Island Hoping on the Dalmation Coast

Visit the Dalmatian Coast with Butterfield & Robinson and discover hidden archipelagos, explore sea-side fishing communities and pedal quiet, rolling roads.

Immerse yourself in the culture, food and history of this modern-day playground of Roman and Venetian influence; actively take in the warm sun and salty air; enjoy breathtaking bike rides on five of the seven days, and walking options each day.

And thanks to their nimble private yacht, the Callisto, you are able see Dalmatia as it was meant to be seen: by sea.

Easily cruise to otherwise hard-to-reach places and delve into the most authentic locales in the Adriatic, including Vis and Lastavo. Take long, quiet walks, including one in Montenegro with a view you’ve never even dreamed possible. And immerse yourself - with the help of their expert guides - in Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, not coincidentally, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Let Travel My Way help you embark on a new chapter in the adventure of your life!

St. Lawrence River Cruising

Soon the ice will be off the river and vessels of all shapes and sizes will be plying the waters of the mighty St. Lawrence River.

The newly refurbished 18 passenger Georgian Clipper, with its home port in Kingston, Ontario is offering 4 night – 5 day overnight cruises beginning June 13 through October 13, 2007 in one of the most beautiful inland water destinations in the world; the famous Thousand Islands / Bay of Quinte region of Eastern Ontario.

The journey through the Thousand Islands / Bay of Quinte region will take in approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) round trip of this important inland route, stopping at Kingston, Picton, Brockville and Gananoque.

Inventory is limited, as each cruise departs with a maximum of just 18 passengers.

For more information give us a call at Travel My Way at 1-800-563-2338

It Pays to Use a Travel Agent...

Okay, this may sound self serving, but I think it still needs to be said. Sure online booking is easy and sometimes there are deals to be found that agents might not find (although rare these days), but you should consider using an agent in these situations:

If you are pressed for a time. Let a travel agent can do the research for you. Finding deals on the Internet can be time consuming, and a travel agent can do the legwork quickly and efficiently.

Want to take a cruise? Travel agents can easily find excellent discounts and/or cabin upgrades. The overwhelming number of cruises and destinations make it difficult for the first-time cruiser to select the right trip, and a travel agent can help with that too.

Road warriors. Frequent travelers can benefit from a travel agent, because the agent will work hard to keep your business. You can bet that agents will want to find you the lowest prices and upgrades so that you'll keep coming back.

Anticipating trouble. If you're traveling to areas prone to hurricanes during hurricane season, use an agent who will make certain that you are booked into resorts and hotels that will refund some or part of your costs should a hurricane hit the area. An agent can also help you move from one destination to another, get you back home and help you get a refund.

Planning a complicated itinerary? Travel agents are invaluable. For example, a first-time trip to China, Tibet and Russia can be difficult to plan, and packaged tours aren't for everybody. An experienced agent can help you put it together, saving you both time and money.

Special needs travel. Elderly or ill travelers can benefit from the extra care travel agents can secure. A travel agent can negotiate access for medical equipment such as wheelchairs and oxygen and can also find you safe and easily accessible accommodations.

Business interruptions. And if your airline goes on strike or declares bankruptcy, a travel agent can help you quickly get an alternative flight. So carry your travel agent's contact information with you on the trip.

Driving Holidays - Rockies by BMW!

Here's something that you don't see everyday. Catering to the adventurous Boomers, Horizon & Co. have developed a series of "Driving Holidays." Essentially they package a hot fast sports car, a magnificent scenic area, a map of the best routes to drive for their scenic and thrill factor, and of course pair it up with luxury resorts/hotels/boutique properties to stay in each night.

I think I'm in love.

Yup, cruise along the magnificent Icefields Parkway behind the wheel of a convertible BMW Z4, take in the picturesque Alpine lakes and grassy meadows, hike among snow-capped peaks, enjoy superb meals and finish each day at legendary hotels.

Your starting and finishing point is Calgary, the tour is designed for 7 nights and 8 days with a cost starting at $3995 Canadian.

Imagine yourself gazing down at the forested landscape of Jasper National Park as you stand high on top of the Canadian Rocky Mountains after winding your way to the lofty heights in a convertible BMW?

I am an Albertan gal, and let me tell you, the Canadian west is full of natural phenomena, from its ever changing environments to the large quantity of protected wildlife, the overall impact creates one of the most breath-taking experiences one can hope to have in life.

This is one holiday idea that will have you travelling in high style and indulging in all western Canada has to offer while cruising with the fresh mountain air blowing through your hair.

Interested? Give us a call and we can set you up!

Las Vegas Last Minute

Here at The Travel Insider, I try and post specials as they arrive. For the most part, I can't keep up with vacation packages as the last minute pricing changes so frequently that it would be out of date by the time you read this. Best advice - go to our website and do a search. Once you go deeper into the booking process you will connect directly with the tour operators and see live accurate pricing.

For Las Vegas, however, I do have a special to tell you about. Conquest is putting select Vegas product on sale for the rest of the month of February. Details vary on hotel and length of stay - but you can whisk your sweetie away to the City of Sin for just $478 plus tax - includes hotel room and flights!

Ready to make an escape? Give us a call and we can get you a quote. These are great prices, so the availability will sell out quickly. Act now if you want to go!

Zen Mexico Beach Escape!

When I was twenty-two I first went to the Mayan Riviera and fell in love. I wanted a perfect white sandy beach, turquoise blue warm water and I wanted to not wear shoes for a week. I found this perfect simplicity at a little collection of beach cabanas near the ruins of Tulum.

While in those days I was happy tying my hammock to a palapa structure and eating bean tacos for the week, I am looking for a little bit more luxury at this point in my life. Enough to make it comfortable, not enough to take away the simple charm of getting away from it all.

With today's mega resorts taking over much of the sand beaches of my beloved Mayan, there is still some refuge of that old beach vacation to be had at the Shambala Petit Hotel, a no-frills yet bewitching spot at the southern end of Tulum.

When people imagine a thatched-roof, swinging-hammock, beach-bum vacation in Tulum, this is the place they dream of. Imagine a carefully maintained beach, with its impossibly soft, white sand; and the small, delightful details such as the tassels and mother-of-pearl ornaments hanging from the white beach umbrellas, and the splashes of orange in the form of throw pillows, beach towels, and pole-mounted flags throughout the property.

The casitas are simple, meaning a bed and a ceiling fan, and not much else. In fact, the casitas are not decorated at all, but even the world's greatest interior designer couldn't compete with what's right outside the doors. Eight of the ten rooms have private baths, lit only by candlelight.

Breakfast is included in the room price; there are numerous restaurants for lunch and dinner within walking distance. Shambala offers yoga classes, meditation classes, and Spanish lessons for those who can drag themselves from one of the comfortable beach mattresses.

Tulum doesn't have the nightlife of Playa del Carmen or Cancun, but for those who linger on the beach past sunset, the stars above and moonlight on the ocean are breathtaking. Rooms from $110 (with private bath), includes breakfast.

Passport Help

Passport Canada is in the process of hiring 300 additional workers to deal with the surge in demand from Canadian travellers on tight winter-vacation schedules, a spokeswoman for the federal agency said on Friday.

Passport Canada had already hired 200 workers to deal with the demand created by tighter U.S. regulations, Francine Charbonneau said. Staff had been able to process 20,000 applications a day in the weeks before the current crunch, up from 13,000 a day. However, daily applications surged to 21,000 in January, and Passport Canada is facing a delay of 25 business days on top of the standard 20 it requires to process an application by mail.

Those who cannot afford to wait 15 days for Passport Canada to send back their original documents are now pursuing a second option: getting an emergency birth certificate ($30, plus a $15 rush fee) so they can then apply for an expedited passport in person for an additional $70. (The old birth certificate is immediately cancelled for security reasons.)

Jason Wesley, a spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of Government Services, said the high volume of passport applicants has spilled over into the issuing of birth certificates.

“We believe that increase is mainly due to the fact that Canadians need passports now to travel to the United States. And in order to receive a passport, Passport Canada requires a valid birth certificate,” he said, noting there was an 11-per-cent increase in the number of applications received this January, compared with the same period last year.

Those requesting an emergency birth certificate must show up at the Toronto office, he said, or get their MPP to fax their documents for them.

Club Med Family Escape Special

Club Med is redefining family paradise. Splurge on March Break this year and take a vacation the whole family can enjoy!

For a limited time, 2nd Adult Flies Free
A Savings of $700. Per Couple!

Ixtapa, Mexico
1st adult pays: $1680. plus taxes $277.
2nd adult pays: $980. plus taxes $277.
Departures from Toronto: Feb. 26, Mar. 5, 19 & 26, 2007

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
1st adult pays: $1785. plus taxes $305.
2nd adult pays: $1085. plus taxes $305.
Departures from Toronto: Mar. 25, Apr. 1, 8 & 15, 2007

Children's Program:
Kids have the chance to play, learn, socialize and act their age at our award-winning Children's Club with kids from around the world. This provides a safe, friendly atmosphere for our youngest guests while their parents enjoy some much needed alone time.

Club Med Childrens Clubs:

• Baby Club Med (4-23 months Ixtapa only)
• Petit Club (2-3 years)
• Mini Club (4-13 years)
• Junior Club (14-17 years)

Airbus A380 Finally Launches!

The long-delayed Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, took its first public flight yesterday as more than 200 journalists and company bosses took off from Toulouse on a two-hour flight over the Pyrenees piloted by British and German captains keen to show off the plane's much publicised "quiet, smooth and fuel-efficient ride".

It was the 2,000th take-off for the superjumbo, which has already flown around the world on a series of tests, passing the north and south poles and stopping off at air shows. But it was the first time the media were able to film the spacious interior of the double-decker, which some airlines are considering fitting with a gym, shops, bars and showers.

The most complex passenger plane ever built, with a production line stretching between France, Britain, Germany and Spain, the A380 project has been beset with problems since engineers struggled to install the 300 miles of wiring, setting off a spiral of delays that led to boardroom turmoil, executive resignations and the wrath of airline buyers who are currently negotiating compensation.

The A380 has a capacity of 840 people, but as airlines compete to give premium passengers more space for more money, it will likely hold an average of 525, compared with around 360 on a Boeing 747. When it launches for Singapore Airlines later this year it could have features such as a gym, cocktail bar, nursery, and private first-class cabin suites with their own sliding doors, desk and bed.

The digital entertainment systems will aim to offer up to 80 films on demand at any time, as well as live TV and potentially on-board internet. The seat-back screens, at around 18 by 10 inches, are almost twice the size of screens on today's planes.

But with the widest cabin in passenger airline history, and 50% more floor surface than the 747, the economy seats are 1-inch wider than on current jumbos and stressed travellers will benefit from seeing more space above their heads, more room to stretch and to walk up and down stairs.

Best Hotel Rates Guaranteed!

Everyday, all day, we are pleased to offer some of the best rates on hotels across the world. Yup, not just Canada, nor North America, the whole dang world!

So how does one agency provide something like this? Simple, the power of technology. You see, we partner with one of the largest IT Travel companies in the world to get access to their astonishing inventory. So one simple search on our hotel engine gets you access to their real time inventory. And lets face it, if the largest company is out there buying hotel rooms, it means that the hotels will give them the best rates. Its plain old economics 101.

The best part is that you get to benefit from this example of the market economy in action. So if you had been wondering how to tap into those mysterious great bargains on the Internet, now you know how. Just go to our hotel booking engine off the front page of our website.

We want to be your one-stop shop for your hotel and travel reservations. In fact, we guarantee that our Save Rate Hotels are the best prices available online. If you find a lower rate on another website for the same room, at the same hotel, on the same dates, within 24 hours of making your booking with us, we guarantee you that we'll match it PLUS pay you 10% of the difference in price.

It doesn't get much better than that!

To book a hotel, go to www.travelmyway.ca

Intimate Boutique Resort in the Riviera Maya

A mere fifty miles south of the glitz and hustle of Cancun lies a decidedly more relaxed section of the Riviera Maya. But usually wherever there are blinding white sand beaches and water so clear you can discern the precise shade of your toenail polish, the developers are close behind. Even this far down the coast, the discriminating traveler needs to do a little legwork to escape the generic experience of the all-inclusive chain resort. Enter the Hotel Esencia, an intimate 29-room beachside escape, an antidote to the tacky high-rise hotels springing up on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

The main structure at the Esencia, a converted home of a European duchess, houses a handful of guest rooms. The majority of guest quarters, however, are situated in free-standing beach cottages with extra amenities like private pools and butlers. Whatever the extent of your splurge, though, you’d have to be a duchess yourself not to feel pampered at the Esencia. All of the rooms are swathed in pristine white Egyptian cotton and accented with trappings of the sea: chunks of coral, pieces of driftwood. Exquisite little gardens, hammocks for a lazy afternoon, airy terraces for taking in the sea view (the Riviera Maya’s main attraction) – each of the guest rooms is slightly different but all of them are simple and simply lavish.

Like other resorts in the area, the Esencia organizes excursions like snorkeling, horseback riding, jungle walks, and windsurfing. One unique offering, though, is the organic spa, using principles of ancient medicine. Sign up for a massage and you’ll be taking in the fresh open air and the ocean while you relax on the table. Sal y Fuego, the hotel’s restaurant, serves up an international menu with a Mexican twist. Try the recommended house specialty: fish or meat slow-cooked in banana leaves, but — here’s the kicker — underground, in accordance with what’s apparently a Meso-American cooking tradition.

For those looking for a special treat for their sweet one - an escape to Esencia will earn you big brownie points as well as good karma for the rest of the year, and until March 31 you can take advantage of the "Pampered Partners" program which includes:

Round-trip transfers to and from the Cancun International Airport
5 nights/ 6 days in a in a garden suite with plunge pool or a sea view suite
Daily Breakfast
One (1)Private dinner for two at Sal y Fuego during the stay
A Love ritual
One (1) Private couples yoga session
Couples how to massage instruction
Valid January 06, 2007 - March 31, 2007

Garden Suite
$2,905.00
Sea View Suite
$3,539.00

If you are looking for quality and are not the Sandals kind of person - then this is the place for you. Give us a call and we can set up this special winter getaway!

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum!

Windjammer Cruise Line is offering a unique new cruise idea - the Rum Race and it sounds like a lot of fun! Essentially they are repositioning their ships (The Legacy and the Polynesia) in the Caribbean. Now usually repositioning is a term used for ships that meander slowly to new home ports, but why be dull? With Legacy and Polynesia headed in the same direction for their summer itineraries - why not create a race!

As Windjammer officials put it, "with the wind at our backs and looking for any excuse to party we put our heads together, added the word rum in front of race and just like that we've got ourselves two fun filled - rum soaked weeks!" On your Rum Run, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the origins of rum and drink mixology, they will treat you to complimentary grog tastings, and take you to distilleries where you can watch the locals turn sugar into liquid fun. And just when you think you've had enough, they'll share secret hair of the dog recipes that'll cure what ails you.

Okay how great is that? Any holiday that includes the ocean, a boat and the ability to sing along to sea shanties and discover the mysteries of rum, sounds pretty fun! As you know, there are light rums, spicy rums, golden and flavored rums. Rums you drink neat or mix with punch. And then cocktails? Try a Cuba Libre, Mojito, Daiquiris or Pina Colada. Windjammer will even serve up a Brass Monkey or a Hairy Virgin (yikes!) if you like a little gin and vodka with your rum.

Rum away with Windjammer! Join your ship in St. Lucia and say hello to paradise. This two-weeker features stops at the most beautiful islands in the Grenadines, Venezuela and ABC's. Landlubbers need not apply, as this cruise includes a day or two of blue water sailing. If you've earned your sea legs, give us a call and sign up for a great adventure!

The Rum Race runs from Apr 30 to May 12
Two weeks $1200 USD per person From St. Lucia to Aruba

Ports include:

St. Lucia

St. Vincent

Bequia

Mayreau

Grenada

Margarita

Tortuga

Bonaire

Curaçao

Aruba

Full Payment is required at time of booking. Rates valid in Standard cabins. Commodore cabins available on Legacy for an additional $100. Ensign Cabin available on Legacy & Polynesia for $399 in February. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or offer and is available for new bookings only. Capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Not available for groups.