You haven’t truly lived until you’ve spent the night on the floor of the Denver airport. Circumnavigated by vacuum cleaners, trying to sleep while lights shine at full blast, and with the chatter of a 24-hour news channel hovering on a television above your head. How about pairing that with two cancelled flights, a rental car three days later, and an overnight at an express airport hotel sipping wine from plastic cups and hoping the roads are clear by morning? Actually, I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.
Unfortunately, such is a reality for holiday travellers like John and me who make it back to Iowa (where John is from) at least twice a year to visit his family. Thanksgiving (American), Christmas, New Year’s Eve, we’ve been through MSP, DEN, ORD, MCI, CID, and more all to see our loved ones before packing up and reversing our trek.
Fees, allowances, de-icing, boarding order, customs, wait times, leg room, connections 60 gates apart, snow, sleet, and those random bonus security checks. Getting through the holiday season without stress is tough enough that travel shouldn’t have to lump on that extra emotional baggage. Through the years I we have honed our holiday travel style, skills, and techniques and I’m happy to share some Travel Tips for the Holidays with you, courtesy of Travel Leaders and including some of my own insights:
Travel Tips for the Holidays
Make a checklist and check it twice. Before any trip, it’s important to make a checklist of essential items like chargers for electronic devices or prescription medications. It’s easy to forget the items you use every day and you don’t want to spend your trip seeking replacements.
Portable power. Can’t find out outlet in the busy airport? No problem. Bring your own portable battery backup. I use the Anker Charger that I bought on Amazon. It has 4 USB ports and can fully charge my phone several times before it needs re-charging.
Label prescription medication. I once traveled to Iowa with strep throat and brought my medication with me. It’s a good thing because at the Walmart down there you need to show your passport just to purchase some Advil Cold & Sinus.
Check-in online. Airlines generally allow passengers to check in online 24 hours in advance, with a cutoff a couple of hours before boarding time. So make sure you’ve checked in well before you’re set to head to the airport. Have your boarding pass, paper or digital version, within easy reach, along with your ID, to save time as you approach the security checkpoint.
Keep valid identification at hand. Children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling with a companion, but passengers age 18 and older must show valid ID at the airport security checkpoint. Since most ID, like a driver’s license, has an expiration date, double-check that your ID will not expire before your return trip home.
I usually use my passport on the day(s) we travel then I tuck it away while we’re in Iowa and just use my driver’s license as ID. People not from BC will always struggle to find your birthday on your license but it’s generally a nice surprise when they realize they get to welcome a Canadian to their establishment.
Double check your baggage. Overhead space will be at a premium during the holiday travel season, especially as people bring gifts for friends and family or return home with gifts they’ve received. So when preparing to pack your bags, it’s crucial to check in advance whether your luggage meets the airline’s size and weight restrictions for checked baggage and carry-ons.
We usually try our very best to online travel with carry-on items (since you know they’ll make your connections with you) but when we’re going away in negative temperatures for two weeks, we need space for coats and boots. I’d say 6 times out of 10 our bags don’t make it to Iowa on the same day we do but we follow up with the airlines ASAP and always get them delivered to our door within 24 hours.
Save gift wrapping for later. TSA doesn’t care about your lovely wrapping job, your gifts and all contents of your bags can and may be screened like any other item. Pack your gifts unwrapped and just bring wrapping paper with you to finish the decorating once you’ve reached your destination. We just put ours together in a plastic bag in our luggage so that it’s accessible but still separated. You can also just mail your gifts in parcels to your destination in advance.
Keep 3-1-1 in mind. The TSA and/or CATSA allow each passenger one quart-size bag of liquids and gels, including toothpaste, gel deodorant, and lotions. Each item must be 3.4 ounces or less. Medication, infant formula and juices for infants or toddlers are exempt from the rule, but keep them separate from the items in your one-quart bag.
We have clear zipper pouches with approved sizes of toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, and conditioner that we take in a carry on and bring out at security. We like bringing that with us and not putting all our liquids in the checked bag in case we are stuck at an airport overnight, at least our teeth will be clean. We put a little bottle of hand sanitizer in there as well, for our germ-y airplane hands.
Be prepared to take laptops out and shoes off. Laptop computers must be removed from their carrying cases and submitted separately for screening. (Small and portable items, including smartphones, tablets and portable games, don’t need to be removed from their cases). At many airports, you’ll have to place your shoes and belt in the plastic bin that goes through the X-ray screening. The only exceptions are for passengers who are 75 and older, children 12 and under, and travellers approved for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
Leave early. From traffic that may be heavier than usual and hard-to-find parking spots, to longer lines for security screenings, you’ll ease your stress if you give yourself extra wiggle room in your schedule, whether traveling by train, plane or automobile. Arrive at the airport 75 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
Know your emergency contacts. In addition to contact information for next of kin or a close friend when traveling internationally, bring the contact information for the nearest Embassy or Consulate at your overseas destination.
When you check-in online for a US destination generally the airline will also ask for an emergency contact and for that I either put my mom or John’s mom into the system.
Put your travel agent on speed dial. Bring the email and cell phone number of your travel agent with you, and provide your travel agent with your personal contact information, as well as pertinent health and travel insurance information. Your travel agent can rearrange your itinerary should you decide to extend your trip, or if there’s an emergency.
If you booked online (Expedia, Travelocity) have their contact info handy too. I book all of our holiday travel in person at Flight Centre so I have my agent’s card with me at all times.
Finally, my biggest tip would be to try (with all your might) to have an easy-going attitude. Leave room in your schedule so that if the unforeseen happens, you can easily roll with the schedule adjustment and go with the flow. Remember that airline and airport staff are doing their best at a very busy time and they deserve the same respect as you. Be calm, rational, and try to have a very happy holiday season. Happy travels!
The blue and yellow big top has been in town for a few weeks now but Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA will be ringing in the holiday season with a special event on November 25th. The KOOZA Holiday Village will open up at 5:00pm that day, free of charge*, and will offer complimentary hot chocolate, treats, and family-fun activities including photos with Santa, tree decoration and holiday classics sung live by the Vancouver Children’s Choir and the KOOZA band.
In addition to the activities, animation by the Vancouver Circus School and a special ugly sweater competition led by KOOZA’s featured clowns will entertain the guests. To complete the Big Top’s transformation into a winter wonderland, one lucky child from the community will be selected to light up the KOOZA Holiday Village.
*Admission is free but space is limited so RSVP is required. Attendees will receive a 25 per cent discount on select KOOZA shows for a limited time. Activities will conclude at 7:00pm on November 25th, with show tickets available for purchase on-site at the box office.
Win Tickets to Cirque du Soleil Kooza
Experience the magic of the holidays AND the magic of KOOZA! I have a pair of reserved spots available for the KOOZA Holiday Village and big top lighting event on November 25th PLUS tickets to that’s night’s performance! Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Tickets will be for the performance on the night of November 25, 2015 only and cannot be exchanged. Follow KOOZA on Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 21, 2015.
UPDATE! The KOOZA Holiday Village is now completely sold out. If you If you weren’t able to get passes, fear not – the Holiday Village will be setup until KOOZA’s final show on December 27, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Update The winner is Robyn!
Brix is one of those restaurants that creates lasting memories, and not only because of its dreamy cobblestone courtyard, with draping ivy, chandeliers and candles that ooze romance. The first time I was at the restaurant was for a work Christmas dinner 14 years ago, the type of event that Brix is well-known for hosting along with wedding suppers. Our small Vancouver startup had just been purchased and the owners, who usually gifted branded company fleece sweaters or logo-adorned mugs, handed us each an envelope and asked us to open them at the same time. Inside was a ticket to Las Vegas — we were all going to celebrate!
The next time I was at George, the cocktail lounge downstairs, was for the Mixlympics — a cocktail competition that pitted local mixologists against visiting barkeeps from around the world during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. It was my first exposure to a cocktail competition (I now judge one annually) and to local mixology legends, many of whom have gone on to run businesses of their own.
Ready to create new memories, Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar in Yaletown has renovated the George space and come together as the new dining concept, Brix & Mortar.
Photo credit John Bello
Accessible from both 1138 Homer St. and 1137 Hamilton St., Brix & Mortar occupies 5,200 square feet with 228 seats, including 80 seats across two outdoor patios. The vibrant room and patio once home to George has been redesigned to breathe new life into the space, creating a fine-dining room to suit any occasion or appetite.
John and I were invited in earlier this month to try Executive Chef Chris Bisaro’s new Canadian menu which has subtle French, Italian and Asian influences with locally sourced ingredients. We were tempted to order the 3 course Table d’Hote menu for $42 but we decided to pick some a la carte options for our first dinner there together.
Although the friendly and attentive restaurant manager Graham (who spent quality time with each guest, not just us media folk), informed us that they have 50 wines available by the glass, we opted for cocktails, recalling our last experience in the space when it was George and wanting to try Bar Manager Chris Mosey’s latest creations.
I chose the “Thyme Gentlemen Please” with scotch, plum wine, thyme, and dark chocolate bitters. It was the first of many new memories made that night. The second was the Lamb Bacon Salad.
Picture crisp radishes, pears, greens and endives deliciously drizzled with bourbon vinaigrette and topped with gouda and smokey, candied, tender lamb bacon spears. My jaw would have hit the table in awe if it wasn’t so busy trying to help me savour every bite.
For the main course, I chose the sablefish. I was craving fish, but in hindsight I would have gone with the crusted pork chop with purple cabbage that John had. However, the sablefish was divine, really. Served bone-in (thanks to our server for the heads up), the soft and supple white fish it melted on my tongue. The only issue I had with this dish was the kimchi. It did work, but there was just a lot of it and it really overpowered the sablefish on my plate, and palate.
Photo credit John Bello
A large group enjoyed formal dinner at the table behind us, and co-workers slid into booths beside us for after work refreshments. Everyone fit in and looked to be having a great time no matter their scenario or whether they ordered shared plates or multi-course meals.
Talking with owner Patrick Mercer, he said that this side of Brix & Mortar is meant to be more approachable but still have the quality you look for in a their iconic Yaletown restaurant. Yaletowners have grown up, going from 20-somethings at startups to 30 and 40-somethings owning their own businesses and raising families in the area.
Mortar is for them (and everyone else is welcome of course) so that they can have that nice, affordable dinner out and enjoy thoughtfully prepared bites and delicious cocktails in their classic neighbourhood. You can still absolutely book your wedding dinner or work holiday party at Brix but Mortar seems like a place I’ll visit more often – and that cocktail and lamb bacon salad alone are definitely calling me back.
Follow Brix & Mortar on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
I was recently at a wellness retreat in Whistler that had a schedule packed with yoga, seminars, workshops, and a very natural brunch each morning. My biggest take-away from the weekend was learning to slow down and find balance, especially when it comes to food. Take your time to let your body enjoy a meal, share your table with someone who makes you smile, and no matter what’s on your plate, you will feel so much better when you savour not only your meal, but your experience.
John and I are pretty good at making time for date nights, and 9 times out of 10 those take place at a local restaurant. We satiate our appetites for an emotional connection, to enjoy a space together, try something new or cherish an old favourite.
Vancouver’s own AnnaLena in Kitsilano made Canada’s Best New Restaurants as determined by Air Canada enRoute Magazine. It’s definitely been on our radar since it opened up, and since I’ve read all of the rave reviews.
Photo credit Allison Kuhl
Andrew from Scout Magazine writes: “It hits that very rare sweet spot, the one that sees killer cooking and quality bartending combined inside a neighbourhood joint that expresses itself – both in static design and service posture – as casually as it can.”
AnnaLena presents modern Canadian comfort food that resonates with diners across the city and while it’s not in our neighbourhood, it sounds like a place John and I will have to make time to travel to for our next date night.
Seared trout at AnnaLena. Photo credit Allison Kuhl
Amex Canada is giving all Canadians the chance to experience the benefits of dining at one of the amazing new Top 10 restaurants across the country, including Pigeonhole in Calgary, AnnaLena in Vancouver and Bar Raval in Toronto. Now you can experience the perks of being a Cardmember too, even if you’re not one!
We’ll be using the premium dining services offered by Amex Canada for our next date night since, as a married couple of almost 10 years now, we know that getting a great deal on an amazing meal also significantly adds to our enjoyment factor.
In Vancouver, you can enter online at www.AmexInvites.ca before November 24th for your chance to savour an exclusive dining event at AnnaLena on December 2nd that includes a prix fixe menu created by an award-winning chef. And, if you’re in Toronto, visit www.AmexInvites.ca from November 26 through December 6 for a chance to attend an exclusive dining event at Bar Raval.
As for John and I, we’ll be making our reservations too to see if this Best New Restaurant becomes our new favourite for date night.
In the heart of Downtown Vancouver, between busy intersections, crowded shops, and puddle-laden sidewalks, there is a warm, calm, and welcoming tea room serving up delectable seasonal treats paired with a comforting selection of TWG holiday teas.
Festive Tea Service at The Urban Tea Merchant
Reza Nasooti, who is the Tea Sommelier at The Urban Tea Merchant in Vancouver, describes a holiday tea as something with spices and flavours that we associate with holiday cooking and baking, such as cloves, sweet orange, and cinnamon. Each holiday tea may also have a different base, such as black tea, green tea, or herbals. Most importantly, he says: “A holiday tea can be anything that exudes and brings forth the warmth of family, friends, and being together at this time of year.”
At The Urban Tea Merchant, you can enjoy at least half a dozen Christmas blends from TWG that feature everything from marzipan, hibiscus (White Christmas), and rooibos (Red Christmas) to jasmine pearls plated with molten 24ct gold (Christmas Jewel).
I popped by for their Festive Tea Service, stepping out of the blue and grey Downtown rain and into the warmth of the tea room, that glowed in golds and reds. The service begins with a bubbly warm up for your taste buds: A sparkling holiday tea mocktail ($8*, alcohol-free) made with pear Nectar, sparkling apple juice, ginger, and TWG’s Red Christmas Tea. This is included with the service although looking at the menu I may have to come in another time to try the cocktail made with Prosecco and Red Christmas Tea ($12*).
From the Christmas Collection, Reza began by pouring the Christmas Jewel tea, filling my cup slowly — and in a clockwise motion to release the aromas — with the soft, rosé-coloured blend.
The next sample was White Christmas, which I remember from my first visit to The Urban Tea Merchant back in 2012, and I’m not sure why I haven’t had it since! It has precious Yin Zhen (silver needles) blended with orange peel, hibiscus and spices.
Next was the Holiday Spirit, which I sipped during the tea service as three tiers of treats were presented on my table. It is “a nostalgic blend of black tea blended with magical and evocative spices […] that pays tribute to the warmth and joy of the celebratory season.”
Savouries all include tea-infused bites such as the honey-tea shooter topped with a garnish of Noel! Noel! tea-infused duck breast and an amarena cherry and an Imperial Lapsang Souchong Tea-infused chicken salad with black sesame. My favourite was the smoked salmon rosette with wasabi Sencha Tea creme and ponzu gel. It was the ultimate fusion of West Coast flavours with a tongue-tingling flare in just one (big) bite.
On the sweet side, there are truffles, strawberries, TWG tea macarons, fresh fruit and a strawberry dome with creme Anglaise and candied pistachios. The pièce de résistance was the Egg Nog Vanilla Bourbon Tea panna cotta with pomegranate mousse.
After all of these tummy-pleasing tiers of goodness you’ll want to wrap yourself in a thick scarf (preferably one knitted by a grandmother or loving relative), light some candles, put on some Bing Crosby records, and cuddle up under a Christmas tree. Be sure to make your way home first as The Urban Tea Merchant closes at 7:00pm or 8:00pm depending on the day.
The Festive Tea Service is $52* per person. The Traditional Tea Set is $38* per person. Other seasonal tea service options include the Children’s Sugar Plum Tea Service ($28* per person, 12 years and under) with sandwiches, sweets, scones and child-friendly rooibos teas such as Red Christmas Tea or Creme Caramel Tea.
If you’re shopping for a tea-lover this Christmas, you can create your own TWG Tea hamper by choosing from The Urban Tea Merchant’s collection of over 800 loose teas from 45 tea-producing regions around the world, packed in decorated tins. Add in tea jellies, chocolates, sugars, macarons and shortbreads and you’ve got the ultimate tea drinker’s gift basket.
Reservations can now be made for the Festive Tea and other afternoon tea services including group events. A gluten-free and vegetarian afternoon tea options are available upon request (in advance, with your booking).
The Urban Tea Merchant is located at 1070 West Georgia Street and you can find them on Twitter and Facebook.
* Prices in this blog post are as noted at the time of publication and may or may not include taxes. Pricing at the venue, per the venue is correct.
