Here 8 tips to help you prepare for the unexpected while travelling:

1. At the very least, read all about the country you will be visiting on Canada’s Foreign Affairs site.
2. Make sure your passport is up to date.  There are some countries that require that it is valid for three or six months beyond the travel dates, so don’t wait until the last minute.
3. (more…)

Are you considering taking a cruise but aren’t sure if cruising is really for you?  Let’s address 10 common questions about cruising:

1. Is Cruising Expensive?  Depending on your departure point and the itinerary you choose, the price of your cruise may seem high at first glance, but take into account that your cruise fare includes accommodation, meals, entertainment and activities for you and your children. Compared to the costs of a land vacation, a cruise will quite often be a more economical choice.  Also, if you haven’t looked lately, some of the prices out these days are very low, and the value is exceptional. (more…)

Even a short trip can do wonders for your well-being! Here are some of the health benefits of traveling:

1. REDUCE STRESS – Travel gives you an opportunity to relax and de-stress, and stress reduction is always healthy!

2. AVOID MONOTONY – As the saying goes, “A Change is as Good as a Rest”. Changing your daily routine prevents your mind and your body from stagnating.

3. GET OUTDOORS – When you are traveling, you are more likely to be outside, getting fresh air and enjoying the outdoors.

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Most of you are likely familiar with the limitations on taking liquids through airport security as carry on.  With each new security breach, travelling to the United States becomes more and more difficult.  To ensure that you have a smooth start to your trip, make sure to head to the airport very early, and check in with the Canadian Air Transport Authority for the latest news on what you can take through airport security.  Currently, carry-on baggage is not being accepted for flights to the U.S., however there are a number of items that are not being counted as carry-on.  Check with your travel agent of you need further guidance! 

*** Update January 20, 2010: 1 carry on allowed for flights to US.

Airline passengers are losing 1000’s of bags daily.  Airlines can misplace them, and they can be stolen by professional ‘airport thieves’.  Take these precautions, and you will drastically increase your odds of arriving WITH your luggage:  

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With Halloween around the corner, here’s a look at 7 of the Scariest Travel Movies ever made:

The Shining
Jack and his family are stuck in the Overlook Hotel. The Hotel is haunted; it drives Jack crazy (All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!) and he turns on his poor family. Can the mystical force of The Shining save them…? 

Psycho
Marion Crane steals a suitcase of cash and flees to Norman Bates’ remote hotel. She’s the only visitor and things soon get creepy. Norman acts strangely, and who exactly is living in the big house above the hotel? Things are definitely not as they seem… Surely the original hotel-horror, Psycho will leave you reluctant to ever take a shower on holiday again.

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The more confined the space, the more aware and considerate we need to be of those around us.  Well, a plane is about as about as close we will get to a large amount of strangers for an extended period of time, so please consider this excellent list the next time you fly: 10 Unwritten Rules of Plane Etiquette

Published by one of Travelonly’s top Adventure Tour partners: Intrepid Travel

Ah, the adventure traveller.   He’s young, buff, loves roughing it in the Outback or the Serengeti, on the road for weeks at a time.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. (more…)

We all know that you should never leave home without your toothbrush, and you’d be silly to forget your passport.   But too often it’s the little things that make all the difference on the road.  Here are eight non-essential travel accessories that you may find to be, well, essential.  If you have any of your own, feel free to post a note below.

1. Hot sauce

Anyone visiting Mexico, Thailand or Jamaica needn’t worry about the spice of their meals, but if you’re going to Europe, Africa, or just about anywhere else, a tiny bottle of hot sauce rescues any meal from certain doom.   Hot sauce rescues most airline meals too. Remember to keep it in a plastic bag for security, and just in case it breaks and spices up your luggage.

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Travel can be expensive, but with a little thought and planning, you can really minimize your costs and travel more!  Here are some tips:

1. You don’t need to pay big bucks for water.  Take an empty bottle through security and fill it at a water fountain. 
2. Research current local currency exchange rates so you can shop for the best rate and avoid being scammed.     (more…)