Euro Travel & More

I don’t know if I want to live in an airport for 80 days and 80 nights – even with $50 a day for food and snacks but the winner of the  Live @ YVR contest – Jaegar Mah will be doing just that.   He will be staying that the Fairmont Hotel in the airport in Vancouver and have the inside scoop as well as get to use and see anything he wants inside the airport – they probably even let him use the usb barcode scanner at the Duty Free shop if he wanted to try a day’s work at that department.  But it would be fun when he is done is project – because he gets $15K in cash and he might just be hired by some local radio station then.

We were planning to go to PEI this summer – and had to postpone our plans because the kid got ill – but I had accidentally came across the newest hotel in PEI – thru’ a magazine I found at the local grocery store and decided to check it out.   The rates I meant – and it was very expensive!  a check on the website state that it is a boutique hotel – and usually boutique hotels are small and personable therefore they charge a little bit more.  But we are still booking the hotel – to try it out  – and check it out – after all what good am I to be called an ex-hotelier and not check out new hotels right?  this is what we called a site inspection.  Plus we can always meet up with our dear life insurance agent turned friend and discuss our term life insurance over a cup of coffee and some pastry in the hotel.  The hotel is located in Charlottetown and it even have a bigger pool.  So more on the Holman Grand hotel after I come back from our mini 1 week vacation.

So if you owned a summer house in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia – you are pretty much screwed.  Today we had a customer from Massachusetts and he told us that he had to drive another 10 hrs thru’ Digby to get to his summer house here.  He wasn’t happy at all.   The NDP government still insist that without the ferry – our economy is still as good – but we all know it’s not true.  I don’t know what is wrong with the NDP government or what their problem is – but if you are thinking of coming to Canada – via Portland – well you can forget it.  The link for United States citizens to visit Canada – and vice versa is broken – how can this not damage our economy – even the American who was in our store today wasn’t happy at all.

My girlfriends and I decided to go on a short spa vacation last week – to Digby – as there was an event that we all wanted to attend and since we didn’t get to do our spa party in town – what better way then to spend a weekend away from town in a small little town – 45 minutes away from where we were.  We loved the Digby Pine Resort – but this time it’s all about us girls and relaxing and making ourselves look beautiful.   We bought along our  himalayan bath salts to the spa resort to be used in our bath every night for these bath salt as untouched by pollution and said to moisturize and soften one’s skin.  It also help relaxes one’s body for a  good night sleep.

But of course – you can use the Himalayan salts at home as well – but we brought it along with us to the spa resort – because we want to get the best out of our spa vacation.  We arranged for a pedicure, manicure, steam shower and massages – at the spa and I have to tell you – the resort was a really nice one.

The town of Digby is very vibrant at this time of the year – if you are in Nova Scotia – do drop by – they have all sorts of restaurant there and people are very friendly.

While they say to never leave home without your American Express – my favorite though is never leave home without your blackberry bold 9700 .  Why?  because I loved my blackberry and it’s really a smartphone that does almost everything for me while we are traveling.  I could store photos, music on the on board memory and can add on additional media card – if I run out of space.  It even has a GPS on it! woohoo!!  you see why I never leave home without my blackberry now?  I can also email, chat, take pictures on my trips with it – during an emergency and of course make calls to the spouse when I’m done shopping for him to pick me up.   So if you travel a lot like I do – get a blackberry!  no need to bring your laptop no more.

So we went to Lake Louise in February this year – for a wedding  – but never got a chance to write about it – since I am so back logged with my travel post.  This year – we’ve traveled around Canada more than usual.  I’m pleased to let you know that we are heading to Moncton this summer – but I’m guessing I won’t write about it immediately.

We drove there as you can see – and it was certainly a good drive from Moncton where we were for a family get together towards New Year.

View of the street from the our hotel room.

Sign at the National Park – it was very cold this winter – but who am I kidding right – it’s always cold in Canada!

At our hotel lobby

A moose on the street of Banff.

Not to be missed.

Breath-taking isn’t this.

While some people go to Aspen, Banff for skiing – my best friend had to choose to have a wedding there – lucky us! hahaha!!  but it was really nice to be up in Banff in the Spring – because it wasn’t that cold  – well not as cold as the winter – and we do love the lodge’s rustic furniture .  We had a very good rate when we were up there for the wedding – and in fact – as I was writing this entry – I learned that the deal is back on for Banff Aspen Lodge for $99!  really a great offer if you asked me.

Gotta love the scenery right?   It was a fairy tale wedding – I almost cried.

My kid just love all the snow – she had a blast!  When we came home -she wanted her bedroom furniture to be like the ones in Aspen – she said she love rustic furniture and we actually had someone made some rustic furniture for our lawn the following year.

Some people called the town of Banff a tourist trap – hahah! and I don’t disagree with them – for everything is very expensive in Banff – luckily, I was there on business and the company took care of all my hotel charges.  I stayed at the Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel – and it was definitely one of the best hotels that I’ve stayed in – in all my years of traveling.  I’m sorry there isn’t too much photos because at that time – I didn’t start writing a blog yet – I wished I had known more about blogging.

I was out of business cards and after talking with the concierge – I didn’t think I would spend so much on them – so I went  to an online printing services and had my business cards done.   I took a walk around the town – but I still couldn’t find any printing house – and of course all the shop houses didn’t have a price on anything they had for sale on the display window. But all said – I’ve been to Calgary many times and had taken day trips to Banff – so I’m not surprised – or should not be surprised.  But I’ve developed a love for Banff Springs and my daughter – when she first stepped in the hotel told me – “IT’S LIKE A CASTLE!”   I love the high tea there – it was to die for – but the mountain view where we always sit – was a magnificent view. I can certainly use another trip to the Fairmount Banff Springs soon.

Been in Nova Scotia for so long and had wanted to visit Peggy’s Cove everytime we are in Halifax but time seems to never permit it.  So last year – during the summer – I told the spouse that we had to go to Peggy’s cove – so here we were.

Peggy’s Cove is really all about the scenic – the peacefulness of the whole place.

See everyone climbing the rocks and looking over the ocean.

The Harbour F ront in Halifax

White point beach resort was where we were one Christmas for a wedding – how unique was that – a Winter wedding on Christmas.  We loved the resort with log furniture and full amenities – for a resort – it was pretty much what we expected.  The service was great and the food was pretty awesome.  We spent 2 nights at the resort and will return in the summer some time soon.   White Point Beach Resort is near Liverpool, Nova Scotia – Canada and if you are thinking of having your own log cabin – you could actually get some ideas from the resort – they do have very nice log furniture – from dressers to chairs and log beds.