Euro Travel & More

Club Med DR

breading — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:39:00 +0000

I’ve always been biased when it comes to places for scuba diving but a friend who had just come back from Club Med Dominican Republic told us that we had to book Club Med – so we are trusting his opinion and going to Club Med instead of DisneyLand. So now we are going to have to hunt down some camera goggles so that we can film our underwater adventures plus we may be visiting some dolphins as well. My kid is very excited about seeing a pink dolphin – she wants to swim with it. The camera goggles will work well for us because it will keep our hands free while it films everything we do – from snorkelling to spearfishing. I think we are going to get 2 of them – and we can get them at our local store in the mall – or wait I think it’s an online only thing – so yes, we can still buy it online. Club Med should be a fun place for any kids too – and I’m sure we could use some sun right about now.

The Westin Awaji Island Resort and Conference Center

breading — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:31:38 +0000

The Westin Awaji Island Resort has one of the best convention center that I’ve ever been to – no only are they equipped with audio and web conferencing the staff was very efficient. Nothing beats asian hospitality like I tell my boss all the time – and in Japan – you can expert the utmost standard of service. The Westin is well known for its superb overall customer satisfaction – so we were not surprised that we were treated so well.

The exterior of the Awaji Island resort looks quite normal – but the interior was what impressed all of us.

Loved the rooms – they were more spacious than any hotel in Japan that we’ve stayed in and you can have your audio and video conferencing arranged in your room too.

The interior is great looking.

2 Nights New Brunswick Getaway

breading — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:05:27 +0000

So Dealfind had a deal for the Delta Hotel in Fredericton and since it was a Delta Hotel, I figured I would look a little closer into it. This is for a 2 night stay in New Brunswick for a Premier Room Overlooking the Saint John river for $150. Not a bad deal at all – since hotel rooms are usually about $100 at least even for Priceline and a 2 night stay with $20 food voucher – now you can’t go wrong with that can you. But wait a minute – don’t forget to read the fine prints below – there are plenty of restrictions as you can see and after reading some reviews on the hotel – the river view is nothing that special.

Expires on 30-Jun-2012. Buy up to 5 vouchers for yourself and unlimited as gifts. Limit 5 vouchers for personal use. By reservations only, please book online at DeltaFredericton.com, enter your DealFind voucher code under “Promotional Code/IATA#” to redeem. For inquiries, please call 1.888.462.8800. Package includes 2 nights accommodation in a luxury premier room overlooking the St John’s River and a $20 voucher valid towards food, beverage and alcohol. Voucher valid from Thursday to Sunday. Subject to availability. Voucher not valid from, March 20, 2012, April 12-14, 2012, May 3-5,10-11,31, 2012 and June 1-2, 2012. Not valid for groups. Not valid with other offers. No cash back or credit. Not valid for taxes. Cannot be redeemed before Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

Flying With Airmiles

breading — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:18:03 +0000

We’ve collected airmiles for years now and have always heard of people cashing in on their airmiles and making use of them to travel for free. This year we are planning to visit Disneyland with our kid – so we are also cashing in on our airmiles and flying economy to Orlando Florida and we heard that Westjet – the airline we chose to travel in – had very good seats for our trip. They have skullcandy headphones for kids when they watch their movies on the plane. My kid had asked me if she can bring home those skullcandy headphones after using it – and truth be told I don’t even know if we can. I guess if she liked it so much we can buy it from the airlines or search for them for sale online. I hope we get good seats with our airmiles – even if we don’t get the skull candy headphone for free - a 4hrs flight and a layover of 3hrs is not exactly fun if the seats on the airplane isn’t good.

Living Social Not So Good Deal

breading — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:22:46 +0000

Living Social and Beyond Boundaries Travel had a special deal for A 4-Day, 3-Night VIP Trip to Orlando Theme Parks for a Family of 4 – for $875. This is for the Melia Orlando Suite Hotel at Celebration. But wait a minute before you book – make sure you read the fine prints. At first I too thought it was an excellent deal – but luckily I read the fine prints and found out that it was a per person rate and that you have to make good with your book before the end of February 2012. So when a deal is too good to be true – it is usually not as good. So make sure you read the fine prints before booking else I would have lost my money for nothing. When there are so many kind of conditions to the special deal – it’s not such a special deal anymore.

Vouchers cannot be combined to extend stay • Reservations are required; subject to availability and must be made by February 28, 2012 • Not valid on existing reservations • Price is per person; rooms accommodate up to four people • This price is only valid when four people are in the one bedroom suite; voucher can be applied to the trip price for less than four people per suite • Additional fee applies for rooms under 4 people • For 3 people in a room it is an additional $60 per person; paid at booking • For 2 people in a room is is an additional $130 per person; paid at booking • For 1 person in a room is is an additional $350 per person; paid at booking • Taxes and fees are not included and will be collected at redemption • There will be no refunds once booking is made through Beyond Boundaries. Cancellation will result in being charged the full amount • Bookings subject to Beyond Boundaries Terms and Conditions • Airfare not included • All deal components must be redeemed during one stay and by one person • Disclaimer – Beyond Boundaries Travel and Living Social are not affiliated with Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. This event has not been planned, approved, or licensed by Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. Beyond Boundaries Travel do not claim or imply any rights to any Harry Potter intellectual property • HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.(s12) Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2012 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. These themed tours are not official Harry Potter tours and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers and/or J.K.Rowling and her representatives and/or Universal Orlando.Downtown Disney is a trademark of The Walt Disney Company • Other conditions apply• PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON January 28, 2017 • PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON June 4, 2012

Plaza De Santa Ana Madrid

breading — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:38:24 +0000

My ex-boss being a resident in Madrid, of course brought us to places where the locals go and The Plaza De Santa Ana was recommended by him and it’s a real Spaniard experience here especially in the evenings. You don’t find a lot of tourist around and drinks and food were a lot cheaper than the places where the tourists are brought to by their tour guides. There were outdoor cafes and bar everywhere at the Plaza De Santa Ana and folks play guitar there every night with singing and dancing – it was a very lively scene. There are a few vendors there – who would try and sell you their touristy souvenirs and you can politely refused if you didn’t want any. We usually stay till late in the evening – as people watching as well as the singing was really good. If you want to experience a true spanish atmosphere – try this plaza.

The Plaza is always crowded and with lots of people.

Mexico Tulum Azucar Boutique Hotel

breading — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:06:30 +0000

When a friend recommended this boutique hotel to us a few years ago, she told me that if you are thinking of partying and drinking – then this is not the place for you. This place is about relaxation, yoga, healthy eating and lots of sun and the sea. Children are not encouraged so i’ve heard. The family cabanas has a kitchenette – so you can cook and bbq if you want, we choose an Ocean view room and it was lovely looking out watching the sun rise and set. But let me warn you – not to expect too much – there is no cell phone connection nor a phone available for you to call but there is Wi-fi around – but it can get weird and slow at times. No tv in the Cabanas too – so forget about bringing your xbox 360 with you.

For those looking to revitalize or re-kindle your relationship with your spouse or to find yourself – or direction – this is really a place for you. The hotel staff leave you alone a lot of time – the maid does clean your rooms but only ever few days but if you needed anything extra – you can always contact the front desk.

Staying at the Azucar is like going back to basics – and if you want to enjoy this dream holiday – make sure you leave your work and home affairs well taken care of – for the duration of your stay there – because you will not be able to enjoy yourself – if you don’t. This place is powered by Solar energy – pretty neat right? So if sometimes, the power goes off a few times during the day or night – don’t get too upset. There is no air-con in the room – but there are ceiling fans in your cabanas.

To get to the hotel – it’s about 1.5hrs of driving and I strongly advised you to rent your own car at the airport. There are parking space around the hotel grounds – so no worries about that – because the night security will help you park your car if necessary. there are no restaurants within the hotel – but food is within walking distance – and there are convenient stores nearby too – for you to fill up your fridge and temporary kitchen. Azucar is right in the middle of an Eco village – so like I said – do not expect a lot of high tech gadget – enjoy the sound of the waves – and talking to your partner and fall asleep in each others arms. And yes, there are bugs and mosquitoes – so if they are attracted to you – bring your wipes and repellent.

The Joule, Dallas

breading — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:14:01 +0000

I was only in Dallas once with my ex-boss who was looking for Tubing Bender for a project we were on way back in 2008, since I was in Canada – it would be easier to bring me a long than his engineer in Singapore. We stayed that The Joule in Dallas on Main Street – I think I liked the location best – and because it right where the central area was – it was definitely convenient for us to go about our business and to receive business associate in the hotel or a nearby cafe. I don’t remember them having a business center but they did have some PC – and internet connection that you can hook your laptop to at the lobby. The staff were extremely friendly and they did have a restaurant inhouse – Charlie something – I can’t remember the name.

The rooms were very nice – and modern – I liked the colors immediately – it didn’t feel like I was sleeping in a hotel – it was like an apartment.

Like I said – everything was pretty modern – right up to the bathroom experience.

Loved the outdoor pool – for in Canada – most hotels has indoor ones. I really wouldn’t say that it’s a boutique hotel – because they had a lot of rooms – the concierge was pretty helpful if I remember correctly. Anyhow, we found our tubing bender in Dallas and return home after a 3 days stay. So if you are in Dallas looking for tubing bending – stay at the Joule, Dallas.

Embassy Suites – Niagara Falls Toronto

breading — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:43:48 +0000

We had never stayed at the Niagara Falls before but since there was a special deal on Dealfind one day – we decided to make a trip up to the Embassy Suites by Hilton. We arrived late in the evening and it was a very busy spot as you can see. Located at Fallsview – with casinos like 2 blocks away – its definitely a great location for those who wants to try their luck in the casino.

As for us – we turned in early and got up early too – just so we can talk a walk around and see what Niagara falls have to offer us.

With TGIF just behind the hotel and the Keg in the hotel itself – you don’t even have to walk out of the hotel if you don’t want to. I think the best part of staying at the Embassy Suites is the spectacular view of the Horseshoe fall on the Canadian side. But be warned to stay on the upper floors else you will be disappointed.

The rooms were huge and clean – but it had seen better days – the aging of this magnificent hotel is showing – another few more years – they would definitely need some renovation. And what’s with hotel and their bed cover colors – those are the most deary looking ones – but most hotels have the same type of bed covers.

The outlaws room – which was just as huge.

A little kitchenette – great for family who has kids like us.

A jacuzzi for those romantic evenings – don’t forget to bring some bubble bath and rose petals.

A very awesome view from our room – we were pretty pleased.

A pretty big pool which gets really busy with kids during the weekend – so if you have kids – don’t worry about them not having fun – they will make friends really quick like mine.

Surprisingly, they have a big business center at the Embassy Suites even though the room has wireless.

The lobby was really nice – but I won’t go to the Manager’s reception if I were you – they served us drinks in a plastic cups! hahahah!! too funny! Overall, it was a good stay and we will return if we had just a good deal for the room. The rooms were like $149 a night but it included food vouchers for The Keg Steakhouse and casino chips of up to $50 and some manicure spa thing for $50. A pretty good deal if you asked me – so we can’t complain eh.

Traveling With Electronics

breading — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:42:07 +0000

So it’s that time of the year again – where you see tons of Canadians flocking to the south to the warmer weather – and to our friendly neighbors in the south. If you ever go to Cuba or Mexico – you would think that the entire population in Canada might have migrated there. But hang on before you head for the airport with your tablet laptops and 3D cellphones – what are the laws to bringing them on the airplane and crossing custom?

Like many travelers, we cannot travel without at least 1 of these gadgets – and I don’t blame you because we still need to keep in contact with the rest of the world/work even though we are on vacation. So I found out a little more about traveling with electronics like cellphones, laptops, your favorite androids, your e-readers, gaming devices and digital cameras. And it looks like we are all safe with that – all passengers can bring their personal electronics on board but make sure you check with your airline for its restrictions. But most airlines prefer your carry them with you on the plane – so that they don’t have to be responsible for any damages/lost item. But you still cannot use your electronic items when the plane takes off and land – so there you have it. And going thru’ custom with them shouldn’t be a problem at all. So those escaping the winter – and heading out south – have fun !