Vancouver 2010: Free Activities

[trip style = urban]

As Vancouver and Whistler launch into their final preparations to welcome the world, the Olympic Games are just over 20 days away!  As a Vancouverite, I'm in the 'excited for the games' camp.  For the vast majority staying in town, the general buzz is one of  pride and anticipation for what's to come.  Overnight, our lifestyle-driven, sea and mountainside turf will go from modest Canadian city to budding metropolis.  Normally you have to travel to experience an overnight change this significant, but in this case, both locals and visitors can travel together!

If you don't have tickets to any events, no worries, there is a host of free 2010 activities going on in and around Vancouver and Whistler.  For a full list of free Olympic Activities, check out http://www.citycaucus.com/2010freevenues

My Top Picks: Free 2010 Activities

• Vectorial Elevation :: A giant consumer generated light show over the Burrard Inlet :: dusk to dawn :: English Bay/Kits
• Laser Waterworks Show :: Nightly :: David Lam Park Yaletown
• Ice Skate at the GE Plaza :: Robson Square :: open 12 - 9pm daily :: skate rentals $3
• Heineken House :: Celebrate Dutch athletes and drink beer :: Minoru Arenas 7551 Minoru Gate, Richmond
• LiveCity Downtown :: See demonstration sports, entertainment and on-screen programming :: Georgia & Beatty
• LiveCity Yaletown :: Live arts, entertainment, pavilions, sponsor tents, refreshment and on-screen sport highlights :: David Lam Park
• Nightly Medal Ceremonies in Vancouver and Whistler :: not free but reasonable - tickets from $22 :: featuring athletes and world-renown singers :: BC Place and the Whistler Celebration Centre
• O-Zone Richmond :: 60-acre celebration :: Ice art, outdoor skating, athletes, virtual reality, food, fireworks :: Canada Line Brighouse Station
• Vancouver Art Gallery :: BC, Canada Pavilion :: 9am - 9pm daily :: catch the Renoir exhibit too!

Spotlight :: Jamaica "Mon"

[trip style = sun + beach]

Jamaica is hot and spicy, yet also laid-back Bob Marley-style.  Whether you know of Jamaica through a jerk chicken recipe, Bob Marley's "Jammin", the sweet sound of steel drums or the speedy Usane Bolt, this sun-drenched Caribbean island continues to make its mark and beckon the curious traveller.

I've been twice and learned a few things:

• Always negotiate your cab price before you leave and be firm about it.  Regardless of our negotiations, our driver took us to our Rick's to watch the crazy divers, waited for us, then demanded double the rate to return.
• I will never go to the depths of the ocean unless it's on a submarine.  I'm not a good candidate for scuba since I had trouble breathing through my mouthpiece in a pool (might have something to do with my breathing problem :))
• Dunn's river falls is: wet, sort of steep, extra fun in a torrential downpour, best experienced in a bathing suit and aqua socks, overcrowded and full of guides wanting to make spicy videos for tourists to take home.
• There is no shortage of sly guys, prowling the shore in boats in search of tourists wanting to experience the laid-back lifestyle (to the fullest)

OK, back on track....  Jamaica holds a special place in my heart.  My first time there was on my honeymoon.  I now realize that the only pictures I have of my honeymoon are, gulp, not digital and it was only 5 and half years ago!  We stayed in Negril at Superclubs' Grand Lido.  At the time, Grand Lido Negril was the crown jewel of Superclubs brand featuring the only 5-diamond restaurant in the Caribbean, nightly cruises on Princess Grace's honeymoon yacht and complimentary manicures to all guests.   Sadly, the resort has turned into a (Grand) Breezes.

My second Jamaica experience was a short cruise ship stopover where we were taken on a 'three-hour-tour' up to Dunns River Falls.  See my thoughts in the bullet points above.

Today I'm going for a Jamaican trio, travelling there for a third time in search of sun, fun, relaxation, a good resort experience (hopefully), unbelievable music and spicy chicken!  When I left Jamaica the first time, I told my husband we should come back the following year, he negotiated five.  Curiously, five and half years later, here we go again!

Stay The RockHouse hotel. Voted best boutique hotel in the Caribbean for fifth consecutive year with individual cabana-style rooms scattered on a rocky, sea-side outcropping. When I go back to Jamaica--maybe for my 10-year anniversary--I will stay here!

Entertainment Rick's Cafe featuring speedo-clad, daredevils diving into a steep, rocky bay from high-flying tree branches.

Do Rhino boat safari.  Not sure why the two-person boats are called rhinos, but I had the time of my life launching myself off waves and down shallow rivers on this ocean safari.

Getting There Canada to Jamaica - Fly with Air Canada (AC) or WestJet. In the winter months, AC offers direct flights from Vancouver. Year-round fly from Toronto with AC and WestJet.

USA to Jamaica - Fly with JetBlue, US Airways, Delta and United.

High/Low - Booking a Vacay in Maui

[trip style =  sun + beach]

Booking a vacation in Maui can be wildly expensive or moderately priced depending on: - when you book - how you book - who you book with - your penchant for luxury - whether you eat-in or go out - the number of activities you do while there

All these things considered, here's how to do Maui High, Med and Low: {do one or combine all three} High

• Flight: fly business class with your preferred airline. Note that airlines carrying on to Australia, etc... will have a more luxurious offering than those just doing direct or one-stop runs back and forth to the islands.
• Accommodation:
  • Ritz Carlton Kapalua
  • Four Seasons Wailea
  • Fairmont Kea Lani Wailea
• Car: Avis and Hertz offer the best high-end car rentals at the Kahului Airport (OGG)
• Eating out:
  • Mama's fish house (all fish is fresh and caught by some of the servers)
  • any restaurant at the Four Seasons Wailea
• Activities:
  • charter a helicopter over the mountains and/or to Hana
  • luau at the Hyatt Ka'anapali [much better than the luau at the Wailea Marriott]
  • for more activities, see lists below

Moderate

• Flight: Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines offer friendly service in economy class, but many other airlines like Air Canada or West Jet fly direct to Maui. If you want to splurge a little, Hawaiian Airlines' business class has semi-reasonable prices, from around $550 each way (out of Seattle).
• Accommodation: take an educated risk and book your hotel via hotwire or priceline. When you book in the "Resort Class" of properties for the Wailea/Makena or Ka'anapali areas, you end up with one of two hotels for the each area.  Prices can be as low as $120/night (not including taxes). *If you book through one of these websites, your hotel has to ask you whether or not you want to pay the resort fee, usually $25 extra per day.
• Car: Get your car through priceline or hotwire and pick it up at the airport. 
• Eating out:
  • Humu-humu at the Grand Wailea
  • Mala at the Marriott Wailea
  • Joe's at the Wailea Tennis Club
  • Roy's in Ka'anapali
  • Hula Grill in Ka'anapali
• Activities: see high or low activity lists.

Low

• Flight: set up a Kayak Fare Alert for airports in your area and OGG, Maui's airport. Book when dates and prices appeal to you.
• Accommodation: staying at a rental condo/home with a kitchen is an excellent way to control costs. Some best bets are: vrbo.com, ownerdirect.com
• Car: if you want any flexibility while on Maui, renting a car is required, especially since grocery shopping and self-guided excursions will be a big part of your getaway. Bidding for a car on Priceline can be a cheap way to get a vehicle.
• Eating out: take advantage of your kitchen and make some nice meals in your rental condo---most of which have BBQs in the common outdoor areas. If you're set on eating out, the Barefoot Bar at the Hula Grill in Ka'anapali has an excellent Happy Hour complete with live music. In Wailea, Cheeseburger Island Style has excellent prices and a great breakfast special.
• Activities: There is so much to do in Maui that doesn't require a tour guide. Here's a sample:
  • drive to Hana
  • watch the windsurfers and kite-boarders at Hookipa beach
  • browse the shops in Paia
  • take advantage the beaches in front of any hotel --all beaches are public
  • snorkel at Black Rock in Ka'anapali or Ahihi Bay in Makena
  • stand-up paddleboard in Kihei
  • take surf lessons in Lahaina
  • drive to watch the sunrise at Haleakela (wear warm clothes, it's cold at 5.30am!)
  • walk the seawalk in Ka'anapali and/or Wailea
  • swim at Black Rock while the Sheraton's torch-lighting ceremony is taking place (watch for 'the dive' at the end)

[photo by @tripstyler]