More Travel Tips – What I Learned on My First Trip in Years
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Looking for more travel tips? As many of you know I recently flew on my first trip in several years to Vancouver Island and learned some new things. What worked and what didn’t? Even with doing extensive research into an area you are going to, there are bound to be surprises. Some nice, and some not so nice. For the most part my trip went smoothly but I thought I’d share what I learned. (If you haven’t seen my previous post you can click on the link below.)
Travel Tips...Flying...What worked
- First, the online check-in process was super-easy on both ends. They sent me the email 24 hours before my flight left so I could check-in and get my boarding pass downloaded.
- I had no issues going from the Park’n’Fly via shuttle bus to the airport. You reserve your spot with your credit card online, but you don’t actually pay until you leave. The bar code with the reservation is required to pay and get out of the lot.
- Because I was taking carry-on only, I didn’t have to stand in line to check a bag.
- I also didn’t have to waste time picking it up at the other end.
- After I checked the board at the airport, I was able to determine where to go through TSA screening. The guy there was very nice too while I drank the remaining water in my water bottle.
- Due to a little accident with my foot, a few weeks before, I was limping very badly. Because of this I was able to board with others that needed a little more time to get to their seats. (It was improved enough that I didn’t do this on the return flight.)
- I brought more than enough snacks for my whole trip and return flight. Since the airline I flew out on (Swoop) was a budget one, I had to pay for a coffee and a water, but on the return flight (West Jet) I didn’t.
& What didn't...
- I didn’t find anywhere to fill my water bottle after I went through TSA. (The water in the bathroom was not very cold.)
- On my return, I went back to the airport a different way and forgot all about filling the car rental with gas. It was only 3/4 full and rather than risk being late for my flight, I had to pay an extra $50.
- When I went through TSA to come home, I was wearing pants that had two zippers which set off the alarm. I was also the lucky person to have a second alarm for a random check. Besides being “patted” and checked with the metal detector, they also checked me for powder explosives. (Obviously, I didn’t have any.)
- There was a delay on my initial return flight, and I almost didn’t make my connecting flight. They might have been waiting for me, because it was the same airline. I was the last person to board and was approached by two airline workers asking if I was Carole, when I was hop-running to catch it.
Travel Tips...Packing...How did that go?
The things I packed went quite well. There were only two things I didn’t use. One was my travel hairbrush which was useless in my thick hair. The other thing was my umbrella because it didn’t rain. Who would expect such nice weather in British Columbia all the time?
#1 Travel Tip... Be open to adventure and unexpected opportunities...
Isn’t this what travel is all about? We can plan and plan and then something will happen to make us change where we think we are going or what we are going to do. I tried not to over-plan my itinerary. I had a general idea of where I was going and when and who I would be seeing. But that was about it. Because of my sore foot, I didn’t expect to do a lot of walking, but I was determined that I wasn’t going to just sit around either. (Ibuprofen works great.)
The ferry to Salt Spring island...
I wanted to arrive a couple days earlier than I needed to be on Salt Spring Island. (So, I wouldn’t be stressed about catching the ferry in time.) It couldn’t have gone much smoother than it did. Because I wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t care what time I got to the ferry, I wasn’t stressed at all.
You only have to pay when you go onto the island. If you live in B.C. and have a pass it is cheaper, and if you’re a senior and it isn’t a Friday, you’ll also get a discount.
After I paid, I went in the lane I was told to go, and they were already boarding the ferry. I was the last one on, without having to wait at all. Sweet!
My Airbnbs in Victoria and Salt Spring island...
I stayed at a nice private studio Airbnb with my own bathroom, called Dragonfly Place, just outside Victoria the first night. It was perfect! And the price was right too. (Around $60.) The Murphy bed was already pulled down and was so comfortable. There was a Keurig coffee machine and a microwave. Cream, a muffin and yogurt were also in the mini fridge. Anything you could possibly need was there.
On Salt Spring Island I stayed in a room with a lovely family that had four chickens that roamed the yard. There was a little confusion when I arrived because my host thought I wasn’t coming until the next day. The room was ready though and it all worked out well.
On the last night of my trip, I stayed at another Airbnb room in Victoria, closer to the airport. It was nicely decorated, also very reasonably priced and had everything I needed.
Salt Spring Island...
I had the unexpected pleasure of seeing a deer up close in Ruckles Park on Salt Spring Island. She was not afraid of me at all! Coming back from my hike there I got a little turned around, but with the help of Google Map on my phone, I made my way back to the car. Mount Maxwell is another park on the island that I had been to before and wanted to see again. Unfortunately, it was not possible to drive up to the top where I had been before because the road was too rough. (The signs stated it was recommended for off-road vehicles.)
Strathcona Park on Mount Washington...
Strathcona Provincial Park is on Mount Washington on Vancouver Island. I should mention that it is the law there that you must have snow tires or tire chains from October 1st to March 31st. I went there with my cousin and her husband, and I feel quite proud of myself for hiking 7 km with my bad foot! We stopped for a picnic lunch at a lake in the park and the walk back, although a little longer, was a little easier. It was on more of a downward slope.
It was also very smoky that day due to a forest fire several miles away.
Off to Tofino...
I took a day trip to Tofino with my cousin, which was a couple hours away from her place. It was cloudy and overcast there, but sunny everywhere else. There were long delays on the way through the mountain due to construction which has been going on for over a year, while they try to widen the road. I saw surfers in the ocean and seaweed washed up on the beach. From a distance it looked like an innertube.
Mount Tolmie...
For my last day in Victoria, I walked up Mount Tolmie with another cousin. Still limping a little. It had been five years since I saw all my cousins in B.C. Hopefully, it will not be that long before I see them again. Life is too short to not connect with those we love, so my final tip today is to just do it!
You can watch my video on more travel tips below...
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