What better way to get to know a city than mingling with the locals in a pub? How about trying a few different pubs to make sure you’re meeting a variety of locals? We thought you might say yes to that!

This is an excerpt from The Alternative Travel Guide – Ottawa which launched in May 2014. It is a map aimed specifically at young travellers and made by young locals. It features things that locals actually like to do in their city rather than the usual tourist hot spots. Below you will find the pub crawl that is recommended in the map.

It's not just anyone I would trust with the critical task of researching the best of Ottawa's croissant scene, but Reese is just the kind of gal who can handle the pressure! Reese is a mom of 3, a passionate reader, a fan of sports, TV, and shopping - and is a blogger to boot! If anyone can balance the demands of croissant research, it's Reese!   www.reesespeaks.wordpress.com 

Hey There Readers!

The croissant. That golden, crescent moon shaped delicious pastry. It is one of my absolute favourite guilty pleasures. Ever since my mom introduced me to these sinfully delicious treats when I was 14, I have always craved them!

Thanks to Vanessa, she helped me to cross an item off of my blogger's bucket list of posts. I have always wanted to go on a hunt to find the tastiest croissants in Ottawa to satisfy my croissant crush.

The most common question that travellers ask me is "How much will my trip cost?" While I know what my per diem costs are in Sydney, Quebec City, Paris, and Singapore, it's much more difficult to predict what the same trip will cost YOU.  And, as such, it's hard to create a one-size-fits-all vacation budget planner. But we're going to tackle it all the same!

But whether you rough it or seek out satin sheets; and no matter if you are taking a  jaunt to the next town or heading out to parts unknown; this travel budget template should cover every eventuality and help you gain an accurate estimate of your total trip cost. Remember that the cost of a trip isn't just the bottom basement flight you found on the internet -it's the sum of every cup of coffee, the new backpack, those dour passport photos, and every single carton of Chibuku. 

So here's to trips you can afford, locations worth saving for, and never suffering from post-travel credit card shock again!

Holidays can play havoc with your skin. From hot, dry air and late nights to salty seawater and chlorinated swimming pools, there are many factors that can cause it to become dried out or irritated. This is also the time when you want to be looking your best and you don’t want to be spending hours in the bathroom, so follow our top tips to keep your face and body in healthy, glowing condition. 

At first glance, it may sound a bit silly to take a towel with you when you travel. After all, what kind of hotel wouldn't provide towels?! It turns out that there's actually a wide range of accommodations for whom towels are a luxury, not a standard amenity. Places like hostels and campgrounds usually require you to bring your own towel, along with some cottage rentals, university dorm accommodations, couch surfing, and even convent stays.

Even if you are staying in quality hotels with guaranteed clean towels, you still might want something with you to freshen up on overnight trains, buses, and flights. Lightweight travel towels are also helpful for drying your hand-washed laundry. So what's the best solution that balances comfort with practicality?