Vancouver Tours Blog

09 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

Forex Megadroid Settings-Forex Currency Traders In Vancouver Canada

Forex Megadroid is a relative newcomer to the field of automated Forex trading software and already it’s turning heads with its well-verified claims of trustworthiness and accuracy. See more about top forex trading strategies below. In this post, we’re going to take another look at why the trading world is so thrilled about this software. Automated software programs or Forex robots are the most important trend in the currency market. It gave a large opportunity to new and old traders. See more about top forex trading strategies below. The first few of these machines might have not performed well but like any other inventions they have developed into better robots. This Expert aide for the Metatrader four platform was developed by Albert Perrie and John Grace, two longtime veterans of the Forex market with nearly forty years’ mixed experience. See more about top forex trading strategies below. Released to the general public earlier in the year, the target of this system was to supply a Forex robot that could profit with no regard for market conditions. And succeed it has .

See more about top forex trading strategies below. This is where the battle plan behind Forex Megadroid starts : a trading system capable of adapting to market conditions would have a decisive edge over its competition. So how will they differ? Forex robots are manufactured by traders like us. So the difference in these robots lies on who made them. Since Forex trading is a very exhausting and complex activity, expert traders saw the necessity to build automated software that will execute their trading style. These robots will then work for them by monitoring the market 24 / seven in this way they won’t miss any info that’s critical to their research. See more about top forex trading strategies below. These robots unlike humans are fast and can never miss an opportunity. Since Forex trading research involves complex calculations one reason other traders fail is because of a single mistake in their solutions. Since Forex robots are programmed with specific formulas they can never go wrong. MegaDroid was introduced in May of 2009 and it has received plenty of good hoopla from experts in the trading industry to folks who are only starting. The MegaDroid trades only 1 currency pair at this time but that pair is the most popular pair. See more about top forex trading strategies below.

Digital clairvoyance is a technology that still has to be developed, but Forex Megadroid’s Reverse interrelated Time And Price analysis system – RCTPA for short – is about as near as you can get currently with a surprising ( and verified ) 95.82% prediction accuracy. An example of a Forex robot is the Forex Megadroid. It was manufactured by Albert Perrie and John Grace who’ve been trading for many years. Their trading style is based on their trading strategy called Reverse related Time Price analysis. See more about top forex trading strategies below. This RCTPA technology enables the machine to trade in multi market conditions. This software also claims that it can predict the immediate future with an accuracy rate of more than 95%. See more about top forex trading strategies below.The older versions of these automated software systems base its research on past trends or data. Most likely what have occurred in the past may occur again in the future this is the way in which the charting research is done. See more about top forex trading strategies below. Much of its trading emphasis is on the market off hours for the Euro dollar / greenbacks currency pair ; as this interprets to a trading window of only a few hours a day, four days a week, this means that Forex Megadroid trades only rarely…but you may be assured that those trades will make a profit. These Forex robots are machines that are made by human itself. These expert traders regardless of how successful they were before, they could still be at the mercy of failure or mistake. These machines might have some issues before but they keep on developing to better robots. See more about top forex trading strategies below. Forex Megadroid has a long string of success stories and rave reviews attached to it, with valuable small negative feedback. This automatic trading system shows a great amount of promise : as with any large purchase, you need to do your research before you commit, but if you’re engaging in making money – or making more money than you are already – from the Forex market, it’s hard to go screwy with this particular Expert advisor.

Source by Teddy Noble

04 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

Vancouver 2010 Olympics: Thing To Do

From the figure skating to the bob sledding, from the ice hockey, to the ski jumping, there is nothing quite like being there to witness the winter Olympic games. This coming year, it’s going to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and we’ve got you covered. After all, you’re not traveling to Vancouver just to see the Olympics, but also to see the city. So, here’s a few cool things you can do while you’re in town for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics:

Scuba Diving

You may not believe it, given that this is Canada, but Vancouver sports some of the best scuba diving on the planet. You can take a dip in the icy cold waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland where you’ll see some amazing marine life such as wolf eel and octopus. In addition, you can admire the coral park in Deep Cove and Whytecliff Park near Horseshoe Bay. Or check out the Sunshine coast, with a  jagged coastal fjord which will provide a challenge for even the best divers. There are even a few shipwrecks that you can explore while you’re in town for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and looking for things to do.  

White Water Rafting

Are you ready for some real fun? Not for the faint of heart, white water rafting is available on the Thompson, Nahaltatch, Squamish, Elaho and Chilliwack Rivers. Be sure to dress for the occasion, in bathing suits and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. Also, follow the instructions of your guides as you rush down the river. White water may look fun and it is, but it is also dangerous if you don’t follow the rules.

Granville Island
If you’re here with kids for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and looking for things to do, then you should definitely check out this amazing place. It was created in 1979 from what once was industrial wasteland under the Granville Bridge but today, it’s a paradise for tourists, who come from near and far to admire the beauty that is Granville Island.
You can sample fresh fudge or warm donuts in the Public Market, a kind of farmers market for tourists or wander among the houseboats and ask the people who live there what it’s like to live on the water all the time. For the kids, you can check out Kids Market, which is a colorful building filled with shops selling all kinds of cool handmade toys, many of them done by local artists. Not to mention clothing for your young one.
Whatever it is that you’re looking to do in Vancover at the 2010 Olympics, this city has it all and it’s all for you.

Source by Chuck White

03 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

The Car Rental Industry

Market Overview

The car rental industry is a multi-billion dollar sector of the US economy. The US segment of the industry averages about $18.5 billion in revenue a year. Today, there are approximately 1.9 million rental vehicles that service the US segment of the market. In addition, there are many rental agencies besides the industry leaders that subdivide the total revenue, namely Dollar Thrifty, Budget and Vanguard. Unlike other mature service industries, the rental car industry is highly consolidated which naturally puts potential new comers at a cost-disadvantage since they face high input costs with reduced possibility of economies of scale. Moreover, most of the profit is generated by a few firms including Enterprise, Hertz and Avis. For the fiscal year of 2004, Enterprise generated $7.4 billion in total revenue. Hertz came in second position with about $5.2 billion and Avis with $2.97 in revenue.

Level of Integration

The rental car industry faces a completely different environment than it did five years ago. According to Business Travel News, vehicles are being rented until they have accumulated 20,000 to 30,000 miles until they are relegated to the used car industry whereas the turn-around mileage was 12,000 to 15,000 miles five years ago. Because of slow industry growth and narrow profit margin, there is no imminent threat to backward integration within the industry. In fact, among the industry players only Hertz is vertically integrated through Ford.

Scope of Competition

There are many factors that shape the competitive landscape of the car rental industry. Competition comes from two main sources throughout the chain. On the vacation consumer’s end of the spectrum, competition is fierce not only because the market is saturated and well guarded by industry leader Enterprise, but competitors operate at a cost disadvantage along with smaller market shares since Enterprise has established a network of dealers over 90 percent the leisure segment. On the corporate segment, on the other hand, competition is very strong at the airports since that segment is under tight supervision by Hertz. Because the industry underwent a massive economic downfall in recent years, it has upgraded the scale of competition within most of the companies that survived. Competitively speaking, the rental car industry is a war-zone as most rental agencies including Enterprise, Hertz and Avis among the major players engage in a battle of the fittest.

Growth

Over the past five years, most firms have been working towards enhancing their fleet sizes and increasing the level of profitability. Enterprise currently the company with the largest fleet in the US has added 75,000 vehicles to its fleet since 2002 which help increase its number of facilities to 170 at the airports. Hertz, on the other hand, has added 25,000 vehicles and broadened its international presence in 150 counties as opposed to 140 in 2002. In addition, Avis has increased its fleet from 210,000 in 2002 to 220,000 despite recent economic adversities. Over the years following the economic downturn, although most companies throughout the industry were struggling, Enterprise among the industry leaders had been growing steadily. For example, annual sales reached $6.3 in 2001, $6.5 in 2002, $6.9 in 2003 and $7.4 billion in 2004 which translated into a growth rate of 7.2 percent a year for the past four years. Since 2002, the industry has started to regain its footing in the sector as overall sales grew from $17.9 billion to $18.2 billion in 2003. According to industry analysts, the better days of the rental car industry have yet to come. Over the course of the next several years, the industry is expected to experience accelerated growth valued at $20.89 billion each year following 2008 “which equates to a CAGR of 2.7 % [increase] in the 2003-2008 period.”

Distribution

Over the past few years the rental car industry has made a great deal of progress to facilitate it distribution processes. Today, there are approximately 19,000 rental locations yielding about 1.9 million rental cars in the US. Because of the increasingly abundant number of car rental locations in the US, strategic and tactical approaches are taken into account in order to insure proper distribution throughout the industry. Distribution takes place within two interrelated segments. On the corporate market, the cars are distributed to airports and hotel surroundings. On the leisure segment, on the other hand, cars are distributed to agency owned facilities that are conveniently located within most major roads and metropolitan areas.

In the past, managers of rental car companies used to rely on gut-feelings or intuitive guesses to make decisions about how many cars to have in a particular fleet or the utilization level and performance standards of keeping certain cars in one fleet. With that methodology, it was very difficult to maintain a level of balance that would satisfy consumer demand and the desired level of profitability. The distribution process is fairly simple throughout the industry. To begin with, managers must determine the number of cars that must be on inventory on a daily basis. Because a very noticeable problem arises when too many or not enough cars are available, most car rental companies including Hertz, Enterprise and Avis, use a “pool” which is a group of independent rental facilities that share a fleet of vehicles. Basically, with the pools in place, rental locations operate more efficiently since they reduce the risk of low inventory if not eliminate rental car shortages.

Market Segmentation

Most companies throughout the chain make a profit based of the type of cars that are rented. The rental cars are categorized into economy, compact, intermediate, premium and luxury. Among the five categories, the economy sector yields the most profit. For instance, the economy segment by itself is responsible for 37.7 percent of the total market revenue in 2004. In addition, the compact segment accounted for 32.3 percent of overall revenue. The rest of the other categories covers the remaining 30 percent for the US segment.

Historical Levels of Profitability

The overall profitability of the car rental industry has been shrinking in recent years. Over the past five years, the industry has been struggling just like the rest of the travel industry. In fact, between the years 2001 and 2003 the US market has experienced a moderate reduction in the level of profitability. Specifically, revenue fell from $19.4 billion in 2000 to $18.2 billion in 2001. Subsequently, the overall industry revenue eroded further to $17.9 billion in 2002; an amount that is minimally higher than $17.7 billion which is the overall revenue for the year 1999. In 2003, the industry experienced a barely noticeable increase which brought profit to $18.2 billion. As a result of the economic downturn in recent years, some of the smaller players that were highly dependent on the airline industry have done a great deal of strategy realignments as a way of preparing their companies to cope with eventual economic adversities that may surround the industry. For the year 2004, on the other hand, the economic situation of most firms have gradually improved throughout the industry since most rental agencies have returned far greater profits relative to the anterior years. For instance, Enterprise realized revenues of $7.4 billion; Hertz returned revenues of $5.2 billion and Avis with $2.9 billion in revenue for the fiscal year of 2004. According to industry analysts, the rental car industry is expected to experience steady growth of 2.6 percent in revenue over the next several years which translates into an increase in profit.

Competitive Rivalry Among Sellers

There are many factors that drive competition within the car rental industry. Over the past few years, broadening fleet sizes and increasing profitability has been the focus of most companies within the car rental industry. Enterprise, Hertz and Avis among the leaders have been growing both in sales and fleet sizes. In addition, competition intensifies as firms are constantly trying to improve their current conditions and offer more to consumers. Enterprise has nearly doubled its fleet size since 1993 to approximately 600,000 cars today. Because the industry operates on such narrow profit margins, price competition is not a factor; however, most companies are actively involved in creating values and providing a range of amenities from technological gadgets to even free rental to satisfy customers. Hertz, for example, integrates its Never-Lost GPS system within its cars. Enterprise, on the other hand, uses sophisticated yield management software to manage its fleets.

Finally, Avis uses its OnStar and Skynet system to better serve the consumer base and offers free weekend rental if a customer rents a car for five consecutive days Moreover, the consumer base of the rental car industry has relatively low to no switching cost. Conversely, rental agencies face high fixed operating costs including property rental, insurance and maintenance. Consequently, rental agencies are sensitively pricing there rental cars just to recover operating costs and adequately meet their customers demands. Furthermore, because the industry experienced slow growth in recent years due to economic stagnation that resulted in a massive decline in both corporate travel and the leisure sector, most companies including the industry leaders are aggressively trying to reposition their firms by gradually lessening the dependency level on the airline industry and regaining their footing in the leisure competitive arena.

The Potential Entry of new Competitors

Entering the car rental industry puts new comers at a serious disadvantage. Over the past few years following the economic downturn of 2001, most major rental companies have started increasing their market shares in the vacation sector of the industry as a way of insuring stability and lowering the level of dependency between the airline and the car rental industry. While this trend has engendered long term success for the existing firms, it has heightened the competitive landscape for new comers. Because of the severity of competition, existing firms such as Enterprise, Hertz and Avis carefully monitor their competitive radars to anticipate Sharpe retaliatory strikes against new entrants. Another barrier to entry is created because of the saturation level of the industry.

For example, Enterprise has taken the first mover advantage with its 6000 facilities by saturating the leisure segment thereby placing not only high restrictions on the most common distribution channels, but also high resource requirements for new firms. Today, Enterprise has a rental location within 15 miles of 90 percent of the US population. Because of the network of dealers Enterprise has established around the nation, it has become relatively stable, more recession proof and most importantly, less reliant on the airline industry compared to its competitors. Hertz, on the other hand, is utilizing the full spectrum of its 7200 stores to secure its position in the marketplace. Basically, the emergence of most of the industry leaders into the leisure market not only drives rivalry, but also it varies directly with the level of complexity of entering the car rental industry.

The Threat of Substitute

There are many substitutes available for the car rental industry. From a technological standpoint, renting a car to go the distance for a meeting is a less attractive alternative as opposed to video conferencing, virtual teams and collaboration software with which a company can immediately setup a meeting with its employees from anywhere around the world at a cheaper cost. In addition, there are other alternatives including taking a cab which is a satisfactory substitute relative to quality and switching cost, but it may not be as attractively priced as a rental car for the course of a day or more. While public transportation is the most cost efficient of the alternatives, it is more costly in terms of the process and time it takes to reach one’s destination. Finally, because flying offers convenience, speed and performance, it is a very enticing substitute; however, it is an unattractive alternative in terms of price relative to renting a car. On the business segment, car rental agencies have more protection against substitutes since many companies have implemented travel policies that establish the parameters of when renting a car or using a substitute is the best course of action.

According to Tracy Esch, an Advantage director of marketing operations, her company rents cars up to a 200-mile trip before considering an alternative. Basically, the threat of substitute is reasonably low in the car rental industry since the effects the substitute products have do not pose a significant threat of profit erosion throughout the industry.

The Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Supplier power is low in the car rental industry. Because of the availability of substitutes and the level of competition, suppliers do not have a great deal of influence in the terms and conditions of supplying the rental cars. Because the rental cars are usually purchased in bulk, rental car agents have significant influence over the terms of the sale since they possess the ability to play one supplier against another to lower the sales price. Another factor that reduces supplier power is the absence of switching cost. That is, buyers are not affected from purchasing from one supplier over another and most importantly, changing to different supplier’s products is barely noticeable and does not affect consumer’s rental choices.

The Bargaining Power of Buyers

While the leisure sector has little or no power, the business segment possesses a significant amount of influence in the car rental industry. An interesting trend that is currently underway throughout the industry is forcing car rental companies to adapt to the needs of corporate travelers. This trend significantly reduces supplier power or the rental firms’ power and increases corporate buyer power since the business segment is excruciatingly price sensitive, well informed about the industry’s price structure, purchase in larger quantities and they use the internet to force lower prices. Vacation buyers, on the other hand, have less influence over the rental terms. Because vacationers are usually less price sensitive, purchase in lesser amounts or purchase more infrequently, they have weak bargaining power.

Five Forces

Today the car rental industry is facing a completely different environment than it did five years ago. Competitively speaking, the revolution of the five forces around the car rental industry exerts some strong economic pressure that has significantly tarnished the competitive attractiveness of the industry. As a result of the economic downturn in recent years, many companies went under namely Budget and the Vanguard Group because their business infrastructure succumbed to the untenability of the competitive environment. Today, very few firms including Enterprise, Hertz and Avis return a slightly above-average revenue compared to the rest of the industry. Realistically speaking, the car rental sector is not a very attractive industry because of the level of competition, the barriers to entry and the competitive pressure from the substitute firms.

Strategic Group Mapping

As a moderately concentrated sector, there is a clear hierarchy in the car rental industry. From an economic standpoint, disparities exist from a number of dimensions including revenue, fleet size and the market size each firm holds in the market place. For instance, Enterprise dominates the industry with a fleet size of approximately 600,000 vehicles along with its market size and its level of profitability. Hertz comes in second position with its number of market shares and fleet volume. In addition, Avis ranks third on the map. Avis is among one of the companies that is having issues recovering its revenue margins from prior to the economic downturn. For instance, in 2000 Avis returned revenues of approximately $4.23 billion. Over the course of the next several years following 2000, the revenue of Avis has been significantly lower than that of 2000. As a way of reducing uncertainty most companies are gradually lessening the level of dependency on the airline industry and emerging the leisure market. This trend may not be in the best interest of Hertz since its business strategy is intricately linked to the airports.

Key Success Factors

There are many key success factors that drive profitability throughout the car rental industry. Capacity utilization is one of the factors that determines success in the industry. Because rental firms experience loss of revenue when there are either too few or too many cars sitting in their lots, it is of paramount importance to efficiently manage the fleets. This success factor represents a big strength for the industry since it lowers if not completely eliminates the possibly of running short on rental cars. Efficient distribution is another factor that keeps the industry profitable. Despite the positive relationship between fleet sizes and the level of profitability, firms are constantly growing their fleet sizes because of the competitive forces that surround the industry. In addition, convenience is one of the crucial attributes by which consumers select rental firms. That is, car rental consumers are more prone to renting cars from firms that have convenient rental and drop off locations. Another key success factor that is common among competing firms is the integration of technology in their business processes. Through technology, for instance, the car rental companies create ways to meet consumer demand by making renting a car a very agreeable ordeal by adding the convenience of online rental among other alternatives. Furthermore, firms have integrated navigation systems along with roadside assistance to offer customers the piece of mind when renting cars.

Industry Attractiveness

There are many factors that impact the attractiveness of the car rental industry. Because the industry is moderately concentrated, it puts new market entrants at a disadvantage. That is, its low concentration represents a natural barrier to entering the industry as it allows existing firm to anticipate sharp retaliations against new entrants. Because of the risks associated with entering the industry among other factors, it is not a very attractive sector of the marketplace. From a competitive standpoint, the leisure market is 90 percent saturated because of the active efforts of Enterprise to dominate this sector of the market. On the other hand, the airport terminals are heavily guarded by Hertz. Realistically speaking, entry in the industry offers low profitability relative to the costs and risks associated. For most consumers, the main determining factors of choosing one company over another are price and convenience. Because of this reason, rental firms are very circumspect about setting their rates and that generally force even the industry major players in the position of offering more to the consumers for less just to remain competitive. Hertz, for example, offers wireless internet to its customers just to add more convenience to their travel plans. Avis on the other hand, offers free weekend specials if a customer rents a car for five consecutive weekdays. Based on the impact of the five forces, the car rental sector is not a very attractive industry to potential new market entrants.

Conclusion

The rental car industry is in a state of recovery. Although it may seem like the industry is performing well financially, it is nonetheless gradually regaining its footing relative to its actual economic position within the last five years. As a way of insuring profitability, besides seeking market shares and stability, most companies throughout the chain have a common goal that deals with lowering the level of dependency on the airline industry and moving toward the leisure segment. This state of motion has engendered some fierce competition among industry competitors as they attempt to defend their market shares. From a futuristic perspective, the better days of the car rental industry have yet to come. As the level of profitability increases, I believe that most of the industry leaders including Enterprise, Hertz and Avis will be bounded by the economic and competitive barriers of mobility of their strategic groups and new comers will have a better chance of infiltrating and realizing success in the car rental industry.

Sources

“Passenger Car Rental.” Encyclopedia of Global Industries. Dec. 2004. Gale group. 02 Feb 2005. http://galenet.galegroup.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/servlet/BCRC.

“Car & Truck Rental.” Hoover’s AB&D Company. Jan. 2005 . Hoovers. 04 Feb 2005. http://premium.hoovers.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/subscribe/ind/factsheet.xhtm. “

Rental car foes war on each other’s turf.” The Associate Press. Fall 2004. The Enquirer. 08 March 2005. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/10/11/biz_rentalcars111.html.

“United States – Car Rental.” Data Monitor Industry Market Research. Nov. 2004. Gale. 12 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/sessions?products=BNI.

“A synthesis of tactical fleet planning models for the car rental industry.” IIE Transactions. Sept. 2003. Gale. 12 March 2005. [http://www.fleet-central.com/arn/01stat3.cfm].

“Corporate travel plans moving to Web.” Crain’s Chicago Business. Apr. 2001. ProQuest. 12 March 2005. http://www.proquest.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Tracy Esch.” “Car rental market leaders make rebound .” Business Travel News. May 2002. Gale. 12 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Avis Equips Rental Car with Satcomms 1999.” Newsbytes News Network. Oct. 1999. Gale. 12 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Car Rental In the United States.” Data Monitor Industry Market Research. Nov. 2004 . Gale. 13 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Global – Car Rental.” Data Monitor Industry Market Research. Nov. 2004 . Gale. 13 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Corporate and Travel Trends.” Travel Trade Gazette. Nov. 2003 . ProQuest. 14 March 2005. http://www.proquest.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Car rental market leaders make rebound.” Business Travel News. May. 2002 . Gale. 14 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Car rental market leaders make rebound.” Business Travel News. May. 2002 . Gale. 14 March 2005. http://search.rdsinc.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu.

“Ovation Travel.” Wall Street Transcript. May. 2002 . LexisNexis. 14 March 2004. http://www.lexisnexis.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/cis.

“Avis Offers New Deal for Free Weekends.” Newswire. Feb. 2004 . LexisNexis. 15 March 2004. http://www.lexisnexis.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/cis.

Source by Rodrigue Monestime

02 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

Baby Boomers, Retire in Victoria, BC

Victoria, BC, is the ideal place to retire for the baby boomer generation. According to RetirementInvestigator.com, “Thousands of people just like you are trying to decide where to retire in British Columbia. Our capital city, Victoria, is not just the seat of government. It is the retirement capital of BC — actually of Canada.” In Warren R. Bland’s book Retire in Style, he ranks Victoria, BC, as the #1 retirement destination of the sixty cities he investigated throughout the US and Canada. Additionally, Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers voted Victoria the best over-all city in Canada for its environment and ambiance. Macleans magazine also selected Victoria as the number one city in Canada to relocate a family business to.

What’s so special about retiring in Victoria, BC? Well, baby boomers; there is something for everyone here. To begin, Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is just around the bend. Seattle is also just around the bend (both Vancouver and Seattle are 62 miles from Victoria). Victoria is a waterfront community located on the US/Canada border that was, of course, named after Queen Victoria.

Victoria is Western Canada’s oldest city. You’ll find that it is full of Edwardian architecture, which greatly contributes to its unique charm and character. These Edwardian buildings were constructed during a real estate boom after World War I…fitting for any baby boomer, right? This is evidenced by the fact that Victoria is home to 78,000 people, largely dominated by its retiree population. 6% of the population is over 80 years. 17.8% of Victoria is over 65 years.

Baby boomers are always concerned with the climate when selecting a retirement destination. Victoria is coastal and temperate and has seasons unlike many retirement destinations. Winters are mild and damp. Likewise, summers are mild and mostly dry. If you are concerned about Victoria’s proximity to rainy Seattle, don’t be. Victoria gets 1/3 less rain than the Emerald City. Additionally, the rain shadow effect provides Victoria with more sunshine than surrounding areas. It’s not uncommon to see either palm trees or evergreens in beautiful, lush Victoria.

What will a baby boomer like yourself do with Victoria, BC, real estate? Perhaps you’ll see the Victoria Symphony or a performance by the Royal Theatre. You might take a class or watch a sporting event at the University of Victoria. You might check out one of the numerous local farmers’ markets, Ballet Victoria, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Filberg Art Show, or Pacific Opera Victoria. Golf is year-round in Victoria as well. Victoria also has a bustling antiques and collectibles market. Additionally, you can visit Beacon Hill Park, the Olympic mountain range, the Victoria Bug Zoo (fun for when your grandkids visit), the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, or the Royal London Wax Museum.

Now is an interesting time to buy real estate in Victoria, BC, because it’s neither a buyer’s or a seller’s market and prices are stable (according to RealtyTimes.com). Whether you are looking for a single-family residence, condominium, manufactured home, or townhouse, all are available in virtually all price ranges.

Baby boomers, if you would like more information on retiring in Victoria, BC, contact real estate agent Mark Imhoff at HomeSalesVictoria.com.

Source by calvertrubin

02 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

How to Get a Lifetime Ban From a Rental Car Company

Okay so, in my life I’ve done quite a bit of traveling, and I’ve probably stated more hotel rooms than 95% of the population. Indeed, I’ve traveled to more cities than 99% of the population, and I’ve also been banned from more rental car agencies that I care to remember. Why you ask? Because in my company I put far too many miles on rental cars, no, it’s not because I’m afraid to fly, I’m actually a pilot, it’s because I am a retired franchisor, and would when building my company drive from city to city, and I didn’t take airliners that much because I had too many stops along the way.

I can remember one time I rented a car in Georgia, and I put 48,000 miles on it in five weeks. In fact, I rented the car for $260 per week. You can imagine when I brought the car back how shocked they were, and angry, and how they wanted to ding my credit card for $10,000 more. However, I made them stick to the $260 per week, and I told them that was the deal, that’s what I signed up for, and it wasn’t my fault that I ran their car passed 26,000 miles, which is generally the point where they trade the car in because they have a deal with the auto auction.

You can understand that obviously putting nearly 50,000 miles on an automobile in five weeks and running out half of its useful life and only paying 1200+ dollars cost the auto rental company a ton of money. They lost, and I won, but that was the deal. Indeed they felt as if I took advantage of them, and I was banned for life from ever renting a car from that company again. Over the years similar scenarios, although not as many miles, had occurred. I am currently banned by four different auto rental car companies, for my lifetime.

You might laugh, but this is not very funny because auto rental car agencies and brand names often merge, and there aren’t as many as there were before, so there are now only a few that I can rent from. Suffice it to say I’d recommend that you try not to take advantage of the Rent-A-Car companies, but still get the best deal for yourself.

Otherwise you are liable to get yourself also banned from the Rent-A-Car companies, and that might hurt your ability to travel in the future. Indeed, I’ve been to some airports where three quarters of the Rent-A-Car companies were out of cars, and the only company that had a car left, well it was one that I’d already been banned from renting at. Perhaps you will please consider all this and think on it.

Source by Lance Winslow

01 Jul
Vancouver Tours Blog

Sailing the Columbia River and Back Waters, From Astoria to Portland

Three days up the Columbia River

Cast off from Astoria, OR (river mile 15)

I have no need to dream about far off exotic ports that I may never see because first I'm going to explore my own back yard, so to speak. We arranged for our son to drive with us to the coast. The plan was to trailer the sailboat to Astoria and he would bring the trailer back empty, leaving the three of us to fend for ourselves and find our way upriver to our home moorage. The boat ramp at Astoria is convenient and well designed, but the pre-launch area is part gravel parking lot and part muddy field. We parked near another sailboat crew that was busy stepping their mast and rigging the boat. Because of the mud and gravel I decided we would get on the boat as little as possible while getting ready, so I told my 10 year old to go play on the docks and try to stay away from the Sea Lions that had taken over one Entire float. The Sea Lions are so big and crowded that the float is listing and partially submerged. These are some of the same critters that will soon swim the 130 or so miles up river to Bonneville Dam, where they will quake on returning Salmon that pool below the dam.

While rigging the boat, I can hear the group next to us taking instruction from their skipper. I hope I do not sound like that. In a little over an hour were ready to back down the ramp and turn our boat loose. Launching goes off without a hitch, minutes later we are on our way, I turn and watch long enough to see our son turn the correct way towards home. He's on his own and so are we. We quietly float past the Sea Lions; They ignore us as we motor out into the river. Not hint of wind as we point ourselves up stream. The river is smooth and flat; We are about ten miles from the ocean. Other than the rising tide you would not know we at the edge of the largest ocean in the world. The Columbia is about four miles wide at Astoria, with lots of sand bars, and mud flats. There are two navigation channels going up river, one is the main channel where the ships going to Portland must operate or run aground. The other is navigable by small boats and meanders behind grassy islands along the Oregon side. We are not oriented yet; We have our chart, but do not know where we are, so I point us towards what looks like a likely channel with some sort of marks in the distance. We wave to the other sailboat as they go by heading for the main channel. I wonder if they think were lost. We travel about three of four miles and using the binoculars try to spot a number somewhere that we can locate on the chart. I still do not know where we should be heading but I have been studying the shore and do not think we are any where near where the channel goes. Just because the charts lists an Island and you can see an island does not mean your boat belong next to an Island. I think the river is more like tenms wide now, so it's easy to get confused. I'm starting to wish we had not left the dock without a better plan than head east and see where you go. We finally are near enough to positively identify a marker and realize we are heading into a dead end. I change course and cut across an area that the chart shows as having only one foot of water at mean low low tide. Our depth singer says about eight feet are under us, but I'm very nervous since our keel is down about six feet. Running aground is not the only worry, running into a deadhead or submerged piling is a very real possibility, and a good reason to go slow.

In short order as we get close to the Oregon shore we spot some marks that correspond to our chart and finally know where we are. The wind picks up a little and we are sailing, I kill the motor and enjoy the silence. I would not describe the view as spectacular but it is very interesting and not at all boring. Birds of course are everywhere, the ever-present Herons are around each corner standing perfectly still trying to look invisible, and when they take flight, they look positively prehistoric. You can not sail the Columbia without seeing hundreds of Osprey and their nests, they seem to own every piling or navigation aid ever built. The squawking young ones are as big as their parents and demand to be fed non stop. We poke our bow into backwaters and coves that seem interesting, sometimes we spot deer but more often cows. It is surprising that we discover buildings out in this area that really is just a few feet above the water. Most are shacks left over from more auspicious times on the river, but some are quite substantial and have rotten old docks, a few are occupied. When we get close enough to see that someone may be living there, you suddenly feel like your trespassing and quickly turn away. The wind is very spotty, sometimes we are not moving at all. I think we have run aground and ask if anyone thinks we have stopped moving, Jaiden is sure we are still moving because he can see the current flowing around the boat. I have lined up on shore two trees and can tell we are stopped (stuck in the mud) I play the guessing game awhile longer and finally announce that someone will have to crank up the keel or we'll be stuck all day. No one moves, Linda is reading, and Jaiden is out on the bow. I climb into the cabin and turn the winch handle one full turn then watch the trees, nothing, another full turn and were free, sailing again, one with the wind, charging against the current of the mighty Columbia river. Oops, someone needs to steer soon, or I'll be cranking the keel up even more. We have been steering through these narrow waterways for several hours and thanks to occasional markets, we know exactly where we are. We have a GPS with us but using the chart looks more appropriate and enjoyable. I remember to crank the keel back down, it's reassuring knowing we can change our draft from six feet to three feet when needed.

As the sun is heading west the wind picks up and we are sailing well. We clear the last of the islands and make for the main channel, I think the port of Cathlamet is just around the next corner and sure enough soon a forest of boat masts and a breakwater come into view.

Cathlamet, WA (river mile 40)

I hate to take the sails down, we really have not had very good sailing until the last hour and I do not want to quit. Soon we are motoring into the moorage; There are quite a few people around, a few wave, and many kayakers. Just past the gas dock, I spot a section of open dock, and smartly glide into a space right behind the sailboat that followed us out of Astoria. We exchange niceties as if were old friends, they mention that they've been for hours, what a great sail. What happened to us? I tell them we went behind all the islands, had a great time, did not use the motor until we needed to drop sail and motor into the moorage. That reminds me, need to check the gas, and may have to fill up before we leave tomorrow. Our new friends said they were staying the next night at the Longview yacht club. I thought to myself, I did not know Longview had a marina or moorage, how can they have a club. Cathlamet has a great little moorage, and a busy place. We ran into an old acquaintance kayak camping. They offer camping, transient moorage or year around. The moorage is very much protected from ship traffic, there's a boat ramp and fuel dock. It's just one block walk into town where there's a couple restaurants and stores for shopping. We arrived early enough that we could tour town and get back to the boat to make dinner before dark. In the morning after a leisurely coffee and breakfast, we motored into a little little channel behind an Island on the Washington side. There was lots of evidence of old logging operations where they handled log rafts. We smacked into something two feet below the surface and discovered a row or submerged pilings. After a short way the waterway shoaled all the way across and forced us to turn around, leaving the exploration to kayakers. Where we cleared into the main river is Puget Island, the Island is served by bridge from the Washington side and by ferryboat from the Oregon side. As we proceeded up river the ferry came across in front of us so we duck into the slough the ferry came out and waited for its return trip. I do not know what was more more amusing the ferry travelers looking at us or us appearing back at them. So far today we have made almost no progress up river and already killed three hours. No wind again, just like yesterday so we settle into a monotonous 4 mph sleep inducing grind. On the Washington side, we go by some beautiful high cliffs. I check my maps and find the names Eagle cliffs, Bunker Hill, Oak Point. In Oregon we see mostly lowland and sure enough pretty soon we come to another reasonably island waterway to explore. After checking the chart I determine that there's enough depth all the way through and turn the bow towards Oregon once again. In minutes, the main river is history and we are again surrounded by nature. Somehow, 4mph seems like we are racing through, even being disrespectful using a noisy outboard motor. I cut the engine speed to just a fast idle and watch the shoreline slip by. Occasionally we come to the proverbial fork in road and after checking the chart head into the left passage. It's not very long before "bump" and we are hard aground, no warning at all. The depth went from fifteen feet to three feet in half a boat length. We free ourselves and move over about twenty feet and do it again, and again, and arrrrgain. About now, I see some people on shore over on the other channel. They are waving at us to use the other channel over by them. I am attributable to heed their waves because my up to date current chart says to go this way if we ever expect to see the Columbia River again. We free ourselves one last time and motor toward our saviors. They are standing on their private dock a little amused. They inform us that the charts have been wrong for twenty five years, and all we need to do is keep to the right from here on and we will have plenty of depth all the way back to the main river. Ah local knowledge what would we do without it.

The wind comes up again and we are not moving slowly anymore. Without the motor running, I no longer feel disrespectful as we rip along almost in silence. Even though we are going up river we are sailing downwind, so we have the motion of the boat slicing through the water and we are moving with the wind so it is very calm with not much obvious wind on board. We are near Longview and the wind has picked up a lot. We are sailing on a broad reach most of the time and no longer sailing straight up the middle of the river. I'm choosing headings to keep the boat under control and comfortable, (not heeling toooo much) otherwise my crew may mutiny and never go sailing with me again. We fly by Rainer and Longview. Rainer has a nice newer guest dock we have spent the night at several times, and the town has a pizza place. I scan the shore at Longview. I still have not seen a moorage or marina or even a river to hide in, let alone a yacht club. All I see is a big mill of some sort. It is starting to get dark and my hopes of making it to St Helens are starting to fade with the daylight. I am really torn right now. Go on or turn back to Rainer? The wind is moving us faster than ever; But it's getting dark even faster. If I push on and the wind dies, we'll be in for a long motor ride. If we keep going and hit something at this speed, it could be a major problem. In the dark I wont be able to get near shore for fear of grounding and my distance perception is almost gone along with the light. Of course, my crew does not know my thoughts, they just want to go in the cabin to get warm and find dinner. I push on; One factor trumps all others tonight. I'm having a great sail and do not want it to end. When I gaze ahead trying to make out anything that does not belong in the water, I see some industrial lights along shore.

Kalama, WA (river mile 75)
We are approaching Kalama. In about five miles I drop the sails and we motor into the moorage. The boat basin is behind a high dyke, completely protected from the wakes of passing ships .. I'm waiting Kalama has transient moorage. The office is closed so its up to us to find a place to tie up for the night. We have been here before to get fuel, but have never been beyond the entrance. I admire the many boats. Powerboats are mostly under cover, each slip like a personal garage. The sailboats all have tall masts so wont fit under cover, they are mostly at the end of docks where there are no roofs. Each parking place has its own light and power plug, close by are water spigots. The foot ramps leading to the docks have locking gates with security systems. Once you go out one of these doors and it slams behind you, getting back inside is impossible without going for a swim. We need to make sure not to get ourselves locked out. It's dark but with the marina lights we have no problem making our way safely. I spot what I've been looking for, a sign with an arrow pointing to Guest Moorage. The guest spots are at the very end, about one hundred feet of open dock is designated for guests so we pull in at the very end trying to get as close to the foot ramp as possible. There is a large amount of floating debris in the water next to the dock, apparently the local wind and currents cause all this flotsam to collect here as a welcome mat for visitors. Some of the driftwood and logs are fifteen feet long and twelve inches in diameter. I momentarily put a foot on one as I tie up the boat, big mistake, I should know better. In a heartbeat, I could be in the water and trapped under this mess. We are all hungry and food has been a major topic of discussion, so we head up the ramp and are on our way to town. The guest dock is outside the security gate so we will be able to come and go as we please.

Downtown Kalama is essentially on the other side of the interstate, so all we need do is walk over the railroad mainline via a sky bridge walkway and then under the freeway via the road tunnel and then we pop out onto the main street, walk about one Block to the local hot night spot with a sign advertising pizza. It must be Saturday night because on the other side of the door marked "NO MINORS" are many loud party-goers. We are mostly by ourselves in the family area. The walk back to the boat is windy and cold, sleep comes easy tonight. Breakfast and coffee in the sunshine, the wind is light. It looks like the beginning of a pleasant day. In the daylight we can see what a mess we've parked in, the flotsam covers the end end of the basin and the guest docks, are being swallowed, one dock is completely useless. As we pull out, I need to be careful not to damage our propeller or rudder. Once clear of the marina we can see the city park with its tall totem poles, a sight we missed in the dark. Kalama is at river mile 75, after the better part of two days on the water I'm feeling at home, but I think my crew wants to be at home. I suggest we make for St Helens and have Ice cream at a little shop a short walk from the public dock. Miraculously spirits are lifted. Motor sailing now, between light winds and the quiet purring motor, the boat is making good speed. We are tacking back and forth trying to make best use of shifty winds. The occasional ship chases us from mid channel and keeps us alert. Not at all like the backwaters around islands where the largest commotion is a juvenile Osprey demanding to be fed.

St Helens, OR (river mile 86)
Sand Island is directly offshore of St Helens and (almost) protects the community from passing ship wakes. The city has a strong boating commitment and maintains free public docks on both the mainland and Sand Island. During the summer, there is a free boat boat to the island, making it easy for a boater to tie up on the island and still go into town.
The passage between the mainland and Sand Island is narrow and has a strong current making docking on either side a full attention all crew on deck maneuver. On one visit, here we discovered the hard way, an old submerged piling right next to the dock. The docks are really nice, onshore is a small city park complete with gazebo and a small grassy amphitheater. Hot and cold showers in the bathrooms (everything is free) make St Helens one of my favorite cruising destinations. We tromp up the ramp heading for the Ice cream and Gelato shop. Not in any hurry to leave, we spend some time at the small park in front of city hall where they have a nice foot path depicting Lewis and Clarks exploration. This is a very worthwhile place to visit.

Back at the waters edge I sit in the gazebo to read while my crew discovers a river otter playing under the ramp float. A city employee shows up dressed in a spiffy uniform and quickly gathers what little litter there is and just as fast is gone. Occasionally we gather at the boat and cast off, the main river is just a few minutes away. At this point boats have a major choice of routes, the main river is shortest and fastest no doubt, but more picturesque, relaxing, and off the beat path is Multnomah Channel. Sauvies Island on the Oregon side is about 15 miles long, and following Multnomah Channel around the island to the Willamette River and back to the Columbia is about 24 miles. On this trip, I have been wanting to explore a little slough on the Washington side so we stay on the Columbia. Soon we clear Warrior rock light on Sauvie Island and continue up river keeping a sharp watch for commercial traffic, and occasionally glancing at the depth sounder. Running aground is not a major problem and our swing keel is very forgiving, but its not any more seamanlike running into things in your boat than being a good driver and hitting parked cars with rubber bumpers.

Sauvie Island has a notorious and popular nude beach and soon we cruise by, it's hard to see well with the binoculars bouncing around from the waves. Back on the Washington side, I'm looking for the mouth of a slough that I find on my chart but have never explored. According to what I've read there is a cottage community nestled behind a small island. I spot a small runabout coming from shore and change course to investigate; Sure enough, a small opening presents itself. Sails down and motoring very slow we cautiously approach, I know from past experience that islands extend underwater for a long ways and we need to find a channel to safely enter. From hundreds of years of commercial use I expect the river to have rotten old pilings just about anywhere and everywhere. I ask Jaiden to watch closely from the bow. With one eye on the depth singer, we bravely forge ahead. A thousand feet in we go by a boat ramp, which I assume, is where the runabout had come from. We are down to about six feet, so I crank up the keel a little and keep moving. We can see the houseboats now; It looks like about a dozen. Several have boats tied up, one is a large sailboat. And we come to a stop again. The gauge reads four feet, I am attributable to lift the keel anymore, we are getting close to where the rudder might hit and not only do some damage but we could get stuck. I lift the keel another turn and reverse course, being sure to fully lower the keel when we clear the island and continue up the Columbia. I'm not giving up, that big sailboat had to come in during higher water and so could we, or next time we have the dinghy with us, we can anchor and dinghy the last mile. That will be another trip, another day. There's not much to see on either side but low banks or sandy beaches, Sauvies Island sports the occasional million dollar estate but Washington has some too.

As we approach the Portland and Vancouver area boat traffic increases, plus there are ships anchored. I learned years ago to stay away from parked ships when I tangled my mast with a fishing line a crewman had over the side. Today security is a big issue, so we stay clear of ships. The Willamette River flows into the Columbia at the top of Sauvies Island and creates a standing wave right at the junction. Boaters tend to cut this corner close and sometimes are rewarded with a wall of water over their bow. We continue on past more anchored ships and soon are opposed Hayden Island, Home to Jantzen Beach shopping center and where intersstate five crosses the Columbia River. Our moorage basin is carved out of Hayden Island and the entrance is on the Columbia side of the island so we stay in the main channel the rest of our trip. The last challenge we must overcome is the railroad bridge, at high water the draw span must swing open to allow our mast clearance. One trip I remember waiting two hours to pass through, we arrived in the daytime and finally cleared the span after dark. This day the water is low and our current boat blessed with a short stick (size does matter) slips underneath, thirty minutes later we are safely in our slip at Hayden Bay. Previously on our way to Astoria, we had left our car in the parking lot, so it was waiting for us to drive home. This was a great trip, I plan to do it again someday bringing my inflatable kayak or dinghy to explore the areas I missed.

Hayden Bay, Portland, OR (river mile 107)
John

Source by John Cummins

30 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Where To Meet Asian Women In Vancouver?

It would not be difficult to find an Asian in Canada with over 3 million of them calling Canada their home. There is a wide range of Asian-Canadians in Vancouver. If you are searching for Asians in general you might end up being confused and maybe misdirected a lot of times. It is best that you narrow down your search to specific races because there are a lot of them to choose from. In addition, you should be able to do some specific research on the cultures and traditions of the type of Asians you want to meet. This will make a very easy transition on engaging with them and it will certainly give you something to talk about just in case you get into a lengthy conversation with an Asian woman.

If you are in a hurry, go to http://www.filipinamatchmaking.com right now.

Places

If you want to engage with Chinese women you may want to go around Chinatown in East Vancouver. This is also where a great wave of Vietnamese, Indonesians and Filipinos start out and establish their businesses. The City of Richmond has since been pouring with Asians who want to move in to other places. There are also a lot of Asian businesses in Kingsway Street with restaurants, beauty shops and cafes. The City of Surrey and Abbotsford are also home to a lot of Asians who want to start afresh in a foreign land. The former consists of South Asians close to 30% of the total city population, followed by the Chinese, Filipino, Southeast Asian, Koreans, Japanese and West Asians. For the latter the largest racial group next to European Caucasians are the Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis.

The beach is also a great way to meet Asians. Asians love the beach because it mostly reminds them of their homeland where the humid climate and the time spent with the whole family is where it usually happens.  Another great spot are the Asian restaurants that are almost literally littered all over the place. Asians spend most of their time with friends and families eating in restaurants that tickle their Asian taste buds. Asian cuisines are the best reminder of home and maybe dining in one of them will get increase your chances of meeting an Asian woman. Of course, your timing must always be right otherwise you will end up being branded as an arrogant and assuming. Mind you, word does spread like wildfire in Asian communities and you will have just dissed your opportunities with the rest of the Asian female population.

Events  

Aside from the places there are also certain events and celebrations that you might want to attend to. This will increase the probability of you engaging with an Asian. Asians have yearly celebrations and they gather in certain areas in Canada to get together and socialize. It strengthens the bond between countrymen who lives far apart and creates the sense of belongingness in a foreign land. The Chinese New Year’s Parade at Main and Pender Streets in East Vancouver on late July or in early February can surely spice up your interests in Chinese women.      

Do you want to meet Asian women (like Filipino girls, Thai girls, Japanese girls, etc.) and marry the Asian girl of your dreams? Sign up free now at: http://www.asian-dating-singles.com and find that special someone you are looking for!

Source by Anna Santos

30 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

6 Things You Must Consider Before a Canadian Motorcycle Ride

If you plan to cruise the highways and drive a motorcycle in Canada the following information will be useful to consider both for your own safety, and for your own piece of mind.

Canadian Highways and Rural Roadways

Whether you decide to rent a motorcycle or drive your own, Canada has a massive system of well managed city streets and highways which will bring you just about anywhere you want to go.

The main highway throughout Canada is the Trans-Canada Highway, which goes coast to coast. The distance from the east coast to the west coast is about 8000 km or around 4,900 miles. You could go on a Canadian motorcycle ride for weeks and never get to see everything.

Motorcycle Rentals

Renting a motorcycle in Canada may be something you want to consider. Canada has several motorcycle rental companies found near the major cities and towns. Rates vary depending on the season, type of motorcycle and length of rental. The minimum age to rent a vehicle in Canada is usually anywhere from 21-25 years old. If you plan to travel through the western provinces on your motorcycle you might want to look into the many popular tourist attractions, and the great roads to travel.

In order to rent in most cases you will need to have a major credit card. Requirements may vary from each province. Be sure to reserve your motorcycle ahead of time during peak travel times, which are usually from mid May to November.

Camping With Your Motorcycle

Most Canadian provincial and national parks, private campgrounds and other conservation areas allow you to camp with your motorcycle.

All of the Canadian provinces have a government agency that is responsible for tourism. You should check their websites or call for information to get get maps, and possible promotional offers, and maybe even some more Canadian motorcycle information. If you plan to stay in a campground near a popular park like Banff, Whistler, and Fundy National Park you should book in advance.

Driving Laws- Canadian Motorcycle Driving

In Canada the road laws are very similar to the rules in most US states. Most road safety laws and regulations are determined at the provincial and territorial level, so make sure you know the particular rules for the province you plan to be visiting. One rule for motorcyclists throughout all Canadian Provinces is that you must wear a motorcycle helmet if you are driving a motorcycle in Canada.

Other things to consider while driving throughout all the Canadian provinces on a motorcycle are that you are allowed to make a right turn on red lights in most cities throughout the country after coming to a complete stop. Be careful though because in some areas of Quebec you are not allowed to do this. For more information, check with the Government of Quebec’s website.

In all Canadian provinces pedestrians have the right-of-way and you must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. The speed limit on the most rural highways is usually around 90-100 km/hr or about 55-65 mph. Speed limits are enforced mainly by the RCMP in rural areas, and municipal police in most major cities throughout Canada.

If you are pulled over by a police officer you must provide proof of insurance, driver’s license and registration.

Weather

Many people who are not from Canada picture the country as having vast piles of snow and snowmobiles as the main mode of transportation. Nothing could be more false. In most provinces you can ride a motorcycle 8-9 months out of the year. In Vancouver British Columbia and other western cities and towns, people drive year round. The summer months can get very humid in Canada, and there are many Canadian motorcycle events held across the country on an annual basis.

Motorcycle Insurance Canada, Driver’s License and Permit

If you plan a ride a motorcycle through Canada and you are from the United States., your driver’s license is valid in Canada. Be sure to bring proof of motorcycle insurance by talking to your insurance company for a free Non-resident Inter Provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card before you leave, or carry your policy itself.

If you’re driving a borrowed motorcycle, you should bring a letter signed by the owner that says you are allowed. Also for a rented motorcycle, carry a copy of the rental contract.

Source by John G. Smith

29 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Benefits of Airport Transfers When Traveling

When traveling outside the country or even domestically, either as business trip or for leisure purposes, everyone for sure, would want to have a comfortable trip from the beginning up to the end. Well, who would want to have a messy trip with lots of delays and discomforts anyway? And in order to assure an enjoyable trip, one must take plans from the start as to how to travel from the airport to the set destinations. With this, airport transfer would be recommended.

Airport transfers are truly one of the convenient ways of transporting from the airport to your destination and vice versa. It is in fact a cozy and practical means of transporting while on a trip. You can have a taxi or a minicab to bring you from the airport to your desired destination. These vehicles must be pre-booked of prepared before you arrived at the airport of your chosen destination. Now, to know more about how this works given are the benefits of airport transfers:

• Availability of transport

Since airport transfers were prepared beforehand, travelers can be secured that there will be an on hand transport waiting at the airport to bring you to your desired place. This will allow you to conserve time since you will no longer need to look and wait for a potential riding vehicle. It will also be an advantage especially when traveling to places wherein you are not so familiar with the language being used, thus making it hard for you to communicate for possible transport.

• Get rid of the scene of getting lost

When travelling to places which are new to you, having an airport transfer would avoid you from being mislaid off from reaching the wrong destination. This is because the service providers of airport transfers have been already familiar to possibly all most beautiful places in the place that you would want to visit. This can guarantee you to feel at ease while travelling since you are assured that you will be in the proper destination.

• Allows you to save money

Airport transfers will also allow you to save some money since most of the time the costs are likely included in the rate of travel. But if not included, you can also somehow save money because of the discount and low rates which are being offered when you book before your trip. This will also eliminate the risk of having an overpriced transport.

• Allows you to enjoy your time

You will no longer have to bother about whether you will be late for another trip or destination or when to get back to the airport for airport transfer includes sending you off and picking you up just in time. With this, you can be free of worry on time and will no longer have to look at your watch for like every minute.

With the rationale stated, it is truly wise to have an airport transfer, either through tax or minicab, when going on a trip. Isn’t it nice that there will already be a transport welcoming you at the airport?

Source by Julius Daviz Galvez

29 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Vancouver: best places to visit during winter olympics

VANCOUVER OLYMPICS 2010 which is officialy known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games will be held on February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada. Atheletes from ninety seven countries will be participated in 15 winter sports events. Popular winter sports such as speed skating, snowboarding, and ice hockey will be spotlighted in Vancouver.

The event also serves to spotlight the sightseeing attractions and outdoor adventures in and around the city. Sports lovers from across the globe, can also enjoy to see some beautiful places of Vancouver. Surrounded by water on three sides and nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range, Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia with over half a million residents and one of the mildest climates in Canada.

Top 10 favourite places to visit during Vancouver Olympics 2010:

1. Vancouver Aquarium – Much more to see and do then look at exotic fish
2. Science World – A definite must-see; an interactive museum for the whole family
3. Museum of Anthropology – West Coast Canadian history and Aboriginal art
4. Vancouver Art Gallery – Features displays and traveling exhibits from a wide range of Canadian and international artists
5. H.R. Macmillan Space Center – Explore your sense of wonder about the universe, our planet and space exploration
6. Vancouver Maritime Museum – History of Canada’s Pacific port with artifacts, models, paintings and photographs
7. Stanley Park – 1000 acres of beaches, trails and forest; one of Vancouver’s true historic landmarks
8. Capilano Suspension Bridge – One of Vancouver’s most popular fixtures in a beautiful setting
9. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden – An amazing, must-see garden patterned after a Ming-Dynasty Scholar
10. Granville Island – A wonderful waterfront public market with lots of family fun, entertainment, food and urban culture.

Source by Merinews Network

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