Archives for July 2013

The Brightroam Experiment

Brightroam is proud to present our new campaign where we get travellers to personally review our products while on the go.

As an intern at Brightroam, I’ll be embarking on a 7-day vacation cheap cialis online buy cialis 5mg to Boston and Bermuda!

I’ll be giving an honest review about the Brightroam SIM cards and plans along with quick blogs on common misconceptions about using Brightroam that people encounter.

Reading about SIM cards isn’t the most exciting thing, so of course I will also be blogging about my trip to Boston & Bermuda! (Expect lots of pictures of landscapes and food!)

Stay tuned for more blog posts about awesome deals AND my 7-day adventure abroad!

 

Travelling Cheap and Local!

As much as many of us would love to explore the world be it Europe, Asia or tadalafil lilly 20mg Oceania, it tends to not be possible because of cheap articles writing service money. online canadian pharmacy But travelling isn’t just about the sites and landmarks, it’s ultimately about experiencing something new, something different from your everyday routine. That’s why Brightroam has come up with some travel ideas that are in Canada, for you to enjoy without the hassle of flights and expensive hotels. Although hotels and travel expenses are still there to keep in mind, they definitely can’t compare to how much you’d have to spend on jetting away.

Here’s the list of Brightroam’s picks for travellers looking for a quick and easy vacation.  As typical as these may sound, there’s more to these places than just the name, and you’ll find out why.

MONTREAL

Montreal

Basilicas upon basilicas, in a good way of course. Montreal’s historic architecture is a sight to behold, after all, there has to be a reason why Notre Dame is so well known. What I personally love about this city is the historical setting and not to mention great food and art everywhere. It’s definitely not a great place to take your small children, but if you have teenagers, this is the place. Not to mention that 90 minutes away, you’ll be able to discover the beautiful Laurentian mountains. While you’re at it, the Monteregian hills and Appalachians near Montreal as well. The perfect combination of nature and city life.

NIAGARA

Niagara

We’ve all heard about the falls and the casinos, but have you ever thought about enjoying your stay at a Winery? Niagara’s region is great for wine, and you’ll discover that wineries are absolutely beautiful. The Pelham estate and Peller estate will completely change whatever misconception you have about visiting these luxurious estates. Not to mention the amount of good food and wine you’ll be able to enjoy with your family (if they’re of age) or maybe just your significant other.

If you’re looking for something for the kids, Great Wolf Lodge is always nearby and tons of fun. It’s my family’s go-to place during the holidays, and as old as I may be, I still enjoy my stay every time. The nearby town is also filled with small amusements and sights for you to roam.

BANFF

Banff

I’m sure that no one can resist the temptation of resting in hot springs (even in this weather). Banff offers not only these hot springs, but a marvellous surrounding area filled with shops, eats and art. The Banff area in general is breath taking, especially Lake Louise. Although I haven’t been here personally, it’s definitely on my list of go-to’s with so many recommendations from my friends.

BRUCE PENINSULA

Bruce

This area is also a common spot for my family vacations. Set in the secluded Bruce County, it’s the perfect get-away for those seeking some solitude, peace and nature in their lives. Bruce Peninsula National Park also happens to be one of the most astounding places I’ve been. I love hiking and taking nature walks, and the park being a peninsula and all had the best of both worlds: lots of vegetation and a fantastic harbour. If you plan on heading here, make sure to check out the Grotto! The experience will make you think, “am I really still in Canada right now?”

The best thing about small towns is how inexpensive everything is. You will have no trouble saving on motel bills here! One of the most shocking things I found when I first came to the area is how cheap theatre tickets are compared to my one and only hometown, Toronto. Ontario’s slogan “Yours to discovery” truly makes sense here.

WEST COAST

Vancouver

Vancouver has undoubtably the best food in Canada. Although some of it may be pricey, you don’t want to miss out on any of the eats while you’re here. Toronto is a close second in this regard, but from public opinion, Vancouver is still number one. I can’t think of a better Harbourfront than Vancouver’s seawall. 22km of paved scenic perfection. While you’re there, it’d be a shame to not check out Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park. If you’re looking for some real nature, why not make your way to Vancouver Island to Della Falls!

Della Falls (Canada’s tallest waterfall) is actually quite a mission to get to, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. It’s accessible by helicopter or boat and definitely bound to be a memorable trip.

Stay tuned for a post on the one and only, Toronto!

Oh The Places You SHOULD Go (Before It's Too Late)

As the weather swelters to 30 degrees+ this week in Toronto (not to mention the muggy air and humidity!), it’s clear cheap cialis online that Global Warming is making an impact to our environment. But not only are our cities getting more cloudy, top exotic vacation spots are on the verge of disappearing!

An infographic study from Daily Infographic shows the places that you should plan to visit before it’s too late!

Travelling is usually termed as a ‘tech detox’ but as the digital age continues to gather our attention, it’s near impossible to resist the urge of Social Media, and all things Internet. With the Taj Mahal set to disappear in less than 5 years time, media around the web will be the only remaining thing to capture the landmark.

If you’re planning or starting to think about travelling to these places before it’s too late, remember that your trip doesn’t have to be devoid of technology. Brightroam offers coverage in quite a few of the places listed below with much more reasonable rates than your telecom moguls.

When you’re travelling to different continents, it’s all about cutting costs and saving every penny, so look into Brightroam’s products/plans and Happy Travelling.

(Also, it’d be a great idea to reduce your carbon foot print to keep these beautiful places alive longer!)

From Daily Infographic

From Daily Infographic

 

The Biggest Expense Travellers Pay For (Besides Credit Card Bills)

About a month ago, I packed my bags and set off on my summer vacation to Australia. Aside from the gorgeous sightseeing, awesome shopping and the great time I had, I also managed to save big time on my phone bill! It was a total win-win…win? I’m no stranger to that all to familiar story of a friend or family member going on vacation and coming back to a phone bill stretching over hundreds of dollars. And I can thankfully say I wasn’t another one of the victims thanks to a little help from Brightroam.

Since I was taking my phone (Galaxy S4, carrier locked) I considered adding an international/roaming plan to my existing plan with Bell. Before I got the chance to call, my best friend came over to help me pack and enlightened me upon the awesome deal her parents managed to find. She said at first her parents were going to do the same thing as me with the whole add-on plan, but then they did some shopping around and stumbled across an organization called Brightroam. Turns out Brightroam is quite infamous for their low, and I mean LOW, travel phone rates to US, UK, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Caribbean, India and many more countries. It seemed promising so they decided to give it a shot.

When they got to the Terminal 3 departures lounge at Pearson International Airport they stopped by the kiosk and picked up a SIM card, saving themselves a lot of hassle and money. So I took her and her parents’ advice and stopped by the kiosk after security check to see what they had in-store and boy was I glad I did! Turns out everyone was right. With the Brightroam SIM plans, I got myself:

- free incoming calls and texts (Brightroam rates: outgoing calls – $0.35/min, outgoing texts – $0.30/text; Bell rates: outgoing calls – $2.00/min and $0.75/text)

- a bucket load of savings on a data plan! ($34.95/month for 1GB of data which is roughly 75% savings)

- no roaming data charges (that many people would otherwise be charged hundreds of $$$s for by their service provider if they don’t opt for an add-on)

- 90 days of activation (with the option to extend the activation as needed)

- no commitments/contracts… a simple pay-per-use international SIM card with a free local number included

I was also able to snag a compatible international phone since mine was locked. With everything said and done, I ended up spending roughly $250 on the phone + SIM. usage  Of course the next month I would only pay for my usage which wound up to be around $50/month for my usage (talk/text and data)! … And of course not everyone sees that number as a huge bundle of savings, but there are more cost effective deals that can fit everyone’s needs.

All-in-all, my experience with Brightroam was entirely positive. The salesperson was very informative and helpful, the service was great and I was able to use it the very next day (major advantage of getting your services at the airport is on-site activation). And of course, it goes without saying that the next time I travel, I am definitely paying Brightroam a visit before I board! So, don’t get ripped off and pay extra! Be wise and make the right decisions when it comes to your hard-earned money! Try Brightroam (and compare any rates in case of doubt) if you’re looking to save. Think of it this way, the more money you save on your phone bill, the more spending money you have on your vacation! Go ahead and buy that cute dress you saw at that store or indulge in a few extra drinks at the bar because you can! Savings are good aren’t they?

And so, to all my fellow travellers around the world, Bon Voyage on your next trip, and remember, less is more!