The TravelRight Dispatch

POSTCARD FROM JAPAN
​All I knew about the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido was that it was farmland, with volcanic hot springs stemming from all the mountains, which were dotted with ski resorts. I embraced so much more during a recent visit, including the onsens at the traditional inns, the verdant national parks, the amazing seafood and Sapporo, my new favourite town. We met distillers, hoteliers and chefs, dipped our toe in Ainu Indigenous culture and ate as much sushi as we could. I even found the gay bars. Check out my story in the Toronto Star on the foodways of the region, starring roast duck and barbecued mutton.

THE DISH
Takoyaki Bar Korokoro​
On my last night in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, I indulged in my Japanese guilty pleasure. Takoyaki is a creamy, deep-fried octopus ball. This is normally served at fast-food places, but I found it at hip late-night eatery Takoyaki Bar Korokoro in the Susukino entertainment district. After much translator-app exchange and quite a few laughs, I popped this dashi-seasoned treat into my mouth. Pure heaven!

EXCERPT
Beyond Belize
​Among the exciting things that happened in Belize around this time last year (Elio the visitor notwithstanding, IFKYK), Tim and I ziplined in bat-filled caves, tuned into the cultural heritage, had a drum lesson and combed the cays of the coral reefs. This story appeared in the Toronto Star.

“We see dolphins about seven days out of 10, and I can pretty much guarantee stingrays and a manatee or two,” says Akeem Williams, owner of the tour company Cultural Experience Belize. He has just surfaced from a quick freedive, appearing with a lobster on the other end of his spear. It lands in the cooler with our drinks and will eventually end up on the barbecue for lunch."

THIS MONTH'S PODCAST
​The TravelRight.Today Podcast #39 explains how to pickpocket-proof your holiday and digs deep into the rich soils of the Oliver Osoyoos wine region in the South Okanagan. We take a stab at the ineptitude of travel advisories and stick it to unconscientious disembarking passengers while we're at it. Wow, I sure do hate a lot of things.

INTEL
How to Read Online Travel Reviews
​Here is a very good rule of my travel thumb: never book a hotel, tour or cruise without first reading at least a few customer reviews on Google, Trip Advisor or Cruise Critic, or wherever you prefer to gather this kind of info. Read between the lines! Many reviews require a molecule of salt:

1. Watch out for overly flowery language and over-the-top descriptions. Can that two-star inn really be that wonderful? The hotelier’s friends and family may think so, but you might not.

2. Skip over reviews with bland wording like “friendly staff” and “clean rooms,” because this could be said about any hotel. Reviews that are full of clichés or read like they’ve been machine-generated won’t help you.

3. Be leery of whiners who complain about stupid things: people who bother to write that “the beach was too sandy” or “the zoo smelled” should really have stayed at home.

4. Learn how to spot grudge-holders. Travellers who have obviously been upset by something often feel compelled to trash a hotel or restaurant, simply because their nose is out of joint. I am guilty of this!

5. Read reviews with a cloak of skepticism, weighing the complaints and the kudos before making your decisions.

Reviews aside, you can always find more info in guidebooks and independent travel magazines, regional online lifestyle magazines, niche sites associated with the destination, community platforms and social media groups.

Combing the Canaries
​Episode 4 of Finding Spain From Canada is an audio travelogue I produced on the Canary Islands, where volcanic landscapes, a subtropical climate and a unique cultural identity come together. Check it out!

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