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.