Accommodation costs are a mixed blessing for a traveler. On one hand, with a bit of creativity, you can score great deals and save a huge amount of money. After all you don’t go on vacation to hang out in a room – you just want a safe, clean bed. 

On the other hand, if money is no object, a hotel room can be the absolute luxury retreat. Why spend a fortune on spas, restaurants, and clubs when you can melt into the incredible wonder that is high thread count, top end toiletries, bathtubs you can swim in, and impeccable room service – all with a view.

Anyone who’s ever been on a flight more than 12 hours long will know that it’s an experience like no other. You pack differently, and you pack different things. If you’re avoiding checked luggage, your carry-on bags will be a work of art, with every nook and cranny cleverly designed. And yet when you’re in transit for 12, 24, 36 hours, you need to access certain supplies to add your comfort and well-being.

One nifty little product I like to tuck in the side of my purse is Toothettes.

They are a disposable kind of toothbrush with a dry, spongy head instead of bristles that has a mint cleanser activated by your saliva. It’s great to have a few on a flight so you keep your toothbrush clean and you won’t need to access your toothpaste which will likely be burried deep within your 3-1-1 kit. If you are really dedicated to oral care and/or avoiding liquids, you can buy or make some toothpowder as well!

If you are travelling to a developing country, they can come in handy in case you don’t have access to clean water for brushing your teeth. (And once you are home, the extras are equally handy inside a gym bag, work desk drawer, and car dash.)

Sometimes, it’s the simple, little things that make a trip go more smoothly. I want to enjoy every minute of the trip I paid so much for- even the flight – and I’m always on the lookout for products that make that experience more pleasurable.


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Grand Canyon National Park is a beautiful and exciting destination. The natural beauty and the unique landscape make it a trip to remember. Unfortunately, it’s one of the busiest National Parks in the US, with mid-day line ups at the South Gate lasting several hours. It can also be incredibly expensive, with deluxe rooms at the historic El Tovar lodge running into hundreds of dollars a night. Tusayan village, located right outside the main gates, has a bit of reputation for overpriced hotels and restaurants – a real tourist trap. So how can the coffeecan financier make the most of this legendary destination? 

What REALLY makes an economy class trip feel a bit more like first class? I recently saw a list by a well-respected travel site that listed such radical moves like bringing bottled water, toiletries,and nice socks. Really? Exactly WHO is getting on a plane without water? This isn't some kind of revolutionary list of suggestions – anyone who’s been on a plane once will have figured this out within 20 minutes!

One of the first, but sad, rules of being a global traveler with a coffee can budget is to fly economy class. While standards can vary by airline, there is no denying that first class has it much nicer. But with a bit of foresight, you can enjoy a much more comfortable flight than your surrounding neighbours – maybe even just as nice as the muck-ity mucks in first class.

I've been a huge fan of Magellan’s travel supplies for more than a decade – although it’s only in the past two years that I began ordering from them. I would look through their catalog again and again, in love with the nifty products that not only appealed to my love of travel, but also my affection for organization and mini versions of everyday items.

And for years, I would look at one particular item – the collapsible canvas travel tray – and scoff. Who on earth would spend perfectly good money on little more than some fabric and snaps? It doesn't take a genius to unpack in a hotel room.

And then I went on a bit of a road trip to the east coast of Canada.

A different hotel, campsite, B&B every night  And our stuff was a mess! We could never find hotel keys, keep track of spare change and tips for housekeeping, and maintain any semblance of organization with important papers.

After about a week of squabbling over who had the passkey and where the wedding rings were – I knew we needed a better system.

So I ordered the travel tray and haven’t looked back. And it was an amazing asset to last summer’s two week road trip through the American southwest, where the longest we stayed in any spot was 3 nights, and we changed accommodations an average of every day and a half. The tray lays flat on the outside of my suitcase; it’s the first thing pulled out upon check in, and all critical papers, keys, jewels, money, and passports are kept together. Checkouts become much speedier, as not only are things better organized, but I now only need to check the room 2-3 times instead of my usual 10!

Disorganization causes stress and costs valuable time – and even money. This stresses me out enough in everyday life, let along when I’m on the road – that’s why I go on vacation in the first place! I’m happy to be a devotee of the (admittedly a bit lame) travel tray!

You can go online and order the tray from Magellan's here.


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One of the worst ways to burn through your "coffee can" savings is a disappointing meal. Food costs  are one of the biggest expenses in the average vacation, no matter how frugal you are. I hate that sinking feeling you get when you have a bad meal  – it almost stings like a betrayal and, despite the fact that you are not at fault, you feel guilt and regret. There have been so many times when I've thought “For the $50 we just spent, we could have gone to McFood 5 times and been so much happier.” So what's the best way to avoid these tourist traps and dining disasters?