to the airport and proceeded to board a plane that not only gave you drinks but even fed you? I sure do, man are those days long gone!

I just read an article that really P***ed me off! British Airlines and Spirit airlines have decided that you shouldn't be able to check your luggage for free, in fact, you can't and you must pay for your luggage!

WHAT?? I mean come on guys, are we not making enough money as it is or what? See to me, the worst part of this is that now that a couple of airlines have done it, the rest aren't far behind...i mean they're not going to want to miss out on that piece of the pie are they?

"Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines announced earlier this month that they'll be charging $5 for one or two checked bags if customers make reservations online. Travelers who don't use Spirit's online reservation service will pay double -- $10 a piece for one or two bags, and a whopping $100 for a third piece of checked luggage. You're still allowed one carry-on for free, but Spirit's also going to charge $1 for soft drinks, coffee and tea. The new policy affects all flights taken after June 20.


They're not the first to do this, and certainly won't be the last. The small Dublin-based airline Ryanair began charging 3.50 euros per checked bag last year, and Air Canada offers passengers $5 off their fare if they don't check any luggage. And now British Airways, who still allows you one checked bag for free, has started charging passengers on long flights to Europe and Asia a stunning 120 pounds ($236) for each extra bag. Passengers on domestic flights will have to pay 30 pounds ($59) for each additional bag, while each additional piece of luggage on flights to Europe will cost 60 pounds ($118)". (This information was found through Arcamax-Travel)

Honestly, it really upsets me that luggage checked by the airlines are no longer going to be free. You're either going to pay through the airlines, airports or screw them all and go with a delivery service but either way, you pay. Seems to me the only thing that airlines WILL do for you is literally transport you from A to B because forget doing anything else for you; you have to pay the big bucks for extras because I mean, we just must not be paying enough for our airline tickets these days. Seriously...can you just feel the sarcasm dripping??

If you have any thoughts to add to this, please do because I would love to hear you've got to say!