Sea Shells by the Seashore

[trip style = beach]

My sister first told me tales of St. Andrews by the Sea when she was stuck in a windowless room at the Fairmont Algonquin while working on the CBC documentary The Week the Women Went.  Other than balancing our sightseeing-intensive get-to-know-Canada-better trip with some relaxation, I'm not really sure why we went to St. Andrews. Maybe it was instinctive, or maybe it was the draw of a quintessential Maritime experience.  Either way, what better place to spend a few days (or weeks) in New Brunswick during summer's hot, lazy days.

Towering over the resort town is the historic Fairmont Algonquin.  In the early 1900's the resort was marketed as a health retreat to city-dwellers promoting a reprise from hay-fever allergies among other things.  Between biking around the picturesque town to spending time along the seashore, St. Andrews' pace of life and enough-but-not-too-many amenities is already making me consipire to return, and not just because my allergies were miraculously kept at bay.  Here are a few hightlights:

St. Andrews by the Sea {The Fairmont Algonquin. See my review here.}

{Town of St. Andrews by the Sea.}

{Cute gift shop find: 'sea glass' lamp base.}

{The Hungry Whale Cafe, a seaside coffee and ice cream place.}

{Whale watching with Fundy Tide Runners.}

{A finback whale!}

{Seals!}

{Watching whales trying not to be seasick...wasn't that bad given I get motion sick on chair-lifts.}

{Captain 'McGee' posing with my husband Nathan...}

{I turned into a purple people eater in front of the local sweet shop.}

{The Lobster chair, or waiting area, at The Gables Restaurant.}

Don't Judge an All-Inclusive Until Day 3

[trip style = all-inclusive]

I've been to my fair share of all-inclusives. They're an excellent trip style when seeking a vacation where you don't have to lift a finger and want the option of round-the-clock access to food, bevs, beach, activities, entertainment, etc...

Learning In between going on trips of alternate travel styles, I've frequented various all-inclusive star levels and companies (Sandals, Superclubs, Barcelo, Bahia Principe) in a handful of sun-drenched destinations. This combined experience has reminded me not to judge my experience until Day 3. Here's why:

• Tired upon arrival.  Between packing late, getting up early, rushing through the airport and flying for up to 10 hours, I usually arrive at my destination tired to the point of semi-delirium--not the best state to evaluate my surroundings or initial experience.
• Outsourcing.  In addition to being tired, unless you're paying thousands of dollars to be picked up in a Rolls Royce and stay in a suite at Sandals, most all-inclusive companies OUTSOURCE their transport--even if they say the resort is super all-inclusive from the moment you get off the plane.  This means the porters and drivers will ask for and expect a tip, and the level of service will unlikely be on-par with the resort's 4 or 5-star promise.  I've had some 'doozie' experiences with all-inclusive drivers, which more often than not, can start off your experience on a bad note.  In other words, between tiredness and transport, there's the potential to arrive at the resort with '2 stikes.'
• Check-in.  Although this is an obvious statment, it needs to be said: other countries don't do things the same way  things are done in North America or Europe.  Thinking back, I don't know that I've ever had a smooth check-in process--except for at the Grand Lido Negril, now Grand Breezes Negril.  If you spend a significant amount of time reading Trip Advisor reviews for package-style vacations, transport and check-in are often people's biggest beefs!
• 7-day rotation.  Like cruise ships, most all-inclusives operate on a 7-day activity schedule. Therefore, if you're not partial to the activities, meals or events happening on your first or second day, you may write-off an experience which could improve over the next 5 days...
• Getting acquainted. Getting used to the resort's daily flow takes time.  Knowing this now, I always take the first and second day to acquaint myself with the grounds and check out the offerings, so I don't realize there's something I love on day 6.  I want to stress this point because discovering and activity or restaurant you love on the last day is the worst, and happens to people more often than not.
• Finding your niche. After a day or two, travelers find their niche at the resort.  This is a source of comfort for people as they tend to find peace and calm when they get into the swing of things like: where and when to eat, lounging at the beach or pool, finding a bartender with whom to develop rapport, discovering the ebb and flow of their daily schedule, etc...
• People.  Meeting or not meeting others at the resort can make or break an experience, yet getting to know others can take time, which is a commodity on a short week escape.

Context All this is to say, after day three you have context to evaluate your experience properly and with a clear head.  This is the formula I use to form my make or break opinion.  Also, looking on the bright side, if you don't love your first two days, the resort has 5 days to make it up to you.

Don't Love it? What to do First and foremost, my general bent is to always try and make the best of the situation.  Having been involved in a few all-inclusive experiences that haven't exactly gone my way (see accounts below), if you don't have any luck pleading your case with the resort's managers, wait until you get home and write a letter.  Most resorts take letters of complaint very seriously.  See a detailed account of best practices for 'holding an all-inclusive accountable' here ('complimenting and complaining' section).

Related articles All-Inclusive Tricks of the Trade :: Tips on booking for the best experience A Redo trip :: What to do when an all-inclusive experience goes belly-up Update on my Redo Trip :: An overview of the highs and lows of the Sandals WhiteHouse

Loving Low Season Price Battles

[trip style = sun + beach]

Occasionally companies fight for your business.  In the travel industry, April is one of those times.  For the past two weeks twitter and traditional media outlets have been buzzing with airlines and travel co's going to head-to-head on flight deals and vacation packages that could even make a homebody drool!

Low Season Last time I wrote about low season it was early December before rates went sky-high for the holiday season's winter escape artists. Now it's April, the sun's shining longer and people are venturing outside more. Airlines and resorts know that people are more interested in spring cleaning than sitting on white-sand beaches sipping mojitos with crushed mint and a hint of simple sugar...not sure why.  So, flights and hotels are being discounted--in some cases up to 60% off high season rates--in order to entice vacationers to travel south.

Competing with Price Because people travel less in shoulder season, travel companies aren't competing with give-aways or extras. April is when they simply offer really low prices, typically for travel in April, May and June (depending on the destination). WHY? Airlines and resorts need travelers to protect their passenger loads and occupancy rates and would rather discount a little than operate a ghost town. Because airlines don't stop flying and resorts don't close, they still need people to book travel during the spring time.

A Sample of April 2010's Travel Deals [I've opted to post a sampling of spring travel deals vs 'how to find spring travel deals' because everywhere you look, travel to europe and sunny destinations is currently discounted. If you want to travel in the next 2 months, check your favourite travel website; chances are, you'll find a great trip for an excellent price.]

Packages Expedia.ca - Caribbean Sale. Save up to 50%; travel now through September 30, 2010. Book by April 27. Travelocity.ca - Hawaii Sale.  Save up to 60%; travel now through June 6, 2010.  Book by April 30.

Cruises Vacationstogo.com - save up to 75% on Caribbean and early-season Alaskan cruises. [sign up for a free account to see "90-day ticker" rates]

Flights WestJet.com - From $29 one-way. WestJet's Spring Fever sale is here: cheap flights to all destinations. Book by midnight (MT) April 14, 2010. VirginAmerica.com - From $49 one-way.  Book by April 19, 2010.  Fly with 14-day advanced purchase April 26 through June 20th.

Spotlight :: LA Shop & Stay

[trip style = urban + sun]

LA’s most famous example of shop & stay has got to be Pretty Woman. Shopping on Rodeo Drive and staying at the “Reg Bev Wil” has got to be every woman’s dream, except for, of course, the premise of the film… No but seriously, whether you’re budget conscious or prefer the finer things, LA’s got you covered. Continuing our LA Food & Fun coverage, here are just a few shop & stay suggestions.

Shop

Venice Abbot Kinney Blvd is one of my favourite streets in all of LA. This strip is all about the local boutiques. Grab a latte from Intelligentsia and don’t miss Firefly for books, stationary, knickknacks, accessories, clothing, etc.; Milkmade and Steven Alan Annex for men’s and women’s clothing; Madley for baubles and vintage frocks; and Surfing Cowboys for mid-century modern furniture and surf memorabilia.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade This pedestrian-only street is like the top 40 to Abbot Kinney’s indie rock. Home to major chain stores, street performers, movie theatres and large crowds, the Promenade is basically an open-air mall. Shops include: Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Forever 21, Gap, H&M, J.Crew, Quiksilver, Urban Outfitters and Zara. I find this street a little overwhelming, so be sure to head down to the pier and stroll along Ocean Avenue.

Near LAX I hate rushing to the airport. You have to worry about traffic, returning the rental car, finding food since they don’t feed you on flights anymore … these just add to the inherent stress of travel. If you have some room left in your suitcase – and on your credit card – and want to head out towards the airport a little early, pop into the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center for Nordstrom Rack or Westfield at Culver City for Target. And it doesn’t hurt that there’s a Trader Joe’s on Sepulveda, a couple blocks from LAX – peanut butter-filled pretzels anyone?!

West LA – Malls Two big malls dominate these areas – the Beverly Center and the Grove. I’m partial to the latter, which has a certain manufactured je-ne-sais-quoi in the form of a dancing fountain, a train, celebrity sightings and valet parking. This is LA after all. But if you choose to self park with the common folk, don’t forget to get your parking validated and pay close attention to where you parked to avoid a Seinfeld moment. Top shops include: Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Barnes & Noble, Forever 21, Crate & Barrel, Barneys Co-op and the adjacent Farmers Market.

West LA – Boutiques If your budget and tastes stretch a little beyond the Gap, check out TenOverSix for a well thought-out collection of accessories for women, men and home. Another great shop is Opening Ceremony, where by just walking through the doors you feel like you’ve enrolled in “how to be cool without trying – or at least look the part 101”. Look for labels like Band of Outsiders, Alexander Wang and OC’s eponymous brand. Other faves include: Tarina Tarantino and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Bonus #1: try your luck at the Rose Bowl Flea Market or the Long Beach Flea Market. #2: the best LA-area Urban Outfitters is in Studio City. Don’t pretend you don’t shop there…

Stay

I usually book LA through Priceline or Hotwire and choose 3.5-4-star hotels. Since there are an overwhelming number of hotels in LA, there’s no point giving an exhaustive list, but…

A few of the more affordable options: Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, Hollywood Heights Hotel, Best Western Sunset Plaza, Inn at Venice Beach, The Standard Downtown

A few fancier options: Hyatt Century Plaza Beverly Hills, Hotel Viceroy Santa Monica, Chateau Marmont, Oceana Santa Monica

The best bet is to choose your area first. Besides, you can always stop by the iconic hotels for a $20 cocktail and a George Hamilton sighting – if you’re lucky. The most affordable hotels tend to be around LAX and downtown, and the most popular areas are Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica. Besides the area, how much time are you going to spend in the hotel? Some are great for lounging at the pool and dining, while others are just a place to catch some sleep. Keep this in mind especially in LA and you’ll be set. I’m jealous already!

Post by heather (@heatherlovesit), pop-culture-ista and writer of heatherlovesit.blogspot.com

Spotlight :: LA Food & Fun

[trip style = urban + sun ]

LA gets a bad rap. Sure, the traffic and pollution aren’t great, but the sunshine and beaches are pretty fantastic. Plus, LA is more than Hollywood; there are fabulous restaurants, rich culture and shopping galore. This week we’ll focus on food and fun. Next week, shop & stay.

Food

Coffee
Intelligentsia Silver Lake location: 3922 W Sunset Blvd,Los Angeles, CA 90029 Venice location: 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
*The best coffee in LA – and the best looking coffee shops (in both design and customers). Don’t be discouraged by the line!

Sushi
Sushi Katsu-ya Original location: 11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 *Incredible sushi in a strip mall in Studio City? YES! Order off the specials board. You MUST order the crispy sesame tuna and spicy tuna on crispy rice. Worth. The. Wait.

Casual Chic
Gjelina Location: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
*This might be my favourite street in all of LA, and this might be my favourite restaurant on that street. Great thin-crust pizza, people watching (sit at the communal table), brunch and bloody beer.

Frozen Yogurt
Pinkberry Various locations
*It’s an LA institution, only a few years in the making. I like the original flavour with fruit topping, but you can choose your own – that’s the beauty of it!

Café
Joan’s on Third Location: 8350 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
*Eat in or take out, this adorable café has baked goods, deli items, sandwiches and specials, plus a gourmet market. Don’t miss out on the caramel-covered marshmallows – they’re to die for!

Bakery
Mani's Bakery 519 South Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
*Healthy, chocolate-stuffed heart cookies. Enough said. The cafe only uses natural and alternative sweetners.

Cupcakes
Sprinkles Various locations
*Great selection with flavours like banana, red velvet (vegan or gltuten free options), peanut butter chocolate, chai latte or good ol’ vanilla. Check the cupcake calendar online to see if your favourite flavour’s in that day.

Indian
Bollywood Cafe Original location: 11101 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 Second location: 737 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
*The vegetarian samosas, complimentary papadums and courteous service keep us coming back.

Italian
Il Pastaio Location: 400 N.Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
*Not only is the location fabulous, but so is the people watching. Start with the appetizer platter.

Fun

Griffith Park 2800 East Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
*Stunning city views. Stroll around the observatory and hike the trails. It will feel like you’ve left the city!

The Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
*Another spot for city views, but this one comes with world-class art, architecture and a groovy tram. Admission is free, but parking is $15, except on Saturdays when it’s free. Beautiful way to spend a beautiful day.

Hollywood Bowl 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 9006
*Home of the LA Philharmonic and seasonal concerts. Box seating down low and bleacher seating up high. Come early and bring a picnic – it’s BYOW(ine)! Oh and don’t park in the overpriced parking at the Bowl – it’s stacked and takes forever to get out.

Venice Canals Between Ocean Ave & Pacific Ave / S Venice Blvd & 28th Ave
*Stroll along the lemon tree-lined canals and peek into people’s modern homes or kitschy bungalows you just WISH were yours.

Scenic Drives
1/ Drive up the PCH to Malibu, take off your shoes and dig your toes in the sand.
2/ Drive along the Sunset Strip at night for a whole different kind of scenery.

Post by Heather, pop-culture-ista and writer of heatherlovesit.blogspot.com