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18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Satisfaction is in the bag I BEAVER TRAILS TO DISNEYWORLD: The Hotchkiss girls, Michelle, 10, Nicole, 3, and Carolyn, 7, took The Oakville Beaver to Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Take along a copy of The Oakville Beaver on your next vacation and send it in for publication to Beaver Trails, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4 or e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. RCI OFFERS VITALITY In search of more balance in your life? Look no further than Royal Caribbean where you can experience a total mind, body and soul vacation with the cruise line's new Vitality Program. Launching on the cruise line's newest ship, Liberty of the Seas, the program provides an integrated approach to wellness, offering guests more choices to foster a healthier lifestyle. The program covers every aspect of the cruise experience, including new fitness and spa offerings, wholesome culinary options and active onboard and shoreside activities. The Vitality Program m provides guests with opportunities to incorporate sports and fitness of every activity level into their cruise vacation. In addition, a variety of spa treatments are aimed at helping guests find their individual lifestyle balance. Tai Chi and meditation classes, therapeutic Chinese herbal medicinal offerings, and acupuncture at sea round out the new roster, taking everyday relaxation to the next level. Guests are encouraged to participate in the revamped "New Look & New You" " program, which offers minimakeovers. The "Eat More to Weigh Less" " program includes a personal tour of Windjammer Café, the cruise line's buffet restaurant, with an instructor who provides tips on healthier food choices and information on developing eating habits for lifelong health. Guests eager to go the extra mile for a healthier, more balanced perspective on life can look to the Vitality Program m lecture series developed by a health and wellness expert for advice on stress and relaxation, weight management, and health and fitness. The program goes well beyond the onboard experience and includes Royal Caribbean's shore excursions. Recommended excursions are perfect for active families and singles ready to hit the ground running, biking or zip-lining. The Vitality Program m will also offer guests more dining choices to reinvigorate the body and recharge the soul. Energy bars, protein and green tea drinks, and Tazo iced and hot-teas have been added to menus in locations like the popular "Squeeze" juice bar. For more information, give us a call! McTavish Travel proudly celebrates 35 years of service excellence in 2007. n San Francisco last January, I got sick of my luggage falling over when I tried to pull it, up and down all those hills. I stomped right to a store having a sale, and asked the clerk for the lightest luggage available with the best wheels. I lucked out, with a very knowledgeable salesperson, and ended up with a Swiss Army Knife bag. Yes, I was surprised too. It wasn't cheap even at 45 per cent off, but it works like a charm and I don't know why I didn't do it years ago. Travel writers travel a lot, which means we're hard on luggage and are constantly replacing our bags. I usually count on only getting several years' use out of mine but then I'm on the road 12 weeks a year. Now, it is time for us to replace our luggage if we're flying, as the airlines are really, really serious about weight. On three trips recently, I've paid for overweight luggage, and it was the suitcase causing the problem. Bags take incredible abuse. I've watched luggage being thrown off a ship to the dock, and seen bags thrown into a truck so hard they bounced off the back. Obviously, sturdiness and durability should be high on anyone's suitcase shopping list. If you haven't gone shopping for luggage in years, and are still hauling that pink number without wheels, it is time to start looking. There are always sales, so don't pay full price. Be a smart consumer and ask yourself a few questions before hitting the store. Your answers should help you make the best choice. Do you travel frequently? Then consider buying several co-coordinated bags in various sizes. Wheels are on everything and I wouldn't buy anything that didn't have them. There are, however, wheels and there are wheels. They should be extra wide, durable and at the outside edges of the bag for maximum stability. I bought a cheap set once that didn't corner well, because the wheels were in the wrong place. I like soft luggage because it expands and I can squeeze in the kitchen sink (tons of brochures), if I have to, but, with the severe abuse I give it, soft luggage tears and punctures. Hard side luggage offers good protection for the contents, but it is heavier and will crack. A luggage repair company told me that built-in frames last longer and handles should retract inside the bag, not the exterior. Handles should be cushioned and large enough for a firm grip; they should retract right into the case, and check them for your height. Zippers can be made of nylon or metal. Does it run smoothly? Are the ends finished? Is there a lock as part of the zipper? Most experts and on-the-road employees tell you that a good middle-of-the-road priced case is preferable to high-end designer luggage, basically because a designer case says "steal me." There are garment bags with wheels which hang open on both sides so you can see what you've packed. Don't forget women need longer garment bags than men. Look again for lightness, metal supports, a strong hanging hook and chain, water resistant fabric, and compartments. Next, think of your carry-on. No point in having to lug a heavy carry-on all over the airport when the entire luggage with wheels has gone to baggage. Carry-on luggage has become another target for airlines trying to reduce cabin congestion. Rules aren't standard, so it is up to you to find out what's acceptable. Most luggage stores have a measuring device to help with the selection. I have vertical carry-ons with wheels both in the charter and scheduled air sizes (the charter is much smaller) and I have a backpack with wheels. If you're taking a long or unstructured trip using hostels or small hotels, your best bet is probably a travel pack. This is an up-market backpack. They now load like a suitcase with a zippered front flap that opens the whole thing up for easy and crumple-free loading, some convert to a suitcase, and have a zip-off day pack. Buy the right luggage and your trip is in the bag. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca E UROPE EUROPE RO RO 35 5 Trafalgar/Insight/ Globus Sale! E 00604023 $ 150 1 50 0 00 ON SELECTED DEPARTURES! ! off p.p. Book by April 30th Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. Travel Choice 905-842-4999 BY SIGNATURE VACATIONS 350 Cabana Rd.lakeshore@travelchoice.ca E. 519-969-8041 Oakville Location: 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. 905-842-4999 lakeshore@travelchoice.ca Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION CALL 905-845-3824