Category Archives: Gay Vancouver
A Travel Agent Can Save Time and Money
When the internet exploded, many travelers went out on their own, searching, looking for deals and bargains, booking things themselves – I never understood that. Why would I want to spend HOURS doing all the work – when a travel professional probably knows most of the answers! Plus, if you are going somewhere for the first time, it can be a daunting task to put the trip together on your own.
They know what deals are happening – they know how you can save money – there are over 100 REASONS to use a travel agent –
here are just a few…..
Convenient One-Stop Shopping
Travel agents can handle every aspect of your trip from airline tickets to lodging,
ground transportation, activities, tours and more.
Consumer Advocate
If you should have a problem during your trip, travel agents can act on your behalf to see that proper restitution’s are made.
Expert Guidance
Travel agents are experts in helping travelers get where they need to go and
in helping to create possibilities most people never would have dreamed
were possible.
Save Time
Avoid the headaches and let the travel agents call around and do all the time consuming work of planning a complex itinerary.
Choice
Travel agents offer you an array of options and price quotes from a variety of
travel suppliers, giving you the upper hand when making your final
travel decisions.
Less Stress
Planning a trip can be stressful. There are so many options and details to worry about.
Travel agents do the work, resulting in less stress for you.
Updated Information
Travel agents are constantly communicating with the travel community, thus
giving you the most up to date info on airlines, hotels, car rental
agencies, travel visas, and other travel services to consider as you
plan your trip.
Customer Service
Travel agents offer that “personal touch” to your travel planning experience-
Offering help and advice that a website cannot provide.
Travel Expertise
Many travel agents are considered experts in the area you are traveling to and have probably
already been to your chosen destination.
Best Value for Your Money Spent
Travel agents can help you to make your dollars go farther while you are
away. They have access to finding all sorts of deals ranging from
flights to hotels to dinner recommendations.
Location, Location, Location!!!!
Travel Specialists can help you to find a place to stay pretty much anywhere
you desire. If it’s a hotel with a view of the ocean in Hawaii or a
jungle hut in the Nilgiri foothills, a travel agent can help you make it
happen.
Knowledge of All the Ins and Outs
Travel specialists can help bring you up to speed on the local laws and regulations of wherever your travels take you.
Avoid International Flight Confusion
Travel specialists can help organize those confusing international flights that internet search engines don’t cover.
Personalized Trips
A travel agent can prepare you a personalized trip based on where you want to go and what you want to do.
Where to Go to Avoid Kids
Want to go somewhere without children running all over the place? A travel
agent can help you to find excellent retreats that are open to adults
only.
Local Traditions
Travel specialists can update you on all local traditions and customs of
places you are visiting, so you make a good impression. For example, in
Japan many people expect their visitors to take their shoes off before
entering their homes.
Complicated Itineraries Made Simple
Travel experts can take care of all the details for those complicated around
the world itineraries and all the extra headaches that go with them,
such as hotel and transportation along the way.
Special Deals Worked Out in Advance – Travel
agents may have a relationship with certain tour operators and could be
able to get you a special price that might not otherwise be available.
Difference in Days to Save Money
Instead of playing around with dates on the internet for hours, your travel
agent can advise you on any changes to your travel dates that might save
you hundreds of dollars.
Staying In-the-Know of Daily Promotions
Travel agents get emails and faxes of daily money saving promotions.
They Are Considered Travel Experts and Specialists – Wouldn’t you rather have a travel expert plan your trip rather than a pre-programmed website?
It just Makes Sense to Use a Travel Agent.
They’re Out There… Use Them
Why do the work if someone else like a travel specialist can.
Travel Agents Must Be Doing Something Right. They Sure Have a lot of Business
Travel agents still sell 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all
cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car
rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels.
It Makes Traveling Easy
Once you find a good travel agent, your dream vacation is just a phone call away.
We highly recommend Dave at Donovan Travel!
Donovan Travel
Let Dave help YOU with YOUR next Trip!
1-800-252-2660 E-MAIL THEM
BEST GAY CITIES – The Commercial Drive – In LGBT Vancouver
Neighbourhood Stroll: Commercial Drive
Locally known as “The Drive,”
this ‘hood has long been popular with lesbians, and plenty of gay men
love it too, particularly as the neighbourhood holds its own Pride
festival each June. Originally the hub of Vancouver’s Italian and
Portuguese communities, on Commercial Drive
you will meet an eclectic bunch: from skater dudes, to trans folk, to hand-holding lesbians to Italian immigrants drinking a cappuccino al fresco. Easily accessible by Skytrain (Vancouver’s light-rail network), the area to explore is the 23 small-ish blocks between Venables Street and 12th Street.
Arts & Culture.
Commercial Drive is home to a large collection of public murals. An often popular LGBT photo-op is the rainbow mural on the side of Joe’s Café. The Vancouver East Cultural Centre (“The Cultch”) plays host to an array of edgy and interesting performing and visual arts.
Eating.
Foodie goodness—including lots of organic—abounds on The Drive. Vegetarians have bountiful options—standouts include the clever Mexican cuisine at Bandidas Taqueria; the East Indian cuisine at Sweet Cherubim; and the raw “burgers” at Eternal Abundance. For old-style pizza, the
goods at busy Marcello are outstanding, and nearby newcomer Famoso gets raves for their Neapolitan-style pizzas. Or have a true Vancouver cultural experience and shop for a make-it-yourself-picnic at old-school Santa Barbara Market (be sure to take a number!) and dine on the grass in Grandview Park.
Shops that pop.
Folks who live around The Drive aren’t your big-box types, and the neighbourhood supports a
large number of small, independent shops. As you stroll along, watch for period fashions at Little Miss Vintage, mid-century furnishings at Attic Treasures, irresistible gifts and cards at Urban Empire, upscale consignment clothes at Give & Receive, and vinyl at Highlife World Music. Of special note is the sex toy shop Womyn’s Ware; delving beyond their interesting selections for all genders, ask about their role in improving the industry’s product offerings.
Caffeine.
Coffee culture is strong on The Drive. Choose between ultra-hip, local spots like Turk’s Coffee featuring two espressos “on tap”, the fresh lighting of Renzo’s, or the always-bustling Continental. Or hang out and watch soccer on TV with Italian or Portuguese folks at classic coffee houses harkening to a bygone age: Abruzzo Cappuccino Bar and Joe’s Café both fit the genre, and Joe’s not only advertises the best cappuccino in the city but also offers pool tables by-the-hour.
TourismVancouver
Best Gay City Vancouver celebrates Pride Parade and Festival now thru AUGUST 4th
The “big day” is Sunday, August 4,
with the parade rolling through city streets and ending at Sunset Beach
where the festival takes place.
nights with outdoor screenings, a Pride pavilion at the Vancouver Public
Library, a Pride Run, and dance parties for everyone including youth
and clean/sober communities.
.
Running alongside Pride, the numerous events of the QAF bring out the
best and queerest in performing and visual arts held at various downtown
venues. Everyone’s welcome to join in the Vancouver Men’s Chorus’ “Big
Gay Sing,” view the Pride in Community Art Show, take in the play Bi, Hung, and Fit, and more.
Matt Oliver leads this “easy” cycling tour focused on Vancouver’s LGBT
scene and history, and strives to answer the question, “how did the
Davie Village become the gayest and my most favorite place to live in
the world?”
The weekend before the Pride parade, get your fetish on during this
three-night extravaganza at a variety of venues. With event names like
Sin City Confessional and Scarlet Harlot’s Ball, this sexy weekend is
not for the bashful.
Held at the indie-popular Cobalt bar on Main Street, this organization
hosts two back-to-back gender-bender drag king and queer dance party
events on Pride weekend.
