LISBON – A glam resort feel minutes from the centre of a great city. The four-star Lisbon Marriott offers a “best of both worlds” approach to visiting one of Europe’s great cities; a place that is both close to the heart of the action and a relaxing spot where you can swim and work on your tan. Not to mention a boutique feel and snazzy bar area populated by attractive locals and visitors alike. The lobby creates an immediate impression in any hotel, and this one is a lovely cross between a modern business hotel and something with a more Read more
Europe
MODENA, ITALY – It’s a gorgeous spring day. My wife and I are sipping on Italian wine and nibbling on strips of rare steak and fabulous local cheeses on a restaurant patio in this city’s handsome main square. Kids are skipping about, ignoring instructions from their parents. A young couple with guitars sing a lovely tune. A woman rides by in a bike, her son sitting on the handlebars. Usually by this time of year Italian cities are overrun with visitors from Canada and the U.S. There are tourists about on this day for sure, but things aren’t so crazy Read more
It was the summer of 1979. I had recently graduated from university in California and was backpacking through Europe. I had hoped to go with a friend but he couldn’t make it. I thought about backing out but a former girlfriend insisted I was nuts and that I should just go on my own. So I did. I bought an airline ticket and a Eurail pass to get me all around Europe, and headed off from San Francisco to London. I was roughly half-way through my trip and was in Rome with a couple American girls I had met along Read more
NOTE: All thoughts about destinations and the kayak.com websites are my own. But KAYAK paid for the posting of this blog and for me to let people know about the blog via social media. The Internet is a wonderful thing when it comes to travel. But sometimes a bit terrifying at the same time. The choices are seemingly endless. Iceland’s hot springs and towering waterfalls look funky and off-the-beaten-track. But the temples and beaches of Thailand are tempting, too. Not to mention the pristine hikes you could take among the Alberta Rockies. On top of all that, the options for Read more
Aeroplan has always been a great way to fly to exotic – and familiar – parts of the world for a romantic getaway or memory-filled family trip. Now Aeroplan members have the option to fly cash-free. With a new program that came into place in March, Aeroplan members can use the miles they accumulate with Air Canada and other Aeroplan partners to not only buy tickets but also now to cover the cost of taxes, fees, charges and airline carrier surcharges. Those costs can be an annoyance when they have to be paid in cash, but now you can use Read more
