Euro Travel & More

As promised – i’ve shown you the outside of the CourtYard Marriot on the previous post and now for the inside of the hotel.  The bedroom given to us was a very nice room – spacious with 2 queen bed.  The receptionist at check in was very nice and polite – but the bell hop was helping someone else during check in – so we carried our own luggage – to our room.  But it was a lazy Sunday – so having only one bell hop is understandable and we didn’t have very much – just 2 luggages and lots of shopping bag with acne body wash that we had bought for a friend’s kid.

The view was very pretty – as you can see here.  And our fear that the road may get too noisy from the reviews that we read – were unfounded – we didn’t hear a thing outside of our room.

I thought we had read that our tv was going to be an LCD tv – therefore we had brought along our xbox 360 to be hooked up to it for our stay.  But alas – it was a normal tv and what made it even more frustrating was the tv didn’t allowed us to play our xbox 360 onto it.  But – the saving grace was the receptionist had offered to give us the one in the conference room if it wasn’t in used.  Now that was very nice of her – but it came with a huge rack and totally took up part of the room.  By then we were too tired to try and return it and just left it in the room because it was already late – 9pm.

This was the breakfast room – it’s located right in the lobby – a really small area – no restaurant or a drinking hole but the wait staff and the kitchen staff were great – they made a waffle for my kid even though they didn’t have it in the menu.  Very sweet indeed!

This is the hotel’s pool – it’s tiny!

Boy! i sure missed those pools in Asia! hotel pools in Asia are Olympic sizes.

Sometime before Christmas last year – Bay Ferries announced that they were cancelling their services between Bar Harbor, Portland and Yarmouth due to weak economy and no funding from the Canadian government.  They did this without any prior warning it seems just as easy as using an acne scar removal .  There was a big boo ha about this issue – because a lot of jobs will be lost and tourism which is already daunted because of the weak dollar – will close its gateway for the people from United States to not only Nova Scotia but Canada.   So if you are planning to take the CAT to Nova Scotia – better make other plans.  I know of many Americans who have holiday houses here in Canada -and I wonder how this is affecting them.  I’m pretty sure some people ain’t too happy.

Dragonfly Inn reminds me of Gilmore Girls, so being a huge fan of that show, we just had to check out this inn.  More like a bed and breakfast and like almost all B & B .. they did not disappoint at all. If you are passing thru’ Nova Scotia on the way up to Halifax, you might just want to spend a nite at this cozy and lovely inn.  We brought our  xbox 360 since they have high speed internet and dvd machines in the rooms. You can also try the Coach house if you have kids .. as they have microwave ovens and a fridge for you.  I absolutely love the cozy rooms .. although i could use a bigger bathtub ..and a jacuzzi in the room would be even better.  The rates are very reasonable.. at $149 Canadian..  for the suite rooms and breakfast included as well.  Check out time is 3pm .. which is very rare in the hotel industry.. and check in is as early as 11am.  You would love that the inn is located at the heart of the Evangeline Trail and only a short walk to Fort Anne and the Historic Gardens.  There are cafes and markets as well as specialty stores in the valley, and we will go back there when we get the chance.

Compared to what i was used to.. when i was traveling for business, these days traveling on business even for a small business opportunity, you really only need a computer and your USB key.  No need to lug your projectors, or many files or even presentation materials.  Unfortunately, since 9/11, when you do travel, you know the hassle you have to go thru’ especially in an American Airport.  So even for Canadians who usually only need their ID when traveling to United States, is now asked to produce a valid passport.  So for those traveling on business, make sure your documentations are proper, you have a destination as well as a letter for the company that you are meeting with etc, etc, etc.  Yes, they do ask of this.. when you go thru’ custom, so do get yourself prepared.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is one of the most vibrant city in the province of Nova Scotia. Besides the many pubs and restaurants available here, you will find one of Nova Scotia’s biggest and grandest casino. Nova Scotia is also known as Canada’s Ocean playground, so you can also expect alot of water activities here. The famous Peggy’s Cove is not to be missed of course. Boasting of the second largest natural harbor in the world after Sydney, Australia, summer is definitely the best time to visit.  Tall ships and the many music festivals and the fireworks in the harbourfront is some sight.

Besides all the awesome places to shop.. once can find some authentic cuisine here.. like Dharma Sushi for Japaneses.. and Pete Frootique.. for all kinds of exotic fruits.. as well as food from London. There are some Greek restaurants there.. and don’t forget the many dim sum places you can try chinese food at.  Halifax is also one of the places.. i get all my chinese groceries.  The people are friendly.. and it’s almost like going home.