It’s no secret that Canadians love crossing the border for shopping deals and stores not found in Canada. We usually hit the Buffalo/Cheektowaga area because it is conveniently close. Even with the exchange rate, the US has some goooood deals. 

As a follow-up from last week’s post on the highlights that I encountered in Ecuador, I wanted to share my excursion experience to the ‘Island of Silver’, which is an uninhabited island within Machalilla National Park located just off of the coast of Puerto Lopez. While the Galapagos would be all the more stunning, the Isla de la Plata is definitely a great budget alternative.

​I know, I know. I should have shared this sooner. I’m sorry, I’ve just been busy with getting the new website ready and with processing photos, and I just haven’t made the time. But here I am now with some of the highlights from Ecuador last month, Q&A style!!

I had the pleasure of flying with Avianca while en-route to Ecuador last month and I was pleasantly surprised by our flights, ultimately flying with the airline on five out of six occasions in 10 days. Each flight was a breeze and both my mom and I would be happy to fly with them again.

Guest post written by Valerie Delzer, Travalerie, LLC
Images provided by Valerie Delzer

What are the benefits of being a Travel Blogger versus a Travel Agent? Valerie Delzer shares the inside scoop...

Hola! I’m back from Ecuador! Although I’ve barely been back 24 hours, I would like to share a few of the highlights I experienced in Quito. There will be more to come from my 9-day getaway in Ecuador, but for now, these few images will have to suffice. Enjoy! 😊

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I recently encountered my first situation where I had to visit a third party for vaccinations. My doctor’s office unfortunately said they do not offer travel consultation or vaccines, so I was advised to reach out to a travel clinic. I did a bit of research and found Passport Health, a global travel clinic with more than 270 locations – and there was a location near me. Little did I know that travel clinics are a whole other animal compared to the public healthcare system…

Anyone that knows me can tell you that I tend to avoid being the center of attention. If there’s a camera involved, I make an effort to either be the photographer (and hence, not be in the picture) or be in an obscure location off the shot - off to the side or far in the back, attempting to play a subtle role. I’m not necessarily camera shy, it’s just that I feel there are much more interesting things to capture. I have never felt motivated to be the primary subject of photos or videos and I choose to highlight the wonderful things around me rather than focus on myself.

​I came across this resort about 2 years ago after researching U.S. Relais and Chateaux properties, and MY GOSH – this place is stunning! Not only is it in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but the amenities and service levels here appear to be of the highest caliber. I don’t know about you, but the ambiance at this property is definitely calling me...