Little Passports - USA edition

My husband and I love to travel and we always look at different ways to share that passion with our children.

I was looking for some inspiration on Pinterest when I came across "Little Passports" a company started by to friends, both mothers, that was offering a monthly subscription promising to: "Inspire a love and understanding of the world as your child learns about geography, history, culture, and language in a fun and memorable way." Exactly what I wanted.

They offer two different subscriptions: USA and worldwide (wish the would do a Canada by province edition). We ordered both.

The USA package arrived first and my daughter was very puzzled and excited to open the relatively large UPS package that had her name on it. I did not know how long package will take to arrive so I never mentioned it to her.

A letter from Sofia introduces both Sofia and Sam and their magic scooter and invites the kid reading the letter to join them on their future adventures.

The disposable camera is a cute touch...I was amused at my daughter "discovering" how it works and trying to grasp the whole film processing concept....like it was 100 years ago that we all used these cameras....so we agreed to save the 24 shots for something very important and she could use her camera for now.

The field guide has a few pages that can be filled while waiting for the next month package. The questions make learning fun and I do not think my daughter even realized how much she learned already.
Some of my favourite questions: "What's your favourite thing about living in your city?" and " What state do you most want to visit?"
Also in the field guide are 2 scavenger hunt type exercises. The first one requires the use of the map to learn about the boarders, neighbours and some of the major attractions. The second one is a photo scavenger hunt in which your child can use the included camera to capture as many of the suggested images as they can.

The Scratch book is another fun activity for kids.

The map is a nice large wall size map featuring Sam and Sofia and some of the major USA attractions like: Mount Rushmore, the Hoover Dam, and the Liberty Bell

The last item in the box was a plastic pocket folder with Sofia and Sam on their magic scooter featuring a few of the attractions and future destinations on the front. This pocket folder fits all the items in neatly with plenty of space for future items.

My only complaint about this package as it was for the worldwide edition is that there was no rush option on the initial packages. I would have gladly paid a premium to have the first packages delivered "rush" and not have to wonder for weeks when will arrive...if I would have mentioned it to my daughter she would have lost interest in the package or would have driven me crazy with the same question every day (is it here yet?) for 3 weeks.

Now...we are impatiently waiting for the next package. Yes, WE....because if you order this for your child you will definitely get exited as well.

Until next time,
Happy Travels

Reading reviews...how to and how much to believe

We all want the best value for our money no matter what we are looking to pay for, but what is best for some it may not always be OK for us....so how do you decide if you never been to that place?

Sites or apps like TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google Now - Places are great tools when it comes to finding out what is in the area and what are the most popular places, and what are some of the bonuses or issues with the places you are interested in.

After years of researching for our vacations and other trips I developed my own way to read the Trip Advisor (or any other) reviews. Funny enough I always read the worst first...why you may ask?....well, I wanna know what is the worst thing about the place, wouldn't you?

If the worst review is about mosquitoes, children splashing in the pool, coffee machine plugged in the bathroom, a person that is reviewing the place before they stay there....I completely disregard them.
Keep in mind that there are some stuff that are out of the control of any establishment and should never be held against them. If you can not control the mosquito population in your backyard you can not expect a hotel to have that power over them...can you? If the place has a pool that is available to children you should expect children to be children and play (I may hold it against the parents/guardians if the children get out of hand...but not the hotel staff).

Trip Adviser is full of bad reviews that really have no value, but sadly they impact the star rating of a very good place and if all you look at is the star rating you may lose on some nice experiences.

The list of bad reviews that in my opinion should be disregarded can go on, and on, and on for many pages. There will always be some people that will find something to complain regardless on how good they felt. Not all the bad reviews are from actual customers....some are from disgruntled employees or the competition so take everything with a grain of salt.

Now...to me it is just as important to see in the event that the management replied to the bad review,,,how they replied and what is their tone. If the complaint is about rude staff or poor conditions of the place and the reply is rude or in any way insinuates the "If you don't like it don't come back" I would side with the customer and will not give the place a chance. If the reply is polite and professional even if they disagree with the customer I will further consider.

A perfect example is the response I got to my only bad review so far (http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g47990-d254818-r215786032-Super_8_Kenmore_Buffalo_Niagara_Falls_Area-Kenmore_New_York.html). The owner/manager replied shortly after the review was published. His response was short polite and to the point...apologised for my inconvenience and taking my complaints as constructive criticism, he informed me that plans are in place to correct some of the areas I found less them appealing, and more important then everything he expressed his "hope" that we may give them another chance when in the area....

This response not only makes me consider giving them a second chance, but if I were just researching the place...I may consider going in and seeing if they changed and maybe stay there.

Now we talked about the bad...what about the good?....well sadly plenty of the good is sometimes fake....how can you tell? well, you can never be sure but here are some that could definitely be questioned: someone from the same town/village saying they were in that town for the first time...yeah I saw that, or someone contradicts all the other reviews (place was spotless clean and friendly staff when 10 other people say the opposite in the same month)...not a lot of people writing reviews will use elaborate or correct industry terms (unless they have some kind of background in that industry...or have been reviewing for a longer time)...if it is from someone with a lot of reviews I may believe it but I question it from someone that only writes one review that sounds like the Food Network (no way of knowing...but I question them)

I also look at the number of reviews and read some of the other reviews that person wrote...you can not be unsatisfied with every place you go...and you can not believe that every place you go to is 5 stars....even with all the research we do sometimes something may just go wrong, or nothing ever pleased you and all the reviews are of 1-2 stars.

Knowing where to go to make sure you receive the standard you expect is getting easier every day with the use of these blog and review sites....as long as we learn just as fast how to read and review the reviews available, sounds funny but it's true.

I hope this will be of some use to you in the time you spend researching your next destination and keep in mind that glitches are just part of the adventure.

Until next time
happy travels

Nottawasaga Inn Resort - Wedding

Our big day has come and went faster then I realized...and here I am know trying to put it all in writing.

There is no perfect wedding...each wedding will have some glitches and the success of the celebration depends a lot on how you can adapt and if you have competent staff around you to solve the problems that arise.

Through the entire planning process, I was very impressed with the resort's co-ordinator, Sarah Webb. She was always professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. If I had a problem Sarah had a solution and that was never more true that on the wedding day.

My wedding was supposed to be in the garden with a cocktail hour in the garden and a reception in room 10a.

I spent the previous night in resort with my 2 bridesmaids (room 436) and had a wonderful late dinner. Even with us being the second last group walking into the restaurant the food came out hot and delicious. The daily soup was a Chicken noodle and it was as good if not better then the one my grandma makes (please do not tell her that). I had the salmon and the girls had the seafood pasta...the portions are big and the food just like the one at the tasting was absolutely delicious, giving me confidence in the following night's reception dinner. We had a very nice waitress (feel so bad that I did not take down her name) attentive and courteous. The fact that even if we were the last ones to walk out of the restaurant probably past the closing time we were never rushed with a bill..she patiently waited for us to ask for it (and not at the table next to us as some waitresses do when they want to rush you)...meant a lot to me even if I felt bad when I realized how late it got...

I received my bridal room (433) before noon and it was beautiful. Very modern and elegant with a huge window perfect for some wonderful shots and a jacuzzi that was very inviting just steps from the bed.

After a good night sleep we ran off to the Tim Hortons just down the road...a girl must keep some kind of routine....a Starbucks would have been much appreciated but it was to far. 

Now the one thing I must mention is that just 2 minutes drive from the resort you will find a Tims, a Walmart and a Dollarama...this came in hand as I was able to buy some stuff I forgot home and did not have to drive 2-3 hours to get them.

Once we returned to the resort the "fun" started...when I went to check if my decorator arrived a strong sewer smell hit me as soon as I walked into the room. It took less then 30 seconds for someone to notice my presents in the room and when I mentioned that I am the bride and that the room stinks the staff member immediately reassured me that they are aware and that both cleaning and maintenance staff were looking into the issue (and the 4-5 people roaming around like busy bees were a reassuring sign) the door leading to the patio were also propped open to help air out the room...so I walked away a bit worried but trying to remind myself that it was only 10am and the wedding was at 5.

An hour later the smell was less pungent, but not gone and I was getting scared...all I could think about was my guests trying to enjoy dinner with that smell...and by the time I made my way to the front desk I worked myself up pretty bad, and I had to take a big breath when I was told that Sarah is in a meeting and they can not reach her...but they will tell her to call me as soon as she is out. Some very long 10 minutes later (long because time moves so slow when you are stressed) Sarah met me in the lobby and her smile and positive attitude just calmed me down. She knew my concerns and requirement for the reception room and before I could even say one word she already apologised for the issue with the room (not that anyone could have foreseen this...but apologising shows that she/they care) and moved on to the solution. Her solution?...an upgrade to room #41 a much bigger and elegant room then the one I initially booked.

I tend to be a pretty realistic person and far from the age of temper tantrums...I know that problems can always arise and there are always issues that are out of anyones control (like the plumbing issue) so it is more important to me how the staff reacts when faced with a problem and how they deal and respond to a less then happy client. Sarah Webb, is a perfect example of how staff should react. Acknowledge the issue as soon as brought to her attention and how serious is to the client, apologies (even if not in her control, apologising for the inconvenience caused to the client does not mean that she accepts blame but that she is aware of how this situation affects the client/bride), and more importantly then anything have a solution for the problem. Doing this not only removes any of my reasons to complain, but made me feel taken care of...in very good, capable and professional hands.

My next issue was when the weather outside turned for the worst and instead of clearing up it started to rain and the temperature dropped even lower...it was 3:30 by now and I had to make a quick decision where do I want the wedding. There was a room on standby just for this kind of glitch but when Sarah mentioned that we could just as easily use the Chapel, I had to go with that knowing how much it will mean to my grandma....and when I walked into the Chapel and saw the fresco of blue sky with pillowy white clouds and rolling green hills made me feel (with a bit of imagination) that I am outside...it was a perfect compromise between my dream garden ceremony and my grandma's traditional church wedding

Frankie Emerson, the food and beverage manager was the staff member that took care of us from the moment the celebration was to start...he was the one that called my room to tell me when all my guest have made it to the Chapel and it was time for me and my bridesmaids to come downstairs. The fact that the elevator took me from the floor that my room was on straight to the floor were the Chapel is located was an added bonus. 

Frankie was careful to ensure that every person walked in at the right time (we had La Vie En Rose playing for the girls and Vivo per Lei as the bride song).

After the ceremony Frankie was again there to help....gathering everyone for the group shot and when I mentioned wanting to take a golfing type shot he immediately suggested the small course (sorry not a golfer so I have no idea when it comes to the different terms) that was located next to the parking are at the begging of the Wedding Garden.

Because we were running late I was very concerned about the food and not messing with the kitchen time...and even when Frankie kept on reassuring me, I was adamant about being seated at the time we have previously agreed on....so the time we spent taking photos in the garden was cut short...to the happiness of my daughter and the bridesmaids that were freezing (I was running on adrenaline).

Somehow we managed to make it back in time and be seated only about 5-10 minutes late....As soon as we sat down Frankie had all his staff organized and the dinner started without anyone knowing that we are not on schedule. 

Our waitresses name was also Sarah and she was very pleasant and friendly....there were a few extra things I requested from her over the course of the evening and she was always happy to accommodate me. 

Having an European background I tend to drink my wine as a Spritz (a mixture of wine and pop ...pepsi for red and soda or ginger ale for white), Sarah knew exactly what I was talking about and quickly retuned with a perfectly balanced Spritz of red and pepsi. I also asked her not to remove my plate, but go ahead with the dessert for the other guests....this is definitely not how a dinner is served, but it was what I asked and the fact that I was accommodated counts a lot. I wanted to finish my food and the speeches and other things kept me from being able to enjoy my meal uninterrupted...Sarah, promptly covered my meal when I was not at the table to keep it from cooling off.

Sarah was very pleasant and impressed the other guests at the main table just by doing what we all expected of her...serving us with a smile and being professional.

Our bartender was Jordan, a young man full of energy and charm that knew his job very well. I am not a big drinker and as a result I do not know the name of all the mixed drinks so when I went and asked him for something not too strong but a bit sweet he nailed it.

By the end of the night we had heard a lot of compliments from our guests about how professional and friendly the staff was but more importantly how good the food was. 

Food at a wedding is very important...it is the one thing that people will remember especially if it was not good. It is hard to please so many different pallets, but they did it...We did not hear one complaint and our family and very close friends would have no issue wording any concern to us.

By the end of the night I was over the moon. I knew that even if the weather was not on my side the resort has pulled through and made this wedding one to be talked about....so much that some of our friends are now seriously considering this venue for their next celebration and one of them may have their wedding there.

our room was arranged to offer us a nice welcome 

Even if it was not part of the usual services offered by the hotel Frankie went out of his way and helped us by storing the rest of our cake in a fridge until morning when he brought it up to us in person with some plates and utensils so the guests that had stayed over night can enjoy some cake after breakfast.

We met our overnight guest for breakfast and opted for the buffet as it offered the usual stuff that we would have, but if a buffet breakfast is not what you prefer the resort also offers a A La Carte menu. This 2 option breakfast made it easy to have everyone at the same table even if some of our breakfast meals were from different menus. 

Ok...I could stay here and write about how impressed I was for ages but I will tell you that we would recommend this place in a heart bit to any friend, relative, or acquaintance.

Until next time

Happy travels

Discovering a classic.

I am usually open to trying new things and recommendations or suggestion from friends or acquaintances play a role in trying a new place, a lot more then online reviews....However on this trip I was set against trying one of the suggestions my husband received. Not because I didn't believe it would be good, it was more because our youngest was not with us and I was looking forward to enjoy a more "fine dinning" experience then a diner.

When we drove by the diner 2-3 times on our way to and from the mall and it was on our way to a different store so I agreed to have lunch there....at Bob Evans (you can only see a place so many times before you take it as a sign...right?)

The place was almost empty as we arrived after the lunch rush and we were seated immediately...by this time my knee was acting up very badly and I was happy not to have to wait at all for a table, unfortunately the pain also put a damper in my mood and I found it almost impossible to concentrate on the menu in front of me. I was almost getting angry when I had to ask for a second time for more time before ordering and since they do not serve alcohol or pepsi product what to drink was also an issue...

The waitress was a very kind woman and always came back with a smile, which made me feel bad that I was in such a bad mood and must have looked angry even if I was really trying not to act like a brat....I finally decided on a fried chicken with mash potatoes and green beans and my husband suggested we try the new strawberry lemonades. (you can spot the lemonade in the burger photo...in the upper right corner)

I always tell my children that a poor attitude will prevent them from enjoying what could turn out to be a wonderful adventure...it was something I had to remind myself on this trip. Between not being able to find a flower girl dress for my daughter and spending 2 days in search of what almost turned out to be the impossible color shoes (royal blue), not to mention the sharp pain in knee it was close to impossible to put up a decent attitude even if I knew my daughter was watching me.

 We had to wait for some time for our meals to arrive, but that is always to be expected when food is cooked to order. (If your food arrives fast it may just have been cooked by Chef Microwave)

When the plates arrived I noticed that my mashed potatoes had a pool of gravy (like grandma used to plate it)....but I have never enjoyed gravy and I always ask not to be on my plate....except now, when I was too busy being in a bad mood and in pain. My husband asked me if I want to send it back...should I? It wasn't the waitresses fault or the chefs that I forgot to mention that I have something against gravy (I grew up in Europe, we do not eat gravy)...so I decided that I should do what I tell my kids, try it. WOW, if this is what gravy is supposed to taste like then I will definitely never ask for it to be left of the plate.

My husband was very happy with his burger and so was my daughter...but I was over the moon with my plate. The chicken was actually a version of a schnitzel that took me back to my childhood, and the mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans were delicious. By the time I finished my meal I was in a very good mood and my knee pain even if it was not gone had no effect on my mood anymore.

We finished our meal with a slice of apple pie with ice cream, there is no better dessert than apple pie for a classic meal...just my opinion.

We thanked our waitress for the great service and very good food and left behind a tip ...I will admit that I am one of those people that tips based on the service level and food quality (more on the service...since it is not the waitresses fault if the cook is bad).

When I got in the car I could not stop thinking about how mood affects our experiences, but more importantly how food affects our mood...I am convinced that if the food would not have been as good as it was I would have ended up in a bad mood, hungry, and with a horrible memory.

I should mention that we now look forward to our next trip to Bob Evans for some delicious, simple meals full great flavours....not to mention that the diner setting makes it a great place to have a relaxed meal with family (even with small kids) or friends.....and I would even go there on a date night since the food is that good.

Happy travels
D.

Itchy...just itchy

If we travel to the Buffalo area for shopping during the week we rarely book a hotel in advance...well this week this really backfired on us.

After shopping until almost closing time we decided to find a hotel room in the area...our first option had no vacancy and when the only motel in the area with vacancy was one that had very bad reviews....so we decided to drive back from Amherst to Niagara (US). 

On the way I called a Best Western that we had stayed at before and had a pleasant experience, unfortunately the price I got quoted made my jaw drop $900USD...please understand that I was trying to avoid paying $170 at one of the larger hotel chains so this price left me speechless. I certainly hope there was some misunderstanding in what I asked of how the price was given to me, but I was so caught of guard that all I could do was ask if it was per night and then say good night. 

Still we decided to drive in that direction just because there are many more motels and hotels close to the boarder then they are in Amherst.

On the way we saw a Super 8 (Kenmore) and since we had a very good opinion about the area we decided to try it out.

I was very conflicted when we pulled in. The parking area is not in the greatest shapes and it does not get much better when you walk in. 

The lobby is very small and the decor is old, they serve breakfast but there is only place for 4 people to eat on the various chairs while watching a TV mounted on the wall.

The check-in agent was very warm and friendly and the price was decent ($98) so reminding myself that we will not be sleeping in the parking lot or in the lobby I asked to see the room before giving my card, it is something I tend to do when I am not convinced about the place...and is a good practice that can avoid the hassle of changing rooms or checking out after a hold was placed on your card.

The room was small, but looked very clean, and so did the bathroom. When the check-in agent told me the bed covers are new I knew she was right as the pattern on them is much newer then the old flowery covers found in all old motels. 

It was only when we tried to go to bed that I started to be bothered by the room. There was a screw hole in the wall next to the bed and with the lights of it looked like a bug (I hate bugs), but the biggest issue and the one that I can not get over was the sheets. There are cheep sheets and that there are the ones on this bed...itchy, there was a thin itch sheet with an itchy army style blanket to cover yourself with...it was like you were sleeping in a sandpaper sandwich....and the pillow was just as itchy, but it was also lumpy ....lets just say I slept about 1 hour the whole night.

The only saving...was the Olympic restaurant that was only a walking distance from this hotel.

Happy travels

Explore the Bruce Adventure Pass

When it comes to travel I always try to find the positive in every unexpected turn of events and take it as an adventure not a horrible experience...so this review was not the easiest to write.

Weather in Bruce County changes quite fast -
 this torrential rain lasted 15 min

10 years ago the +ExploretheBruce started as a school project and it promises to take any participant on a County wide scavenger hunt in search of 12 different attraction points. The Passport is supposed to provide directions to 12 "passport points" where a clue is located. figuring out the clue gets you to a box in which a hole puncher is placed. Each point has a different shaped hole punch to prevent cheating and each year the attractions are changed.

In theory it sound like a great thing, especially when you add the fact that the completion of the passport (7 or more locations) qualify you to a draw for different prizes. Unfortunately, this years adventure came with quite a few issues.

There are a few ways to get a copy of the passport. You can get one from any point on the map, from past or present sponsors, from visitor information areas or print one from your computer. 

After looking over this year's Passport Stops I decided that we can hit at least one before reaching Tobermory (which is where the first stopt is located), so I tried to print the passport out...this turned into a huge frustration.

The PDF is not sized to a regular sheet of paper and this causes huge problems when printing (if you use Windows), you either end up with a portion of the page or a small rectangular image going from the top of the page to the bottom (too small to read and no way it can be hole-punched). So, on to option two, find an Explore the Bruce box and get the needed copies from there. I did download a copy of the passport onto my phone (just in case)

With the exception of Point # 3 there are no actual directions to any of the points, just a general location. The maps that are attached are also very general not providing the exact spot of the clues. Ok, so we all use GPSs these days so why not just enter the coordinates provided and get to the clues...but to me this is the first missed opportunity. This could be a perfect opportunity to teach kids to read a map and follow directions...and keep them from asking the beloved question " Are we there yet?". 

You could enter the coordinates in your computer and write down your own directions or print out a google map with directions for the kids to follow from the back seat (we will try that for the rest of the stops next time).

The directions to stop #3 (Skinners Bluff) are provided from Wiarton, however if you are on your way to Tobermory from Toronto the GPS will take you on a different road, DO NOT listen to your GPS (wow that is the first time I ever said that), you want to make sure that you enter Colpoy's Range Road from Concession 24 and not from the other side, which is the way we did. The GPS took us on a scenic road from Owen Sound using Gray Road 1 then Coles Side Road and finally Colpoy's Range Road. 

This is when the puddles started with the first of the big puddles
in the distance (once the road got worst taking photos was the last
thing on my mind)

When you enter Colpoy's Range Road from Coles Side Rd you will notice a sign warning you that this is an unmaintained road, this did not mean much to us because we used unmaintained roads in the area before and they were just gravel roads, which is what the first 500m of this road looked like, however this road should have said "if you drive a sedan turn around NOW". The road itself is only wide for one car so if there is any incoming traffic there is nowhere to go, and this is not even the scary part.

After 500m we found the first puddle, and then another...and another,and..you get the idea...the road started to climb a bit and the puddles got wider and longer. Learned a new thing, how to gage the depth of a body of water. When the puddles got wider then the car and longer the half of the car length my husband started getting out in front of every one and tossing a stone in the middle, this told him the approximate depth of the water (cool trick to know). The last puddle was the entire width of the road and longer then our sedan, the water was deep enough to make a wave when we drove into it and for a moment I was certain the engine would choke, but we got out. I was just starting to be enjoy the dry road when we saw that the road suddenly became very rough and to top it off it was climbing again. We drove 3km on this road and had 800m left to get to the clue the only thing between us and the end of this nightmare was a 300m 15degree incline, if you are in a SUV or a truck this is no problem, but if you drive a sedan this is not something you want to try for fun. We are lucky, my husband is a good driver with extensive car knowledge, so if it is technically possible he can drive thru/over it, but even he was extremely reluctant and if it would not have been for the 3km of road full of puddles including the last huge one. So, up and over we went. It was the most terrifying part of the road with a cliff on one side and a huge drop on the other, a 15 degree incline and no cell signal...perfect.

Once we got over that "hill" the road got better, no more inclines or puddles. We were very happy to have made it an now all we wanted to see is that parking lot the pamphlet mentioned. We drove all the way to Centre Road and found no clue, no yellow marker.

As happy I was when I saw the paved road I was just as angry at the time waisted with no result...but we were all in one piece and the car did not suffer any damages (just looked like she rolled in mud). 

We decided to stop in Wiarton to stretch our legs and relax a bit before trying any more of this...adventure.  We parked near the visitor centre and while my son ran for the playground followed closely by my husband, my daughter and I decided to try to see if Willy the groundhog is out in his little observation area. Even with the hot summer day he was not interested in all the curious faces waiting for him outside, but if you wonder inside there is pakedermy of the previous Willy standing proud in a case on the corner of the counter. The good news was that between the information pamphlets on the wall next to him we found copies of the Explore the Bruce passport. 

Giant kites being launched on the Wiarton beach

After my daughter took a photo next to the Wiarton Willy's statue we reunited with the boys and while we enjoyed the country music the kids played in the pirate ship shaped playground. Because it was 1st of July there was a concert going on and different food vendors as well as arts and crafts stalls. We wondered around a bit when the kids got bored and came across a stall that was selling popcorn ( Prancing Pachyderms Kettle Corn Co) and got a bag of maple popcorn for only $7. Delicious!

It was getting close to lunch time so we took off for Tobermory and Passport Stop #1.

We parked the car across from the Princess Hotel since the parking lot by the dock was full and we were walking back to the dock when my daughter spotter the Explore the Bruce box (we never did go to see the clue since we spotted the box first). After this mornings disappointment we were glad to find this one so easy. For those that are planning to do this scavenger hunt I will not divulge the exact location, but I will say that it is by a landmark.

For lunch we decided to try the Crowsnest Pub, they have the best view of the dock. and a nice patio that can be enjoyed on sunny days. We opted for a booth inside since it would be easier to handle our 3 year old son. The pub was packed as we arrived at the end of the Argentinian game and there were plenty of fans glued to the big screens. A booth became available next to a big group of fans and we were able to sit down and ordered. 

local art

historic images of the area are displayed as you go up to the pub

kids meal

There is one dish that you can not go wrong with in Tobermory and that is Fish and Chips...and that is exactly what we had, white fish and chips. 

I know that not everyone is a soccer fan but we are and there is something contagious and exiting about watching a good game side by side with fans of the winning team. By the time our food arrived the game was over and the fans paid and left. The food was very good (4.5 stars). If I had one complaint or suggestion for this place would be for them to invest in a few high chairs with seatbelts. 

After lunch we left in search of Stop #4 Fen, Oliphant. Now, Oliphant is a town between Lion's Head and Sauble Falls, the direction to the next clue simply says "located at northern entrance to the Fen" there is no mention if this Fen is a town, a street...or what?...Turns out what we were actually looking for is a wetland area boardwalk called "The Fen". We only figured this one out because some locals pointed us in the right direction. The clue itself is easy on this one so I will not give it out at all.

Stop #5 Sauble Sand Dune was selfexplenatory once we actually found it but, because we are not from the area we took a few wrong turns. The directions simply said "located in the parking area" so we drove to Sauble Beach and looked around the Sauble Beach sign, we showed the pamphlet to a few locals, that sent us to the parking lot where the public washrooms are, then to a different Sauble Beach Dunes which is a few km away. I was getting frustrated when a local pointed out that the photo on the pamphlet is of the sand dunes next to the highway. So back we went towards Oliphant and found the huge dune that we drove by on the way to Sauble Beach and for the first time noticed what they called the parking lot. The clue sent us up to the top...I did mention this as the climb to the top starts as fun and by the time you are half way up you realize it is not as easy as it looks (unless you are in shape) and if it is a hot sunny day it may not be such a bad idea to take your water bottle with you.

On the positive note, in 11 years of driving by this dune we never considered to climb...we did it now.

With so much time waisted on looking in the wrong spots we decided it is time to return home and return on a different day.

Since we had to fill up on gas we ended up in Mildmay where the gas attendant told me that we were only 2 blocks away from the Artesian Well (Stop #9). I convinced my husband to drive up to it with the excuse of needing water and why buy when we are just a skip away from "the most delicious water in the County". The well was not hard to find, but when it comes to the clue I will tell you only that you do not need get back in the car.

With our passports stamped and fresh water...and a few mosquito bites we were finally on our way home.

So with mixed feelings we finished this adventure only to contemplate how will we complete the remainder or stops.

Until next time 

happy travels

Nottawasaga Inn Resort - planning for a wedding

I keep on telling my husband that the simplest thing we did was get married....no fuss, no stress, just a quick drive to the city hall with our closest friends and family and a few hours in a restaurant before we ran off for our 10 day vacation in Bruce County, Ontario.

We decided a few years ago that we will renew our vows for our 10th anniversary and have a "real" wedding...never did I imagine all the implications and adventures that decision will bring.

It was this winter when after changing from a destination wedding to a local one, and a very frustrating email exchange with a local (inclusive) resort I came across the  Nottawasaga Inn Resort ( +Nottawasaga Inn Resort Golf Club) . After spending a few hours on their website, Facebook and different review sites I decided to send them an email with what questions I had and could not find answers for.

After wasting more then a week with the other resort and not getting one straight answer to any of my questions and being redirected to their website that had none of the information I needed and being provided with 2 list of pricing for groups that were not in range of guests I expected; I must have been at the end of my rope and had 0 expectation for a timely response and even less for a valid one.....so imagine how surprised I was the next morning when I received an email from Sarah, the special events coordinator from the Nottawasaga Inn resort.

The email sent by Sarah, not only that it came in a very timely manner it was also very professional and courteous, but what impressed me the most was that she used a technique that I find very efficient in responding a longer list of questions. Using a different colour font she wrote the reply under each one of my question. I was impressed. (and no there was no mention in my email of my unpleasant experience with a different resort...I did not consider that it was relevant for them to know)

We reviewed the wedding package information that we received via email from Sarah and went over her email. It took us almost no time to book a meeting to view and pick a room. While the day that worked for us was a day that Sarah could not meet us in person we were happy to meet any of her co-workers and get the process started.

Our first trip to the resort was still in the winter and the entire property was covered by a thick blanket of snow so we could not see much of the property. We were met by one of Sarah's co-workers that deals with non-wedding event (we were told that in advance and it was our decision to start the process and meet with Sarah at a later date). We were shown a room that would fit the number of guests and we agreed it was OK...she then proceeded to show us a hotel room from the category that we would receive complementary as part of the package we picked, and a room from the category that our guest would be booking (unless they decided to upgrade). 

The moment the door to the first room opened my travel background just kicked in and I quickly and discretely inspected the room (did the same with both)....the rooms are clean and modern. Viewing the rooms also gave me a chance to see the size of the property. However the one thing that impressed me the most when we set down to go over some of the details was how she handled the questions that she had no immediate answer for: she took a note of each, apologized for not being able to answer, and advised us that she will pass on the question to Sarah.  See, I would rather be told to wait for the correct answer then to be told something completely irrelevant or be provided with wrong information. I have a lot more respect for someone that honestly tells me...I am sorry, I do not have the answer to your question, but I will find out and get back to you ....much better then: it's on-line here is the link..no?(especially if the info is not even there)

Today we headed up to the resort again for our tasting. Sarah informed us that they preferred to have the tasting done during the week as to give a chance for the chef to sit down and talk to us at the end. 

We got lucky and got a 6pm reservation, so we decided to make it a date night....ones kids come along we must use every opportunity we have for a little time alone.

Getting out of Toronto at 4-5pm is not that much fun so we decided to leave before the rush our and spend some time in Alliston before dinner. This also gave us a chance to see the Wedding Garden and the rest of the property, something that so far we only saw in photos. 

The more time we spent on the property the happier I was that I came across this wonderful resort. The grounds are clean, the garden is impeccable, and every staff that we met was friendly and professional.....now the biggest test: the food. 

Because, I do not want to ruin the surprise for our guests I decided not to include photos of the property or tell you our menu (I will after the wedding)

Our reservation was in the Mahogany Room. The dark walls and huge chandeliers gave this room a classic, elegant and romantic mood. While on any other day I would have preferred the luxurious booths I was very happy to receive one of the 3 window tables that provided not only a partial view of the resort but also sufficient natural light which becomes important when "judging" a plate. 

It is hard not to talk about the dishes themselves because they were each exquisite...I promise I will in August after the wedding....and if you can not wait please make your way down for dinner. After we finished our dinner we were joined by Chef James Day, a wonderful award winning chef.

Being a big fan of Chef Gordon Ramsay, I have a certain expectation when it comes to restaurants and Chef James exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious, cooked to perfection and amazingly balanced. 

When we sat down at the table I was ready to take note and write down my concerns/changes/complaints....by the end of dinner I had only 2 things and none were a complaint...one was a add on to the dessert which I was happy to hear that it can easily be accommodated and has been requested in the past by others as well, the second was requesting to have an ingredient removed (chocolate syrup) because of my daughters allergy. Not only that he was happy remove the ingredient he also provided us with a number of other syrups that could be used instead.

Every person we encountered in this planning process reminded us that this will be our day and they are here to ensure everything will be on our liking....and Chef James had the same pleasant warm approach, it was truly a pleasure to have met him and we will definitely head back for dinner (not just at our wedding)...it is worth the hour drive out of Toronto, and if you have a drink or two you can always get a room in the resort and enjoy the property.

....Can't wait to head back for our wedding...

Happy Travels

Knowledge is Power... planning your vacation

How do you plan for your vacation? 

While booking a last minute may seem like saving a lot and getting a good deal you may learn that is not always the case....last minute deals are generally done on things that did not sale....and you should ask yourself ...Why? 

Learning the basics and doing a bit of homework may be the difference between a vacation that you will always remember and a nightmare you will never wanna remember. A good travel agent can provide you with all the information and guidance you need, but there are thing that you should decide on your own and with sufficient knowledge and homework you can confidently book by yourself online. 

Choosing your destination... 

The most important step to any vacation....this will determine the quality of hotels available, the food, things to do, and things to see. 
Keep in mind that not the entire world speaks English, if you choose a non-English speaking country you should be aware that for the people you will encounter English will be a second language and they may communicate between themselves in the countries official language...if you are one of those people that get easily annoyed by this ( I never understood why someone would be) then stick to countries where English is the official language. Learning a few polite words in the countries official language is always a good idea. 

Now that you know where you wanna go lets decide how to get there.... 

If you decide on a flight you have 2 options: scheduled airlines or charter airlines. There are pros an cons to both and usually price is the biggest factor in a lot of peoples decision. 
A charter airline is usually a lot more economical which is a huge attraction...however there are a few things you should know about a charter airline...They may not flight year round to all the destinations they advertise, they may have limited number of flights a day/week, but the biggest things to keep in mind is that a charter airline may change the time or routing of your flight at any time. In Ontario they may make as many changes as they want as long as they keep them within 24 hours and not offer any compensation...so do not book them if you have to arrive at a certain time...and never book a charter airline if you are planning to make a flight connection. With the above in mind charter airlines never sell NON-Stop flight only Direct flight...the difference you may ask?....a Direct flight may have 1 or more stops, but you are not required to change planes... so even if you initially payed for a flight going from point A to B you may notice later that it changed to go from point A to B via C ...and no, you will not receive a compensation.... 

A scheduled airline is the opposite...it is scheduled to depart and arrive at a scheduled time and if a schedule change occurs the airline will compensate you...they are generally more expensive but they are flight that you can rely on if you are not very flexible. 

An important fact to remember is that no matter what kind of flight you take delays may always happen due to weather (acts of God) or mechanical...in these situations you will not receive any type of compensation. If you need the airline may provide you with a written explanation of why your flight was delayed....if such a letter is needed a polite and short letter may get you a better response from any customer service agent then one filled with improper language....remember you catch more flies with honey. It also helps your case if you are honest and tell them that you need the letter to justify the time you missed form work, the agent answering your letter will probably be more sympathetic and will most likely include all the technical details and not that send you a copy of the terms and conditions. 


Now where will you stay?.... 

Star rating may give you an indication to how the hotel you pick is in comparison with the rest of the hotels in the area....however 2 different hotels with the same star rating in 2 different countries may not have the same quality standard...While star rating may be a good place to start do not stop there....this is where a good travel agent may come in handy....if you decide to read other peoples opinion on sites like Trip advisor take everything with a grain of salt... 

Now you are ready to book your vacation....oh wait...when should you book it? 

When you are decided where to go, where to stay, and when to depart....there is no guarantee or secret formula to predict if the price will drop or raise....there is no point to ask such a question as no one will be able to answer...the only thing that is a well known fact is that the price are always subject to change and you are stuck at whatever price you paid....it is best to stop checking prices once you paid for your vacation and never ask other passengers what they paid, as one of the two things may happen they paid less and you will get aggravated or they paid more and they will get aggravated.....if you are in that situation where you are asked a simple white lie may do the trick..."sorry, no idea, the trip was a present" 

There are things that can affect the price...the product is not selling..and then you should ask why...and the prices are dropped so the Tour Operator or the Airline does not take a loss...or something major happens, like a company going bankrupt which will increase the demand on all the other companies and the price will sky-rocket....if that happens a good travel agent may suggest changing destination to a less demanded place or delaying the vacation until the storm is past. 

So to answer your question? you have the money?...book it know and do not look back. 



Happy Travels

Packing Smart

     Today's recession economy and oil prices forced most airlines to look at ways to cut costs. One places where they focus their attention is baggage allowance. To avoid additional costs, not to mention stress and hassle, you need to learn to pack smart for any vacation.

     There are 3 types of baggage that you may encounter in any airline baggage allowance notice: Personal Item, Carry-on, and Checked Baggage. The trick to pack smart is to understand these terms and what should go in each of them.

     Personal Item refers to a laptop bag, camera bag, purse...in the case of children a personal item can be a medium to small backpack with toys.

     Carry-on luggage is the piece of luggage which will travel with you in the airplane and has weight and size restrictions that MUST not be exceeded.

     Checked Baggage is the piece/s of luggage that are checked at the check-in desk and will travel in the cargo area of the plane. While some airlines allow a small free weight for these items others charge a fee. There are also overweight fees that airlines implemented, these fees can be per kg or per item.

     So now that we know the terms, what do we pack and where?

     In addition to the extra cost of checked baggage there is always the risk of lost, stolen, damaged, delayed baggage that can occur at any point of your travel from check-in to the baggage claim point at your destination, and same can apply on the way back.

     There is a huge misconception that items will only be stolen out of bags in small airports and developing countries...there are thieves is any corner of the world therefore it can happen in any airport even with sophisticated security systems. Any baggage issue runs the risks to ruin your vacation before it even starts. That is why I travel with only carry-ons, but I understand that not everyone may wanna do that.

     If you decide to travel with checked luggage here are a few tricks that should avoid some issues and decrease the amount of stress that a delayed or missing bag may create:
- High value items such as electronics (even if the battery is dead), jewellery, documents, photo and video equipment should never be placed in the checked baggage. Not only that the airline will not offer any compensation for their loss (notices can be found most often in fine print on airline websites or at the check-in counter) they are also items that can easily be damaged not to mention exactly what a thief may be looking for.

- Medication should always be placed in luggage that you may have access at any-time (personal item or carry-on). If you carry medication for a condition that may require medication at irregular times ( e.i. allergy) you should have this medication on your person. While you may have your carry-on luggage close by there are times during a flight that you may not be allowed to get up from your seat, therefore your access is limited (take-off, landing, turbulence...). When travelling with a companion make sure that they are also aware of where your medication is located.

     When deciding what clothing you should pack where you are going and what you are planning on doing will be a huge deciding factor. While everyone likes to look good you may wanna leave home your most expensive dress, suite, or shoes. Packing items that can be combined and create different outfits will not only keep your weight lower but will increase your number of outfits available to you.

     

In you Carry-on, in addition to your valuables and medication, you should pack a complete change of clothes (including underwear), and bathing suite. Once these above items have been packed you should continue adding until you reach your carry-on baggage weight and size. A trick I learned from a friend is to roll the cloths instead of folding them, not only that they will take less space they will not wrinkle

.

     Decide on what you will wear in the plane. Wearing your heaviest shoes, and layering your cloths will help you pack lighter and make the transition from a climate to another much easier.

Until next time happy travels.

Flight delay and my best flight yet

Have you ever thought about the best airplane ride? I am sure you can go on and on about your worst, but the plain uneventful ones get lost...What if I tell you my best was my worst?

My father used to tell me often that "you catch more flies with honey then with vinegar"...probably because I was always quick to anger and never shied away from saying exactly what I thought, but I never put much thought into it until faced with a pissed off check-in agent on what I hoped will be my perfect anniversary trip with my husband.

I must have been just as angry as the check-in agent because the same man that upset her was the man that just cut infront of me in line and spoke loud enough to hear how rude and ignorant he was, but I must have been more determined to not ruin my trip before it begins because what I did surprised even my husband. I approached the agent with a smile on my face, said good morning and apologised for having to deal with such a rude person and added "I sincerely hope the remainder of your shift will be the complete opposite". She stopped and looked up at me, she must have been at least twice my age (not that it mattered) and she smiled back....she even thanked me....I never thought more about how what we do can affect the outcome of our experience. We got checked-in and pointed in the right direction very quickly and strolled through the security checks with a smile still on our faces. 

Our next hiccup came at the check in gate when I pointed out to my husband that the crew was boarding..which meant that we will be boarding soon...about 5 minutes later my husband asked me "and what means when the crew leaves the plane?" I started laughing until I looked up from my book and noticed he was not joking. Before I could answer the agent at the boarding desk told us we will actually be leaving with the plane parked at the gate next to us and boarding will start about 5 minutes late. All the luggage from the first plane hat to be transferred to the second plane in a hurry. I looked at our carry-ons and smiled.

The flight from Toronto to Miami was uneventful (other then the turbulence that seemed to last the entire flight). 

When we landed in Miami we were advised by the pilot that our plane changed gates and we now had to make our way all across the airport to a satellite building to get to our flight to Costa Rica...did I mention we had a 1 hour connection? it was hard to not let the panic set in because I knew the Miami airport was huge and I never been in it before, but as soon as I stepped in it and asked the first agent for directions she reassured me we will be there in less then 5 minute....and she was right. The signs with directions were everywhere and the train that takes passengers to the satellite building runs every minute, but when I got to the gate there was no boarding line and just people seated and waiting. 

I have to admit my first thought was we missed the plane, and when I approached the boarding agent was told to sit and wait for the announcement. Well we did not miss the plane but the announcement was not encouraging, maintenance was on-board.

After a few more of the same announcement we were boarded in a plane that took a few more minutes to cool off (no air-conditioning when maintenance was on-board), but we were on board and just when I thought this is it....the pilot advised us that an oil leek was discovered when the pre-flight checks where done and they where in communication with Head Office requesting permission to proceed. 

This is probably the point where you want to crawl under a rock and give up...right? Well this is where one flight attendant made a huge difference. He started strolling up and down the aisle saying Hi to people and asking them random questions (where are you from?...what is you final destination?...) this when on until he made it to the first kid and asked him if he wants to see a magic trick (what kid would say no to that...) he made his way from first class all the way to the back of the plane repeating the same trick. Ok, nice , but then he when back to the first class and started a new trick....by the second or third trick even the adults were more interested in how he did the trick then what the captain was saying. 

Our attention was so concentrated on the entertainment he was providing that we did not notice more then an hour passed before we were asked to leave the plane to board one at the next gate. (Toronto all over again)....when we were back in the waiting area of the airport My husband finally understood why I was smiling at our carry-on luggage. You see we had 10 days planned in Costa Rica but not more then 2-3 night at one location and only the first and last night in the San Jose, so lost or delayed luggage would have been something that I could not afford dealing with (we travelled only with carry-ons and no checked -in luggage).

When the boarding agent advised us that the crew exceeded there flight hours (only 8 hours from first flight to landing the last) the people were upset...but when the same agent advised us that we get to keep the flight attendants the same people were applauding and happy...

  

Most people know that just like weather delays, mechanical delays are out of anyone's control and no, the airline does not have to compensate you for it, but they have to keep you informed and the information provided and how it is provided makes the difference between a horrible experience and a "hiccup" in my book....and the actions of that flight attendant made this unpleasant experience into something that I will always remember with a smile on....it was the best delay ever and if every delay would come with such a wonderful person I would not mind even if every flight would be delayed.

Shortly after that we received a $10 food voucher per person (4 hour delay) and 1 hour later we boarded a different plane were a complementary blanket, pillow, snack and headphones were waiting on each chair.

So here is the story of my most memorable flight.....what was your best flight experience?

Until next time happy travels.