S-Trip! Staff Talks: Big White with Courtney Clark

Waking up early and arriving in Surrey to meet up with all the students from Frank Hurt Secondary, to head up to Big White for the last weekend, I knew I was going to have a killer group of students! 55 of us left Vancouver at 10am on our way to have an incredible 2 nights!

As soon as we got to the hotel on Friday night, Buddy Bonshor (best trip leader ever!) was their to help me out and get everyone sorted – wasn’t long after until everyone was partying and having a good time.

Saturday morning came fast and the students were already off to the mountain. I stayed back at the hotel and hung out with everyone who didn’t go up. Lucky for us it was snowing so we hung out outside and played in the snow!

When everyone came back from the hill they were super tired, but it didn’t take long until they were pumped up for the legendary GRAFFITI PARTY! Lines of students were huddled in the lobby waiting for their sick shirts to tag and design, and they did a killer job of repping their T-shirt for the party that night!

Bus #3 was definitely tired from the Saturday night but still managed to get up, and ride the slopes on Sunday! It was crazy busy up at Big White on the Sunday afternoon, but that didn’t stop any of the students from hanging in the lodge, ice skating, and even tubing!

Can’t wait to see some familiar and new faces down south when S-trip! takes over!!!!

Punta Cana University Spring Break Party Package

Punta Cana Spring Break 2012 is going to be absolutely nuts – Desalia and Dada Life alone are worth the purchase!! Get your package before it’s too late.

 

Meet the Mountains: Banff

Meet Lake Louise:
Skiable Acres: 4,200 acres
Annual Snowfall: 15ft
Number of Lifts: 10
Number of Named Runs: 139 + gladed areas and offshoots
Longest Run: 8km
Mountain Vertical Rise: 2,637m
Terrain Park: Yes!

Meet Sunshine Village:
Annual Snowfall: 30ft
Skiable Acres: 3,358 acres
Number of Lifts: 12
Number of Named Runs: 107 + gladed areas and offshoots
Longest Run: 8 km
Mountain Vertical Rise: 1,070m
Terrain Park: Yes!

S-Trip! Staff Talk: Big White with Amanda Lee

What an amazing weekend on Big White with another group of students from the lower mainland! I had the pleasure of staffing this weekend with the most wicked group of staff and being bus partners with Julian ‘JT’ Theriault.

When we got to the Fairfield Marriott on Friday night, our students from Queen Elizabeth Secondary in Surrey, BC, (whaddap bus 6!), were ready to unpack, unwind and rock out!

After a late night, we got up early on Saturday to shrrred! Fresh pow + fresh tracks = amazing! The students (and staff) came back wiped from a day on the slopes but that didn’t stop anyone from dancing the night away at S-Trip’s! famous GRAFFITI PARTAY with headliner DJ Hedspin!
Another late night and an even earlier morning! Sunday, everyone checked out of the hotel and headed to the slopes for some more shredding and tubing! I never knew Big White had such an insane tube park! Tiffany O’Krane and I had a blast flying down the tube park with the students.
At 3pm we packed up to head back home. It was a bittersweet goodbye, so many awesome students and even cooler staff! All in all, another memorable weekend with S-Trip! That’s it for B.C. on the slopes; hopefully we’ll meet again on a Spring Break trip or Grad Trip down south!

Best S-Trip! Photo Contest – Win a FREE Trip!

Win an S-Trip!

Win a 3 day trip to Montréal for NYE 2013, or an epic weekend in Banff, how about the ultimate roadtrip to Québec City? It’s your choice!

Follow these instructions to enter:

G’luck

Meet the Mountain: Big White

Meet Big White

Big White is the second most popular resort in British Columbia
Skiable Acres: 2,765 acres
Annual Snowfall: 295 inches
Number of Lifts: 16
Number of Named Runs: 118
Longest Run: 7.2km
Mountain Vertical Rise: 777 m
Terrain Park: Yes!

Meet the Mountain: Mont Tremblant

Meet Mont Tremblant

Tremblant has what it takes to thrill everyone no matter what their skill level with…
Skiable Acres: 654 acres
Annual Snowfall: 156 inches
Number of Lifts: 14
Number of Named Runs: 95
Longest Run: 6km
Mountain Vertical Rise: 875 m
Terrain Park: Yes!

Dada Life in Cancun and Punta Cana: Spring Break 2012

S-Trip! is throwing some insane parties this Spring Break in Cancun and Punta Cana – one of which includes internationally renowned champagne and banana connoisseurs, Dada Life.

This Swedish duo will be spinning the sickest beats the Caribbean has ever heard. DON’T MISS IT!

University Spring Break passengers – buy your party package NOW! A week of the most intense parties in the Caribbean right at your finger tips.

#MustListen – S-Trip!’s Road Trip Playlist

You absolutely #MustDownload these tunes to pump yourself up for a road trip to Quebec City or Montreal this winter!

1. Life Is A Highway – Tom Cochrane

2. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

3. Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses

4. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf

5. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones

6. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

7. Hard Sun – Eddie Vedder

8. One Headlight – The Wallflowers

9. I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

10. Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

Got any other perfect road trip tunes you’d like to share? Add your suggestions to our list!

Mont Tremblant: Where To Eat!

A day on the slopes requires a ton of energy! So at the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is be hardpressed to find a place to relax and refuel. S-Trip! staff have fIVE solid recommendations that will please your tummy AND your wallet!

1. Ya’ooo Pizza Bar ($) Ya’ooo is renowned for having the best pizza in the region. Whether eating at their fun filled lively location or simply picking up some of their famous pizza to enjoy in your Condo, Ya’ooo is a must for any visit to Mont Tremblant! Locations: 123 Kandahar

2. Pita Express ($) Lebanese cuisine: pita sandwiches, soups, salads and beverages. Locations: Place des Voyageurs

3. Café Johanssen ($$) Located at the Base Télécabine – Enjoy specialty coffees, baked goods and sandwiches. Internet access also offered. Location: Base Télécabine

4. Le Shack ($$) Sports bar (plasma TV’s) and casual family dining. Breakfast during peak season. Best après-ski party for over 16 years! Location: 3035, chemin de la Chapelle

5. Casey’s ($$) A fantastic sports bar and après-ski restaurant. Enjoy delicious burgers, salads, steaks, and pasta dishes after an exhilarating day on the slopes. Location: 170A chemin Curé-Deslauriers

Do you have any other restaurant suggestions in Mont Tremblant?

We’re Hiring! Social Media Intern

Looking for a job? An intro to a career? Love to write? Borderline (or full fledged) Facebook or Twitter addict? Well, read on.

Remember when we told you why you should intern at S-Trip!? Well, it was all a clever plot to get you hooked just in time for yet another intern search!

We are hiring a Social Media Intern!! This is a great opportunity for a recent grad in Communications, Advertising, or Creative Writing to gain work experience.

We are looking for a talented grad who is a bold, creative writer who knows his/her way around all major social networks. Understands the difference between a Twitter update and Facebook update. He/She must have an endless supply of blog ideas for student travellers and a lust for adventure!

To become even more familiar with the responsibilities, check out our Twitter, Facebook, and Blog. That’s the content you’ll be writing, scheduling, and dreaming about

Apply now!

#MustWatch Japanese Skateboarding

5 Free Travel Smartphone Apps

Heading on a bus trip to Quebec City or Montreal this winter? Don’t forget your smartphone! Spend a little $ on a roaming data plan while you’re out of province and these handy travel apps could save you from boredom while on the road, as well as a whole bunch of time and stress! Check out our top five favourites below:

1. LocoTrivia - LocoTrivia uses geolocation to figure out your location and then asks you trivia questions about the places of interest closest to you. It even allows you to submit your own questions, and there’s a global score board so you can show off your knowlege to the world.

2. UrbanSpoon - Trying to decide where to eat? Urbanspoon identifies restaurants and fast food spots all over Canada and provides you with a ton of reviews to help you figure out where to chow down.

3. AccuWeather - Automatically get the local forecast using your phone’s location features, or punch in your upcoming destination. AccuWeather includes details on how the day’s weather will develop, with Doppler rain maps on display so you can play weather forecaster for your friends.

4. PackFree - This helps you organize your packing for a trip, according to which items need to go in which bags. It also automatically sets how many of each item you will need, based on the length of your journey. And it’s free, of course!

5. Google Maps - The single most useful travel app that is available on every smartphone! Google Maps tells you where you are, where anything else is, and how to get between those two spots. Whether you need to know where to find a bagel in Montreal or a burrito in Whistler, this app will get you there.

Eat Like a Local: Costa Rica

If you’re getting ready for a spring break or grad trip to Costa Rica then this is a MUST read! Excited to sample the local cuisine? Here’s a preview of what to expect:

Casado, or Comida Tipica – beans, rice, peppers, meat, grilled onions, all separate in a dish.

Ceviche – fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices with finely diced herbs and veggies.

Gallo Pinto – typical breakfast is rice and beans mixed together, with eggs, meat, and plantains.

Olla de Carne – a stew made with beef, potatoes, carrots, chayotes, plantains, and lots more veggies.

Tamale – boiled plantain leaves stuffed with corn meal mix, saffron rice, pork, beans and vegetables.

Have you tried any of these foods before? Which ones are you craving? Which do you think you’ll take a pass on?

Eat Like a Local: Montreal

Even though your bus trip package might include some meals, you’ve also got the freedom to dine out on the town with your friends. Here are our top six picks for eats in the city…

1. Ace Deli & Bar ($$) – Located inside the Holiday Inn Midtown, Ace Deli & Bar offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverage choices. Lounge in the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere of this bistro pub – where you’ll always feel welcome and refreshingly satisfied. Locations: Inside Holiday Inn Midtown

2. Schwartz’s ($) – The best place to enjoy some authentic Montréal smoked meat! Menu items include smoked meat, turkey, ribs, steak, pickles, coleslaw.
Locations: 3895 Saint-Laurent Blvd.

3. Peel Pub ($$) – This Montréal institution is a must for all students. Located in the heart of Montréal’s famous Golden Square Mile, Peel Pub is a great place to grab some authentic pub fare with friends while watching live sports action! Location: 1196, rue Peel

4. Carlos & Pepe’s ($$) – A “fiesta” atmosphere is always present at Carlos & Pepe’s. Delicious Mexican food and amazing drinks are all served at unbelievable prices. Make sure to check out their daily specials! Location: 1420, rue Peel

5. Sir Winston Churchill Pub ($$) – Stop in and grab some eats before the big night ahead. Sir Winston Churchill is a founding establishment of Crescent St. and has the best patio in the city to grab a bite to eat, see, and be seen. Location: 1455-1459 Crescent Street

6. L’entrecote sainte Jean ($$$) – For those looking for a nice sit down dinner with friends, there’s L’Entrecote Sainte Jean. This French bistro offers delicious steaks & frites, along with their world famous steak sauce. Location: 2022, rue Peel

What’s your favourite place to eat in Montreal?

Say Wha? A Glossary of Ski Terms

If you’re a snow bunny heading out this month on a ski trip, you’ll want to study up on your ski lingo before you hit the slopes. Here’s our helpful guide…

Aprés Ski – “After Ski” literally, aka nightlife

Avie - Avalanche

Bombing – recklessly flying down the hill without carving

Butter – Riding on the tail or nose of your board with the opposite end off the snow

Chute – Steep narrow run bordered by rocks

Downloading – Riding the chairlift down instead of skiing

Glade – Run with trees on either side, or in the middle of it

Gnar – Snow, or short form for Gnarly

Gnarly – Awesomeness, dangerous, intense, challenging conditions

Goofy – Snowboarding stance with right foot forward

Kicker – A jump, usually one you build yourself. Don’t do this at the resorts

Pow – Powder. That light fluffy white snow that’s just fallen and is untouched

Regular – Snowboarding stance with left foot forward

Shred, Shredding – Carving like a pro down the hill

Snow Bunny – usually novice, female skier more interested in posing than skiing

Table Top – Jump with a flat top, and an declined landing

Yard Sale – When you bail and your gear ends up everywhere

Got any terms to add to the list? Share them in the comments section below!

Palm Bay and S-Trip! Spring Break Contest

Palm Bay (the delicious bevvy company!) is giving away 10 S-Trip! SPRING BREAK TRIPS!

Palm Bay is picking up the tab for two teams (you + 4 friends) to head down south to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for Reading Week 2012 with S-Trip!

The Grand Prize Includes:

• Air and accommodations at the 5 star, All-Inclusive Occidental Grand, Punta Cana
• Food and beverages, meals at the hotel (does not include alcohol)
• Spring Break VIP party bracelets for you and up to 4 friends
• Palm Bay® swag to set you up for the trip ahead
• Palm Bay® flip cams to record the whole experience

#MustListen Shred Playlist

Some of these may be obvious. Others… not so much. Our 19 fav tracks to listen to while ripping up the slopes:

1. Work – 1, 2, 3

2. Puppets – Atmosphere

3. Where It’s At – Beck

4. I’ll Be Your Man – The Black Keys

5. Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band

6. Crack A Bottle – Eminem

7. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz

8. Rich Girl – Hall & Oates

9. Castles Made of Sand – Jimi Hendrix

10. Work It Out – Jurassic 5

11. Otis – Kanye West & Jay-Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJi8aAZJLA4

12. Up, Up, And Away – Kid Cudi

13. Lola – The Kinks

14. Kids – MGMT

15. Combat Baby – Metric

16. Ghostwriter – RJD2

17. Last Night – The Strokes

18. 40 oz. To Freedom – Sublime

19. Can I Kick It? – A Tribe Called Quest

Got any other #MustListen tracks for ski trips? Add them in the comments section below!

Holiday Gift Guide #4: Stocking Stuffers For Travellers

Looking for those last-minute travel items that won’t break the bank? Check out our five top picks:

1. Crumpled maps - We introduced these guys to you back in August! Crumpled maps can be folded or simply screwed up and stuffed into a pocket, backpack or carry on without damage. Guaranteed wrinkle resistant and waterproof, the crumpled map is the perfect companion who still prefers a real map to an App. Perfect for crumpling into a stocking, too! $20.

2. Moleskin journal – You don’t have to be an English lit major to appreciate a nicely bound journal. It’s great for taking notes, keeping track of friends you meet along the way, and obviously capturing all those wild stories to make the memories last. $17.95.

3. Travel cribbage set - Cribbage is an addicting pastime that combines a wooden pegboard (available in foldable backpacker-friendly versions) with card game strategy – it will definitely help pass the time on those long flights. $23.

4. Whimsical luggage tag - Add a little humor to your luggage with a whimsical luggage tag from Pamela Barsky (pictured) that might just entertain everyone from the luggage handler to your fellow travelers. $9.99.

5. GoToobs - We don’t know about you but we’re totally sick of our carry-on toiletries leaking all over our packs, so thank goodness for GoToobs. These BPA free bottles are leak proof and no-drip with a large opening so they are easy to fill. Suction cups let you stash them on the shower wall and integrated labels let you mark the contents. $21.95.

Do you have any other ideas for stocking stuffers? Add them to our list!

#MustWatch Neon Night Surfing in Australia

A band of night surfers made their boards and wetsuits glow with what appears to be EL wire and tape and set their sights on Bondi Beach in Australia. It seems to be a promo film produced by Strongbow Australia. Anyway, if you like surfing, and if you like dubstep, then you will DEFINITELY like this video.

London Underground Map made out of drinking straws

They don’t call it “the tube” for nothing.

Sculpted by Kyle Bean.

Have you ever been to London? Check out S-Trip!’s Europe trip and maybe next summer you’ll be riding the London tube!

#MustWatch October in Los Angeles

“While our friends on the east coast dealt with a snow storm we spent one of the last days of October at the beach. Living in LA has completely ruined us for seasons.”

Shot entirely on an iPhone 4S, edited with Final Cut Pro X. Music is “Midnight City” by M83 from their new album Hurry Up We’re Dreaming.

Have you ever been to Los Angeles? Share your stories!

Montréal: Did you know…

Here are five quick facts that we bet you didn’t already know about this amazing city…

1. Montréal is actually an island; it is surrounded by the St. Lawrence, Ottawa and Prairies rivers.

2. Montréal is the second largest French speaking city in the World, after Paris, France.

3. Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s colour barrier when he suited up for the Montréal Royals in 1946.

4. The Montréal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, the most in the history of the NHL.

5. After New York City, Montréal has the highest number of restaurants per capita in North America.

What other fun facts do you know about Montréal?

Why You Should Intern at S-Trip!

For the past nine months I have pretty much felt like a professional intern. From working at The National Post last spring, to Chatelaine magazine in the summer, to S-Trip!’s marketing department in the fall, I’ve seen it all. Some internships are good, some are bad, and some are just downright ugly.

My internship at S-Trip! fell into the “good” category – 100%. It’s no surprise, since S-Trip! is known to follow employer best practices for internships, treating its interns fairly and with tons of respect. Here are four reasons why I loved my internship at S-Trip!

1. It’s a great learning experience - Since my background is in journalism, it was really exciting to work directly with S-Trip!’s Marketing Director and learn all about the businesses of marketing and social media. Being exposed to the new areas has helped broaden my horizons and allowed me to envision myself becoming a part of other kinds of creative industries, many of which are extremely hard to get a foot in the door. For other interns working in Human Resources, Operations, Customer Service, Sales, and Web Development, their internships provided an opportunity to apply their education and theory to practical projects.

2. It’s not exploitative – In my experience, I’ve found that certain companies tend to rely on their interns for two things that are not what internships are meant for: performing tasks that they would otherwise need to pay a professional to do, or handing off the grunt work like filing and getting coffee. S-Trip! , on the other hand, realizes that its interns should be benefiting just as much, if not more, than the company they are working for through significant work experience. That means if you intern at S-Trip! you will NOT be getting anyone their triple shot soy latte, no foam. Instead, your manager might be the one grabbing you a coffee every once in a while!

3. The people are awesome - The S-Trip! office is far from Office Space. Even when everybody is hard at work, there’s still a sense of humour and fun on every floor. Generally everyone shares a lot of the same values and interests – including, of course, a passion for travel and adventure. The atmosphere is comfortable and laid-back – so if you’re going to make mistakes, this is the place to learn and grow from those mistakes! What’s more is that your coworkers will treat you like full-time staff; you’ll be included in meetings, conferences, and staff parties!

4. There’s room to grow - Oftentimes, an internship at S-Trip! can lead to bigger and better things. Our junior web developer, for example, started as an intern and was hired on at the end of his term. Same with our interior designer. If you work hard and prove that you have the necessary skills, you may find yourself with a full-time job, complete with grown-up things like benefits (yay dental!) before you know it! Even if you don’t stay with S-Trip! in the long run, putting in the time can net you a valuable line on your resume and a solid reference letter. Plus, many interns go on to be paid Trip Leaders on S-Trip! trips, from the ski hills in the Rockie Mountains to the beaches of the Caribbean.

As for me, I’m going on to do one last editorial internship for DailyXY.com, a website that models itself after men’s magazines like GQ and Esquire. After that I’ll be backpacking for two months in Vietnam, Thailand, and France! S-Trip! staff have been amazing at providing advice for my upcoming trip, including awesome hostel recommendations and creative packing tips. I would literally be lost without them. Thanks S-Trip!

If you’re currently in school or a recent grad, and LOVE anything travel-related, then a full or part-time three-month internship with S-Trip! might be a great opportunity for you! Check out S-Trip!’s Job Board, which is constantly being updated to reflect our need for interns. We also host open houses on a rotating basis; attending one could help get you an interview with the manager of your preferred department! Feel free to get in touch with our HR department by emailing gabriela@s-trip.com for more information on our internship programs! Good luck!

The Gifts of Christmas Past

We’ve come a long way from Easy Bake Ovens…

Image via Buzzfeed.

Doesn’t this list make you feel a bit nostalgic? What is your favourite Christmas gift from your childhood?