Travel Resolution #9 :: Twoonies for Travel

Earlier this year I wrote about some 2010 travel resolutions. My 8th entry was to carry a petite stack of US one dollar bills when traveling in the US, Caribbean, etc... My motivation? Never get stuck in a situation where I'd run out of cash to tip. It's happened and it's embarrassing.  Recently I was reminded of this travel resolution when I stayed at a Canadian resort hotel.  Being born and raised in Canada, it was easier to tip staff with twoonies (a Canadian two dollar coin) versus USD bills.

The Twoonie & Incidentals Generosity is good, and I always want to be conscientious a traveller who gives to staff who help me at hotels and resorts.  Although constant tipping can seem ridiculous at times like check-in, check-out or with regular valet use, I think it's always better to err on the side of regularity.  Here's an overnight account of my twoonie use at the Chateau Whistler (see my Trip Advisor review of the Chateau here) a few weekends ago: - Pull up to the valet, one of the attendants helps unload bags = twoonie #1 - Bags are brought up to room by bell hop = twoonie #2 - Use car, when I return to valet = twoonie #3 - Next day, leave room, provide tip for housekeeping = twoonie #4 - Call for bell hop to assist with bags = twoonie #5 - Retrieve car from Valet and bags are placed in car = twoonies #6 & 7 --------------------------------------------------- 7 Twoonies (and that's just overnight...) *This does not include tipping at restaurants, which is usually 15-20%.

To Twoonie or To Loonie? I don't have anything against the lonely loonie (Canadian one dollar coin), but usually tipping with a twoonie is more acceptable in Canada. A loonie just doesn't cut it. Although it does feel weird to tip with coins, I just go with it knowing Canada doesn't have an equivalent amount in the form of a bill, although we used to.

My twoonie input and output doesn't stop here, this summer I'll need them when I go across Canada to Visit Ottawa, Montreal, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI!

Travel Trend :: Carry-On Changes Coming?

[trip style = packing light]

Recently, Spirit Airlines, a sizable US-based discount carrier announced plans to charge people up to $45 for carry-ons. Needless to say, a large public outcry ensued in similar proportions to RyanAir's announcement to charge for toilet use.  Channeling my inner grandma: what has our world come to?

The Future of Travel Based on the left pic, is this how Spirit wants us to travel, avec multiple accoutrements hanging from every limb and buried in every pocket?  [More pics below.]

Making Good on Bad Promise? Multiple US-lawmakers have jumped on the lobbying bandwagon trying to stop Spirit from making good on their bad promise to charge for carry-ons and set an unfortunate precedent.  I was almost convinced that the Government would overthrow the idea, yet yesterday morning Spirit Airlines's CEO was on the Today Show defending it, noting that the costs would be off-set by the airline lowering ticket prices.

Like a Fart in Church... Matt Lauer was kind and complimentary to Spirit's CEO, but noted "you had to know this idea would go over like a fart in church."  In response to Spirit's defense of their proposed carry-on bag fees, Senator Schumer discussed the bigger issue which he predicts will be all airlines following suit.  In support of his point, he referenced Spirit as the pioneers in charging for checked baggage--well, we all know how that turned out...$25, $30, $40, $50 dollars later.

Driving Home the Point Although I understand Spirit Airlines' faster-out-of-the-gate motivation in leading the fee-for-carry-on bags, I'm not a fan. Fees never go backwards and airlines will always seek new profit centres. To drive home this point, I've taken the liberty to personally illustrate how people might start showing up at the airport for Spirit flights. Items on my person: hat, comb (attached to hat), toothbrush (in my hair), lipstick (in my hair), undergarments, t-shirt, sweater, jacket, jeans, shorts, two belts, shoes, flip flops, iPod, clear toiletries case, bathing suit, book, umbrella, bracelet, watch & camera.

The Wild Web of Airline Affiliations

Go farther with free travel when you book with one or two airline alliances versus traveling with a hodge-podge of airlines and never amassing points.  Then, escape sooner and more often through loyalty to one program.

Australia - that's a lot of mileage... For example, I'd like to go to Australia later this year.  Even though I desperately want to fly there with VAustralia, I must hold back my index finger from buying the fare online since Virgin's mileage program "elevate" is only applicable for redemption with other Virgin carriers.  For a trip with such a huge distance or mileage earning potential (YVR to SYD), you better believe I'll book with my preferred airline alliance.  It would be stupid not to.  The mileage I'd collect from Vancouver to Sydney return, represents two-thirds the mileage needed to fly from Seattle to the Southern Caribbean return in off-season.

Knowing most of us are price-conscious flyers, start to think strategically about collecting points: - weigh the price difference between the flights in question - which option better aligns with your preferred airline alliance? - which alliance do you fly with more (consider your regular destinations & airlines serving your home airport)?

Start your free travel strategizing now!  Here's a list of global airline alliances and their carriers:

Star Alliance Air Canada Air New Zealand US Airways United Continental Adria Air China ANA Asiana Airlines Austria Blue1 bmi Brussels Airlines Croatia Airlines EgyptAir LOT Polish Airlines Lufthansa Scandinavian Airlines Shanghai Airlines South African Airways Spanair Swiss TAP Portugal Thai Turkish Airlines

One World American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN Malev Mexicana Quantas Royal Jordanian

Sky Team Aeroflot AeroMexico AirFrance KLM Alitalia China Southern Czech Airlines Delta Korean Air

Note - Most discount carriers aren't part of global airline alliances, yet some offer mileage-style programs like WestJet dollars, giving frequent flyers cash-back towards use of a WestJet flight or vacation package. - Alaska Airlines has a mileage program and partners with a host of airlines, yet is not part of a global airline alliance (except that most of their airline partners are part of One World...).

Related articles Wild Web of Hotel Affiliations Go the Distance with your Airmiles

Travel Like its 1999 in 2010

You've gotta love the instant convenience of the web. And I can't say enough about the iPhone app revolution. I can't imagine a life without these conveniences-turned 'necessities.'  Unless I'm camping or adventuring in the wild (both of which only happen about once a year), when traveling I always look for accommodation with wireless. Wifi makes me happy. It's in my comfort zone. I'm not anti-social, but sometimes I'd rather consult my urban spoon app than a hotel concierge for dinner suggestions. There's a flaw in this thinking though. I'm aware. The web's seemingly infinite info, can and sometimes does transform us into social hermits. But isn't travel about experiencing and connecting?

Maybe learning how to reconnect involves looking to the past? In the name of bringing some of the mystery and allure of the unknown back into the travel realm, here are a few ways to escape like its 1999 in 2010:

1. Gain local insight. Talk to your cab driver, server or bartender to get more insight into the place you're visiting, the culture and lay of the land. Sure, you can read World Fact Book before you go, but getting a local's insight is always more interesting, tip-worthy and dare I say: personal!
2. Ask for directions vs only consulting a map.  Sure, load google maps and get directions, but maybe there's value in asking someone at your hotel or a person for directions too.  Sometimes a local will know a faster or more interesting route to your destination taking you off the beaten path.
3. Talk...to people at your hotel or resort about what they've done or where they've eaten.  A) you might get to know someone cool and B) you might learn what to do or not to do while there!
4. Bye Bye comfort zone. Do something that takes you out of your comfort zone.  These days, we rarely venture into new territory because there's always reviews or write-ups to tell us what to expect, but sometimes this ruins the experience.  Go old-school and let your gut decide what to do and where to go!
5. Disconnect.  This is more 1999'ish' than 2010'ish', but disconnecting from cell phones and all things web-related, might encourage you to focus more on your destination vs the happenings of home life.  Case in point: every time I'm sitting at a hotel pool there's undoubtedly a loud-talking moron who a)likes to share their convo with the rest of the pool and b)won't get off their phone...don't be one of these people!  And if you do need to get on the phone, do so in your room or an inconspicuous corner of your hotel.  Enjoy your surroundings and embrace your destination!

The Wild Web of Hotel Affiliations

Ok, so I realize the below post is a little long and information-heavy, but it's also easily scan-able.

knowledge is power.  What I mean by this is the more you know about hotels and their affiliations, the more... a) strategy you can use to accumulate points with one provider b) save with benefits like free stays, room upgrades, restaurant/spa vouchers c) you'll get recognized and taken care of as a loyal customer.

Similar to accumulating points with airline alliances like Star Alliance or One World, when choosing a preferred hotel group to cozy-up to, consider: a) size - the bigger the group, the more hotel types and destinations offered b) lux level - do you prefer only 4 + 5 star properties, or do you like a mix c) where you travel - some hotel groups favor different continents than others

Marriott Marriott International is a lodging company with more than 3,000 properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Their brands include: [Marriott's loyalty program: Marriott Rewards] - Marriott Hotels & Resorts - JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts - Renaissance Hotels & Resorts - EDITION Hotels - Autograph Collection - Courtyard by Marriott - Residence Inn by Marriott - Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott - Marriott Conference Centers - TownePlace Suites by Marriott - SpringHill Suites by Marriott - Marriott Vacation Club - The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. - The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club - Marriott ExecuStay - Marriott Executive Apartments

Starwood One of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies, Starwood's hotel portfolio includes approximately 942 hotels with 285,000 rooms in 100 countries.  Their brands include: [Starwood's loyalty program: Starwood Preferred Guest] - Le Meridien - The Luxury Collection - Westin - W - Sheraton - St. Regis - Element - Four Points - ALoft

Hilton In 1919 Conrad Hilton purchased his first hotel in Cisco, Texas. Since then, Hilton has grown to over 514 properties in cities all over the world. Yes, Paris Hilton is part of 'the' Hiltons. Their brands include: [Hilton's loyalty program: HHonors] - Waldorf Astoria Collection (see full list below) - Conrad Hotels and Resorts - Hilton - DoubleTree - Embassy Suites - Hilton Garden Inn - Hampton - Homewood Suites - Home2

Hyatt Hyatt Hotels Corporation is a global hospitality company with over 424 properties in 45 countries worldwide. [Hyatt's loyalty program: Hyatt Gold Passport] - Hyatt Regency - Park Hyatt - Hyatt Place - Hyatt Summerfield Suites

InterContinental The world's first international hotel brand with a portfolio of  over 150 hotels in 65 countries. [Intercontinental's loyalty program: Intercontinental Ambassador] - InterContinental - Crown Plaza Hotels and Resorts - Hotel Indigo - Holiday Inn - Holiday Inn Express - Staybridge Suites - Candlewood Suites

Fairmont Raffles Hotels International With the opening of the Fairmont San Francisco in 1907, this luxury global hotel company was born and continues to grow with a strong presence in Canada, the US and 50+ other destinations worldwide. [Fairmont's loyalty program: Fairmont President's Club] - Fairmont - Raffles - Swissotel

Four Seasons Synonymous with luxury (and frequent US Weekly celebrity sightings), Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has over 83 properties in 35 countries. [Four Seasons's loyalty program: unpublished and by invitation only] - Four Seasons

Waldorf Astoria (owned by Hilton) - ARIZONA BILTMORE - THE BENTLEY HOTEL - BOCA BEACH CLUB - BOCA RATON RESORT - THE BOULDERS RESORT - CASA MARINA RESORT - DAKOTA MOUNTAIN LODGE & GOLDEN DOOR SPA - EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL - EL CONQUISTADOR RESORT - EL SAN JUAN HOTEL & CASINO - GRAND WAILEA - LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB - LAS CASITAS RESORT - THE BEACH HOUSE MALDIVES - NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT - QASR AL SHARQ - THE REACH RESORT - ROME CAVALIERI - THE ROOSEVELT NEW ORLEANS - TRIANON PALACE VERSAILLES - WALDORF=ASTORIA