Bienvenue a Montreal

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Some clients who spent a long weekend in Montreal this spring  just sent me a trip report and photos. For the short version, click here. To see all the photos, click here, and then scroll all the way to the bottom.

Montreal is one of those cities that has been on my “to do” list for a long time, and I have yet to make it there. My husband has been there several times (too many partying weekends spent with friends at UVM), my mom lived there as a child, and my dad even worked there for a while (commuting back and forth to our home outside NYC on weekends), but I have not yet managed to get beyond Ontario in my Canadian explorations.

Now, based on this trip report, I have one more reason to move Montreal up on my list. Beavertail pastries!

Food for thought…

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If you — like me — are constantly revising and re-prioritizing your “Bucket List”, you need to read this article from National Geographic Traveler.  I know it gave me several new ideas for my list!

Every year, they publish a list of the Top Tours of a Lifetime. Some of them are definitely over the top (and expensive!), but this year they really tried to highlight the value that is provided by guided tours. The article says (and I agree) that there is no better time than now for that “trip of a lifetime” that you’ve been thinking about.

Will it be a hike to Machu Picchu….snorkeling with humpback whales….tasting your way through Tuscany…cruising down the Amazon…or maybe a photo tour in Alaska?

Red Sox weekend

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Any Red Sox fans looking for a great baseball getaway?

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Check out this RedSox weekend package for July 31st to August 2nd.

Roundtrip transportation to Baltimore, two nights hotel, daily breakfast, two Red Sox/Baltimore games, raffles and movies en route, and more. All for less than $500 per person!

This will sell out quickly, so let me know ASAP if you’re interested. Go Sox!

Airline Fees

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I may have blogged about this before, because it’s a pet peeve, but I think it’s worth re-visiting the ridiculous add-on fees that the airlines are charging these days — for everything from checked bags and aisle seats to food, drinks, blankets, pillows, and headsets.  One airline (Ryanair) is even considering installing pay toilets!

With so many constantly-changing fees, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ll really be paying for your flight. Especially when you’re trying to compare a low-cost, low-fee carrier like Southwest with one like JetBlue or Spirit (that can initially appear to be low-cost, until you add on the various surcharges).

Want some help keeing it all straight? USA Today published a nice chart today that summarizes the fees charged by the most popular domestic airlines. Just keep in mind that this information will probably be out of date by tomorrow, so be sure to call the airline directly to confirm the fees before you travel!

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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)