*NOTE: This post was written in 2010 and may contain outdated information.*

I’ve decided it’s finally time to ditch the Green Visa I signed up for 10 years ago through TD Canada Trust and take advantage of some of the amazing perks that come with travel credit cards in Canada. After reviewing absolutely every travel reward credit card on offer in Canada, and eliminating cards that didn’t stack up, I decided on 5 cards to compare: one from each of the big 5 banks. The first criteria that I decided on was that each card had to have the essential benefits that a card of this type should carry: travel medical insurance, trip cancellation or delay, doubling of the warranty of most items purchased on the card, insurance for new purchases, travel accident insurance and rental car insurance.

After that I wanted to compare the actual value of the sign up bonus I would be receiving from each card. After doing some research (and more math than I had had hoped for), I determined the value of a ‘point’ in each system. Here are the values of the sign up bonus for each card (more…)

With the exception of those fortunate souls who fly in business and first class (I have yet to hear any complaints about the lobster thermidor), an integral part of the flying ritual used to be complaining about the awful airplane food.

While those on international flights continue to keep the tradition alive, in recent years, as airlines have taken radical steps to cut costs, those traveling on flights throughout Canada and the U.S. have developed new and improved gripes: the gradual disappearance of any in-flight food whatsoever (pretzels and peanuts do not count – but Porter Airlines and JetBlue gets half marks for their Terra chips), which was followed by some airlines actually having the gall to (over)charge passengers for chips and soggy sandwiches.

Passengers took matters into their own hands by: 1. Stocking up beforehand at the increasingly appetizing selection of finer food options sprouting up at most North American airports; 2. Bringing their own picnics on board (an economical, but sometimes not so appealing alternative as anyone who has ever sat next to an hour-old Big Mac can attest to). (more…)

As another winter ski season winds down, it must be said that things aren’t looking too good for the next generation of snow birds. According to climate-change specialists, many of the world’s most popular ski slopes could be bereft of snow in the next 25 years. Among the most endangered species are 40 percent of Alpine resorts and favorite low-altitude Canadian spots such as Whistler.

The fact is between the artificial snowmakers and the fuel required to run everything from chairlifts and trail groomers to the heaters in those high-ceilinged Alpine lodges, ski resorts have traditionally been the most energy-intensive of vacation destinations. Factor in the diversion of water, not to mention those nasty chemicals, used to make artificial snow, the erosion that results from clearing trees for trails, and the destruction of natural habitats due to human encroachment, and it’s no wonder that the color least frequently associated with ski resorts is green. (more…)

Great news is in the atmosphere for those who have entertained flightful fancies of taking a trip into outer space, but who come crashing down to earth when they take a look at the going market rates. Up until now, the cheapest flight around has been the $200,000 fare proposed by industry leader Virgin Galactic to circle around the Earth’s atmosphere. Although several hundred passengers have already put down their $20,000 advance deposits, not every aspiring astronaut can afford such hefty fares.

Happily, Copenhagen Suborbitals is entering the growing space tourism market with the promise of a low-cost, no-frills alternative that will allow budget travelers (more…)

This weekend (April 23-25) marks the 45th Annual Mangum Rattlesnake Derby, an event guaranteed to let you get in touch with your inner ophidiophile. Organized by the Shortgrass Rattlesnake Association of Mangum, a small farm town located in the heart of southern Oklahoma’s rattlesnake country, the festival draws over 30,000 hunters, handlers, and spectators for three days of snake-related activities, including:

- The Butcher Shop Show – where snakes are cleaned, boned, and prepared for subsequent cooking. The crowd can purchase any part except the head (which still possesses venomous glands) including meat, skin, hearts, and rattles. (more…)