Your To-Do list If heading to Europe, Japan, India, the Caribbean or Latin America: do you really have to go in June, July or August – the peak tourism season? On the other hand, what better time to visit Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji or Polynesia than during Canada’s summer months? More realistically for most Canadians, why not consider the shoulder season (September to November) when Europe’s weather is far more tolerable for moving about, hotels are cheaper and lineups more manageable, shorter and cooler. Lining up for landmark/historic destinations can be daunting. Don’t expect to just walk into the Louvre on a last-minute urge to see the Mona Lisa. Make the best of your time abroad. Don’t waste it on lines that can be avoided by reserving tours weeks or months ahead: a three-hour Beefeater tour of London, about £35 a head; or a 2.5-hour visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square, about $45 per person; or a tram tour of Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak Harbour and city (about $25). Easily arranged right from home. But be on time. Tour companies can be very picky about promptness and decorum. Tour the Acropolis in Athens, but please – no high heels, which are banned to prevent damage or deterioration to the archeological grounds. Greeks take their history seriously. If there’s a site that you want to visit in Europe, Asia, South America or Japan, there will be a way to reserve your spot and save a lot of time – which translates into a lot of money. 24 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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