December 9, 2021
WESTJET and SWOOP Portable Test Kits
By Claire Newell Dec 9, 2021 Canada’s two largest airlines are now offering customers the…
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December 5, 2021
WHAT TO DO IN LAGUNA BEACH & SURROUNDING AREA
By Claire Newell Dec 4, 2021 I recently had the pleasure of taking the Air…
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December 4, 2021
WHAT TO DO IN ANAHEIM
By Claire Newell Dec 4, 2021 I recently had the pleasure of taking the Air…
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November 23, 2021
Biometrics for Travel
By Claire Newell Nov 23, 2021 The pandemic has helped simplify some processes, but there…
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November 22, 2021
Hawaii Travel Update
By Claire Newell Nov 22, 2021 If you’re planning a trip to the Aloha State…
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November 10, 2021
Travel and Mental Health
By Claire Newell Nov 10, 2021 Finding ways to unwind and prioritize mental health has…
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October 26, 2021
Air Canada Portable Tests
By Claire Newell Oct 26, 2021 One of the biggest challenges for Canadians planning to…
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July 20, 2021
Changes at Airports
There are some significant changes coming to air travel across the country, as the federal…
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July 20, 2021
Changes to Quarantine Requirements
Some very welcome news for Canadians travellers, young and old, regardless of their vaccination status.…
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July 20, 2021
Welcoming Vaccinated Travellers
The long wait to welcome tourists back into Canada will be over in a matter…
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May 18, 2021
Pressure mounts on Canada to come up with a Travel Restart Plan
May 13 2021 Claire discusses how Canada’s national airline carriers are looking to Ottawa for a…
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May 6, 2021
Travel Best Bets: Global support for vaccine passports
May 6 2021 Claire Newell discusses the results of an Ipsos Poll looking at global…
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April 15, 2021
11 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent for Your Next Vacation
North Americans, including many who never worked with a Travel Agent before, are turning to…
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April 15, 2021
Entering Canada via Air or Land
Travellers entering Canada must follow the rules set out by the Emergency Orders under the…
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April 15, 2021
Travel Best Bets: Air Canada Pandemic Relief
April 15 2021 Claire Newell breaks down the details of the federal government’s pandemic relief…
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April 8, 2021
Travel Best Bets: CDC updates travel guidelines
April 8 2021 Claire Newell discusses how travel restrictions have been loosened for those who’ve…
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April 1, 2021
Travel Best Bets: Restoring domestic flights following the pandemic
April 1 2021 Claire Newell discusses what will be happening and where as WestJet and…
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March 25, 2021
Travel Best Bets: Travel for the vaccinated
March 25 2021 Claire Newell discusses what travel opportunities are available for those who are…
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March 18, 2021
Travel Best Bets: Will we be able to travel this summer?
March 18 2021 Don’t write off the summer travel season quite yet. Claire Newell discusses…
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March 11, 2021
Travel Best Bets: International traveler testing
March 11 2021 Claire Newell explains a new COVID-19 protocol is being suggested for international…
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March 4, 2021
Will you need a vaccine passport?
March 4 2021 It’s not required yet but it may soon be if you’re traveling…
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July 15, 2019
Physical Effects of Flying
Although air travel is generally safe, you can experience some not-so-pleasant side-effects up in the…
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June 20, 2019
Becoming a Travel Agent: What’s in it For You?
Why do people work as travel agents? Well, of course that depends on the person,…
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June 3, 2019
Announcing: Travel Best Bets Academy
As someone who has been in the business for 26 years, I’ve seen a lot…
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May 29, 2019
Studying 101
With Travel Best Bets Academy launching soon, I wanted to get you all prepared with…
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May 28, 2019
Planners to Keep Your Studying on Track
In honour of Travel Best Bets Academy launching soon, I wanted to feature some of…
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May 24, 2019
Canada’s Passenger Bill of Rights
The federal government of Canada has announced its air passenger protection regulations, which set out…
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May 2, 2019
Travel Jetiquette
Sometimes air travel is so stressful that it leaves some passengers too frazzled to mind…
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May 2, 2019
Travel Book Club: May Pick
Introducing my May book club pick... Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton. This incredibly…
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April 25, 2019
Items to Always Keep in Your Carry On
Flying so many times over the years on short and long haul flights I have…
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April 18, 2019
Introducing: Travel Book Club
I am so excited to announce my latest project... a book club for our amazing…
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April 12, 2019
Where to go Wine Touring in BC
We BC residents are so lucky to have some incredible wineries right here in our…
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April 12, 2019
Health & Safety Travel Apps You Need
Travel safety is definitely on the forefront of many people’s minds, and unfortunately, no matter…
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April 1, 2019
Travel’s April Fools’ Pranks We Almost Fell For
In case you missed it, today is April 1st, better known as the day where…
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March 30, 2019
Is Canada a No Vacation Nation?
Canada might be one of the world’s most envied nations, but when it comes to…
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March 30, 2019
Travel Upgrades For Your Health
When people hear the words “travel upgrades”, they usually associate them with luxury or the…
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March 22, 2019
Trendiest Destinations for 2019
The online travel site Kayak recently announced their list of the top 10 trendiest travel…
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March 22, 2019
Plane Exercises That Make Flying Less Painful
It's no secret that flying messes with your body. Sitting for hours leaves you at…
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March 22, 2019
Fun Facts about Air Travel
I’ve put together a list of some interesting facts about air travel that are worth…
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March 18, 2019
Pack like a Pro: Interview
If you’ve ever struggled with packing for a getaway, raise your hand. Yup – we’re…
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March 15, 2019
Hiring: Travel Consultant
Travel Best Bets is hiring! We're looking for a go-getter to join our team of…
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March 13, 2019
Boeing 737 MAX 8 Update
As of March 13th, 2019, Canada is grounding all of its Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft…
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February 14, 2019
Airport Hacks
Traveling as much as I do means getting to know the best shortcuts and maximizing…
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January 23, 2019
Why Become a Travel Agent?
Why do people work as travel agents? Well, of course that depends on the person,…
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January 21, 2019
How Travel Has Improved Lately
Travel has improved in countless ways over the last few decades and there have been…
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January 18, 2019
Join Claire’s Journey to Antarctica
Join Claire aboard Silversea’s epic 10-night luxurious expedition cruise. Home to so much diverse wildlife, these…
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January 15, 2019
The “Must-Photograph” Destination of 2019 is…
Almost 10 years after the end of its civil war, this city has been named…
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December 11, 2018
Travel like a Celebrity
If you missed my latest segment on Global News' The Morning Show, catch up below!…
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December 5, 2018
Holiday Travel Tips
This simple list of holiday travel rules will make travel during the holidays easier and…
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November 29, 2018
What Frequent Flyer Programs Don’t Want You to Know
If you feel like you can’t win with frequent flyer programs, you might be right.…
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November 29, 2018
Top Tech-Friendly Airlines
Comfort and food aren’t necessarily important to travelers nowadays. So what is? Entertainment and technology.…
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November 12, 2018
Win a Helene Clarkson Gift Card
Enter to win a $300 Gift Card and select the outfit of your choice from Canadian…
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November 6, 2018
Win a Getaway to Tofino
Contest runs from November 1st to November 30th, 2018 For a breath-taking combination of adventure…
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October 31, 2018
Best Places in the World to Celebrate Halloween
Halloween isn't celebrated all over the world, but there are a few destinations where a…
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October 25, 2018
How Anyone Can Get An Upgrade
There is nothing nicer than getting an upgrade when you are traveling…and it may just…
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October 25, 2018
Common Travel Scams And What You Should Do
Tourist scams are an inevitable part of traveling, especially in certain countries. Here are a…
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October 18, 2018
Cannabis & Cross-Border Travel
With the legalization of marijuana officially here in Canada, a question that may be on…
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October 9, 2018
How To Be An Eco-Friendly Tourist
Recently, on October 8th, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of scientists convened by…
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October 4, 2018
Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?
Even small, unexpected medical emergencies away from home can lead to thousands of dollars in…
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October 4, 2018
Here’s Why You Should Take That Red Eye
Some travelers avoid them at all costs, while others consider them their number one choice...…
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September 27, 2018
Internet-Free Travel Apps
So you have finally booked your dream trip abroad. Now the ultimate question: to splurge…
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September 24, 2018
#GTFO: Marrakesh, Morocco
This article first appeared in Vancouver LIVING Magazine, December 2017. Marrakesh, Morocco is an incredible imperial…
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September 16, 2018
The Cheapest Time to Book Holiday Airfare in 2018
Although it seems like summer just ended, fall is moving in which means the holidays…
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September 10, 2018
The Dirtiest Spot in an Airport isn’t What You Think
Are you one of the travelers that always seems to catch that infamous airline cold?…
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September 6, 2018
What Pilots Want You to Know About Flying
I know that the fear of flying is very real for many people…but the stats…
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September 6, 2018
What to Ask for if You’re Bumped Off a Flight
Planes are generally flying completely full these days, so incidents of denied boarding can be…
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September 5, 2018
Summer Vacation Doesn’t Need to End Just Because School is in Session
With the first day of school upon us, there is excitement over seeing friends and…
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September 4, 2018
Is Travelling “Wasted” on Young Children?
I always hear this comment when parents take babies or young children travelling… “why bother…
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September 1, 2018
How to Prevent and Handle Luggage Theft
Unfortunately theft can happen anywhere. On my family trip to South Africa a few years…
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August 30, 2018
Don’t Visit a Winery Without This…
With fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time extend your summer by visiting the…
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August 30, 2018
Coping with Motion Sickness
If you have even been car sick, sea sick or even nauseated on a plane…
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August 29, 2018
The Key to Minimalist Packing
This week, Air Canada and West Jet have bumped their first-checked bag fee from $25…
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August 29, 2018
Internet Safety Abroad
Nowadays, everything is online. Which is super convenient for us travellers, but it also puts…
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August 21, 2018
Update: Hawaii Hurricane Warning
Hurricane Season Travel Tips Update: Thurs. August 23rd, 8am PST WestJet has stated: "Due to…
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August 20, 2018
Can You Travel During Hurricane Season?
Current hurricane warning: Hurricane Lane, Hawaii. Hurricanes are never good, but especially if they happen…
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August 16, 2018
How to Avoid Getting Held Up by the TSA
If you aren’t careful, getting through security - depending on how busy the airport is…
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August 16, 2018
Dos and Don’ts of Developing World Travel
Travelling around North America or Europe can be very different from travelling around more chaotic…
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August 9, 2018
Travelling Abroad Checklist
International travel can be challenging on a number of levels. Visas, passports, currency and other…
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August 8, 2018
Update: Bali Earthquake
On July 29, 2018 a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the North East area of the…
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August 2, 2018
Be Prepared For These Unexpected Travel Expenses
Unfortunately…sometimes no matter how much planning and budgeting goes into your trip, you can end…
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July 26, 2018
How to Handle Travelling with Allergies
People with allergies know better than anyone that being proactive is really important for preventing…
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July 26, 2018
Are You Keeping Your Children Safe In Flight?
Flying with children is always stressful and often expensive, when it comes to our children’s…
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July 20, 2018
Don’t Miss These Key Steps in Your Hotel Check Out
Checking out of a hotel seems like a simple enough process, but it can sometimes…
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July 19, 2018
How Much to Tip on Vacation
Tipping…it’s something that can stump even the most seasoned travelers. Exactly how much are you…
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July 18, 2018
What the Tropical Sunscreen Ban Means for You
A recent study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology found that it…
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July 18, 2018
Best Airlines of 2018
Every year I look forward to the Skytrax awards. It’s the world’s largest airline passenger…
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July 12, 2018
Tips for Booking a Vacation Rental
Sometimes a rental property is the best option when traveling…especially to places like Hawaii or…
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July 12, 2018
Avoid Passport Troubles
So many travellers often forget to check the passport rules for each individual country that…
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June 19, 2018
Hotel Safety amid New ‘Do Not Disturb’ Policies
A new policy at the Hilton, which is also quickly being adopted by hotels worldwide,…
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June 12, 2018
Don’t Miss Out On These Holiday Flight Savings
Although it seems like summer just ended, fall is moving in... which means the holidays…
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May 17, 2018
Tricks to Make Travel More Affordable
One of the most common reasons I hear from people who don’t travel is that…
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May 11, 2018
Travel Luxuries Everyone Should Splurge On
I know it can be tough to pay a higher price for something when a…
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May 11, 2018
Unique Travel Gadgets
Over the many years I have spent in the travel industry there have been some…
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May 11, 2018
Here’s How You Could Vacation Like a Royal
Well we know that the Royals call palaces home…but what about when they are on…
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May 10, 2018
Update: Kilauea Volcano
If you're worried about an upcoming trip to Hawaii, Hawaii's Tourism Board has provided some facts…
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May 7, 2018
Which Vacations Shouldn’t You Book Online?
A recent Forrester Research study suggests that fewer people are booking vacations online. With all…
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May 7, 2018
Get Through the Airport like a Pro
There’s nothing worse than running late for a flight only to end up stuck in…
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May 4, 2018
Are You an Annoying Traveler?
Traveling can be stressful. Some things are inevitable…line ups, security checks, cramped airplanes and those…
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May 2, 2018
Advice for Anxious Travelers
There are a lot of things you can make you worry when you’re traveling…and if…
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May 2, 2018
Tricks for Getting an Upgrade
Well, there is nothing nicer than getting an ‘upgrade’ when you are traveling…and it may…
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