Travel tips

The time of year you decide to travel can have a huge impact on your travel experience. While most people tend to travel during the peak season, if you have the flexibility, travelling during the off-season is worth considering. Sure, things like weather and availability of attractions are also worth considering, but these will vary when you research locations and look at your travel options.

You don’t have to travel to Mexico or the Caribbean to visit a great beach destination. Many of us are too busy to take a week off from work, and sometimes all we can spare is a weekend. The good news is that there are many beach destinations in the United States that are closer than you think. Depending on where you live, a weekend beach getaway may be only a short drive across the Canadian border or a quick flight down the coast.

Stuffing your luggage is not only inconvenient; nowadays, it will also cost you. Many airlines are becoming stricter about overweight baggage charges and have limits for carry-on bags, and travellers who fail to follow baggage regulations could easily rack up a few hundred dollars in charges for travelling with a heavy suitcase.

Everyone wants to have the perfect trip. They want to get the best deal, stay at the best hotels, eat the best food and have an enjoyable flight. Much of the success, or failure, of any trip has to do with planning. You can let things ride and under-plan or you can meticulously over-plan your trip. To ensure you have a great trip, the key is to fall somewhere in the middle.

One of the biggest challenges, even for seasoned travellers, is packing enough to fit in a suitcase and carry-on bag, but not so much that it’s difficult to get around. We have all been in situations when, in an attempt to pack light, we forget an important item. At one time or another, most travellers have probably uttered the words, “I could really use a (fill in the blank) right now.” This is why multi-functional items are great for travel. They conserve space and have multiple uses.

Hoverboards have been getting a lot of press recently. They were one of the most popular gifts items last Christmas, and the predictions from Back to the Future have finally come true. If you are not familiar with what a hoverboard is, it is a motorized, skateboard-sized scooter with two wheels that users stand on. Unlike what their name suggests, they don’t actually hover above the ground; they are more like a Segway without handles.