These days, prices from Halifax to Western Canada rarely seem to dip too much below $700 roundtrip after taxes, especially for summer travel.

However there seems to be a few freak fares in late June and early July in the Air Canada system that are going for nearly 40% less. True discounts (not the marketing nonsense from Westjet/AC/Porter) on flights within Canada are extremely rare so I get pretty excited when I see them.

Here are some examples:

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#/YHZ-YEG/2012-06-24-flexible/2012-07-03-flexible

Try clicking through to Orbitz to book. If you get a message on Orbitz about the "fare not being available for that itinerary", click on the Select button on the first fare you see, and it will verify (At least, it is at the time of this writing).

Screenshot of verified price:

There's some decent prices in the $500s to Vancouver as well (try the same dates as the cheap ones to Edmonton).

UPDATE: I've found some in July and August for the same price...

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#/YHZ-YEG/2012-07-01-flexible/2012-07-10-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights#/YHZ-YEG/2012-07-15-flexible/2012-07-25-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights#/YHZ-YEG/2012-07-22-flexible/2012-07-31-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights#/YHZ-YEG/2012-07-29-flexible/2012-08-08-flexible

http://www.kayak.com/flights#/YHZ-YEG/2012-08-26-flexible/2012-09-05-flexible

Hit Like if you like this deal! Click Share to show your friends on Facebook.

Chris Myden runs a travel deal community for Canadians,   www.Ydeals.com as well as a network of blogs, one dedicated to each city. 

You can follow his deal findings for Halifax at  YHZdeals.com

With the summer right around the corner, Pat Foran checks in on the best hotel deals around.

Looking for more tips? Here's how to snag a hotel upgrade for free

by Natalie Taylor

Free. In the travel world, this word is especially important with the rising costs of vacations. We all want it and hotel marketers have tapped into that. I asked some inside sources --those who used to work at front desks and in-the-know travellers who can navigate their way around a loyalty program-- for their best tips to get that corner suite and more. 

1. Ask!  You never know if you don’t ask at the very least. My one source who is a frequent traveler says, “ A larger room. A suite. A corner room. A higher floor. A better view. What matters to you? What would make your stay better or more comfortable?  If the hotel isn't near capacity it costs them very little to make you happy”  My other source who used to work at a front desk tells me to mention that you'd be happy to reference the front desk name assisting you or write a letter to General Manager that they've been very helpful. “Hotels like to get great feedback from their guests after they checkout.” My source also says, “Be nice, act nice, look nice and be patient when asking for the upgrade -you can wait for the best room later.”  That little bit of effort does go a long way. 

AirCanadaVacations has a flight to Costa Rica that's dropped to just to $353 roundtrip after taxes.

Go to http://www.aircanadavacations.com and click on Flights.

Leaving from Toronto, destination Liberia. Departing June 3, returning June 10.

Just beware that June is now getting into Costa Rica's rainy season.

Also, Air Transat has a flight to Orlando that's dropped to $199 roundtrip after taxes. Try June 1 to 8 on http://www.airtransat.ca

screenshot:

Hit Like if you like these deals! Click Share to show your friends on Facebook.

Chris Myden runs a travel deal community for Canadians,   Ydeals.com as well as a network of blogs, one dedicated to each city. 

You can follow his deal findings for Toronto at   YYZdeals.com

That said, airlines have a long way to go. As Heather Poole, a long-time flight attendant, who has penned her experiences up in the air in her book, Cruising Attitude, says: "Are you even allowed to use the word 'best' in the same sentence as 'airplane food?'" So I wanted to know from my favourite frequent fliers --those who have crossed continents and been on a red-eye more than they have in their own beds--what their best meal on a plane was in the dire landscape of in-flight dining. Here's are a few of their favourite airlines and what they had to say: 

Japan Airways  

My favorite meal were the ramen-like noodles served on a coach flight on Japan Airways from Singapore to Tokyo. I hadn't slept in three days and quickly passed out after take off. When I woke the gentle toned fligh attendant informed me that she had lunch ready for me. It was delicious and didn't make me sick,which is a huge plus.  Casey Neistat is a filmmaker behind the travel inspired video #MakeItCount. For the project, he traveled to 13 countries in 10 days and had many in-flight meals (not all good). 

Qantas Airlines 

Most airplane food sucks but Qantas Airlines pleasantly surprised me with the artisinal sandwich bar they serve in their upper economy section. My sandwich consisted of olive, basil and pancetta with fresh mozzarella on toasted ciabatta. Not only was it my favourite in-flight meal, it was the best sandwich of my life.  Andrew Evans is National Geographic Traveler's Digital Nomad. You can find him on Twitter  @WheresAndrew. 

Alitalia

I loved Alitalia's Economy Comfort meal.  The vegetarian meal included wilted spinach and sundried tomatoes over pasta with roasted potatoes on the side; my husband had the chicken piccata with tiramisu for dessert.  Akila McConnell writes with her husband Patrick on the delicious travel blog, The Road Forks. 

Cathay Pacific

The first time I took an international flight was on Cathay Pacific in the mid-1990s and it was a revelation. This, I was convinced, was the way to fly. Like enjoying dim-sum at a Chinese restaurant, flight attendants came by with noodle dishes, steamed soupy buns, garlicky chicken and were eager to freshen my glass of scotch, too. Adrian Brijbassi, Managing Editor of  Vacay, an online travel magazine has been to 30-plus countries on five continents. 

Turkish Airlines

I’m a celiac, so most in-flight meals I've had don't consist of much more than rice crackers and meat or veggies. In contrast, Turkish Airlines not only offered sauteed spinach and tomatoes with marinated shrimp, but pillowy soft gluten-free bread and fresh fruit and chocolate for dessert. I am sure it's not easy for airlines to accomodate special diets so I don't complain, but I very much enjoyed the meal I got from Istanbul to Amman. It was delicious!  Jodi Ettenberg, founder of Legal Nomads and contributing editor at LongReads.

Singapore Airlines

The best business class meal I had was on Singapore Airlines A380 flight in late January from Frankfurt to Singapore. I ate the Kway teow phad kai (of four choices). It consisted of Thai fried rice noodles with chicken, leafy greens and egg. Boy,was it good! (Featured in main photo.)  The best coach meal I had was a $8 cheeseburger on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Los Angeles, which was well worth the money.  John E. DiScala is the founder of JohnnyJet.com

Emirates and Air New Zealand

One meal I enjoyed the most in-flight was a wonderful lamb curry over rice that I had on a coach flight on Emirates from Dubai to New York. It was the best curry I've had -- more spices than I could possibly identify, and the lamb was tender. Sometimes the difference between what you expect and what you get is more memorable than just flat-out great food. That said, the consistently best meals I've had were in Air New Zealand business class.  Spud Hilton is the travel editor of The San Francisco Chronicle and editor of travel blog, Bad Latitude. 

SWISS Airlines 

I love the meals on Cathay Pacific but I was very impressed by the food on SWISS Airlines. In Business Class, I had the vegetarian entree: fennel and tomato ragout with green olives and long grain rice; a selection of Swiss cheese with pear bread; dessert was apple cream with rosemary and Creme de Gruyere and Swiss chocolates. Interesting fact: Hiltl, a vegetarian restaurant in Zurich, consults on the dishes for SWISS Airlines.  Jen Pollack Bianco is a photographer and writer. She is the founder of  My Life's A Trip. 

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific was not only the best meal I had but also the best flight I'll ever enjoy--I flew to Hong Kong in CP's new first class cabin and I recall enjoying some delicious udon, caviar, Balik Tasar Nicolaj smoked salmon (the recipe hailed from the court of the Russian Tsars) and champagne somewhere over the North Pole. The best part, though, was that you could order your meal whenever the mood struck--very civilized.  Olivia Stren, freelance writer, who has written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, ELLE, and Fashion Magazine. 

Domodedovo Airlines 

Nothing for me beats a flight I took on Russia's clunky Domodedovo Airlines from Petropavlovsk to Vladivostok a few years ago. There was no food, which probably was a good thing. But there were two guys in suits across the aisle who pulled out a bottle of vodka and beckoned me over to take a few shots. I did. Once we landed, I waved farewell then saw them again -- checking my passport at immigration. Domodedovo may not serve meals, but the immigration officials give you free drinks.  Robert Reid, US Editor for Lonely Planet and founder of  Reid On Travel. 

Feature Photo: JohnnyJet.com 

 
Constantly on a quest to explore the world, Natalie Taylor seeks the good life without spending a fortune. You can catch her regular posts right here on Sympatico.ca Travel’s luxury for less blog. You can also find her on Twitter @nearafar. 

1. West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island
Touted by many around the world as the best hike in Canada, the West Coast Trail is also one of the most rugged, so don't expect an easy walk in the park if you tackle this one. Winding up Vancouver Island's southwest coast, this 75 km coastal backpacking trail traverses forests, bogs and beaches, past waterfalls, old-growth trees and streams, and requires the use of wooden ladders, ropes and cable cars. 

Wildlife is abundant here too, as you'd expect, with the chance to see sea-life like whales, seals and sea lions in the water or cougars, bears, wolves on land, or eagles in the air. It takes about seven days to do the whole route, and a permit is required for overnight hikers, but you can also choose to do day hikes on portions of the trail for free. 

2. The Chief, Squamish
Closer to civilization, and therefore a bit more popular, Squamish, BC's Stawamus Chief hike is easily accessible and a nice stopping point for those travelling between the metropolis of Vancouver and the wilderness of Whistler and beyond. Only about an hour north of Vancouver up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, it's also a good day trip destination for adventurous city dwellers. This remarkable rock formation — a 700-metre granite monolith — is hard to miss even if you're just driving by. A well-maintained trail weaves up the backside of the mountain, across three peaks to the highest point, which offers a stunning, panoramic view of Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains. It's a steep climb, but the view up top makes it well worth the effort.

3. Valley of the Five Lakes, Jasper
Heading farther east, into the Rockies, there are heaps of trails to choose from, whether you're looking for an easy stroll or a multi-day alpine trudge. One of my favourites is the Valley of the Five Lakes in Jasper National Park. It's easy to get to, with a parking lot just off the Icefields Parkway, and short enough at 5 km to fit it in with other activities or to do with kids. True to its name, this easy trail weaves past five brilliantly blue and jade-coloured lakes, surrounded by valley-floor forests. It's not uncommon to spot wildlife en route, including black bears.

4. Mizzy Lake Trail, Algonquin Provincial Park
Western Canada doesn't have a monopoly on good hiking and Ontarians have some gems in their own backyard. Canada's oldest provincial park, Algonquin Provincial Park, is over 7,650 km² of adventure potential. There are plenty of day hikes, and some overnight backpacking trails, throughout the park ranging from an hour to a few hours. One of the best and longest day hikes is along the Mizzy Lake Trail. This 11-km trail passes nine beaver ponds and small lakes and is one of the best places to spot wildlife in the park — including moose, if you're lucky. For that reason, dogs aren't permitted, and because of its length and difficulty, young kids likely won't be too keen on it. Autumn would be an amazing time to do this hike thanks to the Algonquin area's stunning, fiery fall colours.

5. Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador
Out (down or back) East there is plenty of hiking to be had, too. Newfoundland's incredible Gros Morne National Park, on the northwest coast, offers up some of the best, with more than 100 km of trails that weave past amazing views of The Rock's finest fjords, tablelands, waterfalls, beaches, meadows, coves, rock formations, historic sites, tidal pools and cliffs. Geologists proved the theory of plate tectonics here, and some of the planet's best examples of our little Earth hard at work are still on display.

Heather Cleland is a freelance travel and music writer living in Toronto. In 2009, she blew her life savings to travel through 29 countries on four continents by herself, because it felt like the right thing to do. As it turned out, it was. Read her stories about adventure and off-the-beaten-path travel on Sympatico.ca Travel and follow her on Twitter @heathercleland.  

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the cheapest roundtrip flight ever found between Vancouver and Paris. And it's in June too.

Here's how to find it...

2. Search for Vancouver to Paris, June 14 to 22.

3. Hit Find Flights

screenshot of verified price:

Hit Like if you like this deal! Click Share to show your friends on Facebook.

Chris Myden runs a travel deal community for Canadians,   Ydeals.com as well as a network of blogs, one dedicated to each city. 

You can follow his deal finds for Vancouver at  YVRdeals.com

Beverly Hills, California

Sprinkles Cupcakes bakery in Beverly Hills, one of the first cupcake bakeries in the city, recently launched into foodie fandom with its cupcake ATM machine. Located on South Santa Monica Blvd., the machine offers cupcakes at $3.50 per cupcake, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for when you really need a cupcake. The cupcakes aren’t made inside the ATM, but taken from a stock of cupcakes made that day.

Taipei, Taiwan

It’s a bit of a rage in Asia but can you stomach it? Modern Toilet restaurant, located in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan offers diners the unique experience of a toilet-themed restaurant. Seats are made from toilets, the walls are covered with bathroom décor like showerheads and plungers and yes, you even eat out of a toilet.

Tokyo, Japan

In Tokyo, there are a number of quirky themed restaurants that might be worth the visit just for the gawk factor. First, there’s the Vampire Café where the interiors are gothic black-and-red with candles, skulls and yes, even blood-like cocktails.

Also in Tokyo, there are maid cafes where anime-like waitresses dressed up in gaudy, cutesy maid outfits server their mostly male clientele.

Then there’s Alcatraz Restaurant which is themed like a prison, where guests dine in prison cells (complete with caged bars) and dishes are named the likes of “incest salad,” “adultery dish” or cocktails called “lethal injection.”

North of Tokyo, there’s Kayabukiya Tavern, where owner Kaoru Otsuka’s traditional sake house turned into an animal house, literally, when his two pet monkeys began to learn how to server patrons and then began to.

Last but certainly not least, there are nayotaimori restaurants in Japan where naked female models lay out on the table, and covered in sushi or sashimi for diners to partake or simply take pieces of sushi off of the models.

New York City, New York

Sure, it’s not Per Se or Eleven Madison Park but Nina New York is a restaurant where real ninjas – or rather, athletic-type servers trained as ninjas – create an ambiance resembling a 15th century feudal village in Japan. Offering fine Japanese cuisine, it’s part theatre and all ninja awesomeness.

Riga, Latvia

Seemingly out of the way, this Latvian city offers a restaurant called Hospitalis where everything his hospital-themed. The dining room looks like a hospital room with seats that look like beds. Dishes are served on operating room dishes with utensils to match. Of course, waitresses are dressed up as nurses. 

Feature Photo: The Colony Palms Hotel, Palm Springs.  Credit: Jen Pollack Bianco

1.Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Hua Hin, Thailand gives you the feeling of being in an oasis without missing the city life (but without the seediness of massage parlours and crammed bars). Live like royalty at The Hotel de Paix (from $140) in high season.

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: The  Sorobon Beach Resort in Bonaire (from $115).  White-washed beachfront bunglalows complete with kitchens and conch-shell outdoor showers are at the base of a 3-kilometre, white sand bay. Absolute Bliss! 

Trish Friesen,  founder and editor of fabulous tips blog,  Trip Styler

2. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Palm Springs, California. In shoulder season, between music festival Coachella and Labor Day, it's a stylish desert bargain. There is a great Mid-Century modern vibe,  fabulous art scene, great pools, and a great mix of desert retirees and hipsters. The high end outlet malls like the Cabazon outlets offer fantastic shopping. If you can handle the heat, it's a great getaway from the city.

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: The Ace in Palm Springs is like going to hipster summer camp.They also have alcoholic Sno-Cones, turntables in the rooms, and a groovy spa. Fun femmetastic DJs like Alex Merrell spin poolside. The Colony Palms  has a great old Hollywood vibe and gorgeous pool; it's also in walking distance to the main sites. 

Jen Pollack Bianco, writer and photographer of My Life's A Trip, who has traveled to over 74 countries. 

3. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Thailand remains popular for a reason. Whether it’s the sleek Banyan Tree in Bangkok with an amazing view from the 61st floor ($156), the serene Rachamankha ($135) in historic Chiang Mai or the designer X2 ($120) on the resort isle of Ko Samui, this “Land of Smiles” offers some of the world’s best hotels and resorts, renowned cuisine and service that offer tremendous value for the jetsetter. 

 Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel:  The 5 star Metropolitan in Bangkok (from $115) has it all.  The gorgeous rooms have 500 count thread sheets and the relaxing vibe continues at the renowned COMO Shambhala Spa. It is also home to Michelin Star Chef helmed NAHM Restaurant and MetBar, which remains the “IT” spot for Bangkok’s movers and shakers. 

Thomas Junek of The Real Bohemian has travelled to over 60 countries in six continents.  

4. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination:  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The city has a broad array of luxury hotels and due to the favourable exchange rates (USD/CAD/EUR to the Malaysian Ringgit), these hotels are relatively cheap. Finding a luxurious room in a five star hotel - think designer toiletries, plush bath robes, heavenly beds, spas, beautiful pools and top-notch service - for under $150/night isn't difficult at all. Kuala Lumpur is in my book the perfect city for an indulgent getaway!

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The hotel has a fantastic location in the city centre and the moment you walk in, you know you're in good hands. The rooms are luxuriously appointed and the service is impeccable. In addition, the services of a butler are included in the room rate! Oh, and there's an amazing spa too! Can you believe you can get a room with butler service for under $200 here?

Keith Jenkins of luxury travel blog, Velvet Escape has visited over 60 countries on six continents. 

5. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Antigua, Guatemala. Once the capital of Guatemala, this colourful, cobble-stoned, colonial city looks like it could be in Spain, but its restaurants, accommodations, and activities are a third of the price.  You can indulge in a steak dinner at the classy Las Antorchas restaurant for less than $15 or in traditional Guatemalan cuisine for less than $8. Luxury accommodation is incredibly inexpensive. The stylish boutique Cirilo Hotel (from $120)  is built into ancient ruins and combines history with glamour. I'm a fan of their breakfast which is included in the rate. 

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel:  The 5 star Imperial Hotel in Vung Tau, Vietnam (from $150) is incredibly lush! The opulent rooms are large and the sprawling grounds are majestic.  You feel like royalty here form the thick towels offered  to the attentive service.

Oneika Raymond, of travel blog Oneika-the-Traveller has travelled to over 50 countries and seeks out the best travel experiences for less. 

6. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: In Buenos Aires, you can get a steak dinner that will be as delicious as any steak you've had in North America, and with a bottle of Malbec, for less than the equivalent of $20 Canadian. Getting to Buenos Aires is expensive because of the cost of the airfare, but once Canadians arrive the favourable exchange rate allows them to enjoy one of the world's great cities while not feeling like they're on a budget vacation.

Luxe for Less Hotel: Le Petit Hotel (from $140) in Montreal's beautiful old city offers loft rooms, stellar service and all of the hot chocolate you want.

7.  Favourite Luxe For Less Destination:  In Bangkok, Thailand you can eat like a king for under $5 (or less), get a massage for just $10 and rent a comfortable apartment for less than $300 a month. After traveling around the region for a few months, we like returning to Bangkok for the comfort that comes at a low price. 

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: The Lub D in Bangkok, Thailand is a funky hotel that has the atmosphere and community spirit of a hostel (and some dorm rooms as well), but also private rooms that are comfortable, stylish and affordable for under $30 CAD per night. We usually stay here whenever we're in Bangkok - for its great location, low prices and excellent service.

Nellie Huang and her husband Alberto Molero have travelled to over 50 countries. They manage the adventure travel blog and digital magazine Wild Junket. 

8. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Marrakech, Morocco has luxurious riads, traditionally known as house centered around a courtyard but today serve as opulent small boutique hotels. They're great for those looking for local comfort at affordable prices. Some favorites include the Riad Azoulay (from $130) and the Riad Dixneuf La Ksour  (from $130).

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: Each room at the Hotel Santo Domingo (from $136) in Madrid features a different design aesthetic and look. This modern hotel makes use of modern technology that's on par with Tokyo. I loved the color-therapy shower and its central location. The Palacio Real, Calle Arenal and the Gran Via are each a five minute walk from the hotel.

Matt Long is the Editor-in-chief and creator of the blog, LandLopers. 

9.  Favourite Luxe For Less Destination:  In Buenos Aires, you can stay in a romantic, luxurious hotel with all of the amenities for only $125 a night and load up on glam accessories and clothes without breaking the bank. You can also indulge in an amazing meal of local red wine and locally grown steak for a steal. And culture? Tickets to tango shows and more are very affordable. Right now, to get the bang out of your buck, nothing is more intoxicating than the passionate, more-is-more Buenos Aires.

Favourite Luxe For Less Hotel: In Buenos Aires, my favorite luxe for less hotels are Fierro Hotel and Hotel Home, in Palermo. I had a great time at the Moreno Hotel, in artsy San Telmo. Most of these hotels are under $200 per night. 

Abby Tegnelia is the Editor-in-chief of Vegas Magaine and blogs at The Jungle Princess.  Photo: Kyle Hepp. 

10. Favourite Luxe For Less Destination: Austin, Texas has the amenities of any large city, and while it has been skyrocketing in popularity the last few years, the costs are still relatively low compared other big destinations. There are loads of cute B&Bs, roomy vacation rentals, and unique budget hotels, like the funky Austin Motel. There are many casual vintage stores to peruse and you’ll find live music all over town, much of it free or for a very low cover.

Favourite Luxe for Less Hotel: The  hip and modern Hotel Derek in Houston (from $89). It's in a great part of town, right next to the Galleria and close to fantastic restaurants. A bonus is that they sometimes do sales on daily deals sites.

Emily Starbuck Crone is the founder and editor of the blog Maiden Voyage. 

  Constantly on a quest to explore the world, Natalie Taylor seeks the good life without spending a fortune. You can catch her regular posts right here on Sympatico.ca Travel’s luxury for less blog. You can also find her on Twitter @nearafar. 

With the aim of celebrating Canada as a culinary destination, here’s a quick review of Vacay.ca’s top restaurants in Canada and where you can find them.  

Vancouver, BC

The number one restaurant in Canada according to Vacay.ca is Vij’s, known for its contemporary Indian cuisine. Also in Vancouver, L’Abbatoir at #7, the newly renovated Hotel Georgia’s Hawksworth restaurant at #21 and Ensemble at #23 featuring chef Dale MacKay from Top Chef Canada fame.

Toronto, ON

Coming in at #2 is Langdon Hall, just 1.5 hours from Toronto in Cambridge and offers local-centric tasting menus by chef Jonathan Gushue. Stay the night in the cozy country manor and be sure to visit the spa.

Ottawa, ON

Coming in at #5 and People’s Choice Winner for 2012 is Atelier restaurant in Ottawa, where chef Marc Lepine’s tasting menu is one of the most talked-about culinary experiences in the city. Also in Ottawa at #34 is Murray Street Kitchen where charcuterie and meat is the name of the game, just steps from Parliament Hill and ByWard Market.

Montreal, QC

With the launch of the Joe Beef cookbook, Joe Beef restaurant in Montreal has never been hotter and was voted as #3 for its rich, French fare with a rustic twist. Don’t miss the lobster spaghetti – it’s worth the visit to Montreal.  Also in Montreal, near the heart of the historic Vieux Montreal district is Les 400 Coups, coming in at #6 with its intricate dishes with a creative flair.

For the full list, go to: vacay.ca/top-50-restaurants .

There's a certain allure to just up and heading out on an adventure with no fixed plans, but few of us can actually pull it off. For those of us who like to nail down even just the skeleton of a plan before we leave, that's becoming less of a pain thanks to fancy new websites and apps that promise to do a lot of the trip-planning work for us. Whether you just want to keep track of all your trip details, get inspired, plot your itinerary or meet new travel buddies, there's plenty of online help to ensure a seamless and exciting adventure. Here are some of the best places to start.

TripIt.com
If you're a DIY traveller and appreciate booking your own activities, accommodations and transportation, then you'll probably appreciate TripIt.com. The site lets you plot out you own customized itinerary complete with maps, photos, directions and notes. Then, as you make your various travel bookings, you forward your email confirmations to TripIt and it automatically inputs the dates, details and booking numbers into your itinerary, making the site a one-stop shop for all your trip's details. From there, you can share your travel plans with friends, family and co-workers so everyone knows where you are, what you're doing and where you're going next. 

Afar.com
This community, started by Afar magazine -- a monthly magazine from San Francisco that celebrates genuine, experiential travel -- lets registered users ask questions about destinations and travel tips. You can answer these if you have suggestions, or ask your own questions when the time comes. You can set up email notifications to find out when someone posts a question you might be able to answer (based on your settings). You can also post your own travel highlights to inspire fellow travellers. If you post helpful tips or awesome photos, you could see them in the magazine, too. 

Globetrotr.com
This one hasn't officially launched yet but if you love to set off on your own adventures and can't always find a buddy to go along with you, Globetrotr will be a good site and app for you. Once launched, you will be able to create your own reviews of places you've been and things you've done, and also tap into the reviews of others. On Globetrotr, you can check out a reviewer's profile to see where they've been and what they've done before so you can see if you're of like mind. You can also track down other users who are going to be visiting the spots you want to visit and find kindred adventurous spirits to plan your travels with. No more twisting the arms of your resort-bound buddies. For now you can sign up for a notification of the site's launch.

TripTik
TripTik is a travel planning site from the folks at AAA -- the American Automobile Association -- but you can access it through the CAA website as well. This is an excellent tool for the road-trippers among us. You can plot your road trip through Canada or the U.S. on a map, but it also brings in AAA travel ratings and information about places to stay (including campgrounds), places to eat, and things to pull over and look at along the way. You can even track down gas stations along the way, and see where you can get CAA/AAA member discounts en route. It also pulls in Travelocity reviews and ratings so you can weigh out your options across the board. Add it all to your saved itinerary and hit the road.

Google Maps
It's not specifically catered to travel planning but nothing beats Google Maps or its sister program Google Earth when it comes to plotting your world travels or doing a little armchair exploration. From getting directions and estimated travel times (including tongue-in-cheek kayaking legs if you're heading overseas) to checking out the street view of your hotel, or flying over a satellite view of the mountain you intend to summit -- Google gives you just enough of a sneak peek at what's out there to convince you to head out there, with a few bells and whistles that let you plan and save your custom-built itinerary.

Heather Cleland is a freelance travel and music writer living in Toronto. In 2009, she blew her life savings to travel through 29 countries on four continents by herself, because it felt like the right thing to do. As it turned out, it was. Read her stories about adventure and off-the-beaten-path travel on Sympatico.ca Travel and follow her on Twitter @heathercleland.