Everything you need to know to travel during the 2010 Winter Games

snow driving

*Join us in our goal to reduce traffic by at least 30% during the Games! Check out these tips for commuters and businesses.

Learn How to TravelSmart

During the 2010 Winter Games, there will be road restrictions, increased vehicle traffic and no parking at venues and along key routes. Plan your Games travel now so you can TravelSmart and get where you need to go when we welcome the world in 2010! Try these tips for commuters and businesses.

Commuters

Know Before You Go – plan your travel in advance using online tools and up to date information available at any of the transportation partners presented on this site

  • In Metro Vancouver, take public transit, visit translink.ca (for Sea to Sky, visit bctransit.com)
  • Rideshare or carpool and Park & Ride to avoid traffic delays and parking restrictions
  • Leave the car at home and walk, cycle or in Whistler, ski!
  • Use real time Transportation Alerts to stay up to date on travel changes or impacts
  • Cycling

Businesses

  • Take the Olympic Pledge to reduce traffic and your corporate carbon footprint during the Games
  • Provide Transit Passes to your employees to promote transit use and leaving cars at home
  • Support Telecommuting to allow your staff to work from home
  • Encourage Ridesharing & Carpooling
  • See more Business Tips on how to prepare for the Games and how to reduce travel for your business

TravelSmart 2010 is giving away tickets to Winter Games events. Simply enter your email address and you could win great prizes every month!

Contest coming soon.

What We Learned About Shipping A Car Overseas

Shipping-A-Car-OverseasAt one point in our trip, Roberta and I considered moving to Europe permanently. In the end, we decided that it was the wrong time in our lives to make such a decision, and we moved on. A similar desire caught us while we were spending a few weeks in Australia. We really fell in love with the place and did a lot of research regarding moving our vintage Cadillac  from Toronto to Sidney. We spent a lot of time researching which freight companies could offer us the best shipping rates, for such a long journey.

I have had this car since I was 18, done most of the maintenance and restoration on it myself, taken countless road trips with it and it was just not something that I wanted to sell if we moved to Australia. What we ultimately decided to do, was to sell our everyday car and use that money to buy a second car once we landed in Australia. We knew it would be easy to find a replacement everyday car, once settled into the new location.

I had no attachments to the everyday driver that I used for work, so it made sense to try to sell it for a decent amount and use that money to get a new car later. I absolutely knew that I was not going to part with my old Caddie, so the freight company search began.

Searching online, I found a number of them that would be able to transport something like this, but one shipping company seemed to stand out from the others – especially when I searched other blogs and read a number of positive experiences that others had with this company.

I made contact with them to find out what it was involved, as well as the cost for me to get my car prepped, loaded up and shipped. I spoke with a very helpful man who took a lot of time, explaining the whole process to me.

In the end, we decided not to move permanently to Sidney, but going through the research process was a good one. If you are considering moving overseas and want to ship your car to your new home, it definitely pays to do your research. I really like to read about other people’s experiences in these matters and I highly recommend that you read through a number of blog posts to discover the company that is offering the best service (and prices), when you’re actually ready to make a decision.

Vacationing In Greece Was Truly Stepping Back In Time

Greece-villa-rentals.jpgWe spent the last 2 weeks of our world trip in the Greek Isles. We quickly discovered why Greece is one of the top 10 most favorite vacation spots in the world. With over 60 beautiful islands, tranquil beaches, towering mountain ranges, and other historic sites, we never ran out of attractions to explore here. We found that for a 2 week stay renting a Greek villa not only gave us the most bang for our buck, but also allowed us to more easily connect with the locals.

For those who have never experienced renting a villa, or really never considered it, you’re probably naturally curious about the rental process. Listed here are 6 questions to ask before renting a villa in Greece with its corresponding answers and additional tips so you can relax and enjoy your vacation to the fullest and not have to worry about anything else.

First, you’ll definitely need to ask what the price ranges of the villas are. Prices of villas range from approximately $1,500 to $100,000 per week depending on where you want to stay. Some of the factors in determining the price of a villa are as follows: location of the villa and to be specific the island or region it is in, the size, number of bedrooms, architectural design, and the time of year you choose to travel. Villa rentals cost more during peak season so you’ll save more if you plan your vacation during off-season.

Second, you’ll need to know what is included in the rental package. You should check individual villa descriptions for a full summation of which services and amenities are included and which are not included in the villas you are interested in, as services and amenities vary from house to house and from location to location. Does it include TV, stereo, full kitchens, 24-7 maid service, or airport greeting and escort?

Third, you’ll also need to ask what the additional costs are, if there are any. Additional costs are utility costs such as house heating, pool heating, long distance calls, internet connection, laundry services, and in Europe, they may charge electricity consumption if over a certain level. So, you should always check with your reservation or travel agent before booking a villa, as there are some add-on costs in some locations, to avoid going over your travel budget.

Fourth, you should inquire how far in advance you should need to book the villa. The rule of thumb is, if you are sure you want a particular villa, you should not think twice and put a deposit on it right away, as popular villas always get booked months in advance. In some locations, they put you on a wait list if your particular preferred villa is currently not available. However, in most cases, it is a first-come-first-served basis.

Fifth, you should ask the accounting of cancellation fees. Usually, if you cancel your booking within 30 days of travel, it will result in a full forfeiture of the full rental price; if outside of 60 days of arrival, the cancellation fee is 20–25% of the full rental price; and if between 60 and 30 days of arrival, the cancellation fee is 50% of the full rental price. You should check with your travel and reservation agent for the specifics and accounting of the cancellation policy as these may vary from location to location.

Lastly, you should ask how many people you could bring with you. Usually, the maximum occupancy for Greece villas is two persons per bedroom, unless a maximum occupancy number is stated otherwise. If you arrive with additional people and above the maximum occupancy allowance, it may be grounds for the owners or management to ask you to leave the villa and to forfeit your rental.

Taking in an Underwater Adventure While On The Road

Taking in an Underwater AdventureRoberta and I took a great side-trip while in southern Europe to do a little diving in the Red Sea. Getting to Egypt was fast and easy, with lots of flight options. While there, we became close with a vacationing family, the Burton’s, who had come to Egypt, just for the diving. The dad, Robert asked us if he could contribute a short article on his experience of a diving vacation with his family. We had made some fantastic dives on that trip and really enjoyed making new friends in the process. We think you’ll enjoy Robert’s post:

Traveling with your entire family is a great investment for several reasons, its also an excellent bonding opportunity for everyone because being in a foreign environment allows people to bond naturally with each other. It provides a welcome change from the routines of daily life and presents an opportunity to enjoy a new place. Planning a vacation is not without its challenges, as you have to find places and activities that would be enjoyable and fun for the whole family or group. If your group involves mostly adults, your planning will be quiet different than if you’re traveling with your family or young ones. Our youngest was 12, and a strong swimmer, so we decided that John and his older sister were ready to get their SCUBA certification. There are countless great placed to dive all over the planet. For this trip we chose the Red Sea. If you’re also considering an Egyptian diving trip for your next vacation, check out what this excellent article has to offer – its filled with important information on this area.

A more easy destination to get to, would be a local resort near your home. Many are relatively easy to go to and they can still offer a lot of fun activities for your family. The beach is an easy hang out – small children can play on the shore and build sand castles or search for shells. Older kids can go swimming and try out snorkeling or scuba diving. These activities are becoming more and more popular with people of all ages and with the right preparation can turn into one of more exciting activities that they’ll experience. You can coordinate with the local diving community to know more about the certification programs that they offer. Children have a natural curiosity about things that make them appreciate the different lessons and information that scuba diving will offer them. For kids and teenagers, seeing marine life up close is an exhilarating experience and helps them to better appreciate the underwater world.

A good scuba diver’s blog will give you a glimpse of the great things that are waiting for you underneath the water’s surface. Scuba diving is a great activity for people of all ages and offers a unique learning opportunity for kids. Know there are safety guidelines that are strictly enforced when doing the activity. A critical factor in deciding whether a child is ready to do scuba diving is assessing his level of maturity, how well he swims and how comfortable he is in the water. When enrolling your child in a certification program, the first thing the instructor will do, is to gauge if your child is ready to take on scuba diving or not.

There are also questionnaires that parents have to complete in helping them assess if their child is qualified for diving. Generally, diving programs set the minimum age at 12 years old. This is a good marker to ensure that a child will be able to handle the mental and physical challenges of the sport. Other factors that can be considered include the child’s interest and his abilities. Being proficient in swimming is a must – your child should be comfortable being in the water so he can properly listen to and apply the safety guidelines of scuba diving. Even at 12 your child should be able to focus and learn from the discussions and briefings that will be done by a dive instructor.

In any case, the different parts of a certification program which includes pool and open water instruction, will permit the instructor to evaluate if your child can handle the activity or not. Teaching children to scuba dive is an exciting prospect because it can help them develop a sense of respect for marine life. Respect for the environment starts with education and learning to scuba can really spark an interest in learning what’s needed to protect the ocean environment.

Diving can also be a great shared activity for the entire family because it encourages the sense of experience and discovery as opposed to competition. There are of course safety precautions to be observed and this should not be taken lightly. Diving associations have set regulations regarding certification programs for children to ensure that they will enjoy the experience and also be safe at the same time. If your child is not yet ready to take diving lessons, letting them improve their swimming skills or engaging them in activities like snorkeling are great starting points.

Finding The Right International Courier Company

istock_000013055597xsmallWhile we were traveling in both the US and Europe we managed to find a few gifts and trinkets that we didn’t want to carry with us for the duration of our trip. The next obvious option was to have these items shipped back to our home in Toronto. That meant finding a good courier company.

What we found is that there are so many courier companies in business today that it can be intimidating to determine which it is best one. While it can be tempting to just use the one that has the most inexpensive rates, you really have to step back and take the time to really consider your choices. After all, the courier services that each company provides is what really counts.

In researching which courier service to use, here are the things to look for:

  • Prompt and reliable services

Naturally, this should be your number one consideration. You want a courier service that will deliver on time. Not only that, but you also want to have a courier that is open to your queries and which actually involves you enough in the process to assure you that your cargo is always in good hands.

A good courier service is also one which has great customer service when you need it.

  • Accurate tracking system

When it comes to international shipping, it is even more important to look into things such as tracking systems, to ensure that your cargo is always monitored. That way you are assured in knowing exactly where your packages are, at any given time. This feature is especially important for sensitive and delicate cargo which really needs close monitoring and proper handling.

  • Good customer ratings

Last but not the least; you also want to make sure that the courier company you are using has good customer reviews. With just a little research on Google, you can find many blogs that rate customer experiences with each company. With that information, you can then be confident that you will be working with a tried and tested courier that many others have had success with.

Another thing to consider, especially if you are shipping high ticket items, is to make sure that you use a reputable customs broker company as well. Such a company will not only ensure that you won’t have any trouble with customs, but it will also make sure that your boxes get to their destination, without any delay.

When shipping the various gifts and things that we found on our journey, the guidelines mentioned above were what we used for choosing our courier. With just a little bit of time and effort, you will easily find a shipping company that will give you the quality of service that you deserve. Keep in mind that the location you’re shipping from, will also effect which companies are available to use. Not all companies ship from certain locations. In the end, this will also be a factor in determining the courier company that you choose.

Potential Car Disaster In Kentucky, Turns Sweet!

During the first month of our trip, we cruised through a number of states in the eastern US.  Traveling south we drove along the eastern seaboard. Some of our fondest memories were the lobster in Maine, the boardwalk in New Jersey and the wonderful solitude of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

On the way back north, we decided to travel through the Appalachian Mountains, from Georgia all the way back up to Maine! We found some very special B&B’s along the way, and the scenery was incredible.

big bluWhile we were in eastern Kentucky, our vintage Cadillac started to overheat. As we had a lot more miles to travel, I didn’t want to push my luck and decided to have the engine looked at right then. Fortunately we found Bruce Walters Ford Dealership, right there in Pikeville. They did excellent work in replacing my old water pump, which totally fixed the issue – and for a very fair price. They also had great deals on used cars and really wanted me to trade in my old Caddie for one – but as many of you know, they’ll have to pry my cold dead hands from the wheel, before I let go of Big Blu!

While Blu was being worked on, we also did a little exploring in Pikeville, which is very close to the boarder of Virginia and West Virginia. Its a small town of less than 7,000, but surrounded by some beautiful, rolling mountains. There are a number of excellent city parks, great places for relaxing on a lazy afternoon. We also tasted some of the best trout that I’ve ever had, caught in the local streams just the day before.

Appalachian_MountainsLater that evening, after we picked up Big Blu, we enjoyed some free entertainment, live on their main street. Mainly local bluegrass musicians playing, singing and dancing until late in the night. My last memories of that evening were watching a full moon rising up over the ridge to our west, while a local band of “cloggers” were moving all over the stage, with banjo and fiddle singing in the background. This area is truly a special place, with great people. If you ever have a chance to drive through this part of the US, do not miss it!

Leaving Cold Canada For The Balmy Carribean

on horsesAfter our time in the US, we headed to the Jamaica for a little sun and fun! Jamaica and much of the Caribbean hold a lot of benefits for singles, couples, and families. The features that packaged vacations to these areas may include, really depend on the type of vacation that you’re looking for. For example, you may have the opportunity to buy a package deal that offers you a week at a resort plus spa benefits and travel plans for a single person if that is what you want. However, if you are planning a couple’s or family vacation, you can also find lots of great options for that as well.

The benefits that you gain from all inclusive holidays tend to vary. The major advantage is that you don’t have to do much of planning the details. The packages generally include hotels, meals, sightseeing, and other such things. You can even find deals with full spa privileges.

Of course, they may be times when you would prefer to take advantage of other services while on holiday. Instead of going to a particular tourist site as planned on the itinerary, you may want to hang around the resort and relax. In most cases, you have this option. Although many guests never leave the resort, it is never mandatory – you always have the option to choose off-site activities.

We chose an all inclusive holiday in Jamaica, and if you are traveling as a family, there are almost always activities included for the children. If your children are quite young, some resorts even have daycare if you want to take part in spa services or other activities offered in the package deal. In most instances, booking in an all inclusive resort is cheaper than booking hotels (and meals) separately. The discounts can vary greatly depending on the resort or the agency/agent involved.

Prior to booking our trip to Jamaica, we did a lot of research to find out exactly what was included in the vacation. We found there were many different packages and they all had their pluses and minuses. If you’re considering this type of vacation, take your time in researching. Some might be much more suitable to your specific situation than others. Some of the Jamaica all inclusive package deals are designed for singles only, whereas others are for couples or families. Each deal has activities that are more appropriate for certain situations and settings – so do your homework ahead of time!

There are holidays in the Jamaica area that includes trips to different places such as Montego Bay or the Negril region. Package deals tend to include a few days in these areas so that travelers can see more of the country. If you want to see more places in the region or learn more about these areas then this might be a good option. Some great deals are available on these types of Jamaican all inclusive holiday deals.

Jamaica-beauty

Taking a holiday, where you can really relax – is important. For us, Jamaica was that and much more. It was full of good times, great people of all ages and from all walks of life. Our all inclusive trip allowed us to travel to his magical region, have a wonderful time, without having to worry about much of the details once we were there. If you’re considering this type of vacation, do the research before you go, so once there you can totally let go and truly enjoy your time away.

Information On The Ferry Vancouver

ferry1The SeaBus is owned by TransLink and operated by the Coast Mountain Bus Company. It is a passenger-only ferry service in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It crosses Burrard Inlet to connect the cities of Vancouver and North Vancouver and forms an important part of the region’s integrated public transportation system.

The fleet currently consists of three vessels. They operate daily between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Two of the three ferries are in service during the daytime from Monday to Saturday. The two ferries depart simultaneously from opposite termini and passing each other halfway. It operates on a 15 minute turn-around schedule travelling 1.75-nautical-mile to cross in each direction with a cruising speed of 11.5 knots.  There are over 50 crossings are made every day. Ferry service is reduced to a 30 minute schedule with only one ferry in operation during the evenings and on Sundays.

There are four crew members that operate the ferry. The captain and first mate are on the bridge and two attendants are on the passenger level, while engineers stay ashore most of the time. The engineers do regular checks of the engines and are available to come aboard the ferry at any time. Crew members are certified and trained to deal with marine emergencies, and will help passengers and direct them during emergencies..

Upon entering the SeaBus waiting area, you will pass on the turnstiles that are used only for counting the number of passengers boarding. The turnstile locks when the maximum number is reached and no more passengers are allowed on that SeaBus.

Similar to SkyTrain and buses, the Seabus is a “Fare Paid Zone”, meaning passengers are required to possess a valid far, transfer/transit pass in the Fare Paid Zone. Transit Security Officers and often times members of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service does the fare inspections. Attendants of the SeaBus may check fares, but do not conduct enforcement. They call Transit Security to deal with non-compliant passengers. Failure to pay the correct fare or retain a valid fare may result in being removed from the terminal and/or fined $173. The SeaBus, like all public transit in Vancouver, offers free rides on New Year’s Eve to discourage drinking and driving.

The SeaBus stops on the Vancouver side at Waterfront Station, near the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place and  the Vancouver Convention Centre.  A skywalk connects the SeaBus terminal to the main station building, where passengers can transfer to the West Coast Express and all three lines of the SkyTrain system.

Information On Vancouver Buses

busvancouverExtending 50-70 Km out from the city centre to Langley in the east and the US border, the south Vancouver’s bus system is very extensive. It is quite a challenge to get from suburb to suburb, but service to downtown from any area is quite good. West Vancouver (the Blue buses) has its own system which you can catch downtown on Georgia Street. The fares are the same and you can transfer from one system to the other.

Electric trolley buses are mostly used downtown. There are also fast buses to the outer suburbs, which have limited stops, and what Translink call “B-Lines”. Translink, Vancouver’s city bus system, operates over 1000 buses in and around Vancouver and in many of the outlying communities. These are fast buses, running in their own dedicated lanes for part or all of their routes.

On some suburban routes with lower ridership, mini buses are also being introduced. The colour scheme of the buses are changing to Blue & Yellow. Vancouver Transit vehicles are currently a mishmash of differing colours.

City buses get you most places in the city quickly, inexpensively and conveniently. The Vancouver bus service is linked to both the SeaBus, a ferry that crosses the Burrard Inlet between Vancouver and the North Shore, and the SkyTrain, an elevated train that travels between Vancouver, the airport and the suburbs, with more than 20 stops along the way.

You may purchase monthly passes or books of tickets for the entire transit system. The tickets are available in several stores and come in books of ten. This purchase will save you about 10%. When paying for your bus ride in cash, you need to prepare the exact fare. If you are changing to the Seabus, Skyrain or another bus, keep your ticket as a transfer.

Tickets are now electronically validated in machines when you board a bus. They are good for 90 minutes from time of issue. If your connections are poor or a scheduled bus fails to show, the 90 minutes may not be sufficient, but when you explain the circumstances, most drivers would understand. Bus drivers in Vancouver are found to be more courteous than those in other cities, considering it is a high stress job.

Bus schedules, transit maps and Day Passes may be bought at any Fare Dealer location. All Safeway stores, 7/11 markets, Save On Food Stores, and some London Drug stores and Shopper Drug Marts are Fare Dealer distributors. Day Passes allow you unlimited travel on city buses, the SeaBus and the SkyTrain for one day which costs $8. This is the best sightseeing deal in the city.

Information On The Vancouver Skytrain

skytrainThe light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is called the SkyTrain. It has 68.7 km or 42.7 mi of grade-separated track and uses fully automated trains. Passengers get a good view of the city because it runs mostly on elevated guideways and helps the SkyTrain to consistently hold high (over 95%) on-time reliability. It also uses the SkyBridge which is the longest mass transit-only bridge to cross the Fraser River.

The system has three lines and a total of 47 stations. British Columbia Rapid Transit Company operates the Expo Line and Millennium Line under contract from TransLink, a regional government transportation agency. The private concessionaire ProTrans BC operates Canada Line on the same principles under contract to TransLink, and is an integrated part of the regional transport system.

A shared fare system is used with other local transit services, and is policed by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service. There are attendants present to provide directions, first aid, inspect fares, customer service, monitor train faults, and if necessary, operate the trains manually.

Waterfront Station in Vancouver is connected by the Expo Line to King George Station in Surrey along a route established by the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Company as an interurban line in 1890. In 1985 it was built in time for Expo 86 and has 20 stations. It was named only after the Millennium Line was built. It was built on a budget of $854 million.

From Waterfront Station to Columbia Station in New Westminster, the Millennium Line shares tracks with the Expo Line, then continues along its own route through North Burnaby and East Vancouver, ending at Vancouver Community College in Vancouver. The budget for this line  was $1.2-billion budget. The Millennium Line has 13 stations that are not shared with the Expo Line. Its stations were designed by British Columbia’s top architects that resulted in dramatically different stations from those on the Expo Line.

The Waterfront Station hub is the beginning of the Canada Line. It continues south to the City of Richmond and Sea Island. The line opened in August 17, 2009 and added 15 stations with 19.2 km or 11.9 mi to the existing SkyTrain system.  Financed by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, TransLink, and InTransitBC, the Canada Line cost $1.9 billion. Their trains are built by Rotem and fully automated. They are of a different design than the existing lines’ Bombardier-built fleet, and use conventional electric motors rather than the linear induction technology of Bombardier’s.