The Wanderlust is strong in this one

It's a rainy day in Toronto, still 7.5 weeks until I leave for vacation, and I'm 2 travel tickets away from completing all my major transportation bookings through Central Europe.

To distract myself from the 52 day countdown, I've been following my friend Sylvia's roadtrip adventures through the U.S. She's already seen more of the states than I ever have and at some point I hope to a less charted vacation like hers too. Having only 2 weeks and a mountain of recos and dream destinations, I made the decision early to pre-book my transportation and accommodations to keep my time and wallet better budgeted. I think it started when I decided to get a ticket to see Cirque du Soleil's Allegria (the most recommended Cirque show from almost every avid fan I know), which meant I would have to be in Salzberg somehow on Oct 5. With my flight going to Venice, the map and route plotting began...

I've also come into possession of a LG Optimus Pad aka one of the many new tablets hitting the market in recent months. I'm very excited about this since its lightweight dimensions and capabilities are ideal for travel. My HP Mini netbook has served me well the last couple of years and but onwards and upwards in the parade of technological advances! Between the tablet and my iphone, I should be able to post many an update and rack up a phenomenal amount of data charges! Just kidding, I plan to keep the tablet as wifi only while overseas (though if you catch me at TIFF I will likely be carrying it around with a SIM card in use)and am still researching the best travel pack to add onto my iphone.

There's certainly no shortage on my list of things to do in each city, but I always welcome more suggestions. Please let me know if you have further must-do's in Venice, Milan, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. I've decided to skip Bratislava and Liechtenstein this trip, but next time I'm back in that direction I will be sure to stop in.

Spare Change for the Opera?

One of the jewels of Vienna I'm told is the Wiener Staatsoper (trying to resist the urge to make a hot dog joke...) aka the Vienna Opera House, one of the most important opera houses in the world.

Access into the opera house itself is restricted to guided tours and performances, the former not very appealing as I'm allergic to tour guides. Performances, while enjoyable to me, can get pretty pricey. Shows at the Wiener Staatsoper are actually quite reasonable with tickets as cheap as 11€-30€, the views will be obstructed but at least you're in the building with a seat for the show. To save further, if you're willing to give up your seat (literally), there are 600 standing spots per show with tickets as cheap as 3€ each!

This blurb from Trip Advisor outlines where to line up for super cheap same day standing room tickets, the options for where you can stand, tips on proper etiquette and how to politely secure your spot. I think it's worthwhile to give this a go, and I will report back later in the fall on how I do. I figure the plan of attack is to pack my binoculars (I'm not cultured enough to own opera glasses nor do I know the functional differences between the two) and sit during intermissions to rest up. For 3€ I also wouldn't feel too badly if I got tired/bored and decided to leave during one of the breaks.

If you follow this link, it will bring you to a large image of the inside of the opera house. It's a little blurry but if you scroll you'll notice on the main level and on the top level at the very back there are some folks standing at the very back behind some railings. Personally I can live with that, especially knowing that I've just saved myself up to 150€.

To Pack or Not To Pack...That Is the Traveller's Question

August is here, and half the summer has gone by... perhaps you've already taken a trip this summer, or maybe it's fast approaching... I prefer to travel during low season, which is usually in the fall, so my own vacation is still 8.5 weeks off (*sigh*)

No matter what kind of a vacation you decide to take, where ever you decide to go, and however long you're away, one of the universal challenges of a traveler is how to pack efficiently. There is no correct answer to this, everyone has their own preference and items of necessity/comfort. I think the most important thing is to organize and analyze.

There are different ways to approach this, but in all instances, it's still better to pack a few days to a week in advance to avoid forgetting things. If you have an upcoming trip, why not take a look at this site for some packing tips to start? The Independent Traveler site gives you the rundown with packing tips, most common problems, and an interactive customizable packing list.

There's a few personal practices I adhere to when it comes to packing (and avoiding extra baggage fees)...

1. Dress in layers
Check your destination weather as much as you like, there will always be a margin of error for what the actual temps will when you get there. Not to mention if you're traveling to a destination that has a different climate than your own, you still need to arrive to the airport and get home later in the proper attire. To avoid having to pack for 2 different climates, try to layer. This will also theoretically give you more wardrobe combination while on the road. Also, extra hoodies can be rolled up and double for pillows.

2. Wear your heaviest clothing items onto the plane
Heaviest can be in reference to weight or warmth. These will usually be the parkas/ski jackets/pea coats... they either weigh a lot, take up a lot of room in your suitcase, or both. Packed in a bag or suitcase their dimensions/weight will work against you, maybe even resulting in extra baggage fees. But airlines cannot penalize you for your body mass, whether you weight 90 Ibs or 250 Ibs, the price for you to get on the plane remains the same. Stuff a reusable shopping bag in your carry-on, once you're onboard, fold the jacket up, put it in the bag, and sling it into the overhead compartment. Sure you might look like a moron boarding a flight to Hawaii in a wool coat, but it's worth it knowing you've just legally and cost-effectively increased your carry-on allowance. (Note: wearing an unusually large coat is a visual cue for spotting terrorists, so don't do this unless you're originating or destination city is actually cold enough to require such a jacket)

3. Pack a PJ t-shirt that you wouldn't be embarrassed to wear to the mall
Sometimes even with the best planning and prep, things go wrong. You might be short a change of clothes or have an exploding liquid mishap that ruins some of your shirts. Most travel destinations will have somewhere you can go to pick up a new shirt, but for whatever reason you might not want to (ie. you're low on funds) This is why when selecting pj's for travel my rule of thumb is to opt for slightly loose-fitting t-shirts that I would be willing to wear out if need be, so that in a pinch I can wear them for a day of sight-seeing without feeling awkward.

4. Pack a change of underwear and a thin clean t-shirt in your carry-on
Also a good idea in case of unexpected mishaps, or lost luggage. The change of undies and shirt will give you an extra day while you wait for your luggage to arrive and/or to go out and buy some new clothes.

In all my meticulous preparations and list-making, I can sometimes err in the other direction and wind up packing too much. I'm well-prepared, but then I usually wind up having to visit a massage therapist for my back the day after I return. In anticipation of my fall trip, I'm going to try the following to reduce the weight of my luggage, hopefully this will give my back a break (or allow me buy more souvenirs...either way...)

-cut down on the number of books I bring by using my ebook reader on my iphone and just bring a couple of magazines for take-off and landing that I can then trade with my mom or discard.

-take advantage of my longer stopovers to do a bit of laundry. A little bit of hand-washing clothes in the bathroom sink never killed anyone, takes a little longer to dry so I'll just have to remember to get those socks washed the first day I arrive in the city, but this way I won't have to pack 14 of everything. I've rented private flats in a couple of my destinations so my clothes can be hung up undisturbed by housekeeping.

-use phone camera instead of bringing another point and shoot. I have a Canon SX30IS for scenic photography, in addition I usually bring a pocket camera to take around when I'm not expecting spectacular scenery or "just in case". With the advanced technology of phone cameras these days I'm just going to rely on my iphone for these instances, so that will be one less device to worry about.

-try to do without my hair straightener. Don't underestimate vanity...but I also shouldn't underestimate my ability to deal with my hair either. I didn't own a straightener for most of my life and still got my hair to behave when I needed it to, it's not a trip that requires me to dress up a lot, so if all else fails I can resort to a ponytail.

Breakfast at Tiffanys, Coffee at Cafe Sperl

Another opportunity for cross-blog posting!

Something I like to do when visiting other cities is check out locations where famous films were shot. Some cities are obviously easier than others, ie. I think almost every inch of New York City has been in a movie at some point of another :P

For me Vienna is the home of many a famous classical musician, filled with baroque buildings and other old world gems, but it is also where one of my favourite directors Richard Linklater shot his beloved film: Before Sunrise. Ethan Hawke and July Delphy play Jesse and Celine, two young people who meet by chance on a train and decide to spend a day together wandering through Vienna.

So naturally I'm interested to know where they strolled, which cafe they stopped in, which park they slept in, etc. A quick google search brought me to this page, a concise list of which scenes were shot where, and all linked to google maps!

The main site is called Filmaps at http://www.filmaps.com/ It allows you to search by city or by movie. Just a little added dimension to your travels.

I'm sure no one will be surprised to learn I'm gonna be all over the Sound of Music locations in Salzburg!

Crowds Don't Gather Without A Reason

I've spent today reading "To do" and "Not to do" lists for cities that I plan to visit, and I've found almost all of the latter repeatedly advises not to follow the most popular sight-seeing routes, and do not go where the herds of tourists go. While there are some practical justifications for this -- it's crowded, line-ups are long, and food is expensive -- I have to rebut with "the crowds are there for a reason".

How many times have you walked by a restaurant with a patient crowd milling out front, that turns out to serve great food or offer terrific value? Or there's a circle formed on the street because of a particularly captivating street performer putting on a show? I'm not saying crowds don't gather for silly or negative reasons, but don't be so quick to dismiss the masses.

In Singapore there are many markets with endless food hawkers, the way to figure out what's good is to observe and see where the locals go. The most popular places are the ones with the longest lines. I also found my favourite sandwich and wine lunch spot in Florence that way. I was heading towards the Uffizi art museum from the Duomo one day, looking for a quick bite before an afternoon at the gallery when I saw all these people standing/sitting on the curb on a side street, from students to suits, all of them chatting, eating, and drinking wine. After the line that seemed to stem from a hole in the wall thinned out, I realized it was a sandwich stand and that was the day I fell in love with I Due Fratellini

Even in situations of more questionable enjoyment, sometimes you want to see sights/monuments just for the sake of saying you've seen them. The Mona Lisa in the Lourve for example. She's small, roped off, and that room is always packed and full of cameras being waved in the air. You would think it was Brad Pitt there instead of da Vinci's iconic face, which you can't even photograph properly because there's a pane of glass that causes a glare if you try to use a flash. However would many of you consider going to the Lourve and purposely shying away from the Mona Lisa? Probably not.

Each visitor to a foreign place has a different purpose in mind, sometimes it's a little cheesey or a bit of a guilty pleasure, but no sight/event/monument should be avoided just because it's choke full of tourists. The majority of folks probably want to see it for a reason - probably because it's worth seeing! But what's most important is that you identify the most popular attractions, then research them to see if, in fact, you want to wade into the crowds, or if there is an off peak time when the hordes are thinner. When it comes to eating in tourist areas, look at the menu and prices before you sit down, and google some nearby alternatives just in case. A little research and thinking ahead helps you know what you're getting into.

Sleeping with the French...

Ok, this is not nearly as provocative as the title suggests, but helpful to know all the same.

When booking accommodations in Europe (especially at B&B's) you may come across the description "French Double Bed", a term most of us North Americans aren't so familiar with.  A quick search pulled up this description:

Commonly called "un grand lit" in French, the French double bed is another characteristically French item.  A French bed is smaller than a double bed, measuring 115 cm to 140 cm. It is larger than a twin bed, so a person may fit more comfortably in a french bed. The French bed is meant for a single person, since it may be rather small to fit two people. It is meant to provide a better sleeping experience for the single person, or a cozy experience for a couple.

So, something to keep in mind when you're booking a room on the cheap overseas and you and your buddy aren't prepared to do some serious spooning... ;)

Terrific Tips from a Travel Pro

No, not from me although Christine Estima is every bit as fabulous as I am ;)  She's an accomplished writer, blogger, playwright, reality show star and world traveller several times over.  And now she's gone and written a concise and informative article entitled "Stree-Free Ways to Vacation on a Tight Budget" full of pointers and recos that I abide by religiously when I travel.

This is the link to the original article.  I've also pasted the text below (with my own two cents after that!)

Traveling might be the only incurable virus that I’m happy to have; it’s infected my brain, and I’ll never stop longing for more! Most of us want to travel and see the world, but not all of us have the bank notes to support our habit (I mean: treat our virus). Luckily, travel doesn’t have to be a wallet-emptying experience. There are lots of ways to cut costs without cheapening the experience. If your travel agent hasn’t filled you in on the cost-effective goods, fire her arse and consider this list your bible:

Discount Airlines: Made popular in Europe, discount airlines are popping up in North America too, and even major airlines are offering sweet deals on some of their carriers. WestJet offers discounted flights and vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and even Cuba (you’ll have to fly through Canada first and then to Cuba, but trust me, Havana is worth it). Porter Airlines offers discounted flights to New York, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Myrtle Beach and most major Canadian destinations. If you want to compare discount prices, websites like CheapoAir aggregates all the lowest prices available to online purchases, and offers discount codes at check-out to drop the price even further. If you’re heading to Europe, keep in mind that London is the cheapest city in the entire continent to fly into. Air Transat offers flights for as low as $99 before taxes to London. If you’re willing to forego the direct flight to your European destination, make London your stopover spot, and then hop on one of their discount airlines (Easy Jet, Ryan Air) which can take you to almost any European city for the cost of a cup of Joe (I once flew from London to Seville for one pence, which is maybe equivalent to two cents).

Discount Accommodation: When we were teenagers and in our twenties, we were more than willing to sleep in university dorm rooms or hostel bunk beds. As we mature, there is the tendency to outgrow those ‘slumming it’ ways, and want to actually enjoy a soft comfy bed. Hotels need not be a major cash drain. Websites like Hot Wire keep track of hotel rooms that have become available at the last minute, and offers them at discounted rates, so you can stay in major cities for up to 50% less. If hotels are still too rich for your blood, guesthouses and B&B’s are also great ways to save some coinage.

Rail Passes and Buses: You don’t need to rent a car to get around. Europe has perhaps the best rail network of any continent, and offer a variety of rail passes that will save you money on individual tickets. Overnight trains offer comfy couchettes, and some tickets include the price of a meal. South America offers extensive coach bus services, as does North America. Check out MegaBus, a European bus company that recently launched in North America, for coach bus seats selling as low as $1.

Gear: When it comes to packing, you want to pack as light as possible, especially when lugging a suitcase up a flight of stairs, or a really steep road. Packing gear that is multi-functional will save you space and migraines. A Swiss Army Knife is a vital tool (but make sure you pack it in your checked luggage, not your carry-on!). It can act as scissors, a can opener, a knife to cut food, a bottle opener, and even a nail file. Garbage bags or plastic bags are good to have, as you can throw your dirty laundry in them to keep separate from your clean clothes. They can also go over your luggage if it rains, and they’re handy for packing muddy boots. You don’t want to carry heavy shampoo bottles or moisturizers that will just take up space and weigh you down. Hold on to those free samples you get in the mail, or at the mall, as they are perfect single-serving toiletries, and there’s no bottle to carry around after you use them. A money belt is great to keep your passport and valuables safe, but there’s the risk that thieves will target you, as fanny-packs=tourist. Make sure you always wear it under your clothes.

Money: You don’t need travelers cheques, they’re not accepted everywhere, contrary to popular belief, so don’t waste your money on them. No matter where you travel, you’ll find an automated bank machine, especially at airports and train stations. The only extra fees for using them normally are determined by your bank (some will waive them entirely), and you won’t have to carry around any more money than what you’ll use.

Food: Of course you should sample the local cuisine, no matter where you go, but you don’t have to eat out every night. Hit the local farmer’s market or grocery store, and make your own meals. Make it an excuse to pack a picnic and eat at the National Parks or summery beaches.

Tours: Who says you have to pay for a tour? Most guidebooks, like Lonely Planet, offer detailed maps and backstories on major city sights, so follow along on foot, and see the attractions while dropping some extra weight. Hope on a bike, and cruise along rivers, boardwalks, and city landmarks. What’s more, there are even free walking tours now. Sandeman’s New Europe offers free walking tours in 13 cities across the continent. I’ve taken three of them, and I highly recommend. They are at least two hours, they are detailed, and they are really a great way to meet other travelers, learn a bit, and enjoy the city (Psst. The guides only make money from tips, so show your appreciation with a few Euros).

In addition to Christine's great advice:

-Aside from London, cities in Scotland and Paris are also very cheap cities to fly into.  Depending on your subsequent destinations, you can check whether Ryan Air or EasyJet operates flights from these airports, as they may be more geographically convenient for your itinerary.  Transat is currently offering a crazy deal from Toronto to Hamburg for the end of June, that's another city that Transat often offers deals to - which is a short train ride to Northern Europe compared to London/Paris/etc.

-Rail Europe's Canadian website is a great one-stop shop for passes and tickets, especially if it's your first time in Europe.  However they don't actually always offer the best prices and the passes may have restrictions when it comes to some local trains.  If you're super thrifty and brave, give the destination country's rail/bus company site a search and you may come up with much better deals.  Like Megabus a lot of these companies use confirmation numbers instead of hard tickets, so all you need to do is print the email and bring it with you (or even just show it to them off your phone).  You can also book along the way from internet cafes.

-Let me repeat:  The Swiss Army Knife is vital!  And packing it checked luggage even more so.  I use a Swiss Army Card myself, a souvenir from Switzerland, and it's gotten me out of every kind of bind including the time I got overzealous at a Singapore fruit market and bought a papaya the size of my head with no concept of how to eat it (wait, I guess that's not the best example...)  I've also nearly had to part with it a couple times because I forgot to pack it, but the beauty of a card tool versus the regular 'knife' is that I was able to dash into the post office and mail the card home to myself for very cheap.

If there's anything Douglas Adams taught us, it was to always bring your towel.  In addition to that I would throw in a spork and some hand sanitizer and bon voyage!

Manhattan Movie Mania

For those who know me personally, you'll know that most of my paycheques are spent on one of 2 things - travel or movies.  And every once in a while the two come together.

The obvious is when I attend different film festivals during my travels, but I also like to do a little movie shopping where ever I go and have much to say on the topic.  For those who are not avid collectors (or travelers), one of the first things is to make sure you'll be able to play what you buy overseas at home.  I have a region-free DVD player for this purpose, though most DVDs will play on a computer, blu-rays are much trickier (though all-region blu-ray players seem to be getting cheaper).  If you're still unsure, then your safest bet is to buy all your movies within North America.  Foreign films are usually easiest to find in the country from which they originate, just make sure they have English subtitles or you understand the original language.  Also if you're an anti-fullscreen fanatic like me, it's worthwhile to learn the word for "widescreen" (if you don't know what the terms "full screen" and "widescreen" mean, we cannot continue to be friends until you've read this.) and keep in mind anything from the early 50's or older will not be widescreen, so they're safe to buy indiscriminately. Many countries impose fines or penalties if you are caught with bootleg movies, therefore I don't encourage purchasing unlicensed discs.

While I was in New York last month, I made an effort to check out a few stores, where I came across some bargains and rare finds.  Note:  These are not your slick large chain stores with the shiny displays of the lastest Fast & Furious movie, expect a little grim, have some patience, and be prepared to be surrounded by collector geeks.

The DVD Funhouse is a cramped store on Broadway near Union Square, I found it one night last year on my way to The Strand bookstore (which is almost kiddie corner from this place).  They feature a good - but incomplete - selection of steeply discounted movies.  Most discs are new, they stock mostly DVDs with a little Blu-ray, and the majority of the titles are all under $10.  If I had to guess, I would say these are excess stock of blockbusters from years past that never sold at larger retailers.  I've amused at the horrible reviews this place gets on google, it's a discount store for bargain movie hunters, not an HMV.  As a frequenter of Union Square, I intend to stop by here every visit, I think it's a good spot for deals. 

Also nearby is an Entertainment Outlet, with a wider selection than DVD Funhouse including more obscure & classic titles.  This place requires a LOT of patience though, be prepared to crouch and flip through bins.  There are walls of new regular-prices movies, discounted $5.99 (average) titles in the middle aisles, and steeply discounted $3.99 DVDs in bins sitting on the floor (the latter two in no particular order).  They sell a mix of new and used movies, again mostly DVD, but they do have some blu-rays and even a Criterion section.  I would recommend this place for avid collectors, bring some hand sanitizer though as the cases are dusty.

Academy Records is another collector's haven, though they advertise a movie selection this place is more of a music collector's dream, especially if you buy records and/or are a fan of classical/jazz/older music.  I only glanced at the classical section and found it not only separated by composer but also by musical period (ie. mideval, pre-classical, etc. which blew my mind).  Video-wise there are a lot of DVDs of classical music performances, but when it comes to actual movies, the DVD/Blu-ray selection is a bit slim.

All of the above are good spots, but be prepared to leave your heart and life savings behind at Kim's Video in the East Village.  Odds are, if you've ever searched for it fruitlessly, it'll be here.  For those who frequented Suspected Video on Queen Street before it burned down :( Kim's is just like Suspect except everything is for purchase!  It's roughly the same size, building in a similar state of disrepair (haha) with titles organized by country, then director with special sections for new releases, blu-rays, eras, and other special collections.  For North American titles they are separated by decade.  There are collections here I never knew existed, things I would never have thought to search for even on-line!  If you're into old hollywood there are complete studio collections from the Hollywood Code era, silent era, etc.  Everything is full price but you'll want to buy it anyway, this is one of my new favourite places in NYC.

Ich verstehe nicht

I received my first piece of German correspondence today.  It came in the form of an email ticket confirmation, presumably containing details for a Cirque du Soleil show I'm going to see in Salzburg this fall.  I was highly amused about being addressed as Frau Wong, less so about getting all my ticket pick-up details in a language that I had no hope of deciphering.

Thank god for Goggle translate.  In this age of smartphones, one would also be wise to keep a translation app on their phone as well.  Next up I'd like to see some technology where I can snap a photo of a foreign sign and have it deciphered for me.  Those of you who are less tech-dependent, or just don't want to pay crazy data charges, I would suggest looking over all travel confirmations, bookings, tickets and directions before you leave and printing off translated copies.  Keep the 2 versions stapled together, one for you to refer to, the other in case you need to show it to someone in that country for further information.

Phrase books never hurt anyone either, but when it comes to those, pricier isn't always better.  Every book as the essentials, it's just a matter of finding it in a pinch.  Go to a used book store or discount book store (in Toronto that means BMV) and see what they got, flip through before your trip and flat the pages you think you're most likely to use.  Alternatively make up your own list with Goggle Translate and print a copy to take with you.

Some words/phrases I make a point to learn:

I don't know
I don't understand
washroom/toilet
thank you
yes
no
English
cup of tea please
hot water please (as I usually bring my own tea when I travel)
no beef (because I don't eat it)

Toronto to Vancouver for less than $500? *brain explodes*

Consider this an elaborate re-tweet.  I was just going through this week's Travel Alerts email and followed a link for cheap flights to Vancouver between Jun 16-21st on Sun Wing Airlines (which I'm not familiar with).  It looks like the real deal with a return flight leaving June 16th, and coming back June 21st for $482.01.

I couldn't even get a flight under $600 when I went flew to Vancouver 10 years ago!

So if you're budgeted for an extended weekend getaway next month I suggest you check this deal out, doesn't come up too often.

http://www.flysunwing.com/default.asp