A-Life BC Travel Blog

By Claire Minns

Health-conscious Vancouverites are well aware of yoga's benefits, whether it's relaxing through hatha yoga, sweating out toxins during hot yoga, or testing the body's limitations over an intense session of power yoga.

Toronto-based Passport to Prana, which was created by former yoga teachers, studio owners and avid practitioners, is dedicated to promoting yoga in all its forms across Canada – including Vancouver and Victoria.

When you buy a Passport to Prana card you are entitled to one yoga class at each of the participating studios. It's designed to introduce you to the many excellent yoga studios and teachers in the city while giving you the opportunity to sample a variety of classes and styles.

For those hesitant to commit to a single studio, the Passport to Prana offers the opportunity to dabble in various classes before choosing a studio. Meanwhile, experienced yogis have the opportunity to try a few new studios and teachers at an affordable price.

It's that time of year again.

The moldy jack-o-lantern sitting on your doorstep has yet to be composted and you're still munching on leftover Halloween candy when the holiday season onslaught begins: Christmas decorations for sale, holiday music playing in every store and TV commercials telling you what this year's hot item under the tree will be.

While buying gifts for the ones you love this time of year is all a part of the tradition, it can be easy to get lost in the crazy holiday rush and go on a spending frenzy, making sure you cross everyone off the holiday to-buy-for list.

Sure, summer just ended—but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a holiday already!

If you plan on heading south, October and November are great times to go; especially if the dreary fall weather and lack of sunshine gets you down.

Travelling at non-peak times of the year means better deals, less people waiting in line at the buffet table and your choice of prime lounge chair location on the beach.

Travelling to Victoria or Vancouver? Want to know about the best green things to do, see and buy while visiting the city at an exclusive discount?

Sign up for ethicalDeal, a great new website that uses the power of group buying to send you one exclusive green deal a day. 

The deal of the day could be anything, from organic fair-trade coffee to a carbon-neutral eco-tour, and anywhere from 50% to 90% off. 

Think designer clothing, furnishings and a new car will make you happy? Think again.

A host of new research has finally affirmed what frequent vacationers had figured out long ago: that people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects.

Still confused about the difference between fractional ownership and a timeshare?

Still on the fence about quarter ownership?

Then check out this great blog post from Bob Wood, a regular contributor at ForeverYoungNews.com, Canada's leading publication for today's 50+ lifestyle.

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, has added 22 new affiliated properties to their destination roster.

According to an RCI press release, the new resorts include those added to RCI® Weeks, RCI Points® and The Registry Collection® program, with seven of the properties coming from existing affiliated developers and four resorts under development. 

With the new additions, RCI members looking for a holiday now have a total of 58 amazing resort properties around the world to choose from!

For more information, please read "RCI welcomes 22 new resorts to it's global portfolio".

Although the Internet allows you to take your travel and vacation planning into your own hands, it doesn't always make it easier.

It can be difficult to sift through all the travel information floating around the Web, especially when you are on the hunt for a great vacation bargain.

If you've always wanted to take that dream European holiday but cringed at the cost, now may be the time; the falling Euro is making travel to European destinations more attractive than ever. 

To keep their guests and to attract new ones, European resorts and hotels can be expected to drastically cut rates.

So if you're thinking about packing your bags this year, be on the look out for some great travel deals.

According to Antonio Tajani, the European Union commissioner for enterprise and industry, it sure is.

Tajani told the European Tourism Stakeholders Conference in Madrid on April 15 about future plans to cover the costs of vacations for seniors, youths between the ages of 18 and 25, disabled people and families facing "difficult social, financial or personal" circumstances - with taxpayers' money.

Read 'Vacationing a human right, EU chief says' to find out more.