Handy travel apps are always helpful for that constant traveller. Whether travelling for business or pleasure we rely on our smart phones and various apps to help or entertain us in our daily lives. But there are also a lot of apps dedicated specifically to travelling to make that more simple and more fun! We’ve compiled a list of our favourite, yet handy travel apps to help you navigate your way around if you have a trip or long holiday coming up.

Dealray (This app is available on Iphone only.)

 This app is used to be informed with instant alerts for incredible airline deals. Be the first to hear about airline price mistakes, sales with 70% + off, and much more.

 

 

 

Freebird Rides

Freebird Rides connects to the Uber app which hails you a ride and then you’re on your way. It also automatically receive you cashback through the app when you pay your bill. Freebird Rides brings you to the best bars and restaurants in town.

 

Grab

Get a safe and reliable ride in minutes with Grab (formerly GrabTaxi/ MyTeksi). With the largest pool of drivers in Southeast Asia. Grab offers the fastest transport booking service for cabs, private cars, motorbikes and more. With Grab, you’ll find a service for every price point and transport need.

Happy Trip

Happy Trip app is a go to app for all your travel planning needs. Get inspired to travel by browsing through cool picture galleries or read about trending destinations across the globe. Version 2.0 claims to have revamped it’s “destinations” section with destination search and
destination themes to browse content based on themes. (Such as Hill Station, Romantic, Historical, etc.) It also boasts performance improvement and bug fixes.

 

CoolCousin

Cool Cousin is shaking up the travel world with good old human connection. Cool Cousin is a decenteralized travel agency, connecting travelers and like-minded locals for personalized on-demand guidance.

Planchat

Planning with a group is stressful, complicated and painful. Forget the endless threads of emails and unstructured text messages trying to pull a plan together. Planchat lets you plan anything from things around town to travel. It’s all in one place and available to everyone regardless of their device.

 

Maven

Car sharing should make it easy for you to get there and back. In the newest cars. With the latest technologies. A more connected, seamless car sharing experience. They offer two convenient services: Maven Car Sharing and Cars on demand for personal use.

 

Solotraveller

This app which instantly connects the travellers near you. A perfect social platform to discover nearby backpacking places in real time. a great platform for single female travellers to connect with other female travel companions nearby, plan meetups and have a safe & pleasant travel experience.

 

Meetup

The Meetup app is a great way to keep track of your meetups and message members on the go. Meetup brings people together in thousands of cities to do more of what they want to do in life. Its premise is one simple idea which is to get together with people and do the things that matter to us.

 

Trip It

TripIt organizes all yor travel plans in one place. Simply forward travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and Tripit will create a master itinerary for each of your trips. Now you can access your plans anytime, anywhere-for free.

At some point we all have to travel. The simple thing to do when travelling is to keep it organized. Keeping it simple and organized means less stress and more fun. We have add a link below for a few more travel apps for fun. Until next time…keep travelling.

http://bit.ly/2xHbYDR

 

 

 

We all love to travel, and when we do, we want to enjoy it. The great memories. The fun times. The interesting people. But we all want to be safe while travelling. Below we have included a few top travelling safety tips for our travellers while travelling.

 

HAVE A PLAN

Always research your destination so you have some idea of where you are going. Research it online or call the concierge of the hotel you will be staying and ask your questions of the surrounding areas.

KEEP AN EYE

Always keep you luggage close and in sight especially while arriving at your destination. Doormen and Bellman of your respective hotel of choice will be more than happy to help with your luggage while you check-in at Reception. This way your full attention is on registering.

BACK IT UP

Have travel documents handy and make a copy that you can have backed up in a thumbdrive  or even better in your email in case of lost or stolen. It will make it easier to replace if need be.

COMMUNICATE 

Let others close to you know where you are travelling to and keep in contact with family or friends with social media.

KEEP IT HANDY

When arriving at your hotel make sure to get two business cards. One to keep by your hotel room’s telephone in case there was an emergency you can tell someone what address you are at. The other to keep on your person so you know where you are staying while in the visiting city you are in.

SAFETY PLAN

Once in your hotel room make sure to double lock your door at all times and be familiar with the fire plan on the back of your hotel room’s door. Be aware of the closest stairwell, fire pull station, and / or fire extinguisher or fire hose. Also, if your hotel room come with a balcony be sure to make sure the balcony door is locked at all times. be sure not to lock yourself out on the balcony. Bring your cell phone out onto the balcony in case you do get locked out so you can alert the hotel Reception to come to your aid.

LOCK IT UP

Keep your valuables locked inside your in-room safe while staying at the hotel and only carry on you what you need.

ELEVATORS

When using hotel elevators be the last one in and the last one to choose your floor number. If there is someone in the elevator that you don’t feel right about you can always take the next elevator.

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Be alert and aware of your surroundings. If you see or hear anything that does not seem right, alert hotel reception immediately so they can investigate.

PARKING YOUR VEHICLE

If you are driving be sure to park in well lit areas or near an entrance or exit.

These are only but a few of numerous safety tips we can offer or suggest at any given moment. We have included a link below for additional travelling safety tips for you as well. The best way to be safe is to always have a preparation plan and use caution. Hotels are great places to visit and stay as the environment is that of comfort, relaxation, and of course safety. Hotel staff are trained to handle all.

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/advice/12-tips-for-staying-safe-while-traveling.php

When you’re planning a trip to somewhere new, it goes without saying that you want to see and do as much as possible! Are you making a journey to Vancouver in the coming months? You might want to have a think about your budget. If you’re in the mood to splurge, there’s lots of decadent bars & restaurants, elaborate outdoor activities to take part in. However, if you want to make the most of your time here on a budget – there’s also plenty of things to do which are cheap or even free! Take a look at some of our suggestions to doing Vancouver on a budget.

Granville Island

Granville Island is a metropolis all it’s own. Located just minutes from Vancouver’s trendy Westend neighbourhood, Granville Island is the perfect Vancouver day out. Take in the famous public market, check out some entertainment from the local artists which regularly perform and pick up some food from the plethora of delicious options available.

Take an Aquabus Tour

The aquabus is one available transportation to get to Granville Island. However, it also offers a leisurely boat trip for people who want to enjoy the views of Vancouver from the sea. Take a look at the schedule and prices here: Vancouver Aqua Bus.

Take a Hike!

If you’re in any way fitness inclined, you are definitely in the right city! From very short hikes for the ultimate beginner, to the multiple day treks for the seasoned hikers, Vancouver has too many options. Here is a list of hiking trails in and around the city you might want to try.

Star Gaze

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, located in Kitsilano, describes itself as ‘a non-profit organization that harbours the education of astronomy through the planetarium and observatory where visitors can experience live demonstrations, exhibits, games and shows.’ Journey through the universe in Vancouver’s only Planetarium Theatre. Take a look at their website for more information and prices!

Outdoor Summer Movies

There’s lots of options if you’re looking for a movie at sunset in the beautiful surroundings of nature. Outdoor movies at Stanley Park runs for most of the summer, but there is also a list of places offering movies under the stars. Check out the comprehensive list for what’s coming up until the end of the summer!

Take a BBQ to the Beach

We get some amazing summers in Vancouver. And being on the coast means we have plenty of beaches to choose from! Take a dip in the ocean, or try your hand at a game of volleyball. Or simply relax with friends with a BBQ going. The best way to enjoy Vancouver on a budget!

If you’re planning on visiting BC this year, consider Chateau Granville your home away from home! Book your stay through our website!

This long weekend we celebrate BC Day in British Columbia. We’ve put together a list of events taking place around the city to mark the occasion..

 

Honda Celebration of Light

The Honda Celebration of Light closes with Canada’s very own firework display on Saturday, August 5th. Catch the show from 10pm at English Bay. Make sure to get down early for a good spot as there are sure to be crowds – the most recent displays have attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Pride Parade

The Vancouver Pride Festival takes place between 11am and 6pm on Sunday August 6th, which includes the big parade at 12pm. This is one of the biggest events which takes place every year in downtown Vancouver. While there will be festivities happening all weekend long, the parade always promises a spectacle of colour and fun in downtown Vancouver!

Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place

Gather at Canada Place to enjoy the outdoor cinema experience once again this Summer. There is no showing on Monday (BC Day) but the next showing will be August 10th with ‘Trolls’. Please be aware that this is a family friendly event and therefore drinking and smoking is prohibited. Don’t forget to bring a jumper or a blanket as it tends to get chilly in the evening!

Harmony Arts Festival

From August 4th to the 13th, The Harmony Arts Festival takes place. Presented by Odlum Brown Limited, promises a ‘harmonious balance of visual, culinary and performing arts’ on the West Vancouver waterfront. Enjoy the fabulous panoramic views offered by the waterfront location. This is guaranteed to be a great way to spend BC day – or any part of the weekend – in the city. Take a look at their website for a full festival guide.

Summer Sessions Concert

Taking place every weekend in July and August – the summer sessions concert on Vancouver’s North Shore is a great opportunity to catch up with friends, grab a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks and listen to some of the free concerts on offer! Each week features a headline act plus a variety of other performers. Take a look at this website for more information on the schedule and artists.

Farmer’s Markets

One of the best things about summer in Vancouver is the abundance of outdoor farmers markets with a variety of goods to browse and buy. If you’re looking for a full list, in various different areas, check out Vancouver Farmers Markets.

We would love to know what your favorite activities in Vancouver are. Tell us what you would add in the comments below!