According to a recent PhoCusWright study that looks at Canadian online travel trends, the number of trips booked online continues to rise. In fact, the penetration level for online travel bookings jumped by more than one third in 2009 amid a global recession. Although the total travel spend for Canada was down by 7 percent, the actual number of online transactions rose.
Here are three things to expect as more Canadian travelers not only look--but book--trips online:
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I love a nice long ride on my motorcycle. Over the years, I have gotten smarter about how far I go on any given day. I'm also in better touch with my body and my motorcycle, which really helps. If you're interested in taking long rides on your bike, I've got a few tips that may help make your riding more enjoyable, safe and fulfilling.
You're a good rider. I'm going to skip over the obvious stuff, like wearing the right gear, making sure that your motorcycle is in top condition, and getting enough rest before your rides.
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Operating for over 100 years is Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. When I heard they were starting renovations in April of 2009 in order to preserve the history, I figured I had to visit, surprised that I hadn't been there already. The Market consists of nine acres of historic buildings all housing an eclectic array of meat purveyors, bakers, farmers, fishmongers, artists and musicians. My kind of place.
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July 26 2010 by BW Innsider
Comments (68)
$50 Prize Still Up For Grabs!
Hey NASCAR fans, despite an AMAZING turnout of "Who's Gonna Win" entries, nobody guessed that Jamie McMurray would win in Indianapolis last weekend. But don't worry, we are still keeping the $50 Travel Card prize for this week's winner!
Leave your guess below and if you guess correctly, you will have a chance to win a $50 Travel Card from Best Western! Make your prediction now.
*Entries must be in before the start of the race on 07/03, and winner will be announced on 07/06.
Don't forget to check back before every race to play Who's Gonna Win!
Follow Us on Twitter I Become a Facebook Fan
Limit only one entry per person. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the US or Canada to be eligible to win. Winner will be randomly selected from all correct answers posted in the comments below.
As I write this blog entry, the mercury has just hit triple digits outside for the first time this summer. In this kind of weather, automobile air conditioning systems struggle to keep up, as temperatures inside vehicles can hit 140 degrees or higher in direct sunlight. On a motorcycle, you don't have to deal with the greenhouse effect of a car cabin, but you do have to contend with direct sunlight and radiated heat from the road surface, as well as heat rising from your own engine. Ignore the heat at your own peril.
So, what is a rider to do?
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TIs the season to be swimming! Since it's summer, chances are you've already made quite a few trips to the pool. Sure, it's nice to take a quick dip in your backyard pool, but sometimes you need something just a little bit more, something a little more exciting. You need to visit one of the amazing waterparks in your area. It's a great escape for families or friends and lets you truly experience summer in a whole new way.
There are more than 1,000 waterparks across the nation and chances are, you are probably closer to one than you think. Look up your local waterparks, but check out some of these famous parks to get you excited about taking your summer excitement to the next level.
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Summer is in full swing, and more than likely, you are planning a weekend or vacation getaway somewhere that involves a coast line and eating seafood. If that's the case, be sure to include a crab festival on your itinerary.
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The biggest party of the year for bikers is the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the rally that everyone knows as "Sturgis." I wrote some tips for riders headed to the rally last year on this blog, and most, if not all, still apply. In rereading last year's tips, the only thing I might change is more of an emphasis on safety. The atmosphere at the Sturgis rally can be very seductive. You'll see many riders who feel that a tank top, shorts and flip-flops represent proper riding gear. You'll see novelty helmets that wouldn't protect you in a chair tip-over, let alone a highway speed get-off. You'll see outrageous burnouts and impaired riding. I hope you'll maintain the safe gear and riding habits that you practice at home, and not be swayed by the crowd. Some behavior makes a better spectator sport than a participant's event. 'Nuff said.
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Who's Gonna Win is Back!
Since there was no race last week, we are celebrating the return of "Who's Gonna Win" by DOUBLING the prize! If you guess correctly, you will have a chance to win a $50 Travel Card!
So....
Who will take the victory this week at the track in Indianapolis? Leave your guess below for your chance to win BIG!
*Entries must be in before the start of the race on 07/03, and winner will be announced on 07/06.
Don't forget to check back before every race to play Who's Gonna Win!
Follow Us on Twitter I Become a Facebook Fan
Limit only one entry per person. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the US or Canada to be eligible to win. Winner will be randomly selected from all correct answers posted in the comments below.
Despite the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, millions of business and vacation travelers are still expected to visit the region in coming months. If you're soon headed to the coastal regions of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana or Mississippi, here's some helpful information:
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Well from April through November, he may just be at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario. The festival is a great Canadian story--one that demonstrates the power of an idea and an example of how local ingenuity and pride can revive a city.
Tom Patterson, a local journalist, wanted to revitalize the town's economy and so he founded the Stratford Shakespearean Festival of Canada. Tom's idea was to create a theatre festival dedicated to the works of William Shakespeare, as the town shares the name of Shakespeare's birthplace.
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Everyone in the travel industry is talking about it. Airlines are up this summer. If you didn't book weeks ago, you're going to be hard pressed to find any deals for July, or August.
So if you're traveling on a budget, does that mean you should opt for a road trip or train travel? Are these options cheaper?
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With the strengthening U.S. dollar and seemingly limitless opportunities for international expansion, an increasing number of business travelers are heading overseas in search of new opportunities.
If you've got international travel in your plans--or if your passport is about to expire--here's a way to save a few bucks, but you've got to act fast.
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The "good old days" of roadside repairs and home engine rebuilds are behind most of us nowadays. Motorcycles are better, more reliable, and more complicated than ever before. Guys out on old Knuckleheads used to ride with tool kits, spare parts and mechanic's wire in their saddlebags. Today, I'm more likely to head out on the road with just my cellphone.
Despite increased reliability and robust build quality, modern motorcycles still require maintenance and attention in order to remain trouble free. I've put together a few tips to help you organize your maintenance, and keep you on the road more than beside it.
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We did it! We successfully traveled I-5, from San Francisco to Seattle, for 9 days on $200 a day. In fact, we came in about $200 under budget for the entire trip.
How did we do it? Here's a rundown of tips and tricks we used to pinch pennies along the road.
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July 12 2010 by BW Innsider
Congratulations to David Reutimann from the Michael Waltrip Racing Team on his win in Chicago last Saturday! The victory marked Reutimann's second career NASCAR win and cleared any previous doubts of his first win on a rained out decision. Reutimann is 40 years old, but is still a determined to win driver. He was quiet during most of the race but made a pass on veteran Jeff Gordon on lap 213 and dominated the lead for the remaining 54 laps.
Reutimann had a stellar performance and is known by other drivers as the "nice guy." Carl Edwards said, "He is just such a nice person. Her is the first guy to congratulate me on something and the first guy to apologize if he feels he did something wrong. We all have to hang out with each other every week, but he is the guy you would hang out with if you had an off weekend." Congratulations again to David Reutimann, the NASCAR "nice guy" who displayed a dominating performance.
We spend the last two days of our budget road trip in Seattle--and we luck out because the weather is glorious. We meet up with friends and relatives but we also find time to get out and see some sights. The highlights:
1) Olympic Sculpture Park
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There's an old maxim about motorcycling: "If you don't ride in the rain, you don't really ride."
If you're going to travel by motorcycle, eventually you're going to have to ride through the rain. It's not the end of the world. It's not even the end of the fun. If you take precautions, prepare properly and practice, riding in the rain will just become part of the story.
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Where I live, the summer time is hot, real hot, so hot that it drains the motivation right out of you and all that you want to do is hide in a dark room with the AC on high...
Summer time for me is always a last ditch effort to get back into shape so that when I don the board shorts at the pool and on my vacations not everyone will run away. So, my conundrum right now is how do I stay in shape during this 110 degree weather...
I've decided to share with you 4 items from my secret plan to retreat into my air conditioned lair for the next couple weeks and then emerge pumped up and ready to flex. (or something like that)
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Indulge us for a moment and ponder and respond to the ultimate (though quite impossible) travel dilemma for our YMBT readers:
If faced with a travel choice you had to make, would you rather...
1) Visit your favorite vacation spot every year without fail, but never be able to travel to a different location
...or
2) Visit a new destination every year, but never be able to travel to the same place twice.
Vote for your choice by leaving a comment and responding with "1" or "2" to cast your vote. One voter will be selected to win a $250 Travel Card to help them visit their favorite spot or strike out on a new adventure. Contest ends July 31, 2010
July 6 2010 by BW Innsider
Comments (41)
It's time to play...Who's Gonna Win?!
Predictions wanted. All you have to do is predict who will win this weekend's NASCAR race in Chicago for a chance to win a clear tote bag signed by Michael Waltrip! Leave your prediction in the comment section below for your chance win.
*Entries must be in before the start of the race on 07/03, and winner will be announced on 07/06.
Don't forget to check back before every race to play Who's Gonna Win!
Follow Us on Twitter I Become a Facebook Fan
Limit only one entry per person. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the US or Canada to be eligible to win. Winner will be randomly selected from all correct answers posted in the comments below.
The drive between Portland and Seattle is short and easy, only three hours. But we decide to take our time and discover some of the attractions along the way. Here are the highlights from our day:
1) Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Wa.
My grandfather lived in Longview, an hour north or Portland, and he walked around this lake nearly every day. More than 100 different varieties of trees circle the lake and he could identify them all. There are also two fountains, an island with a Japanese garden, children's playgrounds, and several bridges, including one that's just for squirrels.
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I looked out of my window at the Best Western Columbia River Inn this morning, and you'll never guess what I saw: Rain. How'd you guess? I huddled in the breakfast room over my coffee and maps, trying to figure out what my best alternatives would be. I had to be in Bend, Oregon by 3:00 pm to return the Electra Glide, so I didn't have time to linger too long waiting for the weather to clear. My trusty iPhone app, WeatherBug, didn't hold out too much hope, anyway. So, I resigned myself to a wet, foggy ride.
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Sam Lowe
Cesar Millan
Chris McGinnis
Jason Fogelson
Bryson Forbes
Amy Graff
Karla Henriquez
According to a recent PhoCusWright study that looks at Canadian online travel trends, the number of trips booked online continues to rise. In fact, the penetration level for online travel bookings jumped by more than one third in 2009 amid a global recession. Although the total travel spend for Canada was down by 7 percent, the actual number of online transactions rose. 
As the World's Largest Hotel Chain, we know it is a big world out there
with lots of places to see and experience. Best Western's You Must Be
Trippin' travel blog offers travel tips, ideas and feature destinations
to make your next trip a success. We are also interested in where
you've been trippin' and invite you to share your travel ideas, tips
and destinations with us.
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