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| Risk Assessment Level for COVID-19 (Source: US CDC website) |
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination (Source: US CDC)
Monday, 11 October 2021
World Travel: Where is open to tourists and What is required?
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| Map for fully vaccinated travellers (source: sherpa) |
52 countries are not required travellers with negative RCR result at the time of arrival
Dark Green: Travel is open; COVID-19 testing or quarantine is not required
Light Green: Test & Travel, open for travel with COVID-19 testing
Yellow: Testing & Quarantine, open for travel with COVID-19 testing and quarantine
upon arrival
Orange: Entry is restricted, travel is only for returning citizen and those meeting strict
requirements.
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| Map for Non-vaccinated Travellers |
COVID-19 testing can be costly for families to travel together. Some authorized labs may charge $100 - $150 per person. If you live in Canada, you may try Shopper or Superstore for $40 per person, however, it may not being an authorized lab by certain countries. As of October 15, 2021, the following countries are open to tourists and no COVID-19 testing or quarantine is not required:
- Belgium
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Mexico
- Romania
- Spain
- Vatican City
Strategy for Travel Without COVID-19 Test:
1. Book direct flights from your home country to avoid stop-over countries where COVID testing is required
2. Make specific travel plan with in-depth tours within that country
3. If you would like to visit multiple countries, try to fly using direct flights connecting these listed
countries above (For example, Mexico to Costa Rica, Spain to Belgium, Costa Rica to Columbia)
4. Book open jaw travel may save you more for international flights from your home country (e.g., Canada/USA to Mexico, then return from Costa Rica to Canada/USA).
Please note: no airport in Vatican City.
One way flight from Costa Rica to Mexico: $156 CAD including taxes for a 3-hour flight is very reasonable
Wed, Feb 23
CA$156
Travel time: 2 hr 55 min
AviancaEconomyAirbus A319AV 632
Plane and crew by Avianca Costa Rica S.a.
- Average legroom (31 in)
- Carbon emissions estimate: 273 kg
Saturday, 28 August 2021
SCENE and Scotia Rewards programs are merging to become Scene+ Program
Effective from Nov 22, 2021, the SCENE and Scotia Rewards programs are merging to become Scene+ program, which gives members more flexibility to earn and redeem points.
Eligible customers who are currently in the SCENE / Scotia Rewards programs will be automatically transitioned to the Scene+ program. Current rewards points will be automatically transferred to the Scene+ program. There will be no impact to the value of existing points.
To allow for these upcoming program changes, the SCENE and Scotia Rewards programs will be unavailable from Nov 15 to Nov 22, 2021. During this time period, points will still be earned but not displayed on the customer's Scene+ account until Nov 22, 2021. No redemption options will be available during this time.
Friday, 23 July 2021
Get up to 80% bonus when you buy Aeroplan (Expiry: July 30, 2021)
Starting Jul 19, 2021 until July 30, 2021 at 11:59 pm ET, Aeroplan members will be able to buy Aeroplan points and earn a bonus of up to 80% of the Aeroplan Points purchased. Members can also give the gift of points to another Aeroplan Member, and they will be rewarded with this exciting bonus.
Tuesday, 9 March 2021
Best Airline Credit Card (Canada)
- $599 annual fee
- Up to 65,000 Aeroplan welcome bonus (receive 35,000 Aeroplan first 3 months after $3000 purchase, earn additional 5000 Aeroplan per month for $1000 spending for the first six months of card membership)
- Receive a $100 Statement Credit
- Earn 3 Aeroplan for $1 purchases from Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
- Earn 2 Aeroplan for $1 purchase of restaurants and food delivery purchase in Canada.
- Earn 1 Aeroplan for $1 purchase of everything else
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounge in North America
- Priority boarding and check in
- Free 1st check in bag for you and up to 8 companions travel on the same reservation
- Earn 1000 SQM for every $5000 purchase and roll over unused 200,000SQM
- Buyer's Assurance Plan: extend manufacturer's warranty to additional one year
- Purchase Protection Plan: cover accidental damage within 90 days of purchase
- Out of Province/Country Medical Assurance: maximum of $5,000,000 emergency medical expenses for the first 15 consecutive days of trip
- Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Interruption Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Baggage Delay/Lost Baggage/Stolen Baggage Insurance
- Car Rental Theft/Damage Insurance
- $500,000 Travel Incident Insurance
Monday, 25 January 2021
Alaska Airlines: Buy Mileage Plan Miles with up to 60% bonus (Expires: Feb 14, 2021)
Until Feb 14, 2021, purchase Alaska Mileage Plan Miles will get a 60% bonus when you buy over 40,000 Alaska Mileage Plan Miles. Please note: Canadian residents need to pay the GST/HST.
Monday, 7 December 2020
EQ Bank (CANADA) Savings Plus Account: Daily Interest Rate 1.5%, TFSA Rate: 2.3%; Unlimited Transactions, $20 Bobus For New Account
EQ Bank Savings Plus Account is one of the most popular banks with high interest rate amongst Canadian financial institutions. It helps you get the most out of your money, with no monthly fees, no minimum balances and unlimited transactions.
EQ Bank is brought to you by Equitable Bank, a federally regulated Schedule I Bank with over 900 employees and total assets under management of approximately $33 billion. Equitable Bank is a member of CDIC. Deposits made under EQ Bank and Equitable Bank are aggregately eligible for CDIC protection up to $100,000, per insured category, per depositor, as outlined in CDIC’s "Protecting Your Deposits", and provided such deposits are payable in Canada.
- No monthly fees or hidden charges
- Unlimited transactions
- No minimum balance requirements
- Send and receive Interac e-Transfers®: Free and unlimited
- Award-winning mobile app
- Unlimited mobile Cheque deposits
- NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) chargeback fees for returned items: Free
- Free and instant EQ to EQ transfers
- Free bill payments (not common for a Savings account)
- New International Money Transfer powered by TransferWise
- You can link it to other banks' account. Transfer between linked accounts (bank to bank) is free.
It is currently offering one of the highest rates: 1.5% everyday interest rate (interest is calculated daily on the total closing balance and paid monthly). The interest rate for TFSA account: 2.3%. TFSA GIC is 2.5% for 90 days. If you want to open an EQ Bank Savings Plus Account from the button below, you will receive $20 bonus for opening new saving account and deposit over $100 CAD. $20 will appear in your accounts 3 days after your deposit.
Friday, 4 December 2020
US American Express Hilton Expire (Welcome Bonus 150,000 Hilton Points, Diamond Status, Free Reward Night, Free Priority Pass and $250 Resort Credit)
· 450 USD annual fee for American Express Hilton Aspire Card
· Welcome Offer 150,000 Hilton points ($900 value) after you spend $4000 purchase in the first three months of account opening
· Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status (Priceless: save you 60 nights effort to get Diamond status with free breakfast and lounge access at hotels. Also you will get free room upgrade and 100% bonus Hilton Points for each stay)
· Free Priority Pass Membership ($429 Value): Unlimited Priority Pass airport lounge access for you and two guests at over 1200 airport lounges around the world
· Up to two Free Weekends Reward Nights (Free Stay until September 2022 = Value of $800 - $2000)
· Up to $250 in annual Airline Fee Credits
· $250 Hilton Resort Statement Credit yearly
· Up to $100 Hilton on-property credit where you book at least two-nights stay Waldorf Astoria or Conrad property.
· Collision damage waiver
· Lost baggage insurance
· Travel accident insurance
· Trip Cancellation and interruption coverage
· Trip delay insurance
· Note: Click Apply Now icon above or the photos on this page, you will receive 150,000 Hilton Points. This credit card is open to US residents as well as residents from Canada, Mexico, UK, Australia, and India who has a US mailing address (can be yours, your friend's, relative's, or an address from mail forwarding service). Social Security Number - SSN is not required (leave it blank when apply online if you live outside US). US American Express will access your home country's credit score for your Canadian, Mexican, British, Australian and Indian version of American Express card. American Express has cancelled the income requirement.
Free Airport Lounge Europe at Munich Airport: Nice Lounge With Excellent Buffet Foods ($131 USD value for three people)
Conrad Bora Bora (Free Rewards Night: Value Over $1000 USD)
Conrad Hong Kong (Free Rewards Night: Value Over $400 USD)
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| Conrad New York (Free Rewards Night: Value Over $780 USD) |
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| Waldord-Astoria Madives (Free Rewards Night: Value Over $1500 USD) |
Wednesday, 25 November 2020
United MileagePlus Reward Flights
MileagePlus is an excellent reward program which is offered by United Airlines. There are numerous ways for passengers to collect MileagePlus miles: hotel stay. survey, credit card, United Airline and their partner airlines. The estimate value: 1 MileagePlus = 1.4 US Cent = 1.7 Cent CAD. As a member of Star Alliance, the largest airline league, there are tons of options and availability to redeem United Airline and their partners' flight. Let's explore how to redeem MileagePlus miles towards rewards flights for best value (Economy Class for September 8, 2020 as departure date).
1. Calgary to Seattle
Includes Travel Operated By Skywest Dba United Express
Saver Award
12.5kmiles
+CA $73.61
2. Calgary to Vancouver
Saver Award
14kmiles
+CA $38.98
3. Calgary to Toronto
Saver Award
14kmiles
+CA $38.98
4. Calgary to Los Angeles
Saver Award
14kmiles
+CA $66.31
Includes Travel Operated By Skywest Dba United Express
Saver Award
12.5kmiles
+CA $73.61
5. Calgary to Miami
6. Miami to Lima
7. Houston to Lima
Wed, 08 Sep
4:05 pmWed, 08 Sep
10:45 pmNonstop
Saver Award
20kmiles
+CA $26.90
8. Miami to Santiago
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $8.9
9. Miami to Rio
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $8.9
10. London to Cape Town
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $205.5
11. Cape Town to London
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $40.60
12. London to Nairobi
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $176.80
13. Nairobi to London
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $65.20
14. Mauritius to London
Includes Travel Operated By Edelweiss Air , SWISS International Airlines
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $80.60
15. Nairobi to Victoria Falls (ZW)
Saver Award
19.5kmiles
+CA $65.20
16. Victoria Falls (ZW) to Nairobi
Saver Award
19.5kmiles
+CA $65.20
17. Cairo to Nairobi
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $66.90
18. Hong Kong to Taipei
Saver Award
22k
miles
miles
+CA $43.70
19. Hong Kong to Tokyo
Saver Award
22k
miles
miles
+CA $43.70
20. Tokyo to Seoul
Saver Award
9kmiles
+CA $45.70
21. Seoul to Hong Kong
Saver Award
22kmiles
+CA $32.90
22. Hong Kong to Bangkok
Saver Award
19.5kmiles
+CA $45.80
23. Singapore to Hong Kong
Saver Award
19.5kmiles
+CA $55.30
24. Tokyo to Osaka
Saver Award
5.5kmiles
25. Houston to Miami
Wed, 08 Sep
7:35 amIAH
Wed, 08 Sep
11:00 amMIA
Nonstop
Saver Award
12.5kmiles
+CA $7.30
26. Calgary to London (Direct)
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $57.41
27. Calgary to London (United Airline 1-Stop) or Frankfurt
28. Dublin to Calgary
Includes Travel Operated By Skywest Dba United Express
Saver Award
30k
miles
miles
+CA $59.30
29. Calgary to Reykjavik
30. Calgary to Frankfurt (Direct)
Saver Award
33k
miles
miles
+CA $57.41
31. Calgary to Tbilisi
Includes Travel Operated By Air Canada Express - Jazz , Lufthansa
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $111.41
32. Calgary to Helsinki
Saver Award
33kmiles
+CA $106.41
33. Calgary to Auckland
Includes Travel Operated By Skywest Dba United Express
Saver Award
40k
miles
miles
+CA $118.61
34. Auckland to Sydney
Saver Award
19.5k
miles
miles
+CA $65
35. Auckland to Christchurch
Saver Award
9kmiles
+CA $8.60
36. New Delhi to Male
37. Calgary to Pappete (Bora Bora)
Includes Travel Operated By Skywest Dba United Express
70kmiles
+CA $86.81
38. Calgary to Bodo (Norway)
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