We saw that Switzerland has lifted all restrictions for Canadians who are vaccinated, and those under 18 don't need to be to visit. On our way home we're fairly certain we wouldn't need to isolate either at this time, and that our child under 12 would need to quarantine at home. So we wanted to know what there is to do aside from eat chocolate?

Food. Eating. You can't avoid it, you need to eat. When traveling sometimes it's hard to find a budget friendly option. This was the number one biggest thing I was struggling with when planning my trip to Iceland, I was told eating out was SO expensive. After going and trying a few different things to try to keep costs down, I have a major opinion on this - it's not true! We thought we'd keep our budget tight by grocery shopping and preparing food in our hotel. Aside from some fruit, chips and salsa, and ham sandwiches, there's not much more you can make in a hotel room. But this was a great way to not eat out for breakfasts and lunches, especially when on a full day tour. The concierge recommended we head to the "Food Court". For those of you from North America, it's not what it sounds like. Don't expect to see 16 year olds flipping burgers at McD's or getting some crummy Taco Bell. The food court was actually a courtyard with some small chick bistros inside, most of which served alcohol too. Add to this, the prices were comparable to a high end burger joint in Toronto. For example, my lamb burger and fries (which were scrumptious) came to about $25 CAD, beers for about $8 CAD. The next day we ordered a pizza (stone oven, fresh toppings, thin crust) and it was about $17 CAD - for the same type of pizza on Danforth in Toronto I've seen going for $17-20 before tax and tip. And there's the kicker: taxes are already in the prices you see, and tipping isn't part of the culture. So when you compare to "at home pricing" I would actually say, eating out was the same in Reykjavik as it would be in Toronto. Dinner for $30 at home (add tax, tip, etc) would actually be around $38-40CAD. Most main courses around this price in town. What do you think? Were you able to keep your food costs down?

I'm planning a trip to Europe at the end of January where I expect to be on foot in major cities (London, Bath, Paris) to do my sight-seeing. How do I determine the best clothes to pack? Will I need rain boots or snow boots? Should I bring hats and mittens or an umbrella?

We all know there are some crucial items to bring along on your cruise to help make the most of your trip. The obvious things include your swimsuit, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I had the benefit of some tips and tricks from frequent cruisers to help me pack a few extras that made my trip a smooth sail. Here's a list of some quirky items to stow in your bags: - Magnets with a clip: the walls in the cabins are typically metal so you can clip small items to the walls. This can help you keep your papers visible, or your jewelry from tangling. - Line of string: often the cabins are snug spaces. If you want a chance to hang your swimsuit to dry, or any other items, pack some string to have a make-shift clothing line. - Reusable water bottle: not only does this promote some eco-friendly behaviour, you'll also find it more convenient to get a large amount of water at once. We found the bars/restaurants only served smalls cups of water at a time - not very thirst quenching. - Lanyard with card holder: although we forgot ours on our most recent trip, we did see many other guests use a lanyard around their neck to hold their room key. These keys doubled as our payment for extras, our food and beverage card, and our temporary "passport" on and off the ship at the different ports. This is a helpful way to keep it close yet handsfree. What are some other strange items you've brought with you that you'll always bring on your cruise?

This World Heritage Sight is an absolute must see. Shy was able to book us an early access tour of this location and it was definitely worth waking up at 430am to make the long drive out and beat the crowds, and mostly, the heat. Although they do allow access to individuals on their own, I would highly recommend participating in a tour to get the full experience of the history and wonder this place has to offer. Our guide explained the culture, beliefs, and practices of the people. We were shown how art and architecture meet to create a truly unique and powerful location for the local population. It was truly special to have this opportunity to learn about the history of these ruins.