Travel Tips

________________________________________________ by Brenda Murray I remember, not so long ago, arriving at some hopelessly charming small town in Europe after a sleepless 7-hour overnight flight followed by a 3-hour train ride and having to immediately embark on a scavenger hunt for a shop that sells local SIM cards so that I could use my cell phone and avoid roaming charges. Sleep deprived and five time zones out of synch and there stood I in an overstocked little tabac trying to calculate euros to dollars in my head as I stammered out  « Vendez-vous des cartes SIM? » The good news is that...

________________________________________________ by Brenda Murray Is travel insurance really necessary? First let's define what we mean by travel insurance because it's a term we use to mean several things. Airline Cancellation Insurance Cancellation insurance is offered by all airlines when you book a flight. Depending on what level of cancellation insurance you choose, you may be able to cancel your flight and rebook at a later date with no penalty or with a small cancellation fee if you become ill at the last minute. You can arrange this kind of insurance at the time you book your flight. Trip Cancellation Insurance Trip cancellation insurance is also...

________________________________________________ by Brenda Murray Let's talk about one of the most important tools in the urban sketcher's plein air backpack--the sketching stool. Choosing a sketching stool, the throne upon which we place our bottoms for what could be a 1-2 hour sketching session, is of critical importance. It is the Goldilocks of decisions. It must not be too heavy, nor too tall, not too low, nor too big. Of course, every bottom is different and to each his own. 8   Over the years I have tried my fair share of sketching stools and have noticed a vast array among my fellow sketchers. The sling back...

________________________________________________ by Brenda Murray Avoid booking your hotel room through an online third-party service, is our advice! Booking a hotel room through Booking.com or Hotels.com or Expedia, may seem to get you a cheaper rate, however, there are several disadvantages to consider:   Lack of Direct Customer Support When you book through a third-party site, any issues with your reservation have to be resolved through the booking agency, not the hotel directly. This can lead to delays and complications, especially if you need to make changes or cancel your booking. Limited Room Choices and Preferences Hotels may allocate less desirable...

________________________________________________ by Brenda Murray On overnight flights I always choose a window seat so that I have something to lean on (that is not a stranger's shoulder) when I'm trying to get a few hours of sleep. And I also enjoy the window seat in the day--how wonderful to fly over the Alps or your favourite city!  If the window seat is your preference I advise you to pay special attention when selecting your window seat because sometimes the "window seat" has no window! Has this ever happened to you?  Sometimes this space on a plane is needed to fit in everything from...