Blogs

Tipping rules vary around the world by country, region and scenario. It can be very confusing for travellers especially those of us from North America who are used to tipping fairly generously. Before you travel, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with customs and expectations in your destination country, including rules about tipping. When you are travelling here is a guideline for tipping. Restaurant Meals (between 5-15% of the bill depending on the type of restaurant and local custom) Hotel Concierge (up to $30 per day for special services such as getting you difficult to get resta...

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Finally we did it! A bike tour – a bike with two wheels and human powered that is. My boyfriend has for a few years now been suggesting that we go a biking holiday. Me, I’m no hard core biker, so wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up. However we were going to England for a friend’s wedding and to see my cousin and well, we had 5 days that we didn’t have a plan for. The Exodus/Headwater Dorset and the Jurassic Coast self guided bike trip had caught my eye and well, it fitted into our schedule quite nicely. I reviewed the rating ‘leisurely’ and decided that this was a sign that I need to try t...

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What an incredible event to be associated with – Girl Guides SOAR (Spirit of Adventure Rendezvous) which this year was held in beautiful Smithers, BC. The event takes place every 3 years in B.C. and over 2,000 girls from across the Province, as well as visiting Guides from around the world, make the journey to the chosen destination. My team and I at Personal Travel Management (“PTM”) were both thrilled and honoured to be selected to help arrange the flights and ground transportation for a large portion of the attendees. This was a first for B.C. SOAR, but was deemed necessary due to the remo...

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It has been 8 months in the making for PTM, but 3 years for our client and it all comes down to today SOAR 2017! Every 3 years Girl Guides has this enormous camp out for a week. This year it is in Smithers. Personal Travel Management has organised the flights for close to 1,500 guiders and 200 volunteers from the lower mainland to Smithers. I am currently in Smithers, having flown up with 87 of the volunteers and the feeling is electric. Ladies of all ages are just so excited to be at camp and with other like minded individuals. Yesterday I toured through the campground – which was yet to b...

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Up until recently, Turkey’s popularity as a travel destination placed it among the most visited countries in the world. The well preserved historical sights, unusual geographical landscapes and a culture that fuses East & West make this country a fascinating and unique place to visit. Unfortunately, recent political events have tarnished Turkey’s reputation as a safe and inviting place to travel to, and as a result, visitor numbers there have dropped dramatically. Like Egypt before it, Turkey’s tourism industry has suffered as a result of sensationalized news stories. Isolated incidents o...

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It was early April when I visited India for the first time. After so much negative and scary rhetoric I must admit that I was a little nervous in anticipation – ok, a lot nervous! They say it feels like you’ll meet the population of the entire world on arrival at Delhi airport, and that sounded daunting. [But] exploring Kerala and Delhi will certainly count as one of my great adventures!…

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Looking for a superb dive, snorkeling, fishing & kayaking destination? I can highly recommend Belize. I just returned from an amazing 10 day holiday in Belize. This is the second time that I have visited Belize and this time we decided to stay at Joe Jo’s Resort on Tobacco Caye a tiny remote 4 acre island. The island has a permanent population of about 20 but sees a steady stream of visitors to it’s four small resorts. Tobacco Caye is truly a little slice of heaven. It is situated right on the Belize Barrier Reef, a series of coral reefs just off the coastline of Belize. The Belize Barri...

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CruiseCompete has released its list of seven reasons why travelers should consider taking an inaugural cruise, noting that avid cruisers often add these voyages to the top of their vacation lists due to the many perks and bonuses of the sailings. There are currently 79 ships scheduled to debut from 2017 to 2020. CruiseCompete’s list of seven things to love about an inaugural cruises includes: 1. Global Celebrations- Depending on the significance of the ship, there may be an inaugural ceremony, with guests from all over the world. Additionally, the arrival of a new ship in port may be cause fo...

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