Roy’s the Best

Our last trip to Rancho Mirage in the desert was quite memorable. Temperatures reached into the 100’s and everyone kept cool by staying in. Shopping malls were packed. Restaurants were quiet. Golf courses were empty. By 5:00pm, the temperature dropped a degree. People came out to eat.

We had reservations at Roy’s Restaurant, our favorite Hawaiian fusion restaurant. Everything is good on the menu. That’s pretty rare to find these days. Anyways, I decided to order outside the fixe prix menu. Its not about money even though this blog is, but once you add up the individual dishes, it comes out the same or more.

This night, I chose to share the appetizer with my wife. Then my choice was the Mongolian Grilled Pork Tenderloin which was succulent. You do have to ask them to cook it well done if you don’t want any pinkness. It is served on sweet yam mash and a side of veggies. Delicious!

If I managed to whet any of your appetites, please email me for a promo code to save $20 off your meal for two or $40 off meals for four or more. Since you’re at it, please like my blog.

Getting Tee’d off

I am getting tee’d off with car rental agencies. Why specify a car size when you are reserving because 9-out-of-10 times, you don’t get what you reserved for. I didn’t when I tried to pick up my compact car from Alamo inVancouver. I ended up with a Charger – a full size vehicle that has rear wheel drive and was totally useless in snow. I ended up going back to the airport the next day to trade it in for a compact car.

If you had read my earlier blogs on the Calgary Stampede, you would have noticed that we feature some of the biggest stars on stage for free. This year we had July Black and Natasha Beddingfield that performed on the Coca-Cola stage. With an admission to the Stampede, these concerts were free.

Click here for the 2009 Stampede and enter the password: insider to get 15% off tickets. Taylor Swift is one of the performers at the Saddledome. As soon as I find out who is playing on the Coca-Cola stage, I will let you know.

Britney’s in the house

They say rewards will come to those who wait. If you have been patient and not buy any escape tickets then you are in luck because there’s a special from Calgary to Las Vegas from December 14-18 for only $375 with taxes. This includes roundtrip air and 4-nights accomodation at Circus, Circus. And talk about the Circus, ticket buyers were snapping up pre-sale tickets to Britney Spears concert in Edmonton last night. She is playing in Edmonton in April and the Pussycat Dolls are the warm up band.

Have you noticed all the Wii consoles on store shelves this year? Last year at the same time, there were none. The one thing you won’t find in any stores is the Wii balance board. If you want one, I recommend that you go to our site and click on eCost. Under the Bargain Countdown, look for the Outrageous icon before midnight tonight. If you see it, click on one to buy because you get it for a ridiculous price, at only $49.

Need new coupons for Gigagolf? If you do decide on getting the Gx2 square driver then be sure to use the coupon code: 0801 to save yourself 35% off. Or if you want the P2 hybrid, save 35% when you use the code: 0802 and lastly, save 25% off the Relevation set by using the code: 0803.

Looking for golf shirts and free shipping? If so then check out the line up at GolfBalls.com where they have a line up for $29.95 including Nike, Callaway and Adidas. Use the coupon: GIFTIDEA to get free domestic shipping over $75.

Luggage Clubs

Most of the time I blog about deals, specials and the BBD. That’s why alot of you keep visiting me because of the BBD. But today, I am going to blog about something that is definitely not the BBD because I think uPay2much for this service if you use it.

Have you heard of the Luggage Club? It is for travellers who don’t want to fuss with lugging their sports equipment all over the world. You pay a fee to transport your golf clubs, surfboard, kayak, skis, boots, racquets, duffle bag, etc. to a destination of your choice. It’s a door to door delivery, I think.

I was curious to check out the prices to transport two golf bags to Orlando, Florida from Seattle, Washington and back. The fee is $1,040 for next morning delivery. Next afternoon delivery will save me $33 and if I’m willing to wait 6 days for it, I can get it for $686. The prices to send my clubs to Orlando is almost the price of an air ticket. 

I can see if you’re a sports professional and don’t want the hassle of carrying your gear onboard but if you get paid to play sports then you can afford this service. Or if you planning a kayak trip or a cycling trip then paying to have your equipment delivered may make sense. But sending a duffle bag, stroller or even golf bags is a little ridiculous.

I’ll gladly pay $25 surcharge to US Airways to bring a second bag than to pay a luggage club to deliver my goods. If you’re interested, check out Luggage Club and here’s a coupon for you to save some money: THRIFTY.

Modern Woman and Unlimited Golf

Ladies, mark your calendar for October 27th as four distinguished women come to stage to inspire you and to be your successful role models in health, career, family and financial. It is the Secrets of Today’s Modern Woman show at the Jubilee.  Who is coming? Ivana Trump, Jane Seymour, Leslie Beck and Linda Nazareth. If you are interested, go to TicketMaster and use code word: MODERN to save 20% off tickets. You have to click on my link above, otherwise you can’t access the promo page where you need to enter the code word.

Guys, do you want Callaway clubs? Kananaskis golf is selling off their rental clubs but you have to hurry. Call (403) 591-7088 ext. 321 for prices, availability and to get your name on the wait list. The sale began as early as August but when I was out there at the end of August, they still had a few sets left.

Golf courses all over Calgary are in great shape and with the Indian Summer ahead of us, it looks like there won’t be a slowdown anytime soon. Courses are offering end of season plays so if you are looking for unlimited golf, look to: 

1. Carstairs – Unlimited golf for $239 from now to end of season. If you buy a 2009 membership, you can deduct this off next year’s dues.

2. River’s Edge Golf Club – Unlimited golf for $275 from now to end of season. If you buy a 2009 Executive Membership, you can deduct this off the 2009 fees.

More to come as the 2008 season winds down.

From A to Z

My friends tell me that Corteo, a Cirque du Soleil show that is rolling through Calgary is the best they have ever seen. And they have seen them all from A to Z, that is Allegria to Zumanity. I’m not sure if I want to see a funeral but then Cirque du Soleil does make its shows entertaining. Corteo means “cortege” in Italian, a festive parade imagined by a clown. It’s about a clown imagining his own funeral, but in a carnival setting and caring angels look on.

Corteo leaves Calgary on September 7th so there are a few weeks left in its schedule. Unfortunately for me, all my friends and relatives have already seen it and they had loved it. You can see the Big Top as your drive by the Currie Barracks in Calgary or the huge traffic jams on Crowchild Trail when you pass by in the weekends.

If you haven’t seen it and want to, I can forward you an invite to join their Cirque Club. Once joined, you have access to the best seats in the house, before they become public. And at a discount too. For instance, I can buy tickets to Corteo for 30% off. That’s practically paying children prices for adult seats.

Star Status in Calgary

I attended a wedding this weekend in Calgary and saw a celebrity. Chris Kramer who plays Morgan Pym in the Collector was a guest at this wedding. He walked in late at the banquet and presented a gift to the bride and groom. He flew up from Los Angeles to attend his friend’s wedding who happens to be my wife’s cousin. No one asked for his autograph but then, not a lot of people knew who he was. I certainly didn’t.

Did I tell mention that I ran into Jeff Goldblum at the Calgary airport? He was really good to talk to and he eluded that there might be another Jurassic Park movie. He said he would he love to do another. I would hope to think that the Bentley dealership in town has stepped up the glitz factor in Calgary. 

You know the city is on the way up when they close the Sears downtown and plan to expand Holt Renfrew. And have you noticed the amount of Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s around the city?

Next thing you know it, you’re going to ask me for coupons to shop at Holt. 

 

Flying into YYC

I figured that there are a lot of people visiting the Stampede this year. Believe it or not, it’s just around the corner. Instead of digging their spurs in, alot of Calgarians like to leave town during this time. They find it too rowdy and rather spend it elsewhere. It’s hardly a reason to leave town, considering it’s quiet most of the year in Calgary. Why not stay and welcome the visitors?

I’ve seen Jeff Goldblum come into Calgary and stay out in Banff. He prefers the privacy and serenity out in the Rockies than the bustling oil town that Calgary is known as. If you plan to stay in Canmore or Banff, try to book a hotel online before getting here. 

If you want to explore the Rockies, I recommend that you rent a car from the airport. Even if you plan on camping or gamping, a car will allow you to get to some of the hidden gems in the Rockies. You can drive out to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and marvel at the beauty of the lakes. You can drive further west to Emerald Lake and canoe on perfectly still waters. You can drive northwest to the Columbia Ice Fields where the glacier once occupied over the highway. To save you money, we have coupons, promo codes and discounts for car rentals with Budget, Alamo, Hertz, Thrifty’s and Avis. Take your pick.

For hotels, I recommend staying at Falcon Crest in Canmore and in Banff, I like the old Fairmont Banff Springs hotel or the Rimrock. Be sure to try out the all-u-can-eat buffet breakfast at the Banff Springs hotel every Sunday – make reservations!

If you plan to golf in Kananaskis, you can stay at the Delta hotel or you can camp at several campsites in the area. Unfortunately, if you don’t already have tee times there, you can play at twilight and save yourself some money. If you are going further to explore Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, plan to stay at the Chateau Lake Louise.

Fly into YYC and meet Johnny Miller

If you’re flying into YYC with your golf clubs, be prepared to pay a lot of money. The only way to save money playing golf in Calgary and the surrounding area is to buy yourself a Golf Passbook for $46. The other way is to buy a Tee-Off book but you cannot play alone because discounts only apply if you are golfing with friends. In my earlier blog this week, I recommended Shaw-Nee Slopes on Mondays because for $43, you can get green fees and cart. Shaw-Nee is a pretty good course to play on with a few challenges and very patient members. It is a semi-private course but you won’t find any members playing after 12 noon. They are early-risers and most of them love to walk.

If money is no object then drive out of Calgary and plan to play at two of my favorite courses in Canmore. The Stewart Creek Golf Course has beautiful holes and so does SilverTip but prepare to pay lots of money. I think the only affordable advice I have for SilverTip fans is to play in the late afternoon where you can get on for $105. Without question, the one course that will test your skills in town is Lynx Ridge near the community of Tuscany. There you will find elevation changes, water and ravines. Weekend rates run you about $94 a round without a power cart. You have to have strong leg muscles to walk.

Another course that is worth a look is the Links at Gleneagles in Cochrane, about 15 minutes outside of Calgary. The signature holes are interesting such as the par 3’s. You need to hit two clubs down from what you normally think you need to navigate the distance. Play for the fun of it.

If you are flying into YYC, check out the new course at the airport called SilverWing. If you’re in town this weekend, drop by and see Johnny Miller who will be hosting a clinic there.

I Hear a Symphony

I hear Diana Ross was in town last night. I think it must have been a good concert. Talking about Diana Ross’ song, ‘I Hear a Symphony’ – here’s a cool device from Sharper Image called the BEAMZ. It is a desktop device that utilizes laser beams. When you wave your hands over these beams, the device streams music through your PC. It doesn’t take any talent to make music with the BEAMZ so it’s perfect for me. I like to play a musical instrument but don’t have the patience to learn how to read musical notes. You might be the same. Check out the video on Sharper Image.

Anyways, the BEAMZ sells for $599.99, a little pricey but it sure looks like fun.