Loulou's views

After a couple of years of limited travel due to the pandemic, passports are being renewed, and dream vacations are once again becoming a reality as people start to plan their summer 2022 vacations--with Gr eece being on the top of many lists.  There is nothing as magical as a summer in Greece. Always a popular travel destination, Greece saw a massive increase in tourism again in 2021, after being hit hard during the pandemic. Those who weren't able to get to Greece this summer can start to plan their perfect trip for next summer--starting in Athens, the capital of Greece.  One of the oldest cities in the world, and the birthplace of democracy, Athens is a great place to begin exploring before visiting the islands or continuing your journey through mainland Greece, because it offers so much for every type of traveller--a great mix of ancient sites, museums, dining options, sightseeing, and shopping, surrounded by the sea. If you have less than a week in Athens, here are a few ...

There is no better place to travel to than Europe in the summertime. I'm back to reality now after one month away–first, a few days in Paris, followed by four weeks in Greece–our second home. It's easy to fall in love with Paris; what you've read about and what you've seen depicted of this magical city are all true. It's a city unlike any other, one that is filled with so much beauty it'll leave you awestruck with every step you take. It is, of course, a perfect city for lovers, but equally wonderful to experience with the entire family, especially if you love history, culture, fine dining, and breathtaking museums. Of course, the shopping is excellent, too! I saw Paris for the first time last summer, on my return from my Portugal press trip. Earlier this year, my husband had the chance to visit Paris on a work trip. We decided to take our children this summer, before we went to Greece. It was the best decision ever. Our boys are at an age where travel an...

It's summer, and if you're like me, you've been planning your vacation for a while. Although the weather here is absolutely perfect right now, there's something exciting about getting ready for a vacation. My favourite summer vacation destination in Greece, because of the beauty and the culture. There is nothing more breathtaking than the Mediterranean Sea! I also love going to Miami in the summer (and winter!) with my family because it's a short plane ride, the resorts are gorgeous, and the beach life is perfect. I'm a last minute packer, and despite how often I travel, I always pack more shoes than I should–but if you don't plan accordingly, over-packing will be the least of your worries. Since we tend to be so focused on our destination, it's easy to forget about the journey, particularly security screening at the airport. The good news is that being prepared can help you breeze through the screening checkpoint , leaving you more time to shop, eat, ...

Are you ready? March Break is just days away, and that means we've got to keep the children busy. Heading somewhere tropical and warm is always a great idea, but so is saving money, whether you're travelling or staying closer to home. Join President's Choice Family Finance Advisor Rubina Ahmed-Haq , Chief Family Advisor Kathy Buckworth , and myself, MrsLoulou , on Twitter on Thursday March 10th from 8-9pm EST f or a Twitter Party that'll help you save money this March Break. We'll be sharing some great tips on helping you save money using financial tools, too. We're also giving away some PC Gift Cards  ($600 worth!) to help you save money with whatever you've got planned this March Break. Let's chat more tomorrow night—I can't wait to share to some helpful travel tips with you. There is no RSVP required for the Twitter Party—just follow @PCFinancial and use the hashtag #PCPointer to join in the fun. See you tomorrow night—and Good Luck! ...

With the holiday season in full swing, and Christmas weeks away, everyone has travel on their mind—and whether you're travelling home for the holidays or taking a vacation somewhere tropical and warm, I've got some great travel tips for you. I was on CTV Morning Live today talking about travel tips for the holidays, and I wanted to share them with you here! Travel Tips To Keep You Sane (And Save You Money!) This Holiday Season RetailMeNot.ca : My favourite website right now is RetailMeNot.ca. This is where you'll find all the hottest Canadian deals and offers on everything shopping related, including travel. Deals and offers are emailed directly to you, so you'll never miss a thing. You can also go online every day to check out the latest travel deals. You can get travel coupons for airfare and flight deals, hotel discounts, rental cars, and affordable vacation packages, all in one place. RetailMeNot.ca saves you serious money on travel booking sites like We...

Brr... it's been an incredibly cold winter and I'm over it already. Thankfully, my family and I are heading south to warmer temperatures, soon. I'm counting down the days—we all are, actually. I need the sun, the warmth, and the sound of the ocean waves waking me up every morning. I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live talking about travel tips when you're travelling with the kids , and I had to mention three amazing resorts that I'll be visiting during my upcoming vacation to Florida. Having travelled to Florida many times with the little ones, I know what works, and what doesn't. These resorts are amazing, family-friendly, and very accommodating—and I know they'd be perfect for you, too—whether you're travelling with children, or not. 1. Diplomat Resort and Spa: We can't wait to be back at the beautiful Diplomat Resort and Spa . (For our 10th time!)  The Diplomat has been so kind to us over the years, providing us with amazing perk...

I love everything about travelling except long line-ups at airports. If' you're prepared you can save a lot of time, though—and if you're travelling with children, you're going to want to make note of these great travel tips that the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has shared with me, just in time for summer vacation. Gea ring up for a famil y trip? Flying with family is no simple task. Getting everyone packed, organized and ready to go through security with little fuss can present quite a challenge. Thankfully, the CATSA has a few pointers to help make your summer travel experience run smoothly. Know how to carry-on Children get hungry for snacks. You know this and you want to be prepared. Solid foods such as apples, granola bars or sandwiches can be packed in your carry-on for the plane ride. Any liquid food, such as yogurt, pudding or peanut butter, must be in containers of 100ml or less and placed in a clear, closed, resealable...

I've loved to travel every since I was a child. I have great memories of family trips—from summers spent in Greece, to vacations in England, Cape Cod and Florida, every vacation was special and memorable. Some trips, to this day, are more vivid than others, and one of those vacations for me was the first time we went to Orlando. Now, I'm a beach girl, so going to a city where we weren't surrounded by the ocean made me a bit scared, but once we arrived, I loved it. Disney World was great, even though the line-ups were long, but my favourite part was the resort we stayed in: The Hyatt Recency Grand Cypress . I was almost 13 years old, and I fell in love with the gorgeous pools, waterfalls, slides, and tropical landscape. This was a five-star, five-diamond resort, and the service was amazing . I can't wait to bring my kids. As an almost 13 year old girl, exploring the resort and making new friends with other kids my age was a highlight of my trip to Orlando. ...

I was only a few months old the first time I traveled on a plane. I lived in Greece the first year of my life, and every second year after that, my parents would take me to Greece for the summer. I have fond memories of Greece, and of traveling with my family. From Florida to Maine to England, I enjoyed every vacation and the memories from each trip. Now my boys are avid travelers, too—from flying to road trips, they're got the travel bug like their mom. They're on their third passports, already. My children are easy and laid-back little travelers, which makes it much easier on me. I think traveling with your children at least once a year is very important. Travel really is  "...the only thing you buy that makes you richer." Even though we often go to our favourite resort  in south Florida every winter, each time we go, we leave with new wonderful memories to last a lifetime. It's become sort of a second home away from home for my boys. I have learned a...