A new year means a clean slate for adventure. You've got four seasons to get through, perhaps a new batch of vacation time, and, if Santa was good to you, some new gear to put to good use. In the spirit of new beginnings, now's the time to mull over brand new experiences to commit yourself to this year. Here are some ideas to get you started, but dust off your bucket list to custom-build your own year of adventures. Happy New Year and happy adventuring!

 

Christmas is just around the corner and you haven't gotten your travel obsessed lovely a pressie yet. For those who like chic for cheap, I've rounded up some fun and practical presents that are both luxe and less. Happy Holidays! 

 

1. A getaway. Any jetsetter loves a weekend getaway and surprises are the best. Jaunt offers carefully created getaway adventures, mini-breaks and staycations all at up to 60% that you have to purchase within a limited time period.  Each Jaunt offers a unique experience that includes hotel accommodations  and other delights including winery tours, spa packages, gourmet meals, outdoor adventures and more. 

Concierges are the faces of many destinations when we travel. And they’re one of the first resources that savvy travelers should tap into when planning a holiday. They know where to go, where to eat (and where not to eat), and can probably get you an inside reservation or ticket to a show and maybe even a discount. I talked to a few of our favourite luxe for less hotels for tips on what’s new in the concierge world; how they’re using technology to help you; and how you can take advantage of your hotel to get the most out of your destination before and during your trip. 

‘Tis the season for giant Christmas trees, extravagant light displays and of course, Santa.

Whether you’re celebrating at home or in the sunny, sunny Caribbean, each city, culture or family has its very own holiday traditions. We took a look at some of the cities with the coolest Christmas displays!

New York City, New York, USA

As far as Christmas display goes, Rockefeller Center never ceases to take your breath away. A tradition for over 75 years, the tree – always Norway spruce and over 70-ft tall (it must be under 110 ft to transport the tree in/out of the city) – is specially chosen and lit up in a special ceremony/concert every year. Atop the tree is a Swarovski Star and 30,000 lights of 5 miles of wiring.

Read on for more fun, quirky Christmas displays and celebrations around the world. 

It’s unfortunate but true that travel mishaps and emergencies happen. In the case of losing your travel documents like your passport or money or ID (in the case that you lose your wallet) – knock on wood – we’ve put together a handful of tips to help you be 100% prepared for the situation.

What To Do When You Lose Your Passport

Passports, especially Canadian ones, are highly valuable and are often sold underground or on the black market in other countries.

When you lose your passport (no matter whether it’s lost or stolen), report the incident immediately to the local Canadian embassy or consulate (go here - www.voyage.gc.ca for the list), if possible, and the local police. If there is no embassy or it is closed (i.e. holiday or weekend), contact Passport Canada (1-800-567-6868), open 24/7.

If there's a certain humbug in your step these days, you're not alone. Christmas feels inescapable at this time of year and if it starts to drive you crazy, 'tis the season to get away from it all. Whether you're sick of winter, your family, the consumerism or all the hullabaloo of the holidays, there's somewhere you can go to get away from it all. Here are some of your best bets for a different kind of Christmas, should the need for an escape route arise.

In general, you'll want to steer clear of resorts — whether they're on a Mexican beach or a snowy mountainside. Those places attract the holidaying Christmas-loving masses better than a vat of egg nog, and you'll be running into festive cheer and Christmas trees 'round every corner. If you need some skiing or beach lounging, stick to lesser known places or save 'em til after the holidays. In the meantime, pack your bags and make your escape.

 

Getting away from the city during the winter holidays can be a nice relief but can also cause anxiety, especially having to get through airports like YYZ, YVR or YUL: huge masses of travellers, longer line-ups at security, tighter security, flight delays, bad weather causing traffic and the list goes on.

To help we’ve put together a list of insider travel tips help make your airport/travel experience a little less insane this holiday season.

Tips for Travelling During the Holidays

Check Weather and Flight Status: A day or two prior to your trip, check the weather forecast so you can prepare accordingly if there’s bad weather. Similarly, checking your flight status before leaving home for the airport will save you from getting to the airport and finding out your flight has been delayed, and etc.

Check-In Online: If possible, check-in to your flight online and print your boarding passes at home to save you from having to waste time lining up at the airport. Make sure you know which terminal you’re flying out of so you won’t have to scramble last minute across terminals.  

The aurora borealis is really a phenomenon that needs to be seen. Photos don't do it justice, nor do time lapsed videos, impressive as they may be. While the best time to view the northern lights is around the equinoxes, the depths of winter up north offer up long stretches of darkness for the entire season. If you want to get a glimpse of them with your own eyes this winter, your best bet is to head north, and to steer clear of civilization because light pollution only detracts from the show. 

Last year, NASA predicted that 2012 would bring a peak in northern lights intensity -- the greatest since 1958. To gear up for the big show, check out the best places to view the northern lights.

It’s easy to see why the Turks and Caicos, specifically the island of Providenciales (Provo), has been experiencing a “boom” in tourism recently: pristine beaches on Grace Bay; crystal, clear waters in varying shades of blue; and sunsets worthy of an episode on "The Bachelor." An 80-minute flight from Miami, just south of the Bahamas, Provo isn’t the most budget-friendly destination, but I found a few places to sleep, eat and play on the island that looks like your screensaver photo.

 

I believe that if you are going to be somewhere other than home for Christmas, snow must be part of the deal. I am not sure why this is; living on the Westcoast of BC, I have only ever had a handful of “white Christmas’” in my entire life, but even still, spending Christmas day on the beach or on safari seems all wrong to me. It would be like serving roast beef instead of turkey. Wrong. Mariah Carey instead of Elvis, or Bing. All wrong. Also, I am sticking to large cities, as in most “traditional” places Christmas is a very family orientated affair, and can actually seem quite lonely to the outsider/tourist. It’s important to go somewhere where there is a lot going on, which will make it is easier to join in the fun. Here is my top 5 for traditional Christmas Destinations around the world: