Now that the sting of the Brandon to Toronto flight cancellation is starting to subside, I've decided to put on my rose coloured glasses and try to make the best of what we do have left (for Westjet flights). I have done the research and compiled a list of non-stop flights from Calgary to potential vacation destinations. By doing this, I am highlighting just the most convenient destinations as you will only have one stop (in Calgary) from Brandon to your chosen destination outside of Canada. Some of these connecting flights will be with Westjet's codeshare partners, Delta and Alaska airlines, but you buy your ticket through Westjet and it's pretty seamless. The list is as follows, and in no particular order: Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Portland, Houston and Seattle. There are also non-stop flights from Calgary to 5 resort destinations in Mexico, including Ixtapa and Huatulco. There have been times that Westjet had non-stop flights to Maui or Honolulu, but I'm not seeing direct flights right now. Everything connects through Vancouver or LAX, thus making it a two connection flight and at least a 13 hour travel day, from Brandon. To further explore the possibilities on the one-stop routes, I've selected Seattle Washington as a destination. You can purchase a round trip, tax included flight from Brandon (YBR) to Seattle (SEA) for $500. Your connecting flight Calgary to Seattle will be through Alaska Airlines. The flight times are actually quite convenient. Leaving Brandon at 1:20pm and arriving in Seattle the same day at 7:25pm local time.   To add a hotel to this flight and make it a package through Expedia.ca you can stay for 3 nights and pay between $700 and $800 Canadian funds, per person (2 people traveling.) Now it certainly doesn't rate high on my bargain meter, but it's definitely and interesting option. (See sample screen-shot.)   If money isn't an issue, then why not add an NFL game to your itinerary? But since the Seahawks are a very popular team, and one of the best supported and loudest stadiums in the league, you should expect to pay $300US funds or more, per ticket. This is one of the most expensive tickets in the league. The other end of the scale would be a team like Cleveland or San Diego. You can pick up a ticket in their home stadiums for $50. Westjet will take you to San Diego, but not Cleveland. In the weeks to come we'll take a closer look at some of the other cities and highlight bargain trips to the west, when things become available.

Can you afford to purchase the home you really want? Here are some things to consider:. What kind of home do you want? What kind of neighbourhood do you want to live in? What features and characteristics do you need in a home? (Three bedrooms? A large livingroom for entertaining? A backyard big enough for a garden?) What homes currently on the market match that criteria? Are there some properties for sale that are close to what you’re looking for? What are their listing prices? How much, realistically, will it cost to buy one of those homes? How much, realistically, can you expect to get for the sale of your current property? How much of a mortgage will you need? How does that compare to the mortgage you qualify for? What additional costs will you incur in selling your current property and purchasing your new home? (For example, moving, home inspection, repairs and renovations, closing costs, etc.) Chances are, there’s a home on the market that you can afford – and is right for you. Call me today to discuss.  

Do you remember the last time you viewed a home for sale? What do you recall about that property? You likely remember the features and characteristics that stood out, such as the gorgeous hardwood floors, the spacious kitchen with the long island, or... the faucet that was dripping in the main floor washroom! Obviously, you want potential buyers to notice the great features of your home rather than those things that are less appealing. So, when preparing your home for sale, pay particular attention to what a buyer is likely to notice and remember. Say, for example, you have a small unused bedroom that has become the unofficial storage room. If something doesn’t go anywhere else, it gets put in that room! Now it’s a cluttered space. What will buyers remember about that room after a viewing? Will they see the potential for a home office or comfy reading room? Most likely, they will just remember a small, cluttered, potentially unusable space. Buyers will also notice a dripping faucet, a scuff in the wall, or the lingering odour of spicy cooking in the kitchen. They will remember all the things that stand out, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. So, when you list your property, make sure that what stands out for potential buyers are the desirable features of your property. If you have a wonderful sitting room with large windows and a great view, make sure that space is clean and comfortable. You may even want to “stage” it a little, perhaps with some fresh flowers and a good book sitting on the end table. As your REALTOR®, I can help you determine the most marketable features of your property and how to ensure buyers notice – and remember – them. Call me today.

Rock and Roll, a term coined by a skinny radio DJ with a big voice in the 1950s. It was controversial at the time, but Alan Freed of WJW 1590AM in Cleveland Ohio was the pioneer in bringing rhythm and blues, jazz, ragtime and the sounds of the south to his radio show. It was called the Moondoggy show, a midnight music show. Rock and Roll was his term.... music plus sex. Imagine the controversy at the time though? First Rock and Roll concert that he organized was met with great criticism, but even greater turn out. The Moondog Coronation Ball was held at the Cleveland Arena on March 21st, 1952. Over 20,000 tried to crowd in and be a part of the groundbreaking event, thus causing the Fire Commissioner to shut it down in the first act. But, Rock and Roll was here to stay! That's the story behind Cleveland Ohio being named the birth place of Rock and Roll. In 1983 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established. An evolving collection of music artifacts, museum displays and special events, it is a MUST SEE when you visit Cleveland. Admission for an adult and child, was about $40. We stayed a mere three hours, but I could have stayed twice that long. By noon, on a weekday, the place was crowed with retirees and seniors reliving their youth through music. But honestly, whether you were alive in the 1950s or not, there was something that would grab your attention and make you say "wow! Cool!" Elvis, David Bowie, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Jimi Hendrix and so many others have had their stage presence immortalized with displays. The stage fashion was so garish and loud, just like the music. Today's costumes, in the 'modern music' section was equally outrageous. They had the steel ball corset that Lady Gaga wore. All of it, so fabulous to see! There were interactive displays, listening zones, mini-movies, a whole hall of autographs and an enormous gift shop. I thought that a couple of adults, who enjoyed each others company, would have an amazing date night at this place! There's even a cafe on the 3rd floor and indoor/outdoor patio where you can have a glass of wine and a view of the lake. It's situated right at the harbor and next to the Cleveland Browns stadium. So much to see in the area. Each year new members are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The event takes place in April and features a concert jam session. The 2016 class of inductees included the bands Chicago, Cheap Trick and Deep Purple. There is no bad time of the year to visit. Concerts and special events are ongoing. Visit www.rockhall.com for updates and more information. Rock on, Cleveland. Rock on!

New Leaf Airlines is boasting about $59 one way flights to Edmonton, from Winnipeg. While they have a catchy headline, I'm reluctant to get on board with their low-cost, bare bones offerings. When things sound too good to be true, they often are. First of all, they charge for carry on luggage. So, haul that shaving kit and a change of clothes with you in a sports bag and it will cost you a minimum of an additional $31 per one way flight. Now that flight is up to $90 per one way. If you didn't understand that you pay for carry-on baggage when you booked on-line, they will ding you an extra $10 or so at the airport check-in desk. With this in mind, no doubt, Westjet has engaged in little price matching. They have done it silently and without big ads flashing $99 to Edmonton. But it's there. In fact, it's there every day in September. I looked. You can book the Westjet bargain directly on their website, or, you can book yourself a package and get an even better deal through Expedia.ca. When you bundle flight and hotel, there's additional savings. It's like paying regular price for the flight and getting your hotel stay FREE. I looked. So, in reality, you can take a weekend trip to Edmonton for $300 ($600 per couple) and that includes both flights and hotel, plus all that taxes. Kinda ridiculous, isn't it? And awesome! Why doesn't the same flight deal apply to Brandon departures? New Leaf doesn't have a Brandon route, so there is no need for Westjet to undercut the price on this route. Air Canada ignored New Leaf's entrance into the market, until just very recently. They had not previously acknowledged or discounted the matching routes....until now. I see today that Air Canada is also offering $99 one way YWG to YEG. Why would you book with Westjet, or Air Canada and not New Leaf? Well, and this isn't just my opinion, it's fact. New Leaf doesn't fly each route every day. In fact, they only fly this Winnipeg/Edmonton route on Thursdays and Sundays. And since the same plane (they have a very limited fleet) works other routes, it could get stuck in Hamilton or Abbotsford, for example. If your scheduled departure is delayed, it could be affected for several days. So, in this case (fleet) size really does matter. Westjet and Air Canada can typically get you out within a few hours, regardless of the issue. Secondly, I appreciate the opportunity to bundle hotel flight, for additional savings. Since New Leaf is only booking their own flights, and not using re-sellers like Expedia, there is no opportunity for package savings. Therefore I recommend the Westjet/AC/Expedia bargain like I have shown here in the photos. Expedia has all kinds of hotels at a variety of price points to choose from. I show a few in the screen-shot example.   Lastly, track record and customer service. I'm a low-risk traveler. I like the assurance of experienced pilots, mechanics and customer service agents. No problem should ever be 'uncharted territory' when I'm counting on people and equipment. I also appreciate the convenience of (multiple times) daily flights. I can't afford to get stuck in Edmonton (or anywhere else) because I got a 'great deal.'