Travel Destinations: Montreal

The city of Montreal is located in the middle of the St. Lawrence river in southwest Quebec and is Canada’s second largest city. Montreal has a French soul, in fact, it has the largest population of French speakers outside of Paris. The city enchants visitors with an old-world charm and an unpretentious love of good food and festivals.The first Europeans to arrive here were from France and while the British later claimed ownership, an elegant sophistication lingers on. Some of the buildings here date back to the 17th century, making it one of the oldest urban areas in North America.

While traveling to Montreal, discover the city’s famous food scene. Try Poutine – or, follow your nose to one of the city’s many wood fired ovens and try a real Montreal bagel.

Montreal is also thoroughly hip. The city hosts more than 100 festivals throughout the year but even if you happen to be here between events, there is always something cool going on.

And of course, you can’t leave town without a trip to La Ronde, the city’s beloved amusement park.
As the sun sets on your adventures, head back downtown and discover Montreal after dark. Enjoy cool jazz, smoky blues or wind down with something a little more quirky.

Go Travel! Inspiring Quotes

Here is a list of some of my favorite travel quotes. These quotes truly capture what makes traveling such an amazing experience.

1) “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd

2) “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

3) “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

4) “Travel teaches toleration.” – Benjamin Disraeli   5) “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson   6) “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine   7) “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton

5) “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson   6) “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine   7) “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton

6) “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine   7) “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton

7) “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton

8) “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

9) “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalia de Castro

10) “The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes “sight-seeing.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

11) “We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” – Hilaire Belloc

12) “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

13) “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” – James Michener

14) “To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye

15) “Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.” – Thomas Fuller

16) “Too often. . .I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” – Louis L’Amour

17) “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

Tips To Survive Holiday Travel

The holiday season is always one of the busiest times of the year to travel. Last year, there were 98.6 million Americans traveling during the holidays, and that number is expected to rise even higher this year.

According to Airlines For America, the leading U.S. airlines trade organization, an estimated 25.3 million people will travel globally on American airlines over the 12-day Thanksgiving period. This would be a 3% increase over last year and the most since before the recession began in 2008.

For those of you who plan to avoid airlines this holiday season, fair warning, the roads will be just as busy. A recent study by the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. transportation revealed that the nation’s mileage has been climbing month on month for the past 18 months. Furthermore, new figures released from AAA, estimate that 46.9 million Americans “will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday,” which would be the most since 2007.

In order to help ease the stress of traveling during the holiday’s, Yahoo Travel compiled a list of tips — for those traveling by plane, train or automobile. Check out these great travel tips below.

For Flying

1) Cover all your customer service bases

If your flight is delayed, it is important for you to immediately get in line to speak with a customer service agent. While waiting in line, you should also give customer service a call as well as send them a tweet. You never know which group will be faster to respond. You are competing against all other passengers to get on that next flight out, so make sure you lock down alternate plans as soon as possible

2) Buy a day pass to an airline lounge

In the airport lounge you will have free access to food and drinks, as well as Internet. In addition, you will have access to VIP customer service representatives in the lounge, which could prove to be extremely beneficial should your flight get delayed or cancelled.

3) Take advantage of last-minute booking apps

Let’s say your flight is cancelled and you are unable to lock down an alternate flight for that same day, what do you do? Well, if you need a place to stay, try Hotel Tonight. They offer great discounts at places you will actually want to stay if your plans are derailed.

4) Travel light. Try not to check a bag

You will have much more flexibility in getting a new flight if you do not check a bag. Therefore, you should try to pack light so that you can fit everything you need in a carry-on bag.

For Trains

1) Book early

While it is a little late to snag a deal for this holiday season, this is an important tip to remember for future travel. Amtrak tickets spike as you get closer to the travel date. If you book early you will likely save as much as 50% on your ticket.

2) Get there early

Seats on a train are not guaranteed, therefore, you will want to do whatever it takes to get to the front of the line to ensure that you can get a seat. Try to arrive at the train station as early as possible.

3) Bring snacks

During holiday travel, the cafe car will eventually sell out of everything worth eating. If you will be embarking on a long journey, then consider bringing your own snacks to keep everyone in a good mood.

For Driving

1) Get gas early and often

The night before you hit the road, gas the car to help give yourself a jump on the crowds. Also, if you see an empty gas station along the way, take advantage. You never know when the lines will start to pile up. This could help save you a lot of time and get you to your destination as quick as possible.

2) Find an alternate route

If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t just sit there, find an alternate route. Use an app like Google Maps or Waze to get you moving on a new, less trafficked route.

3) Travel late at night

The best way to avoid traffic altogether is to travel overnight. Make sure that you are well-rested before you hit the road and then try to start the trip after 10 pm. The roads will likely begin clearing out around this time and you will reach your destination much quicker.