Spa vacations

You're the kind of person who enjoys the senses, who wants to be pampered, or who wants to make a healthy lifestyle a part of your everyday life. You take candle-lit baths (or wish you could), enjoy aromatherapy and appreciate the stress-relieving effects of a good massage. When it comes time to vacation, you're not just thinking sun and surf but health, diet and a mud bath! You are exactly the kind of person who may want to consider treating yourself to a spa vacation.

The word spa, taken from the name of the famous mineral springs in Spa, Belgium, has become an all-inclusive term for a commercial establishment with facilities for exercising, bathing, and treatment.

Two major decisions in planning a spa vacation are 1) what experiences you want from the visit, and 2) where you want to go. A wide variety of spa options are available; some focus on your diet, others on physical activity, relaxation and pampering, and/or your spiritual health. Some spas are very structured in their approach to treatments, while others allow for individual variation. Those spas focusing on diet and exercise are typically the most structured in their disciplines and scheduling.

Your goals for a spa vacation will largely dictate the type of spa you choose and your willingness to forgo flexibility during your stay. Destination? Have you always wanted to visit New York? Miami? Los Angeles? What about someplace more exotic? India? Budapest? Let your imagination roam. Spas are available around the world, allowing you to find a vacation just about anywhere your heart desires.

One of the most important things you can do before your spa vacation is give yourself a day or two to mentally unwind before leaving. Though this might sound counter-intuitive, since unwinding is often the whole point of a spa vacation, this time will give your mind a chance to become more open and receptive to the experience. It is often difficult to leave work and responsibilities behind, but the sooner you start, the more benefits you'll receive from your spa vacation.

Wine tours of the world

 

Wine Tours

A tour of any of the great wine country regions of the world is an opportunity to explore culture, history, cuisine and wine in a single trip. Without exception, the scenery is beautiful, the people passionate, and the wine of is of course wonderful.

Usually, a wine tour consists of visiting the wineries and tasting rooms to sample their current wines, often paired with food. Sometimes, a tour of the winery itself is included, and visitors can see where the wine is grown, processed, barreled, aged and eventually bottled.

Here are some of the top wine-producing areas in the world; 

Tuscan, Italy - Italy's most famous wine region has over 157,000 acres of vineyards throughout its picturesque countryside. The Italians have been making wine for thousands of years, and Italy boasts the largest output of wine in the world.

Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone, France - France has many wine growing regions, and each is worth a visit.

Australia - In the past few decades, Australia has emerged as one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world.

USA - In the United States, the most popular region is certainly California's Napa Valley, which is also one of the world's newer wine regions.

Germany - German wines have historically been mostly white, made from Riesling grapes more suited to the northern climate.

South Africa - Cape Town is the trailhead of the South African vineyards. The local wine industry has become a global force, producing approximately 3% of the world's wine production, ranking as 9th largest producer in the world.

But this list is far from comprehensive. Chile, Spain, Portugal and dozens of other countries have robust wine economies where local vineyards have adapted varietals to changing climates and soil conditions.

34 ways to improve your travel experience

1. Ziploc bags are great for packing

2. Embrace the corny! Places are usually popular for a reason.

3. Talk to as many locals as possible.

4. Learn how to haggle with respect.

5. Go on a cruise, whether small or large ship there’s bound to be one out there for you.

6. Smart phones are great, but learn about international billing before leaving home.

7. For great photos learn everything you can about whatever camera you have.

8. Book hotels that include complimentary breakfast.

9. Invest in travel insurance, it’s a smart precaution to protect your travel investment.

10. No matter how bad things get at times, always try to keep a positive attitude.

11.. Use ATMs overseas for the best exchange rates.

12. Simple budget cuts at home can amount to enough money for an amazing trip.

13 If offered Nutella, the answer is always yes.

14. Buy a travel power strip and use it to easily charge all your devices.

15. Bring a portable battery for your phone, you’ll need it during a long day of sightseeing.

16. Use public transportation, it’s cheaper, more fun and you learn more about the destination.

17. Be humble and don’t turn into a stereotype. No matter where you go, you’re a guest and you should act like it.

18. Spend a little more for amazing experiences; it may be your one chance to do them!

19. Stay curious; it’s the best arrow in your travel quiver.

20. Get lost at least once on every trip.

21. Ask locals for the best places to eat.

22. Visit grocery stores overseas, cheaper snacks and a great lesson in the culture.

23. I love hotels, but short term apartment rentals are fun too for a more ‘local’ experience.

24. Learn a few phrases in a foreign language, it’ll help you more than you know.

25. Always pack a bathing suit, you just never know.

26. Never eat anywhere with a ‘tourist’ menu.

27. Take time to learn how to drive stick shift. Some places in the world it will be your only option.

28. Don’t overdo the food when you travel, healthy choices will keep you going longer.

29. Disconnect if you can and learn to enjoy the experience firsthand and not through a phone or camera lens.

30. Plan ahead, but don’t go crazy. Spontaneous travel moments are usually the best.

31. Travel more, even if it’s a couple of hours away.

32. To beat jet lag align yourself to the new time zone right away, even if it means staying up all day.

33. Make copies of your passport and either email them to yourself or store in Dropbox in case the worst happens.

34. Don’t only listen to travel ‘experts’ – always follow your gut and your heart

Taking holiday pics

Taking holiday pictures is a personal decision.  Do you want to capture just the moment   that reminds you of the fun times you had,  or do you want pictures that you could perhaps print off and frame.

I really debated for a long time what kind of camera to take on my Peru trip.   I thought carrying a larger camera would be bothersome as I was at altitude, hiking the Inca Trail for 4 days,  and it would be the last thing I wanted to bother with.

I tried point and shoot cameras,  but for me,  it wasn't going to be good enough.   So I went with a larger camera.   Yes,  it was a huge pain at times,  stopping to get it out of my back pack or bothering my fellow hikers to get it for me so I didn't have to keep taking the pack off.   But I am really pleased with the pictures I came home with.    It was a trip of a lifetime,  and my pictures reflect how special it was.

So if you are taking a big trip,  take some time to weigh up your options.

Check your Mobile provider for data options before leaving on your trip

When travelling out of country remember to switch off your data roaming on your mobile phone,   or you may get a nasty shock on your next bill.

You can always search out wifi zones in restaurants or coffee shops so that you can check your mail.    However,  it can be a bit habit-forming scanning for wifi as soon as you enter,  like a nervous tic.

The alternative is to check before you leave home and see if your provider offers a package for out of country data coverage.  There seem to be better deals out there now,  and it is so much easier that constantly scanning.

How much to tip when travelling.

It’s hard to know when visiting a new country what is expected in the way of tipping  for hotel staff, tour guides or in restaurants.

Before your trip it’s always a good idea to research a little as it can vary a lot.  Some countries/areas include gratuity in restaurants,  some do not.

Usually first world coutries have a set percentage that is expected,  while less develop countries do not.You can always check with your tour guide,  or hotel staff to see what the local customs are.

If you are on an organised tour,  it is usual to tip the tour guide,  the driver,  and cooks/porters, if it’s that type of tour.  You can always contact the tour office with these questions before you leave.

On my recent trip to Peru, hiking the Inca trail we tipped all of the 24 porters, cook, assistant cook and tour guide.   That seems like a lot,  but when you see the amount of work they do,  and realise how little they get paid,  compared to people in first world countries,  it just seems right.

For further help you may want to check this link;

http://www.fodors.com/news/how-to-tip-when-traveling-around-the-world-10820

Air Canada Rouge

Having just flown back from Peru with Air Canada on their newer Rouge service I just wanted to let others know about their inflight entertainment.

I entered the plane and was surprised to notice that there were no overhead TV's,  nor any seat back TV's.      I learned that you needed to download an app before boarding the plane that would allow you to access their inflight entertainment movies,  tv shows and music.   This can be downloaded to iPad, iPhone or android devices.

If you don't do this ahead of time you may rent an iPad for the duration of the flight at a cost of CDN$10 or be very bored during your flight.

I am not sure if other operators are going this direction with their inflight entertainment, but I would definitely check before flying.