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Hello again fellow travelers,
It’s absolutely beautiful here right now – and will be right through to the end of September! We’re talking about our hometown of Victoria (Canada).
We’ve lived in Victoria for nearly nine years now. And we’re still smitten! (With the city, that is... and each other too...)
Tucked on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, it’s got a unique vibe – part old-world charm, part laid-back coastal cool. We may be a tad biased, but we think it’s a must on any trip through British Columbia.😊
We’ve just updated our guided on all the wonderful things you can do in Victoria.
Wondering what makes the city special? Check out our ultimate hometown hit list!
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More beautiful places to visit?
Of course there are! The following places are also lovely to visit right through to the end of October:
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Awesome travel contests
Free trips? Yes, please! (And do let us know if you happen to win one!)
Win a safari to South Africa!
This South African adventure includes return Economy flights for two to Cape Town, 3 nights at Cape Town’s Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers, choice of Stellenbosch Wineries or Table Mountain tour, a 2-day safari at Inverdoorn Private Safari Lodge, a cheetah educational tour and experience, plus VIP travel management.
- Eligibility: Open to residents of USA, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa
- Apply by: September 30, 2025
- Enter the travel contest: Click here
Pssst! We’re not affiliated with this prize (or any of the other contests here). But you can read about our experience visiting Cape Town and wine tasting in Stellenbosch.
Win a luxury safari to Kenya!
This prize is a 5-night all-inclusive safari for two at Asilia’s top safari lodges in Kenya. Wildlife spotting includes the Big 5 plus the last two remaining Northern White Rhinos. You’ll also get a $5,000 USD travel credit to use toward flights, transfers or more accommodations.
- Eligibility: Open to residents of USA and UK
- Apply by: June 21, 2025
- Enter the travel contest: Click here
Win a trip to Whistler, Canada!
Just in case you missed this in our last email... We love Whistler in summer (and actually prefer it to its famous winter ski scene). This 2026 summer escape for two includes roundtrip flights, 6 nights hotel accommodation, golf, bear viewing, a UTV adventure, gondola ride, spa bliss and fine dining.
- Eligibility: Open to residents of Canada, USA, UK and Australia
- Apply by: October 7, 2025
- Enter the travel contest: Click here
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💡“Travel quote of the day”💡
“Do No Disturb” signs should be written in the language of the hotel maids. ~ Tim Bedore
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Where should you NOT travel?
The U.S. and Canadian governments (others too) issue travel warnings for different countries – these vary based on crime, civil unrest and safety concerns.
The four levels of U.S. advisories:
- Level 1 – Exercise normal precautions
- Level 2 – Exercise increased caution
- Level 3 – Reconsider travel
- Level 4 – Do not travel
(The Canadian levels are similar.)
Many popular countries fall under a Level 2 travel advisory
For example, on the U.S. list are Spain, Belgium, the U.K., Germany, Italy and Sweden.
A “Level 2” advisory doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go – it just means to be a bit more cautious. It certainly didn’t prevent us from going to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Matera (Italy) or indulging in couples’ spa treatments in romantic Bali!
Current Level 3 and 4 countries
Apart from obvious no-go’s like Ukraine, Russia, Yemen and the like, you might be surprised by the advisories for these countries:
- Columbia – Level 3
- Egypt – Level 3
- Jamaica – Level 3
- Nicaragua – Level 3
- Trinidad and Tobago – Level 3
- Vanuatu (near Fiji) – Level 3
- Venezuela – Level 4
Full list of countries
- United States advisories: See here
- Canadian advisories: See here
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Interested in helping?👍
If you like what you read here, please share it with your friends.
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That’s it for now. We’ll talk again later!
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