Tag Archives: Travel Style

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A deeper dive into Round-the-World (RTW) tickets

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

A few weeks ago, I explained how I chose a Round-the-World (RTW) ticket for my upcoming trips to Wales and Australia. This time, I’m providing some tips on planning such a ticket.

Postcard from Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, Barbados

1. Stick to the main hubs, where possible.

The total cost of the RTW ticket is affected by the number of cities visited. Using major international hubs (Toronto and Montreal, rather than Ottawa) will reduce the number of stopovers…and also reduce the risk of luggage trouble! And it will reduce the total travel time too: you want to spend your time in your international destinations, not airports.

Postcard of Belgrade Fortress (Belgrade, Serbia)

2. Book as early as you can.

The closer you get to your flight dates, the more likely flights will be booked up. This increases the price, reduces the likelihood of a desirable seat, and also increases the risk that you won’t have room in your preferred class (economy, premium economy, or business). That last factor is really important: if you buy a RTW ticket in a higher class, you don’t get a corresponding discount if you end up travelling in a lower class for part of the RTW journey.

Cheesy postcard from the Berner Oberland (Switzerland) – my ancestral home!

3. Think two steps ahead.

I had to fly from London (U.K.) to Melbourne (Australia), but knew I could not fly direct. Alas, this was a logistical nightmare…how many different ways are there to travel between those two cities? It looked like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) were positioned relatively well. But this got complicated quickly. Either the London segment or the Melbourne segment just wouldn’t work with those cities.

Postcard of Lake Bohinj, in the Julian Alps of Slovenia

It was time for a rethink. Rather than go through a long list of Asian cities to see if they would work for a stopover, I just asked for itineraries between London and Melbourne. It quickly became clear that the best connections were through cities that I hadn’t previously considered: New Delhi (India) and Bangkok (Thailand). But as we wanted to cover as much ground as possible with the first flight, Bangkok made more sense.

Postcard from Kyiv, Ukraine (received 2011)

4. Travel together, buy together.

It may sound obvious, but it’s worth repeating: if you are travelling with others, buy your tickets at the same time. Even 9 months ahead of departure, it is possible that a one or two day delay between buying the tickets for your companions could force you to travel separately for part of the trip (or at least in different cabin classes).

Postcard from Vietnam (“Valley at Dawn Sapa”)

5. Harvest the frequent flyer points.

This is a unique opportunity to accumulate a lot of frequent flyer points. So, it pays to understand how frequent flyer points will be awarded for each leg of the journey. At a minimum, make sure you have an account for an airline with the particular air alliance you have selected (Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam). But seriously consider whether you should also earn even more points by using a credit card for that frequent flyer program.

Some premium frequent flyer credit cards offer a lot of useful benefits. There may be an extra fee, but it could be outweighed by the value of those benefits. Sometimes, the first year fee can be waived (as it was in my case).

Postcard of the Castle of Trenčín (Trenčín, Slovakia)

Stay tuned – the next post may not be from Canada! (Today’s photos are all postcards that I’ve received in the Postcrossing project…for reasons that will soon become clear, the one at the top shows a Swiss International Airlines plane!)

Posts from Base Camp

Getting a Round The World ticket!

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

Several weeks ago, I mentioned that I would be doing a journey around the world in 2026. However, I had not yet decided exactly how the logistics would work. I now know, and have taken two big steps to make the trip happen.

Sent 2010 from Macau…an interesting duplication of Venice (including a gondolier!)

The first decision was whether to get a series of one-way tickets on various airlines…or take the plunge and get a round-the-world (RTW) ticket with one of the major airline alliances.

Maltese buses (apparently no longer used) – sent from Malta in September 2011

As I had some specific seating requirements and a very rigid itinerary, the choice quickly became clear: a RTW ticket would be less expensive (and much less risky) than buying individual one-way tickets. The question then became: which alliance would I pick? The two main contenders were Star Alliance and OneWorld. And both alliances have some very good airlines.

Flic-en-Flac, Mauritius – sent December 2012

My primary determinant was cost, although another very important factor was wishing to avoid certain countries (even just for airport stopovers). Happily, those factors aligned perfectly for me. The cheaper alliance also let me travel only through countries that I was comfortable with.

Timișoara, Romania – sent from Orsova, Romania (June 2012)

And now, even though my RTW trip is still many months away, I have a great itinerary mapped out. I can now focus on two other vital aspects: accommodation and ground transportation. Actually, I already have a head start on accommodation, as my two competitions also have “host hotels” that I will use during the competitions themselves.

Postcard from Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka – sent April 2017

The second decision was triggered by the RTW trip. Since I would be using the same airline alliance for the entire trip and spending quite a bit of money on it, I stood to accumulate a lot of loyalty (frequent flier) points. It then occurred to me that I might be able to rack up a ton of points if I had a credit card aligned with that airline alliance. So I decided to investigate credit card offers.

Naeba ski resort – sent November 2013 from Kasugai (Aichi), Japan

I found a credit card associated with my chosen alliance that would let me accumulate points at an significantly accelerated rate…and with some helpful perks (baggage privileges, various forms of insurance) that would otherwise add a lot of costs to the trip. So, I waited until I had the new card in hand before actually buying the RTW ticket. And now I can accumulate points for the next trip while I am enjoying this one!

Cossacks from Ukraine – sent June 2011

The pictures for today’s post are all postcards that I received during my participation in the Postcrossing Project. I profiled Postcrossing in last week’s post. As with that post, I tried to select postcards from countries that were less familiar to me at the time. The postcard at the very top is from Taiwan!

Posts from Base Camp

Around the World!

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

As the travel industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are getting close to their pre-pandemic travel levels. I don’t think I’ll ever have another travel year like 2014, but 2026 is still shaping up to be something special.

Saloon in Skagway, Alaska (2003)

I’ve recently learned that I will need to combine two special trips next year. After flying to Europe for a competition, I will then continue east to Australia (via Asia) for another competition immediately afterwards. And then the shortest route home from Australia is to travel east again to Canada. In short, I’ll be undertaking that rarest of travel experiences: a true around-the world trip!

Jefferson Smith’s Parlor, in downtown Skagway, Alaska (2003)

Not only will I travel around the entire globe, I will be on the road for longer than I have ever been in the past. And in addition to taking in two continents and several countries that I’ve never previously visited, my trip will also cover considerable territory in both the northern and southern hemispheres…where the seasons are reversed!

Hiking in the Dewey Lakes area, just above Skagway, Alaska (2003)

As you can imagine, this will require a lot of preparation. I may end up buying an around-the-world ticket, rather than a series of one-way tickets. But I’ll have to cost out both of those options before making a final decision. The financial stakes are pretty high! But even mundane matters, such as what to pack, will also require a lot of research. Among other things, I’ll need to figure out a global laundry strategy!

Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (2012)

On a less serious note, this upcoming trip also made me think about how far I’ve travelled in each compass direction. In 2026, I don’t think I’ll make it farther north than my trip beyond the Arctic Circle on the remote island of Grímsey, Iceland. There is a chance that I’ll make it further south than Puerto Montt, Chile, but that will depend on the exact route I take home from Australia.

Monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (Helsinki, 2012)

However, my 2026 trip will make the two other compass directions irrelevant for me. If I travel so far east that I end up home again, then I could hardly claim to have an easternmost destination anymore. And I think it would also be meaningless to say that I still had a westernmost destination.

View from the top of the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki (2012)

Looking east, the farthest I’ve been so far is Helsinki, Finland…even though I always thought Tallinn, Estonia, was just a little farther east! And the farthest west I’ve been so far is Skagway, Alaska. To commemorate their upcoming loss of status, all of the photos in today’s post are from Alaska and Finland – the photo at the very top is the Helsinki Cathedral.

Helsinki’s waterfront (2012)

I will share more details on my around-the-world adventure as the preparations progress. And I’m sure 2026 will have some other surprises too…

Posts from Base Camp

Special Considerations for Sports Travel

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

Today’s post is about ensuring that sports travel is as successful as it can be. My focus is on competitive sports, although some of these tips can be applied to recreational sports or even just regular leisure travel.

At the top of Klein Matterhorn, just before altitude sickness kicked in!

A. Know the Environment

It’s very easy to determine things like the altitude, average temperature, and humidity of your destination. All of these can play a huge role in dictating the types of conditions you’ll be facing. I can attest that altitude sickness is a real thing, and that overly dry climates can be just as challenging as very humid ones.

Talking about altitude…Hikers enjoying the view from the Sun Gate (Machu Picchu, Peru)

By researching this in advance, you can pack accordingly and minimize the risk of being completely unprepared for the weather or geography.

Phoenix, Arizona, is very dry. If I ever return, I’ll bring lots of lip balm.

B. Respect Jet Lag

A rule of thumb is that it takes one day to fully recover for each time zone. So, if you are travelling to central Europe, expect a full six days to pass before you are truly acclimated to your new location.

Looking intense against our very strong Czech opponents in Prague – or maybe it’s just fighting the jet lag after arriving the day before.

In practical terms, this means one thing: arrive early! For my upcoming trip, I will arrive in France more than a week before the serious competition starts. I will be practicing within two days of arrival, and playing in less competitive events soon afterward. However, I won’t have any truly intense matches until jet lag is but a memory.

Shocked and awed at Forcella Staunies (Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy) – save this type of piste for later in the week!

This leads to my next point…

C. Ease into the Intensity

Don’t go crazy over the first few days. Though it will be tempting to practice all day, in order to get used to the local conditions, it is best to gently increase the intensity. I do this for two reasons.

When you first arrive, limit your exertion to walking. That’s what I did on my first day in France in 2024 – here’s a fun record store in downtown Lyon.

Firstly, it reduces the risk of injury…particularly if you haven’t played for a while. Secondly, intensity uses up your mental and physical resources. You want to have something left in the tank for the final few matches…not just the first ones. Finally, including some leisure time also keeps everything in balance.

An easy, low altitude piste near Zweisimmen, Switzerland – ideal for the first day of skiing

D. In competition, stick with the familiar

The competitive surroundings will be new and interesting…maybe even challenging. The opponents will be different. The accommodations will be unfamiliar. The food will be different. Maybe the language is different too. All of those things use up mental energy and can take a toll on you, even if it seems fun at the time. So why would you want to experiment with a new technique or new equipment on top of that?

A local market in Santiago, Chile

I firmly believe that I play best when I am in a “flow” state – it’s almost unconscious. I don’t have to think about what I’m doing. All the hours of practice have led to that point. And it is much easier to be in a “flow” state if you are using familiar equipment and techniques.

More fun (with good equipment) at the Swiss-Italian border, high above Zermatt and Cervinia

E. Do the Hard Work Before the Trip

My goal is to have a completely unencumbered mind when the competition gets serious. That means it is much better to do the hard work before I go, so that I am not “cramming” upon arrival. It’s like preparing for an exam.

McGreer Hall at Bishop’s University (Lennoxville, Québec) – looks like a good place to study!

I don’t want to disclose too much about my pre-competition preparations here. But, in general, this would encompass things like developing game plans and doing my sports psychology reading. That last one is really important. I read a couple of special sports psychology books each winter so that I’m ready to hit the ground running in the spring. Even though the content is familiar by now, it still needs a bit of time to settle. If it has settled, I can then call on those resources easily if I suddenly need them in the midst of the competition.

Cambridge, England – Yes, this would be a good place to study too!

Bringing it all Together

I know that if I do all of the above things, I am maximizing my chances for success. I’ve done what I can to control what is truly within my control. Yes, luck plays a role. So do other external factors. But while I can’t control everything, I am increasing the odds that unforeseen situations end up in my favour. And in competitive sports, where there are no easy matches, it really is about improving the odds.

Delivering a bowl at the 2022 Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships

A final thought…some old clichés stick around because they’re true. Here is one of my favourites about sports competitions: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” That is particularly true for competing in unfamiliar places.

[The photo at the very top of this post is from Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. I don’t think it is well known to Canadians, but it is justifiably popular among Italian skiers for an enjoyable week “away from it all.”]

Posts from Base Camp

Travel Endpoints!

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

You either like travel planning, or you don’t. Very few people are neutral about this. Fortunately, I really enjoy structuring a trip. It may sound strange, but one of the best parts for me is figuring out my “endpoints”. For an overseas trip, this means the airports for my arrival and eventual departure.

I’m about to start that process now. I have an overseas trip planned for a couple of weeks in the spring, and I already know how I will be spending most of my time. But there is still some unaccounted time at the beginning and end of the trip. This makes the endpoints really important.

When I was in Europe earlier this year, my endpoints were Lyon (new to me) and Zürich  (not at all new to me). I was happy to explore Lyon, and I decided to end my trip in Winterthur (very close to the Zürich airport) as an alternative to Zürich.

Selecting those key endpoints for my spring trip is a complex challenge. As always, I am striving to keep my travel costs at a minimum. But it is a mistake to focus only on airfares. Taking direct flights, rather than dodgy itineraries with multiple connections, reduces the risk of lost luggage and/or missed flights. Ground transportation can also be very expensive, depending on the country.

I also have to consider the timing of my trip. For example, I love visiting Zweisimmen (Switzerland), but it is best in the summer or winter. At other times of the year, the weather can be dreary and many things are closed. So, I need to consider whether my proposed early- and late-trip locations are open or shut at that time of year.

But it is also possible for a location to be “too perfect” at a certain time of year. I need to check whether there is something special happening that could makes prices and crowds oppressive. I’m not planning on visiting the French Riviera in February, but it might not be a great idea in any event…that’s when the Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival) is held in Menton.

Despite all these caveats, the flip side is this: whatever I decide, I should have the opportunity to experience something truly different. Hopefully, I will get to some places I’ve never been before. And it’s really fun to dig up special experiences, even if I’ve been to one of my endpoints before. I had been to Chicago in the summer of 2013, so initially I wasn’t thrilled to be marooned there in the winter of 2014. But I managed to have a great winter stay there, despite the frigid temperatures.

I expect that the endpoints of my upcoming trip will be finalized by the time of my next blog post. I’m really looking forward to the thrill of the chase, especially as my home town is damp, cold, and dark right now.

The pictures from today’s blog are all from a December 2 walk at Lemoine’s Point in Kingston. And, other than the cover photo at the very top, they are all in chronological order!

Posts from the road

Don’t forget to stop and look around!

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(Grafton, Ontario, Canada)

Every once in a while, I am reminded that “it’s the journey, not the destination.” Today’s brief post is about how that can apply to even routine travel.

The Grafton Village Inn, in Grafton, Ontario.

I play a lot of tournaments in Cobourg, Ontario. It’s less than 90 minutes away by the 401 “autobahn”, and exactly 2 hours away by the slower and more interesting Highway 2. But even when I take Highway 2, I tend to “press on” when I get close to Cobourg. Similarly, when I return from Cobourg, I want to get some distance out of town before stopping.

The Alnwick-Haldimand Municipal Building in Grafton, Ontario.

On a recent long trip home from a tournament in Woodstock, the timing was right for a stretch in Grafton. Grafton is only 12 km from Cobourg. As Cobourg is such a nice place to visit, we tend to overlook the much smaller community of Grafton. Over many years of travel on this route, I don’t think we’ve ever stopped the car there.

The Lass & Ladle Bakery in Grafton, Ontario.

And yet, all four pictures in today’s post were taken within one minute at one intersection in Grafton. The antique store (see photo at the very top of this post) used to be a barbershop, where the same barber carried on business for more than 50 years! I have also learned that Grafton was where Bob Homme (“The Friendly Giant”) retired. He is buried in the Fairview Cemetery there.

When you’re on the road, don’t forget to stop and look around!

Posts from Base Camp

Switzerland 2024: The debrief

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

After any significant sports competition, I prepare a “debrief” that captures my impressions and learnings from that event. I decided to do the same for this trip…my first significant international trip in four years.

Photo time on the Maulerhubel (above Winteregg, Switzerland)

Firstly – and I don’t think I can overstate this – I am so lucky to have a connection to Switzerland. And it doesn’t get old. I know I’ve taken hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures in Wengen, Grindelwald, and Mürren over the years, but I never tire of taking even more photos in this truly beautiful setting.

More photos…this time at the top of the Gimmeln lift (above Gimmelwald, Switzerland)

And while the slopes in the Zweisimmen area may lack the sheer size that you see at Wengen, it is still special to be there too. Knowing that my ancestors lived on (and worked) these mountains creates a special bond that I don’t feel anywhere else. It is only enhanced by knowing that I am related, however distantly, to many of the area residents!

The fearsome Birg lift station (top left), high above Mürren, Switzerland

But the mountains are only part of it. Beyond the natural beauty is something that doesn’t depend on where you are. Ironically, because holidays tend to be rushed, that something is…time.

View from our lunch spot at the Schilthornhütte, high above Mürren, Switzerland

In the inevitable extended periods of travel, whether by plane or by train, there is time to just…think. I used to think that “dead” time like that was just a necessary evil. But now I think it’s a blessing in disguise because, in our (hectic) daily lives, how often do we get a chance to just think deeply? This trip was great for that.

The ski posse having lunch at the Schilthornhütte…I took the previous picture from where my orange jacket is visible

The “deep thinking” isn’t just about the spectacular Swiss setting. It can be about almost anything. Part of the “deep think” is appreciating all of the great things about home.

Looking from the Schilthornhütte towards the Schilthorn summit (which we would soon visit)

Another part of the “deep think” is prioritizing the opportunities that lie ahead. Prioritizing is something that’s hard to do when you’re running from one thing to the next. But things can become much clearer when you have no cell phone, no internet connection, and no daily living concerns. This is when you discover your true passions and what is truly important to you.

Every direction you look, there’s a spectacular view (Mürren, Switzerland)

So, while I was naturally sad that my time in the mountains had come to an end, I felt energized by (and truly focused on) what was still to come. And isn’t that a perfect way to end a holiday?

Skiing down from the upper Mürren slopes to the lower Mürren slopes requires going through this narrow chasm. It is notorious for difficult conditions. But it is also a thrill to navigate!.

Stay tuned – this is going to be a great year, and it’s only just getting started!

Posts from the road

The hardest part of a vacation

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(Winterthur, Switzerland)

I’ve always found the last 24 hours of a vacation to be the most challenging. Especially after skiing in the spectacular Berner Oberland, it is very difficult for the last (urban) stop to compare favourably.

Hotel Wartmann in Winterthur, where I stayed on my last night in Switzerland

I’ve written about this before, in a 2018 post about visiting Zürich on the last day before flying home. This time, although my flight home once again left from Zürich, I decided to mix things up and stay somewhere else for the last night of my trip.

Ventilator Records in Winterthur, where I did some browsing before turning my mind to dinner

I settled on Winterthur, a city of about 110,000 people that is just about as close to Zürich’s airport as Zürich itself. I had never been to Winterthur before, and hoped that seeing something new might change the last day dynamic somewhat. I found a convenient hotel with good weekend rates…and a good breakfast!

The pedestrian-only Marktgasse in Winterthur, Switzerland

I really can’t complain about Winterthur. It seemed quietly prosperous, in an understated Swiss way, and at times resembled a scaled-down version of some of Zürich’s nicer parts. I felt completely safe walking around after dark and near the train station, which can’t be said for every city in the world.

The Stadtkirche in Winterthur, Switzerland

Exploring a new place did help a little bit. But, in the end, I just didn’t have enough time to get to know Winterthur and develop a rapport with it. Many of the shops had closed relatively early on Saturday and wouldn’t reopen until at least Monday. It seemed like the picturesque old town was relatively empty…and, to be fair, there was a (sold out) professional soccer match in Winterthur that afternoon.

Obere Kirchgasse in Winterthur, Switzerland

But, as you can see from the photos in this post, the overcast skies didn’t help. The light was flat, and reminded me of the not-so-scenic days of low visibility on the slopes. I imagined that the many cafés and restaurants would create a dynamic street scene in more favourable weather. While a few diehards were out on patios, it still seemed kind of forced.

Something a little different on Neustadtgasse in Winterthur, Switzerland

I still enjoyed the afternoon. I found an interesting record shop in an “up-and-coming” part of the city that probably used to be quite industrial. At a grocery store, I bought some Swiss items that I wouldn’t be able to find in Canada. I gathered some snacks for the upcoming long trip home. I scoped out some restaurants, with the intention of having one final truly Swiss meal that evening.

A couple of nice-looking restaurants in the “Graben” (Winterthur, Switzerland)

I found a restaurant (Restaurant zur Sonne) that seemed to be sufficiently Swiss. I even reprised a meal from earlier in this trip: Älplermagronen und Suure Moscht. This is essentially super-deluxe macaroni and cheese, served with a cold apple cider. It was solid and undoubtedly Swiss. But it couldn’t stop the inexorable progress of time. As I finished the last few bites, I knew that the trip was now over. It was now just about going home.

Everything seems “just so” in Winterthur!

Afterward, I took a photo of the restaurant from the street. However, it was already dark and the resulting picture will never make any Top Ten list. I’ve included it anyway, as it turned out to be the last photo of my trip.

Restaurant zur Sonne – I had my final Swiss dinner here, in the second floor restaurant (Winterthur, Switzerland)

I managed to get a good night’s sleep and a satisfying breakfast at the hotel. It’s funny how the trip home seems to take so long…and how much more noticeable the various delays seem to be. Even the usually efficient Zürich airport seemed to be struggling. But finally, after a long flight (no business class upgrade this time), and what seemed like an even longer wait for my luggage, I walked out the front door of Toronto’s Pearson Airport. I was now back home. My 2024 Swiss adventure was over.

But wait! There’s more! I’ve saved some Swiss mountain photos and some closing thoughts for another post…coming soon!

Posts from the road

The costs of Switzerland

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(Wengen, Switzerland)

It’s not an outdated stereotype. Switzerland *is* expensive. But not necessarily in the ways you’d expect, and there are ways to mitigate it somewhat.

The mighty Eiger looms high above the Gummi lift

First of all, lift tickets in Switzerland are still cheaper than lift tickets in the big North American resorts. This is because skiing is not just a sport for the wealthy in Switzerland. It has traditionally been thought of as a middle-class family activity. This “accessibility” has its limits, though…Zermatt, for example, is now creeping up to North American price levels.

A very bright moment between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg

If you can, bring your own ski equipment. Many airlines will take a ski bag at no extra cost. Swiss ski rental costs have skyrocketed in the last few years. I always bring my ski boots from home, but renting skis is no longer the relative bargain it used to be. This partly results from high Swiss wages. There is labour involved in preparing rental skis, and that cost is partly borne by the renter.

Hut at the base of the Tschuggen T-bar

Similarly, restaurant prices can give you a serious case of sticker shock. Even though taxes and tip are included in the price, it still is quite an adjustment (despite the post-COVID price bump we saw in Canada). Unlike much of Canada, Swiss restaurant employees are paid a living wage. This is great but, as with ski rentals, it is reflected in the price to the consumer.

Looking out over the Lauterbrunnen valley, from the Black Rock piste

One option is getting a half-board hotel room. This means that both breakfast and dinner are included in your room rate. You may not have much choice on the menu, but it is usually much more economical than eating a la carte at restaurants outside your hotel. When you have half-board, you only pay extra for the beverages you consume at dinner. At the Hotel Bellevue in Wengen, we had great five-course meals every night at 7:00 p.m. It was no problem to get cleaned up in time for dinner after a long day of skiing. Eating in your hotel also saves you the time involved in deciding on and getting to/from a restaurant.

This was our table for the week at the Hotel Bellevue in Wengen. What a great view to have every morning!

Also, with buffet breakfasts, you can eat quite well and not need an expensive lunch. Lunch on the slopes can easily be just a bowl of soup (generally served with bread), which is much cheaper and quicker than having a heavy entree. Fortunately, Swiss mountain restaurants are not exorbitantly priced. They are private undertakings that must also be sustainable with a non-skiing clientele during the rest of the year.

Appetizer on Day 7 at the Hotel Bellevue. Pastetli (vol-au-vent) filled with wild mushrooms, on top of a cheese fondue sauce

Consider going vegetarian in Switzerland. Main courses without meat, or with minimal meat, are significantly cheaper than those with meat. And if you must eat meat, avoid things like steak. They are obscenely expensive and, in my non-expert opinion, not all that Swiss. Eat local specialties… largely meat-free local options like Rösti and Älplermagronen are both tastier and easier on your wallet.

View from the Eigergletscher

As for hotels, go with family-run hotels that offer a solid breakfast (and no frills). Don’t be a star snob: even a one- or two-star Swiss hotel is going to be far cleaner and more comfortable than you would expect. The stars mostly refer to the frills, not the basic quality and comfort. And the food in a locally-run hotel is more likely to be affordable too. There’s no need to pay for a major chain’s advertising budget.

One of the restaurants (and a lot of crows) at Kleine Scheidegg. We didn’t eat here.

Finally, travel costs are heavily skewed in favour of locals. They can buy various passes that really drive down costs. Tourists who are only here for a week aren’t so lucky. Do your research…if you can stay for at least two weeks, you might be able to find a pass that cuts your ground transportation costs too. Or try to visit places that are close to an international airport. Geneva or Zurich are within Switzerland itself, but don’t forget about major international cities like Milan (Italy) or Lyon (France). Airfares to those places are often much cheaper than airfares to Swiss destinations. And if your ground transportation is mostly outside Switzerland, that saves money too.

Another view of the Eiger. It’s very easy to take pictures of it from the Männlichen area!

There is still more to come on Switzerland! (All of today’s pictures are ones I didn’t use in my previous post about skiing at Wengen.)

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My first visit to Lyon, France (and the story of my flight upgrade)

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(Lyon, France)

I hadn’t planned to visit Lyon on this trip. But, as you may recall, I found a great flight deal here from Montreal. I suspect that late February is not a particularly high-demand time for that route. And that came in handy a second time!

Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse

Many airlines now allow you to bid for an upgrade to a higher class, if there are empty seats in their premium economy or business classes. I was booked into economy on this trip, although I had selected an exit row seat for the extra leg room. Even so, I still find the ever-shrinking seats in economy class to be very uncomfortable (especially if the flight is full). It’s not just the leg room: shoulder room is scarce too! Add to that the loss of a night’s sleep, and it’s not the best way to start off a European trip…especially one that is going to be very active.

Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse

All this means that I was particularly interested in bidding for an upgrade to business class on this trip. The lie-flat seats can accommodate someone who is 6’6″, so even I can fully stretch out in them. There usually is a minimum bid for such an upgrade, but even that was reduced by 25% on this flight. I figured that was a good sign too. I decided to bid just a tiny bit more than the revised minimum, and was fairly confident I would succeed. And I did!

This passage in Lyon was filled with very specialized (and/or very posh) shops

Some things to remember: while you get access to the business lounge before departure (with all the free food and drinks you can handle), they don’t let you in until 3 hours before departure. Also: my flight to Lyon arrived earlier than expected. It was barely 7 hours. That cuts down on sleeping time, as meals are served at the beginning and end of the flight. Business class travel actually makes a longer flight more desirable!

I didn’t ride the Ferris wheel in downtown Lyon…maybe I should have?

Anyway, here I am in Lyon. Given Lyon’s culinary reputation, I stopped by Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse. It is an indoor food market named after Lyon’s most famous chef, and quite close to my hotel. As you can imagine, the offerings tend to toward the swankier end of the decadence spectrum. And regardless of the product, the displays are spectacular too. Take my word for it – you will know when you are near a cheese vendor.

This very ornate Lyon carousel must be from the 19th century

From there, I crossed the Rhône river to what I’m going to call the “Belle Epoque” part of Lyon. Not the truly ancient Vieux-Lyon, but the prosperous Presqu’île district. It’s full of grand boulevards and grand buildings, with a lot of luxury brands from all over the world. From a shopping perspective, it’s certainly not what I was looking for. But I managed to find a FNAC record shop in a suitably attractive building, and I now have a musical souvenir from the trip!

You don’t see many record shops like this anymore (Lyon, France)

As I really only have one “discretionary” meal here in France’s food capital, I wanted to make it worthwhile. So, I did some research on special options that I could walk to from my hotel. I found something that ticked all the boxes for me: a family-run restaurant that has developed an outstanding reputation for quality food from the “old country”…in this case, Lebanon and Syria. The reviews were gushing, to say the least. Perhaps more importantly, I didn’t see any bad reviews either.

Olfactory extravaganza!

Watch for my next blog, when you’ll find out whether this local favourite lived up to its fabulous reputation!