48 HOURS IN VANCOUVER

The host city for this year’s Winter Olympics, Vancouver is an international town, offering vibrant backdrop for this year’s 2010 Olympics. So pack warm and hit these hot spots to enjoy the Vancouver games (or anytime).

Stay: The Hotel Opus, this lifestyle hotel offers unique styles from modern, minimalist, artistic and eclectic while retaining luxurious comfort. As well as, boasts a coveted Yaletown district address within walking distance of posh retail and restaurants.

Day One: Tick Tock in Gastown

Do: Start your visit at Vancouver’s birthplace, Gastown, by taking a historic walking tour and learning about it’s namesake “Gassy Jack,” a legendary sailor and saloon owner. Today on the cobbled streets you’ll find art galleries, high fashion boutiques, flavorful restaurants and bars. Don’t miss the famous steam clock, which gushes steam every 15 minutes on the corner of Cambie and Water Streets. Self-Guided Walking Tours available at City of Vancouver.




Eat: History geeks and foodies alike can enjoy a savory meal in Gastown at the Salt Tasting Room. Experience an ever-changing menu of artisan cheeses, local cured meats, and perfectly paired wines, beers and sherries. Be sure to try the Cashel Blue Cheese from Ireland with Similkameen Valley Honey.












Day Two: Whistler in Winter

Do: Ride the Whistler Mountaineer train to Whistler Village for a Vancouver day trip and see the host mountain resort of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The three-hour train trip takes riders through the stunning scenery of snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls and the brilliant pacific coast. While on Whistler Mountain head to the Whistler Sliding Centre were you can catch the Olympic bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions February 12th thru 28th or starting Summer 2010 Passenger Bobsleigh Rides and Learn to Luge classes will be available.

Eat: Taste the aboriginal inspired dishes of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nation at the Fifty-Two 80 Bistro inside the Four Seasons Resort Whistler. Chef Scott Thomas Dolbee, creates his menu from the local ingredients and includes: Bannock, Caribou Sausage, Soapallalie Berry Juice, and Oolichan.

Scoring Tickets
Getting last minute tickets can be tricky but we’ve got the inside scoop on how to score.

Before: Tickets are being sold in phases at cosport.com. Check the web site to find next available date as well as accommodations and hospitality packages.
Tip: I found several on Ebay and Craigslist that are available to buy now.

During: If visiting during the Winter Olympics, February 12 thru 28, stop by the event location where remaining tickets will be sold.

Getting There
Anxious to get into the city? The easiest way to get from the airport to downtown Vancouver is the new Canada Line Skytrain. A quick 25 minute ride for usually $3.75 a person.

Getting Around
Avoid Olympic traffic and parking and opt for Vancouver’s convenient public transportation. Plus, your Olympic ticket includes a fulfillment fee, which allows you free local transportation in Metro Vancouver and Whistler on the date of event. (does not include transportation to Whistler) Plan your trip at tripplanning.translink.bc.ca

The New Year is the holiday shared by more countries than any other. And if traveling you hopefully get to experience the local holiday traditions. While customs  range from kissing at midnight to jumping off chairs, below are several unique New Year traditions from around the globe.

In India it’s believed that what you want to happen in the coming year you should do on January 1st. For example if you want to have work you should spend time on New Years working.

Mexicans have a tradition of eating 12 grapes and making 12 wishes at midnight. The grapes symbolize prosperity in the coming months of the year.

In Japan on New Years a meal is served consisting of long soba noodles, which should be eaten without breaking the noodle to ensure having a long life.

Italians thrown pots, pans, and dishes out of open windows to symbolize getting rid of the old to make way for the new.

In Denmark people leap off chairs to “jump” into the New Year.

My favorite custom, Also from Mexico, is the wearing of yellow or red underwear to bring either money (yellow) or love (red) into their lives in the coming year.

However you celebrate we hope the new year brings you many happy times and travels.

We’d love to hear what traditions you celebrate with your family and friends for the new year?

We wish you Happy Holidays and look forward to sharing with you many new travel advice tips in the year to come. Below are some of our favorite post from this year. Enjoy!


Best Travel Search Sites
See what sites we use and recommend for finding the best flights




How to go Through Airport Security in a Breeze
Quick advice on how to make Airport Security as painless as possible




How to Stay Entertained while Traveling
Advice on how to make your next flight go by quickly




Airplane Etiquette
Know the ins and outs of proper etiquette on a plane with some very entertaining videos




5 Great Books to Read While Traveling
Quick and easy reads for your next flight

Getting around a city can be tough and stressful while traveling. So I often advice using public transportation, especially when visiting a large city. Using the public transportation can be efficient, inexpensive, and a great way to see the city. Now the metro is a fashion accessory. Check out these metro inspired mementos, a fun souvenirs for your last trip.

Katie Holmes was recently seen with a similar New York Metro Map, $23.00








Find lots of city map and metro inspired jewlery like this Paris Metro Earrings & Ring Available by AnastasiaBijoux on Etsy, $26.00








Amy Adams in Julie & Julia wore this sterling silver NYC Vintage Token Necklace, $75.00










This creative Tokyo Railroad Calendar comes with 5 different post-it-notes colors to mark upcoming events, $15,000.00 KRW or about $12.91 USD








I love this Ultra Matte Cuff of the New York metro lines I think it would make a great holiday or b-day present by Designhype, $25.00

One of the most essential things to bring on a trip is a great book. Any trip is guaranteed to have long waiting periods on an airplane, bus, or train. I find the best to bring is a shorter lightweight paperback.

This last year I’ve had the opportunity to read a couple great books that I found are perfect for travel. Each book was easy to read, and involved people traveling to discover more about themselves and the world.

Great Books for Traveling: In no particular order

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
Chris, otherwise know as Alex, ditches graduate school and the conventional life to become a tramp and search for the meaning of life across North America, which he discovers too late.






The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
After World War II a female writer begins a conversation with the literary society on the English island of Guernsey. She travels there to write their story of the German occupation and finally lives her own real-life story.






Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson
An American climber, Greg Mortenson, rescued by a small village in Pakistan promises to build a school. The one turns into fifty-five. An inspiring story of his sometimes dangerous adventures in the Middle East and the peace-making effect of educating youth.




Austenland, by Shannon Hale
After a series of failed relationships, a New York Graphic Designer, Jane heads to England to immerse herself in a Regency-era resort to conquer her Darcy issues.








The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd
To escape her harsh father and to learn the truth of her mother’s life, Lilly Owens, runs away, lead by a Black Madonna, to the home of three sisters, who give her a loving home while she discovers her mother’s history.








For this Thanksgiving epic journey I am taking along The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Which I can’t wait to start.

What great book are you looking forward to diving into this holiday season?

Some Interesting World Facts, yet again, from one of my favorite books, The World’s Greatest Book of Useless Information, by Noel Botham & The Useless Information Society.

The average French citizen eats five hundred snails a year.
*Oh so yummy in butter!

Since Hindus don’t eat beef, the McDonald’s in New Delhi makes its burgers with mutton.

Tibetans drink tea made of salt and rancid yak buter.
*A must try once in a life time.

Port Alba, the first known pizza shop, opened in 1830 in Napels and is still open today
*To Try delicious Neapolitan pizza in the states check out:
Lombardi’s, New York, NY
Settebello, Salt Lake City, UT
Punch Pizza, St. Paul MN

For more interesting cultural facts check out Mind Your Manners.

On our last flight from Mexico City to New York we tried out Delta’s new inflight internet. Pretty exciting to surf the net while 30,000 feet in the air. But I did notice my left-hand neighbor had some wandering eyes. No problem since I was just catching up on the latest 30Rock but below are a couple inflight internet tips for your next trip to keep your privacy safe and have a pleasant ride…

Inflight Internet Tips

• Don’t check anything to personal, most airlines will ensure that it’s safe ad secure to use inflight wifi but you can’t stop wandering eyes so to keep away peeking passengers try 3M’s Privacy Filters
• Bring headphones so you can watch hulu or listen to pandora and keep your neighbor happy – but not too loud
• No voice calls, not even with skype (the FCC does not permit making or receiving calls during a flight)
• Turn the brightness on your monitor down as to not interfer with passengers watching inflight movies or trying to sleep

Inflight Internet Free Codes
To get ready for this upcoming holiday season here are some free inflight internet codes that you can use to keep connected as you head towards friends and family.

Delta – DELTATRYGOGO
For first time inflight internet users Delta is offering a free inflight internet code

Virgin America – no code needed
Between Nov. 10, 2009 – Jan. 15, 2010 Virgin America will be offering free wifi for holiday travel

AirTran – bosbwi
Good between now and Dec. 31, 2009

Any Gogo-Equipped Airplane – 228657052hha
Good between now and Jan. 7, 2010

Have an inflight internet experience or tip? We’d love to hear it!

Always a touristy giveaway is the bulky tour book. Leave it at home and instead bring your cell phone. Now available are cell phone city tour guides, downloadable mp3 guides and iPhone application guides.

Tried and True – Seeing Central Park, Audio Guide 646-862-0997
Visit website to download map. Look for little green signs near your favorite landscape. Call the number above, then the extension on the sign followed by the # sign.

We tried this audio guide tour at Central Park today and loved it. 40 different celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Whoopi Goldberg are the voice guides who present short histories of park landscapes. We would definitely recommend.

Several Cities & Museums have cell phone audio tours including:
Pittsburg Cultural District, Pittsburg, PA – 412-235-6276
Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA – 310-499-9236
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C. – 202-747-3405
New York Botanical Gardens – 718-362-9561

For a more complete list check out guidebycell.com

iPod/MP3 city guides
iAudioGuide.com – 40 cities in US & Rome
Strollon.co.uk – Prague, Czech Republic for free with several other pay for guides
ItalyGuides.it- Rome, Italy

Free iPhone city guide applications
HearPlanet – Global Guided Tours Coverage
This cool application plays audio tracks of Wikipedia articles based on points of interest surrounding your current location, turning your iPhone or iPod touch into an audio tour guide.

Go Tour It – San Francisco & Houston free with 29 pay-for-guides
Self-guided GPS tours on your iPhone.

Blue Walks – World wide walks
bluewalks lets you create your own walking tour, or find the walk tours of your taste from the bluewalks community

While flying, the most common complaint I’ve heard is when the person in front of you reclines their seat, leaving your already sparse leg room, sparser.

For me it’s the touchscreen music/video players conveniently placed on the back of the headrest. Without a doubt, I aways end up with an exciting passenger that is playing bejeweled causing my headrest to bob forward every few seconds…

That being said I would love to introduce you to a set of fun airplane etiquette videos done by delta airlines called Planeguage. These short 45 second animations give a whole new definition to reclining your seat.

For all 6 videos click here

You maybe the type of person that gets to the airport early, checks-in calmly, goes through security coolly, and gets to the gate with plenty of time to spare, but i am not, and never will be. But I am envious of all the the previous type.

Since I usually hit security at a run here are some of the helpful hints that I use to quickly get through security in a rush…

1. Wear slip on shoes, nothing with buckles or laces, I really like my
2. Keep liquids bag in a front pocket of carry-on bar for easy access (liquid prescriptions over 3.4 oz. leave out of liquids bag for the FAA to examine separately)
3. Wear a clamp belt, this makes it easy to take only the metal part on and off going through security — or leave your belt in bag until out of security
4. Leave all jewelry in a pocket in your bag to put on later

* Remember to bring or wear a pair of socks or tights because you don’t know where everyone’s else feet have been.

What tips do you use for easy airport traveling?