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  1. The best winter vacations

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    Winter is rarely anyone’s favourite season but it doesn’t have to be dreary days and frosty nights for months on end while we wait for summer to come back around. You can’t stop the snow from falling so why not take advantage of it by booking yourself a luxurious winter vacation in one of the world’s top ski resorts? Here are our top destinations for a bit of winter fun.

    Banff, Canada

    Home to three separate resorts that offer thousands of acres of skiing terrain as well as a thriving community packed with bars and restaurants, Banff is perfect for people who want a mix of flawless slopes and evening entertainment. As if that wasn’t enough, Banff is pretty hard to beat when it comes to scenery, so be sure to spend some time marvelling at the beauty of the Rockies in between runs.

    Breckenridge, USA

    An excellent spot for beginners and pros alike, Breckenridge has a huge number of lifts and trails, which cater to all skiing abilities. The resort also has four different parks so if you want to get the adrenaline pumping then you need look no further.

    Sapporo, Japan

    Japan is steadily rising in popularity among powder hounds and Sapporo is among the crème-de-la-crème of Japanese ski resorts. Those who have had the pleasure of skiing here have lauded the resort’s consistent and deep swathes of powder. Also, being one of Japan’s largest cities, there is plenty of fun to be had off-piste so your winter vacation fun doesn’t have to stop when the slopes close.

    Val d’Isère, France

    Val d’Isère is truly a snow-lovers paradise with a multitude of slopes that are neatly linked, making the resort wholly accessible – a must for stress-free skiing. With breath-taking views of the Alps in the background, this French beauty queen offers more than a few photo opportunities so you can take the best of your winter vacation home with you. In the evenings, be sure to make the most of the fine-dining scene and the raucous nightlife.

    Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

    There’s a lot more to Italy than its fantastic food and staggering art collection. For first-time skiiers and those looking for a more low-key vibe, there are few places on earth that beat Cortina d’Ampezzo. The skiing here is top notch and there are over a hundred runs to keep you occupied throughout the entirety of your winter vacation. When you’ve worn yourself out, settle in for the evening with a glass of vino and a bowl of delicious spaghetti.

  2. Top 10 Things to do in Miami

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    Top 10 Things to do in Miami

    Welcome to Miami – the hip and happening Floridian city of Cubanos, heady nightclubs and stunning beaches. If you are looking for things to do in Miami then look no further, this ultimate guide will give you the ten must-see Miami attractions to make sure that your visit to the sunny city of the south satisfies your every need.

    1. Chill out on South Beach

    The iconic South Beach is the place to begin your Miami adventure. This long strip of glistening white sand is one of Miami’s most beautiful sights and is filled its most exciting flavors. Watch a game of beach volleyball, envy the super-fit as they roller skate along the promenade or simply sunbathe in your best swimsuit.

    2. Eat a Cubano in Little Havana

    Little Havana is the must-visit neighborhood of Miami. A stone’s throw away from South Beach, Little Havana is home to thousands of Cuban migrants who have made Miami their own. Tuck into a juicy Cubano sandwich, take in the smell of Cuban cigars or watch an intense game of dominoes in Maximo Gomez Park.

    3. Dance in a nightclub

    Miami is known for its extravagant nightlife and non-stop party scene. Whether you want to partner up in a salsa club and take in a live band or experience electronic dance music played by world-famous DJs in super-clubs on South Beach, Miami is the place to do it.

    4. See Art Deco architecture

    Miami is the capital of Art Deco and its Art Deco District is ideal for budding photographers and historians alike. These perfectly-preserved 1930s buildings in their wonderful pastel hues lie in the heart of the modern city and provide some real Miami history.

    5. Shop at Bayside Marketplace

    Miami is world-famous for its shopping malls and Bayside Marketplace is a shopper’s paradise. Located on the Miami Waterfront not only can you purchase some incredible souvenirs, the latest fashions and grab a bite to eat here, but you also get some of the most stunning views of the beach and waterfront.

    6. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

    Step back in time at Miami’s Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an enormous mansion decorated with priceless exhibits and artifacts. The former home of James Deering, the estate dates back to 1916 and has been an important location for a number of famous events throughout history including a visit by Elizabeth II and the Pope.

    7. Visit the zoo

    Zoo Miami is a unique cageless zoo and the ultimate way to see wild animals in their near-real natural habitats. Ideal for a family day out, the zoo features over 2,000 animals and visitors take a safari track to see them in their open-air environments.

    8. Miami Children’s Museum

    The interactive exhibits on display at the Miami Children’s Museum are state-of-the-art educational and entertainment tools perfect for the whole family. Move seamlessly on a journey of exploration through galleries detailing communication, arts, culture and community.

    9. Dine like a movie star

    For Miami’s best steak and to sit among the ghosts of Hollywood’s greatest stars, including Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, be sure to book a table at The Forge. Try to time your meal and book a weekly dinner party, which features additional live music and dinner specials.

    10. Take a trip to the Everglades

    The diverse swamp lands of the Everglades are just a short drive from Miami and worth a day trip. Take a guided boat ride through the waters or walk along boardwalks and spot crocodiles, snakes,

  3. How to get Car Rental Upgrades

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    There is no real strategy to getting car rental upgrades if you don’t rent a car very often. Like airlines, car rental companies like to treat their most frequent and loyal customers with perks such as an upgraded vehicle.

    Don’t set your hopes on getting a Mercedes Benz, Porsche, or BMW when you’ve booked a Ford. A car rental upgrade can mean you’re bumped up from a midsize vehicle to a full size or sometimes even an SUV. Though it all depends on what’s on the lot.

    Rent Often, Be Loyal

    The best way to get a car rental upgrade is to join a loyalty program. Most car rental companies will sign you up for free, but don’t expect that upgrade just for becoming a member. Unlike airlines, though, chances of getting a better car than the one you booked are higher than scoring a business class seat on your next flight when you’ve booked economy.

    National probably has one of the best upgrade schemes we’ve experienced, where members of the Emerald Club can pick any car on the lot (in a designated area) and go, at a growing number of locations. This approach often means that there’s a wide variety of cars available in all categories. I think our ‘best’ upgrade form a mid-size was a Mercedes-Benz C300 or a BMW X5, but these are rare. Expect to have your pick of some Full-Size cars.

    Why do we get Car Rental Upgrades?

    It’s all about supply and demand. An airline knows how many of what kind of seat it will have on a flight, and it knows at what time the passengers should be showing up. Rental Car companies, though they ask you for an arrival time, don’t know what time you and all their other customers will show up exactly. So it’s up to them to balance the cars they have (which may have to be driven into that location from an outside lot) with the people they expect to turn up.

    That might mean that during a busy period there are only SUV’s left on the lot and that’s what they’ll give you. For some this might be fun car rental upgrade but if you’re conscious about fuel consumption not so much. If you’re not happy with the vehicle you’ve been assigned, ask what else they have available. If nothing, then you should ask when they expect to have a more suitable vehicle available. Most companies will let you swap your ride without asking any questions. Just remember to fill up the tank before you return any vehicle.

  4. International business class on regional or domestic flights

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    Some airlines may choose to fly a luxury product on shorter flights. Think of AA’s Flagship service, or United’s P.S. flights. These are products designed for that market, but if you had the choice of flying a regional jet or a twin-aisle with fully flat beds, which would you choose? There’s a quirk in international passenger aviation that allows for airlines to fly larger jets on some rather short routes. This is known as a fifth freedom flight.

    When an airline has fifth freedom rights, it is allowed to fly from its home country to a destination, pick up passengers at that destination, and fly them on to a third country. There are a number of reasons for these flights. The plane may not be able to reach the final destination and it has to stop to refuel (consider Singapore Airlines’ service to New York via Frankfurt), or perhaps the market just doesn’t sustain two separate flights so the route is combined.

    Either way, there are some interesting flights to be done on international carriers. Here’s a look at a few of them:

    Vancouver to New York on Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines

    Cathay Pacific is able to fly passengers non-stop from its base in Hong Kong to both of these cities individually, but the airline maintains its flight between Canada’s West Coast city to the Big Apple. For passengers looking to fly in international first class, this trans-continental journey can be a good deal using points if you can find the availability. Philippine Airlines also will fly passengers between New York and Vancouver, but if you’re looking to get to Manilla this is a stop you can’t skip.

    Madrid-Frankfurt on Latam

    In Europe, there’s a flight operated by LATAM Chile that flies between Frankfurt and Madrid. If you would like to have a fully-flat bed for this relatively short flight, you are in luck if you can get a seat on Latam’s 787-dreamliner

    Island Hopping in the Caribbean

    British Airways still offer a number of flights between islands in the Caribbean including between Antigua and St. Kitts, Nassau to Grand Cayman, and a few others. These schedules do vary.

  5. Earning Elite Status with three US Airlines

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    American Airlines

    New to 2017 for the Aadvantage program is a spending requirement to earn Elite status. To qualify, passengers must earn at least 25,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and spend at least $3,000 in Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs).
    American Airlines will let you earn up to $6,000 dollars in EQDs by spending at least $50,000 on their branded credit card. If you only spend up to $25,000 on the card you’ll have to make do with $3,000 in credit. So if you’re looking to earn Executive Platinum status with American Airlines, you’ll have to fork out over $12,000 before taxes to meet the threshold, or $6000 to American + $50,000 spend on your credit card.

    Delta

    To qualify for medallion status on Delta you will need at least 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and you’ll have had to spend $3000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). So that doesn’t mean that all the miles you earn on your flight will automatically count towards elite status, nor does it mean that your entire ticket cost will count as your MQD spend. The fine print defines MQMs and MQDs pretty rigidly so you’ll have to do your homework to make sure you are going to qualify.
    One thing delta does do, is give its SkyMiles members outside of the US a break. These customers don’t have to meet the MQD requirements. Holders of a Delta-branded American Express card can also be exempt from the MQD requirements for their tier if they spend at least $25,000 on the card in a year.
    Delta will also roll-over miles earned above the qualification threshold to next year.

    United Airlines

    To earn premier status in United’s frequent flyer program, Mileage Plus, you’ll need to earn 25,000 Premier Qualifying Miles (PQMs), and spend $3,000 Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQDs) within the calendar year. Pretty much the same as Delta, but the website doesn’t list exemptions for non-US residents and credit card customers.

  6. Why are none of the busiest air routes in the world in the USA?

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    For many, the end of December is a big time to travel. In the US, the Department of Transportation notes that the number long distance trips taken increases by 23% around Christmas. This is less than around Thanksgiving, but still enough to put a strain on transit infrastructure during this period. With so many people travelling in the US not just around the holidays, but on a regular basis you may expect that the busiest air travel routes in the world would be found here. They’re not.
    In terms of the numbers of passengers carried, not a single US air route (domestic or international) makes it in to the list of the top busiest routes published by OAG. The numbers presented are based on seat capacity and not passengers flown. However, we believe seat capacity is a key metric.

    Busiest, domestic or international routes?

    Before we get to the list, there’s another area to look at when it comes to the busiest routes, are they domestic or international? Not only are there more barriers for passengers wanting to fly internationally (think visas and passport control), governments and airlines need to work out agreements that allow passenger carriage to take place. Perhaps unsurprisingly so, the busiest routes in the world by seat capacity are almost all domestic routes.

    Why is the US not in the top-10?

    Perhaps one of the key reasons why US routes don’t make it in to the top 10 is because the country is so big. While that would probably mean that there is more reason to fly, it also means that there are more options. Many of the routes in the top 10 are in countries that are smaller than the US. Looking at all the major US carriers, they each have multiple hubs spread throughout the country and traffic isn’t funneled into one channel. To get from New York to LA, for instance, you can fly direct, but there are options to connect you in Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, and the list goes on. Point to Point air travel isn’t as big in the US as in other countries. Capacity is spread out in the US, and not concentrated. And where there are very frequent connections, the aircraft are usually a lot smaller.

  7. The declining service of airlines

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    United Airlines has recently announced a new fare structure where perks such as free seat selection, and even overhead bin space will now be available for a fee. It’s no secret that airlines have been making a mint out of ancillary fees. Increased competition from low cost carriers and the travellers desire for the lowest possible fares are driving the established players to adopt a new model to remain profitable. Here we have a look at some of the things that may now cost you money on your next flight.
    Seat Selection – even at online check-in
    In the past all seats were created equal. Passengers could reserve most seats simply by request, and there was always a wide selection of seats available at the airport. Granted sometimes it meant getting up at an odd hour of day and trying to be first to check in as soon as online check in opened, but there was choice. Now, ever more airlines are making you fork over for the privilege of selecting a seat in advance of the flight. Some like United Airlines and British Airways even going so far as to not give the passengers in the lowest fare classes seat selection at all but just allocating the seats at check-in.
    Meals
    For many airlines gone are the days of a free meal. Of course, not all flights had a meal service; but this was the first area where airlines started to scale back to reduce costs. Urban legend, or truth: many people can recall the story that shaving a single olive off a salad saved lots of money for the airlines. So now if you want it, you’re going to have to pay for it separately.
    Baggage (even some carry-on)
    When you buy a plane ticket you are purchasing transportation for yourself from point a to b. airlines used to consider that if you’re flying somewhere you are probably going for an extended period of time and you’ll need to bring more than what can fit in a backpack. So they threw in a suitcase or two of space for you to take clothes. Weight limits have been around for as long as this writer can remember, and going over that meant forking up; but now that first Samsonite in the hold will cost you regardless.
    What it boils down to is what is included in the price of your airline ticket. Air fares have dropped and so has the level of service. Splitting out the components of the travel experience are giving consumers a pick and pay menu of what

  8. Things to do at your destination

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    We talk a lot about getting to your destination and let’s face it; it’s an important part of your trip. But your trip wouldn’t be much if you didn’t have anything to do when you get there. Getting inspiration on what to do can be easy for some places, such as visiting a Broadway show in New York, or seeing a concert in Las Vegas. We’ve partnered with AwesomeSeating.com to take a look at some of the things you can do and the best way to get tickets to these events. AwesomeSeating.com offers great deals and access to tickets for many major events with a 100% Order Guarantee.

    New York – Theatre shows

    There is no shortage of things to do in New York, and one of the most popular activities for visitors to the city is to catch a show on, or off Broadway. One of the longest running shows currently on Broadway is the Lion King. It debuted in 1997 in Minneapolis, but quickly made its way to Broadway, opening on October 15, 1997. Lion King Tickets NYC

    Las Vegas – Concerts

    Many of the world’s biggest performers host regular shows in Las Vegas when they’re not on tour, so rather than waiting for your favourite performer to come to you, why not go to them and enjoy the many other attractions that Las Vegas has to offer as well. For Example, you could get tickets to go seeElton John! Look for the “Million Dollar Piano” tickets to find his Vegas shows.

    Many other cities – Sports Events

    Few things compare to the local experience you get when you go to a sporting event in a destination city. Let’s face it; many Chicagoans are happy now that a 108-year drought has ended for the Chicago Cubs so you can bet that next year ticket sales will go through the roof. Visiting Chicago? Get your tickets here: Chicago Cubs Tickets. With the holidays coming up, getting an early start on tickets might not be a bad gift-idea! Or if baseball isn’t your fancy, have a look at the many other sporting events and other tickets you can get on AwesomeSeating.com Buy Tickets For Sports, Concerts & Theatre Events.

  9. My flight is delayed!

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    Many travellers face delays and cancellations. For the airlines, these are a daily occurrence and airline staff take care of rerouting and accommodating people on different flights. So what if this happens to you?
    In Europe, and increasingly in many other countries; there are consumer protections on what your rights are and what the airlines’ obligations are when dealing with a cancelled flight. The most important thing to remember is that the airline has the duty to honour your ticket and get you to your destination. It is also always wise to have travel insurance. Many credit cards will automatically provide insurance for your trip but be sure to read the policy and make sure you know what’s covered. Another option is to buy trip-specific insurance policies; or take out a multi-trip annual plan. Insurance can help you where the airline will not by refunding you for hotels and accommodation; or even if you have to buy a return ticket on another airline. Be sure to check with your provider to see what is covered.
    Airlines in the US have differing policies on when they will provide accommodation. If the circumstances are beyond the airline’s control, you’re usually on your own to rely on your travel insurance for coverage. Make sure you get a statement from the airline with the reason for the cancellation, and keep all receipts.
    It helps if you do your homework a bit and look at the other flights yourself so you can present them with the options. Just presenting the staff with the options doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to make the changes, but it shows that you are trying to think with them and you’re doing some of the leg work.

  10. Holiday Travel Options

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    The busy holiday travel season is just around the corner again. In the past we’ve looked at the best tips to get you to your destination whether it’s thanksgiving travel, or Christmas travel; many of us will be hitting the roads and taking to the skies again this winter. With so many options for holiday travel we thought we’d look some of the different types of holidays you can have.

    Stay-cationing with Family

    If you live far away from your family and you don’t get to see them often, the holidays form the perfect time to head over and reconnect. Maybe you go to a different family member’s house every year; or perhaps you always converge in the same familiar spot. Your options form part of your own experience and who are we to tell you what to do here. Having a familiar spot to hang your hat during your travels can’t beat even the best of hotels.

    Sun Seekers

    The further north we live, the further south we’re likely to travel in the winter. If, as mentioned above you are visiting family it might be an added bonus that these family members happen to live in a warmer location. Winter is prime time for islands in the Caribbean and the southernmost states in the US because of the warm climates.

    Hitting the slopes

    Whereas some people do what they can to avoid the snow, others seek it out. The more of the fluffy white stuff, the better. Skiing and snowboarding are heavily dependent on the season and it should be no surprise that winter is the best time to carve some powder. For those who are dragged along but don’t like to hit the slopes, many mountain towns and ski resorts offer a wide range of other activities and facilities such as spas and hot springs to pass time.

    Taking to the Seas

    A cruise can be a great way to spend a vacation. You typically get to sail around and see different ports while your floating hotel takes you there while you sleep. Modern cruise ships are known for their luxuries and fine dining, and you will be spoiled and pampered on your journey. You’ll certainly miss the daily turndown service and wish you could take all the staff that made your journey so comfortable home with you.