Travel Apps :: Metr0

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If your next trip style happens to be urban, you'll love this app.

In some destinations, using public transit is a simple, efficient and cost effective way to roam from neighborhood to neighborhood. And in cities like London, Paris and Hong Kong, public transit systems are an integral part of the city's heart, pumping passengers from one valve to the next.

MetrO, a worldwide public transport app, helps you navigate tubes, subways, metros, buses, trams, railways and sky trains in more than 400 cities. The best part about this app, aside from its stellar usability, is it's not dependant on a wireless connection. Before you get to your destination, just click on the city you're visiting to download their system to your smartphone.

I just downloaded Vancouver's to see if this app is all it's cracked up to be, and was really impressed by its simplicity and step by step directions/instructions for the routes I tested---some basic and some complicated.

Details

• Free
• Works with iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad, and Blackberry
• Android is on the company's radar

PS - I used the trusty TomTom app {wrote about it Jan. 18th} this weekend to navigate Scottsdale's roads. Though I've used it before, I was reminded of what a great little investment "Tom" really is. When it gives directions, I can't express HOW helpful it is to be reminded multiple times prior to an upcoming turn, including a reminder RIGHT before your turn, just in case you're confused...

Other Travel Apps Don’t forget to peruse the other 60+ travel apps we’ve reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits and trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Google Translate
• Instagram
• Airbnb
• Book Crazy
• TomTom

From the Archives :: All-Inclusive Tricks of the Trade

[trip style = all-inclusive] {Note, this was originally published February 3rd, 2010 and has been reposted with enhancements as part of All-Inclusive Month.}

Here's some insider knowledge for next time you entertain the thought of an all-inclusive trip style...

Booking your Trip Booking Options

• Resort direct.  If you have a preferred all-inclusive, get on their newsletter list, friend them on facebook and follow them on twitter. This way, you’ll be the first to know about insider-only deals.
• Resellers.  Here are a few of my faves:
  • Canada – itravel2000.com, aircanadavacations.com
  • USA – applevacations.com, resortvacationstogo.com

While There

• Most all-inclusives have tiled floors. If you're on a low floor it can be loud above. As such, I always ask for a room away from the elevator on the top floor.
• Most resorts outsource the airport transfer, therefore, even if you're staying at a super all-inclusive that doesn't allow tipping, make sure you have a few extra dollars for tipping the driver to and from the airport.
• If there's a Teppanyaki restaurant, go there the first night. It's a great way to meet people so there's a few familiar faces at the resort for your week.
• Once you get to the resort, I know your first priority will be to hit the beach, but after the sun goes down {or the next morning} do a self-guided tour of the resort to get a lay of the land. It's the worst when you discover a great beach area or restaurant on the last day!
• If you're there with your family or a group and want to stay in touch, bring walkie-talkies.
• Unlimited bevs + baking in the Caribbean sun can be a lethal combination. Pace yourself.
• If you go in high season and want a premium spot on the beach or at the pool, you may have to get up early to reserve your preferred spot. This is not true for every resort, and depending on your room category, a butler may do this for you. Last year, I stayed at the Sandals Whitehouse and always got an excellent spot on the beach between 10 – 11am. This depends on occupancy, time of year and beach chair to guest ratio.
• Bring an insulated travel mug to minimize trips to the nearest watering hole and to keep your drink cool.
• Pack a collapsable beach bag. When you’re catchin’ rays away from your room for the better part of the day, you’ll want a place to put items like sunscreen, camera, room key, water bottle, books, mags, iPod, beach cover-up, etc…
• Don’t come back with bites all over your legs {don’t laugh, I see it happen to guests every time I visit all-inclusives in the Caribbean}. Bring insect repellant just in case. The Caribbean is lush and sandy, hence noseeums, sand flies, etc…
• Finally, this is important on any trip, but remember to wash/sanitize hands regularly. A lot of people in one place means flus can spread quickly.

Related All-inclusive Month :: Introductions All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking All-Inclusive Month :: Packaged VS Unpackaged Don’t Judge an All-Inclusive until Day 3 :: 7 Reason to Wait to Evaluate 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

All-Inclusive VS Non All-Inclusive

[trip style = all-inclusive]

As you may have already guessed, we're doing a month-long feature on all-inclusives! Great for group, family or couple getaways, this trip style easily lends itself to totally unwinding without having to lift a finger. Two weeks ago we covered an introduction to the topic honing in on and dispelling the often-cheesy stereotypes. Last week we played matchmaker Valentines-style with hand-picked options for every trip preference.

This week we're doing the math between staying at an all-inclusive, versus a typical vacation combining flight, hotel, food and incidentals. So we compare apples to apples, we'll use two 7-night, 5-star examples in Mexico, originating from Vancouver. *Details: March 6th departure, based on double occupancy, prices approximate and per person. Unpackaged example is staying at Fairmont Mayakoba, and packaged option at the El Dorado Royale all-inclusive, both in the Riviera Maya.

Conclusion Sometimes going the route of an all-inclusive is cheaper, sometimes it's not. If all you want is sun, sand, mediocre foods and watery pina coladas, a 2-star all-inclusive will be cheaper than an unpackaged vacation. In the above example, the unpackaged holiday is slightly pricier, but not by much. However, comparing unpackaged versus packaged holidays really comes down trip style. Do you feel like this type of trip style for your upcoming trip or not?

All-Inclusive Month :: Coming Up Monday, Feb 21st – From the Archives :: All-Inclusive Tricks of the Trade Friday, Feb 25th – Fashion Friday :: Rockin’ the All-Inclusive

Related Content All-Inclusive Month :: Introductions {Getting over stereotypes} All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking {Finding the right fit your vacation style}

Travel Trends :: Prank Calls

Have you every had something weird happen to you at a hotel? This story definitely falls into the weird category. This week's travel trend is off-base to say the least. It involves a prank call, some hotel guests, an in-room sprinkler and hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.

Recently, a bunch of businesses and restaurants, as well as guests in hotel rooms in North Vancouver, BC received calls from pranksters posing as fire inspectors or hotel managers instructing them to pull the pin out of the sprinkler, immediately setting it off and causing major water damage.

What likely convinced guests was the call's urgency: if they didn't pull the spinkler's pin, the room would supposedly explode within 60 seconds from a gas leak. {read more about it here.}

Although you might think, I'd never follow those hanous instructions, imagine if you'd just travelled for 36 hours, were exhausted, sleeping in a strange room, and well, you get the point.

Hotel Room Safety

• Go with your gut, if something sounds off, it probably is. Get a second or third opinion.
• Remember, anyone can call you at a hotel, so if you get a suspicious phone call, inform the front desk.
• Always cover the peephole.
• As soon as you get to the room, lock the door behind you, using the deadbolt and chain.
• When leaving the room, ensure the door is locked tight.

[photo: dynamic sprinkler systems]

Wifi on Trains

[trip style = train]

Have you ever wanted to take the train to a destination, but opted for other transport because the travel time was too lengthy? Some train travel is bullet-fast and crazy efficient as evidenced in Asia and Europe, other times it's slow and steady, but does that win the race? Full wireless connectivity on trains is a trend that's been around for a few years on the east coast and major routes, but has taken awhile to make its way up the West Coast. Until now.

Why I Love Wifi on Trains Earlier this summer I took a Via Rail train from Ottawa to Montreal, and LOVED the fact I could immediately connect to wifi in the terminals and on the train. It made the journey efficient {thus enjoyable} because I was able to get lots of work done, which meant I could spend more time in my destination exploring.

Where is the Love? Over the past few months, I've taken two trips to Portland and despite desperately wanting to take the train, both times got there road-trip style. Why? Because the Amtrak Cascades, the train running between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR didn't have wifi. Yes, I know the scenery is stunning, but 8 hours {in the middle of the day} on a train sans wifi? Non Merci.

The Love Thank goodness Amtrak is getting on track {pun intended} with not only wifi, but free wifi! Redeemed! I bet it will seriously increase their ridership, which was already record-braking in 2010! Whether you wifi your way to Seattle or Portland, or take the Coast Starlight all the way to LA, your trip just got a little easier and more entertaining with wifi. Hulu anyone? {Hulu is a website featuring a ton of popular TV shows which you can only access in the US.}

Now, if only they'd allow dogs...

Related Content Portland {part deux} Portland Seattle :: Springtime in the Emerald City

[photo: you gotta be here]