Asia, Europe, N. America, Travel Advice

Top 10 Safest Countries and Destinations 2016

Worried about safety when travelling?  Consider these countries for your next trip to ease your anxieties.

 

#10 Canada

A video posted by Rain Travels (@ra_raines) on

Although many see Canada as being very similar to the U.S.A., there are a lot of differences between the two countries.  Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world and one of the lowest unemployment rates.  It rarely sees acts of terrorism, although some of its major cities have a minor amount of violent crime.  Overall, Canadians are very open, multicultural, and welcoming and unlike their U.S. neighbours, have strict gun laws.

 

#9 Slovenia
Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia experienced its violent uprising in the 90s, but has since emerged as one of the safest nations in the world. The country now rarely sees violent protests, engages in few international conflicts, and has low crime rates.  Known for both its coastline and scenic alps, there is something for everyone in this up and coming country.

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Travel Advice

Using a Travel Agent is Important and Why Millennials are Increasingly Doing So.

A new report released by the American Society of Travel Agents (which reached out to 14,000 households) suggests that U.S. Millennial travellers are increasingly turning towards travel agents to book their holidays. Per the report, 30 per cent of Millennials have booked through a travel agent, while another 45 per cent of Millennials polled also said they would recommend a travel agent to a friend.

“At this point, consumers have tried it all – they’ve booked online, they’ve gone direct, and they’ve used a travel agent,” said ASTA president Zane Kerby in a statement. “This study dispels once and for all the myth that booking direct with suppliers or spending hours online yourself gets you a better deal or gives you a happier travel experience. In short, if you want a better travel experience, use an agent.”

Although this statement is slightly biased due to the releasing organization, it does reinforce the many advantages of using a travel agent, which include:

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Travel Advice

Nextdepature.ca Review and Why You Need to Sign-up Now!

If you’re a fan of flight deal websites, you should sign-up for NextDepature.ca immediately! Even if you don’t read the rest of this post, you won’t be disappointed.

NextDepature.ca, similar to YYZdeals.ca, scans almost all routes that involve Canadian airports and post about flights and packages that are showing above-average discounts. The thing that it does well is its regular updates/communication of these finds through email, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

So who can benefit from this site? Mostly Millennials, who are known to be spontaneous travellers, and anyone that’s still in the early stages of deciding their next vacation destination. Sometimes, the best way to decide where you’re going next is to let a good flight deal decide for you.

Some recent finds include:
BUSINESS CLASS DEAL: Canada to Germany – Starting $1489 CAD
Toronto to San Jose, Costa Rica for only $370 CAD round-trip
Flight+Hotel Deal: Starting $450 CAD – 7 night stay at the Sonesta Kura Village & Spa in Curacao
Calgary to Copenhagen or Paris & Iceland for only $652 inc tax | Icelandair

For a list of active deals, head over to NextDepature.ca now!

Travel Advice

Why KLM is Winning and Five Reasons Why You Should be Flying with Them.

For those of you that are sick of the poor service and unreliability of North American airlines, KLM is a must-consider alternative. I had the privilege of flying with them by fluke from Toronto (YYZ) to Florence (FLO) this spring and I can honestly say they gave a very good first impression!

If you’re looking to reduce your flying frustrations, below is how KLM is winning over customers and the flight game.  Also, be sure to sign-up for their eNewsletter to get notified of some great flight deals (I just booked Toronto to Berlin return in business class for $1500CAD).

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Travel Advice

Top Destination for Women – Bologna, Italy

It may seem odd that a I am writing about a women-friendly destination, but it was something that really stood out to me during my recent visit to Bologna, Italy.  I was fortunate enough to be invited by Emilia Romagna Region Tourist Board and Bologna Welcome to discover the beautiful region and although everyone should still take the usual precautions, out of all the cities I’ve visited so far, I would argue Bologna falls in the top three alongside Tokyo and Berlin.

One general explanation for this could be the strong middle class in Bologna. With a strong manufacturing base including the Lamborghini and Ducati factories alongside its packaging machinery industry, Bologna has a strong economy to compliment its family focused culture. With this, throw in the fact that Bologna is a very LGBT friendly city with roots going back to the ‘70s, it’s no wonder I couldn’t help but notice the openness of the people.

Alongside the above, here are five other more reasons why Bologna, Italy is a must-visit for all female travellers.

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Travel Advice

Kontiki or Contiki – Which is it?

If you’re looking for the 18-35 tour company, you’re looking for Contiki.  Kontiki Tours will lead you to various different travel agencies.

So how and why is Contiki so popular?  It really comes down to the passion of the tour leaders.  For each tour I have taken, you can tell that the tour leaders are willing to go above and beyond to ensure your trip is comfortable and amazing.

If you’re trying to compare between Contiki and other tour operators like G Adventures and Intrepid, see my post here.  Each tour company has advantages and disadvantages.

Want a preview of what to expect from Contiki?  See my many posts below.

Contiki Thailand
Contiki USA
Contiki Europe
Contiki Greek Island Hopping

For general tips, see my post here.

#NoRegrets