Edwin,

Fair enough. If the business class ticket meant more productivity for your work, then it was totally worth it.

For several years I traveled around the world 3-4 times per year making sales calls in 10-15 cities each time. The product I was selling was high priced and I had to be alert to succeed. On my first time I flew economy and was too tired to perform well. The seats didn’t allow someone my size to sleep well. Round-the-World business class tickets proved to be a good buy and I was happy to pay out of my own pocket to arrive better rested and more able to address difficult technical issues in the sales process. Essentially, the extra cost of the airfare was worth it to me because it meant I was more effective on arrival — I didn’t need a day or more to recover.

T Bricker,

It can be ridiculous. I have found cheaper flights flying from Toronto to Vancouver via a U.S. airline as long as I take a stopover in the U.S.

Although we’re Canadian we seldom vacation in our own country. It’s just too expensive. Flights and accommodations and meals are much cheaper just about anywhere else. We travel a fair amount and our kids have been all over the world but they’ve only been in a few Canadian provinces. Sad

Jay,

Agreed. I’ve flown to LHR from YYZ for cheaper than a flight to YVR

I totally agree. I have found cheaper tickets to London and Amsterdam compared to Vancouver. I also happen to have family in both those locations so it’s no wonder why I haven’t been to the west coast.

Even last year when I flew to Seattle and returned from LA, the airfare was pretty much the same as flying to Europe.

Neil,

Great way of looking at things. For sure when I’m buying things at markets I’m usually satisfied with the price but in the back of my head I know I’m still totally getting ripped off.

Yikes had no idea MIA charged for WiFi, might as well not offer it at all. Then again I remember paying to use for the internet at Heathrow many years ago at a physical terminal.

Museums can be expensive at times. Recently in Amsterdam I thought EUR 15 was expensive to get into the Van Gogh Museum but then I remembered in Toronto to get into the zoo it costs $30!!

Remind me to never go up the CN Tower again =D

Wi-Fi should be included in hotels, point made and I agree; however it should also be free in major international airports. Why can YYZ, YVR and others in Canada offer it yet when you get to MIA they charge?!? For Canadians travelling and using their mobile device there are massive roaming fees associated and when you’re stuck in an airport it could be the difference in letting friends/family know if you’re delayed, missed a flight, etc. so why not make it free?!?

If you don’t want to be ripped off abroad, try to reduce your ‘tourist attitude’ and don’t be afraid to say ‘NO’ to pushy merchants in the markets and on the streets.

One of the biggest rip offs (depending on the city) is the cost to enter a museum or otherwise public tourist attraction. Why do they charge so much to go up the CN Tower yet to visit the Eiffel Tower its a fraction of the cost?!? Guess which one i’d prefer to visit?!? I live 10 minutes walk from the CN Tower and I’ve never been in it because I refuse to be ripped off!!