Travel TV :: Amazing Race Season 16

[trip style = adventure]

I can't believe the Amazing Race is in Season 16.  Looking back, it's hard to believe season 1 premiered a week before the Sept 11th Terrorist Attacks.  Timing was not on its side.  Due to multiple circumstances, season 1 ratings lacked, but CBS made the right call bringing the show back for a second season.  Luckily, it struck a chord and gained loyal viewers who a) brought the show to season 16, and b) put it in the ranks of CBS' top-rated shows.

Other than Departures, the Amazing Race is my fave travel show.  Sometimes I can't handle the drama between characters--remember "Lake, like the Ocean"--but understand that it's a necessary evil of primetime, 'reality.'

Additional Ways to Connect with The Amazing Race Now TV isn't the only way you can connect with the show, they are on twitter @AmazingRace_CBS, on Facebook and online featuring additional content like: The Elimination Station. When teams lose a leg of the race, they are flown to a destination (this season it's Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) where they live in community until the race completes. With the emotions, interactions and disappointments that come out at the Elimination Station, this online segment could be a reality show all to itself.

Planning a Ski Weekend

[trip style = ski]

TGIF.  About to whisk yourself away to Whistler, Vail or Chamonix this weekend?  If not and the idea of skiing, apres-ing and hotubbing sounds parfait, then this post is for you.  Below you'll find the quickest ways to plan ski vacation in advance or last-minute.

We're in the height of ski season frenzy.  January's web searches confirm this too.  According to HitWise, people searching for ski vacations online is way up this month.  Looks like the masses were waiting to see how the season would shape-up before committing to the slopes.

HINT - Based on year-over-year ski resort bookings, Hoteliers say that most people depend on the prior year's weather and ski conditions when making a determination regarding a present-day booking.  Ironically, the present year's weather is not necessarily an indication of next year's weather.   Either way, this is an opportunity for the savvy traveller: a) book your vacation once you're aware of the present year's ski conditions or, b) if the previous year was bad, expect bookings to be down and savings to be big!

Planning a Ski Vacation in Advance

• Season & Cost ($ - $$$$$)
  • nov - mid dec:  $
  • mid dec - early jan:  $$$$$
  • early jan - early mar: $$$
  • mar (spring break): $$$$
  • apr - jun: $
• Weather
  • nov - mid dec:  can be sketchy, but also amazing. better to book this micro season 1-month to 1-week prior to arrival.
  • mid dec - early jan: usually good conditions.  best to book far in advance to get desired booking/price for Christmas & New Years.
  • early jan - early mar: typically best conditions of ski season.  best to book in advance.
  • mar (spring break): decent conditions. book in advance to secure desired destination/room amid family spring break frenzy.
  • apr - jun: secret season.  good snow mid-to-high mountain as well as good deals.  can book last minute.
• Where to book
  • ski resort direct
  • hotels direct (hint - join your fave hotel's loyalty program for bigger savings and first-to-know promotions)
  • ski condo booking websites: vrbo.com, alluradirect.com, ownderdirect.com (best options if you want a kitchen to lessen cost)
  • travel resellers like skicentral.com, expedia.com, ski.com or skiresorts.com
• Finding the best deal
  • early and late-season most hotels and condos are liable to provide the best deals
  • many hotels and now using Twitter to post advance or super last-minute deals, so follow your fave hotels in your ski town
  • when there, check in the local newspaper for restaurant promotions and special happy-hour pricing

Planning a Ski Vacation Last-Minute

• Best Last-minute Micro Seasons
  • nov - mid dec:  the best snow coverage in early season is mid-to-high mountain.  resorts are eager to fill rooms and kick start the season's buzz, therefore are more willing to offer lower prices.
  • apr - jun: known by many ski resort locals as 'the secret season' when vacationers leave and locals play.  good snow mid-to-high mountain and good deals.  can book last minute--even 1-2 days prior to leaving.
• Where to book
  • ski resort direct (search for website's last-minute booking section)
  • hotels direct (hint - join your fave hotel's loyalty program for bigger savings and first-to-know promotions)
  • reliable ski condo booking websites: vrbo.com, alluradirect.com, ownderdirect.com (best options if you want a kitchen to lessen cost)
• Finding the best deal
  • get a group together and book a condo that's not slope-side.  condos farther away from the ski hill offer significant savings and booking with a group allows cost-sharing for accommodation and meals.
  • the instantaneous nature of twitter has given hoteliers the best opportunity to offer last-minute booking deals; I follow many ski resort hotels on twitter and frequently see twitter-only rates and promotion codes for online booking, etc...

2010: Best Year to Book Whistler Blackcomb

[trip style = ski]

As Whistler gears-up for the 2010 Olympics, bookings are down. Huh?

It's true. Other than the 2-week period surrounding the 2010 Olympics, the winter playground located only 1.5 hours from Vancouver and consistently ranked as the #1 ski resort in North America, has very few bookings for the 2010 season.

Reason The Olympic Aversion Effect.  Prior to this season, I didn't know if I was totally on-board with this notion, however, as someone who is closely tied to the Resort's booking trends, I now see the results.  Commenting on the aversion, Casey Vanden Heuvel, director of communications for Tourism Whistler, said "it's a phenomenon that happens at pretty much all Olympic destinations, where the typical consumer that is considering a visit, other than for the Games itself, avoids that destination, just with some assumptions of what that experience will be like." The truth: hotels have a lot of availability pre and post-Olympics.

2010 Whistler Blackcomb Opportunities

• Maximize your number of runs per day with little-to-no waits at the lifts
• Big sales posted at most hotels
• Smaller crowds
• Construction-free highway access
• Increased public transit
• Edge Card discounts (until jan 31)
• Last minute booking deals
• Book directly from an owner through Allura Direct.  You'll likely get a discount (because owners want to rent our their places).  Note: if you book during the Olympics, the owner should provide a highway permit for use during 6am - 6pm.

Facts

• Pre and post-Olympics, rates are similar or LOWER than last year's
• 90% of the mountain is open. Practical application: during the games most of Whistler and virtually all of Blackcomb will be open.
• Before 6am and after 6pm, people are free to drive the highway toward whistler without a permit

More Advent/Christmas 2009 Travel Deals

[trip style :: ski + all inclusive]

Further to our December 1st post about 2009 Advent travel deals, here are a few more hand-picked travel opportunities that have come across our desk:

Ski Whistler Blackcomb - Voted the Top Resort in North America year-over-year and home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler Blackcomb still has a lot of availability over Christmas, as well as pre and post Olympics. With a record base in November and snow continuing to fall in December, why wouldn't you want to visit this winter wonderland? Here is the latest according to their newsletter: Book a pre-Olympic stay by January 31, 2010 and you'll also enjoy one of the best deals we've offered in years... 3 NIGHTS LODGING. 2 DAY LIFT TICKET. JUST $115 PER PERSON, PER NIGHT. Plus, Book now and you'll also receive a FREE lift ticket you can come back and use anytime before May 24.

Sun Sandals - popular with honeymooners and those seeking a couples getaway, Sandals is slowing creeping away from their '90s glory and upgrading many of their resorts into modern times.  As with many companies, some of their resorts are better than others [which i will write about in a later post].  With the biggest sale of any resort company listed here, until tonight, they are offering up to 65% off and up to 3 nights free.

Secrets Resorts - this small group of super all-inclusive resorts sits at the toward the top end of the spectrum. Their current limited-time holiday offer is: Book now and save up to 35%. Their current winter offer is: Book now to receive savings up to 55% at Secrets Resorts & Spas and $200 in resort coupons!

Club Med - with 80 resorts in 30 destinations worldwide, one of the pioneers in all-inclusive travel is offering some pretty sweet Christmas savings at: Turkoise, Turks & Caicos [12/19 to 12/26/09] and Sandpiper, Florida [12/19 to 12/28/09]. 3 nights: $349/adult, $180/child* 4 nights: $449/adult, $240/child* 5 nights: $549/adult, $300/child* 6 nights: $649/adult, $360/child*

Travel TV :: Departures

[Trip Style = Adventure] In this 'episode' of Travel TV, we're excited about featuring Departures -a personal favourite!  What started as two Canadian guys leaving their daily lives to travel, has turned into an authentic, visually mesmerizing and fascinating travel show aired in 40 countries worldwide.

I first discovered this show last year when I was sick in bed for five days straight.  Since the only thing I could do was muster-up energy to open my eyes and watch TV, I naturally gravitated to this interesting and funny-without-meaning-to-be travel show.  Since then, I can't get enough of it and look forward to the third season launching in March 2010.

Whether hang gliding over Rio's city-scape or traversing Mongolia's barren landscapes via vintage Soviet van in search of a Nomadic Raindeer Tribe, Scott and Justin's friendship, personalities and banter add extra laughs to an already entertaining show.

Anyone whose Trip Style = Adventure and has a penchant for seeking new and remote destinations will appreciate Scott and Justin's travel style.  Seeking to step into well traveled and remote locales, the guys don't just blitz a place to 'say they did,' rather they spend time with locals to learn their customs and embrace their culture.

In their words "it's as much about the journey as it is the destination."

In Canada, check oln.ca for info on air dates and to view episodes online.  For additional information: Departures Facebook Group | Departures Website | Departures YouTube Channel