A Guide To Travel Meltdowns - 11/MAR/2010
The Good, The Bad & The Plain Ugly
We've all had at least one. That moment when everything conspires to keep you from paradise – and you find yourself staring down the back end of a meltdown. You aren't alone. Previously considered self-indulgent and adolescent, emotional outbursts at airports and hotels are all the rage. Polite...

The Evolution of Buying Travel Online - 04/MAR/2010
Will it get any easier?
In late 1995, Microsoft moved into the travel arena and launched Expedia. Overnight, consumers felt empowered – they could search and buy their own air travel. It was a revolution. While other retail players soon followed, the Expedia brand was synonymous with online travel – not just how...

Feeling Fleeced by Taxes and Fees? - 18/FEB/2010
You're not alone!
Whether it is an overseas airline ticket, or a seven day all-inclusive vacation, we feel battered by sticker shock by the time we get the final tally. Where did all those extras come from? Air Tickets: Multiply by 2 The airlines have no control over the taxes but they do determine their own fuel...

Five Charged Up Questions About Electricity - 10/FEB/2010
What You Need To Know Before You Travel
Can't abide visiting the pharaohs with frizzy hair? Need multiple battery chargers for your travel gadgets? The following could save you from frying your expensive toys on high voltage plugs overseas. Most people only have vague notions about the differences in electrical currents around the world. Ditto...

RULE BRITANNIA - 04/FEB/2010
Why Your Beach Holiday Is A Jolly Good Business, eh!
The Brits have a penchant for ferrying cold Canucks to the sun every winter. With the recent amalgamation of Sunwing and Signature Vacations, a division of TUI Travel plc, another in a venerable line of UK based travel conglomerates shares interest in a Canadian mass market travel company. The...

Baggage Restrictions - 28/JAN/2010
The ABC's of Carrying On Carry-ons
After the failed terrorist attempt this Christmas, instant restrictions were announced on what could be carried on board aircraft by passengers. Over the holidays mass confusion erupted over the regulations and it looked like the permanent carry on allowance would be confined to a small purse,...

Shopping For Travel - 21/JAN/2010
Five Things You Should Know About Buying Online
Few industries have benefited more from internet commerce than the travel industry. Travellers are now armed with a great deal of research – helping them make better vacation choices. Many consumers believe that booking through an internet site will guarantee savings. This is not always the case,...

Winter Vacation Pricing - 14/JAN/2010
Get Ready For Sticker Shock
Canadians have been so spoiled by low prices on sun vacations that we could be in for a big shock when the marketplace returns to sustainable pricing. According to Lawrence Elliot, Group Vice President, Business and Corporate Affairs at Sunwing Vacations, rates for winter holidays this year are unprecedented....

5 Expert Travel Predictions - 07/JAN/2010
The deals will keep coming
TakeOffeh.com has asked a number of travel luminaries to look into their suitcases and share predictions on what we can expect in 2010. The overall consensus is that prices will remain low. We will see fewer travel companies as mergers shrink the travel gene pool to a handful of brands. And a number...

DIY Travel - 23/DEC/2009
Passengers are doing everything but flying the plane
The airlines call it Simplifying the Business, but some air passengers might prefer the label Complicating Travel. Whatever the name, it is an orchestrated plan to make flyers take on airport chores now handled by airline employees. For Luddites and infrequent travellers, that could make passing through...

Ten Cold & Flu-Fighting Travel Tips - 17/DEC/2009
Airbourne bugs are nothing to sneeze at
TakeOffeh.com wants you to travel healthy. With the double-whammy of H1N1 and regular seasonal flu – not to mention old-fashioned colds and sniffles – there are lots of malicious microbes in the air wherever crowds of people gather. Here are some suggestions to help you fly through the holidays. ...

Tips For Stress-Free Holiday Season Travel - 26/NOV/2009
Book Early, Pack Light
The holiday season is fast approaching, and many Canadians will soon be piling into planes, trains and automobiles for the annual pilgrimage to visit family and friends. The flurry of activity is stressful enough without adding travel mishaps to the list, so here are some tips dedicated to increasing...

H1N1 On Board - 19/NOV/2009
Why The Airlines Won't Let You Call In Sick
Last week, news headlines thundered about an Air Canada passenger who informed the airline she had H1N1 and expected sympathetic assistance in rebooking her trip. Air Canada merely offered to change her travel date for a large fee. The passenger – who believed she was doing the right thing by letting...