Author Archives: Victoria

Toronto-Barcelona

Edit Note: October 5th 2017. Seven years later, I feel my blogging skills have improved, just saying….   The flight from Toronto – Helsinki was pretty uneventful with a lot of sleeping and severe Finnair service. When we arrived at Helsinki Airport we were struck by the number of Finns sitting in the lounges drinkingContinue reading “Toronto-Barcelona”

28 Days in Europe with the kids

Seven years ago I traveled through Europe with my then 13, 10 and 7 year old kids. It was an amazing adventure through Spain, France, The Netherlands and Finland. We traveled using local transport, stayed off the beaten path and had a simply incredible month. I blogged about it when I could, using my EuropeanContinue reading “28 Days in Europe with the kids”

Review of Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, Jamaica.

So it has taken me a while to write this review. My family and I spent Christmas in Jamaica this year and we had a GREAT time, the weather was great, the countryside beautiful, the Jamaican people are incredible, but my review of Grand Palladium is not glowing. The Grand Palladium is made up ofContinue reading “Review of Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, Jamaica.”

Tokyo in one day?

Tokyo– a city with 38 million residents can be overwhelming when you first arrive. How do you even start to navigate such a huge city?  I recommend a walking tour, it will get your blood moving, and give you a good idea about the lay of a city that really is like 10 mega citiesContinue reading “Tokyo in one day?”

Japan- What’s with the face masks?

So, as I am looking through my media for pictures to post for my next article on Tokyo, I am reminded how many people in Japan wore surgical face masks. The above picture is taken at Shinjuku station at 8:30AM. At first it can be quite unnerving. Is there a mass epidemic that I don’tContinue reading “Japan- What’s with the face masks?”

How to Plan a Trip to Japan.

I like to think I know what I am doing, but man, planning a trip to Japan was a humbling experience. Where to stay? How to get around the country? What is a Japan Rail Pass and is it worth it for a 10 day trip? What the heck is a “Hakone Free Pass”? WhyContinue reading “How to Plan a Trip to Japan.”

48 Hours in Dublin (YYZ-DUB-YYZ)

 So is it worth flying from Toronto to Dublin for a weekend? Absolutely! With non-stop flights on Air Canada and strong tail winds we were in Dublin in a snap, okay 5 1/2 hours. On arrival in Dublin (8:30AM) we were at our hotel (The Morgan) in Temple bar by 10:00AM and ready to getContinue reading “48 Hours in Dublin (YYZ-DUB-YYZ)”

Tips for Travel Blogging.

Ahhh September, the start of my favorite course, “Niche Tourism and Travel.”  In this course we develop Travel Blogs, build Twitter feeds and Create Facebook Pages. Students usually look at me with bewilderment when we start, so in keeping with past advice, I offer you the following tips on how to start. 1) Make sureContinue reading “Tips for Travel Blogging.”

Where to Eat in San Francisco.

When I travel I LOVE to eat. It is always a challenge deciding on where to dine, especially when your travels take you places at the last minute. On our trip to San Francisco we found a few gems that I want to share, obviously in two days I couldn’t be everywhere but I enjoyedContinue reading “Where to Eat in San Francisco.”