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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 15, 2007 - 29 Christmas travel gift questions answered in time for the holidays I'm writing as fast as I can, hoping your questions about Christmas gifts will be answered in time to finish your list. Dear Sam: My parents have just retired, and are starting to dream about travel. My brothers and sisters and I would like to buy them a trip to the sun in January. Can you recommend a good place to book it? Our budget isn't unlimited, so we need to find a deal. Florida is out, as they've driven there in the past. We would like an exotic destination for them. The Grownup Kids Dear Grownups: What a wonderful gift. Ask everyone you know if they are happy with their travel agent, and why, just the way you look for an accountant or a lawyer. Then go to that agency and buy them a gift certificate for travel. A destination and resort is very personal, and what you like they may not. Part of the fun of travel is choosing, and dreaming. The first two weeks of January are excellent times to get a great deal. These deals vanish towards the end of January when high season starts. They can then go into the agency right after Christmas, and get a chance to choose what they want. Dear Sam: My parents are going on holidays this winter, and I'd like to buy them something that they could use on the trip. They have luggage and I don't like to buy personal things like backpacks, and travel purses, so am stuck for ideas. Do you have any? Stuck daughter Dear Stuck: Why don't you buy them an excursion? You can pre-book it here in Canada, and pay for it separately. Tour operators and the cruise lines are doing out receiving a big hug. A small candle in a tin with a lid will take any slightly musty smell out of the room. I never travel without ear plugs, and an eye mask. Somehow the eye mask makes me focus on sleeping, and the earplugs help dull the sounds of kids crying, or on the resort, the maids chatting in the halls before I'm ready to face the day. If she's going to an all-inclusive resort, an insulated mug will keep the coffee hot, and the ice cubes from melting. this more and more these days. Dear Sam: I'm looking for ideas along the travel line for my wife. I've wandered around luggage stores trying to put some things together to theme her Christmas, including luggage, but I really see a lot of stuff that I don't think she'd use. I've bought her a camera, but I need more. What do you consider essential? Husband who doesn't travel Dear Husband: A suitcase with really good wheels is a must, and although my colleagues and I disagree, I pay good money for the one I use the most. Weight is a real issue on planes today so check the weight of the case itself. I always buy the expandable ones to carry home pounds of paper about the destination. If I was on vacation I'd need the extra room for shopping treasures. A small flashlight is a must in my luggage, and so is a small fold up backpack. I carry a soft wool uncrushable shawl that doubles as a blankie or pillow on the plane, works over my dinner dress up clothes in the evening and helps keep off the chill when I'm waiting outside the airport for pickup. A passport holder is useful, and of course a purse full of the local currency never goes withDear Sam: We're giving my sister a gift certificate for a trip. I know she'll love it, but she hates envelopes, she doesn't think it is very thoughtful, and she's like a little kid, she likes to open boxes. We can't afford to spend any more money, but we're out of ideas. Puzzled Dear Puzzled: Find some pictures or a brochure of places she might like to go, stick them in a box and then wrap it beautifully. She'll spend a whole lot of time pouring over the brochures after she opens them. If you're sending her to a sunny location, you could wrap up some suntan lotion, hat and sunglasses to put with the certificate. Dear Sam: Should we give our son a backpack, or let him choose his own? He's going to travel through the Far East this year, and has talked about needing one. Is there a brand you'd recommend if my husband wins the argument? Mom Dear Mom: That backpack will be with him 24 hours hours a day while he's travelling and he should choose it himself. - Sam Ion can be reached at sion@cogeco10.ca EDUTRAVEL Arts & Leisure Tours, a leading Canadian tour operator specializing in custom designed travel in Europe, has teamed up with Brock University in St. Catharines to create a unique program of lecturer-hosted travel experiences called Edutravel. Edutravel vacations have a specific focus whether it is the study of art, food and wine, architecture, nature, ecology, history or other aspects of the chosen destination. Key features of these trips are the informal learning component, the presence of the host specialist lecturer, the chance to travel with like-minded guests, the trip size limited to 20 guests and the opportunity to participate in pre-departure lectures at Brock University. The 2008 trips include "Tuscany: Renaissance to Ramparts" 08-17MAY08 with Professor Corrado Federici, "Jane Austen and the Romantics" 2131MAY08 with Professor Barbara Seeber and "Introduction to Ireland" 16-26JUN08 with Professor Hugh Gayler. Edutravel guests will enjoy stimulating educational experiences and being in touch with the places they visit in a very tangible way. Registration must be received by 25JAN08 and is limited and accepted on a first-come first-served basis. For details and full itineraries, call us. FEB. JOHN MAYER CRUISE Fans of John Mayer can enjoy the ultimate cruise experience during the "Mayercraft Carrier" Cruise, 0104FEB08. The cruise is set to leave the Port of Miami aboard the Carnival Victory on 01FEB08, sailing to Freeport, Bahamas and returning on 04FEB08. Mayer will be joined by a group of hand-picked artists, including Dave Barnes The Bomb Squad, Colbie Cailat, Brandi Carlile, Cooper, Brett Dennen, Davis Ryan Harris, DJ Logic, Martin Sexton, Soulive, Bob Reynolds, The RM & GW Band and Teddy Thompson. With sets by Mayer and friends in nightclub-like settings Mayercraft carrier will be a dream come true for any Mayer fan. Other upcoming events include Barenaked Ladies' "Ships & Dip III" 27JAN-01FEB08 and Cayamo: A Journey Through Song, featuring Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Patti Griffin and more, 04-10FEB08. Cabin space is very limited ­ call us for more details. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com KIDS STAY FREE!* (15 years and under) Enjoy a 7-night escape to Club Med and your kids stay free. Available at: Punta Cana, Dom. Rep. Cancun Yucatan, Mexico Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico Sandpiper, Florida. Travel dates from 23/2/08-27/6/08 *Certain restrictions apply. Please call us for more details Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Gina Cheng Ont Reg No 2766538 Ont Reg No 2766538 Relax... you're with us Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com 221 Lakeshore Road E. Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com