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Packing Seminars
couple packing suitcase

Our informative packing seminars are free of charge. Learn how to keep your suitcase as  highly organized as a filing cabinet!

 

Click here for details.

 

   


 

Locations 

 

 

South

#472 WillowPark Village
10816 Macleod Trail South
Calgary, AB     T2J 5N8
(403) 777-1767


North 

 

#165 Dalhousie Station 

5005 Dalhousie Drive N.W.

Calgary, AB     T3A 5R8

(403) 239-7084



I Didn't
Know That!

Here are a few pieces of trivia that you may think of next time you are travelling.

They won't make your trip easier or better, necessarily; but hey, maybe they'll win you a friendly  bet in a pub!

And, I can pretty much guarantee that the next time you happen to encounter either a kangaroo or maybe an elephant, you're going to remember some of these facts!

Have fun!  

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
         
By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you cannot sink into quicksand.



Let me know if this works for you. 
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A rat can last longer without water than a camel.



How much longer?



I'm not sure - the trivia page I read didn't include that information!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups.



When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.



"Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
 
     
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because of the position of a donkey's eyes, it can see all four of its feet at all times.

  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
        
Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a spacesuit damages them. 



(I think that means it damages the spacesuit, not the astronaut, but, who knows?) 
    
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin in World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elephants are the only animals on earth with four knees.  
   


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indian police get paid extra for having a mustache.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Humans can smell skunks from more than a mile away.



(We can smell them when they're a whole lot closer than that, too!) 
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you live in New York, you could try a new restaurant every night of your entire life and never hit the same one twice.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can housebreak an armadillo.



Could this be the newest designer pet? 
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are more stars in the sky than there are grains of sand on the Earth.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kangaroos cannot hop backwards.



So, if you ever get in a fight with one, just run behind him! 
 

Travel Tips   

~~~~~~

Think about packing some dry shampoo when you travel.  



It comes in very handy when you've got limited access to water or find yourself stuck with a freezing cold shower.



Or, when you're in a hurry, or just plain lazy! 

~~~~~~

Why not travel during low season?



Even the most expensive cities in the world have low tourist seasons.



During off seasons, you're more likely to come across kinder, non-scam artist locals, hotels charge less, even restaurants charge less.



Search the most popular times to travel to your destination city and avoid going during that peak time.



You'll enjoy the city even more without hoards of tourists in the way and you'll save a pretty penny while you're at it. 

~~~~~~

If you're flying long-haul, pre-book yourself into an airport lounge.



Yes, there's an up-front fee, but the lounge provides you with a quiet environment that includes complimentary drinks, food, magazines, newspapers, WiFi, etc.



And, when you leave the lounge, make sure to take a few big bottles of water with you.



It can be a cost effective and relaxing way to start your journey.
 
~~~~~~

Whenever you get up to leave somewhere, whether it's a chair at the airport, a café, or a bar, always turn around and check to make sure you haven't left anything behind.



You would be surprised how many times you realize you forgot something!

~~~~~~

When visiting cultural monuments, why not take the offer of a local guide.



It will open your eyes to so much more than if you try and go it alone or just use a guide book.



We did this in Machu Picchu, and we were so glad we did!



Our guide was a font of information, and he loved sharing his knowledge with us.

~~~~~~
 
Make sure you buy your airline ticket under the exact name that appears on your passport.



It might seem obvious to you that Jim is a nickname for James, but it may not be so obvious to a skycap, a desk agent, or a security officer in China or Istanbul -  and yes, they can stop you from boarding if your ticket information does not match your passport information EXACTLY.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   
Watch Out
for these scams
 
Currency Scams
in Vietnam 

How it works: 

Many people find the currency is very confusing in Vietnam which makes it easy to not get the proper change back or to pay the wrong amount in the first place.



Also, many of the prices are quoted in US dollars, but when you pay in Vietnamese dong, things can get quite confusing.  



Although I am making this specific to Vietnam - mostly because of all the zeros in their prices - this problem can also rear it's head in other parts of the world.  
 
What you can do:

Here's a great tip!

Carry the fxCheatSheet in your wallet. 



You can print it out before you leave, and carrying this will make your transactions much smoother.

Really. 

Check this site out. 



You can convert currencies from all over the world into Canadian dollars - before you even leave home! 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fake Surveryor

How it works:

There have cases reported in Mexico and South America, where tourists have been approached by someone asking if they will take part in a "survey".



But beware.  If you reveal your personal information in surveys done on the street, it can come back to bite you when the surveyor makes a fake kidnapping call!



For instance, the fake kidnapper can first call your next of kin (assuming he gets the contact), pose as someone from the telephone company and ask him/her to shut off her phone as the network is undergoing maintenance.



Next, he calls you (at the number you have already given him), and claims to have kidnapped your next of kin.



Obviously, you won't be able to contact your next-of-kin as his/her phone is shut off.



This scam can also be done in reverse, which can be terrifying for your family at home, who are now worried about your safety.    
 
What you can do:

Never ever, ever, EVER reveal your personal information, especially on the streets.



Just say "No thanks" and keep walking!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
    
Cell Phone Theft

How it works:

A lot of people travelling in Greece have had their cell phones stolen by scammers asking what time it is. 



When you take out your cell phone to check the time, they snatch it and run away. 

 
  
What you can do:

Just tell the person asking that you don't know what time it is.



Most people have their own cell phones today and can find the time themselves.



When asked this question by a stranger, there is a good chance that you are being scammed. 
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Pipestone Patter
February 2017
 
Welcome Back Loyal Readers!


Welcome back everyone.  Thank you for taking the time to look at our newsletter once again.

Here we are, already into the second month of the year.

I don't know about you guys, but for me, January just flew by.

I'm not sure if February will go as fast - but there are only 28 days this month, so I suspect it will.

And, you know what?  I'm okay with that.

As you may know, Balzac Billy (aka the "Prairie Prognosticator") saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, so it looks like we're in for some more cold weather.

As I'm writing this, it is -22 degrees outside.

Brrrrrr!

I really don't think I can take any extra weeks of this kind of cold weather!

Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who get to fly out of  these frigid temperatures to bask in the nice, hot sun! 

If so, lucky you!  Enjoy the warm weather for as long as you can!

For the rest of us?

I guess we'll just do what we always do in the wintertime.

Bundle up, do our best to stay warm, and dream of the day when summertime arrives!

Good luck with that everyone!
 

Oh, and if you need to be reminded of warm weather, why not stop in and see us?  We sell warm weather clothing all winter long.

You might not to wear it in Calgary right now, but it will give you something to look forward to!




 

Some of you may know that the Tilley Endurables company has been sold.

That's right.  Alex Tilley decided it was finally time to retire and take it easy for a while.  And he certainly deserves it.  Now he will have even more time to travel with his lovely wife Hilary.

 

Of course, when a business gets sold, changes will often happen.

Now, Tilley Endurables is still going to be providing us all with their wonderful clothing, socks, underwear - and, of course, the iconic Tilley Hat.

That won't change.

But there are a few little changes we wanted to tell you about.

Most Tilley hats will still carry a Lifetime Guarantee. 

The only difference is, when your old Tilley hat wears out, you will now be dealing directly with Tilley Endurables. 

In the past, you have been able to bring your worn out hat into Pipestone Travel Store; but now, Tilley has decided they would like the opportunity to assist you themselves.

Did you know that when you buy a new Tilley hat it comes with an insurance policy?

Well it does!

If your hat is lost or stolen within the first two years of purchase, Tilley will replace it at half price.

Pretty great, right?

Okay, here comes the other change.

Tilley Endurables has entered the electronic age - so now when you buy a new Tilley hat, you are able to register the insurance policy on-line.  That way, you know for sure that it's been done correctly!

That way, you'll have no worries if your hat flies off your head while y ou're on top of a mountain (which it won't do if you use your chin strap!), or if it falls into the ocean in the middle of your cruise, or even if you accidentally leave it behind in that great restaurant in Italy.

All you have to do is contact Tilley Endurables, and they will take care of you.

I'm not going to give you all the contact information here, because chances are you will forget it all by the time you need it!

Just know that you can either contact us if and when you need this information, or visit www.Tilley.com for assistance and nswers to your questions. 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  
February 20th is Family Day
 
I just wanted to make everyone aware that this year we will be closed on Monday, February 20th so that all our staff can take the opportunity to spend a nice long weekend with their families.

My Wonderful Husband and I will be lucky enough to get to spend the holiday in warm and sunny Texas, meeting our brand new Grandson!

We hope you all have as great a Family Day as we are going to.


 
 
   
 

Tales from the Road

 
The Dance of the Seven  . . .  Scarves?   
 
    
As I have mentioned in previous stories, about five years ago my Wonderful Husband and I took a trip to China.

We spent some time alone in Shanghai, and then took a river cruise down the Yangtze River, ending up in Beijing.

After the cruise, we stayed in Beijing for a few days, then headed over to Malaysia for a bit, and continued on to Sri Lanka.

We hired a guide and drove all around Sri Lanka - from the ocean resort we stayed in to the Tea Plantation high up in the mountains that we visited .

Sri Lanka was wonderful.   

We went on a safari, had an ayurveda message, (think oil - lots and lots of oil!) visited a medicinal herb garden and spoke to the master herbologist, learned about batiking, rode on a train absolutely filled with people, got a wood carving demonstration, and had some of the fabulous local food.

Ah, but soon it was time to head back home.

We flew back to Beijing. The plan was to stay there overnight, and fly home the next day.

Now, we had been travelling for about six weeks at this point.

We had seen so many things, visited so many places, eaten so much food - and done so much shopping!

My poor Husband is perpetually convinced that we are not going to shop while we are travelling. Actually, he is convinced that I'm not going to shop, as he never wants to buy anything!
 
Ladies, can you back me up on this?

You are in some far away, exotic land - and you see something that is so cute / interesting / unique that you just have to have it to remind you of your travels.

Right?

Right?

Contrary to what my Husband believes, surely I'm not the only person in Canada who likes to shop while I'm on vacation. Right?


   
 
     
Handy Gadget 

It's All About the Bags  
 
        
I don't know about you guys out there in Newsletter Land, but to me, one of the most important things I can take on a trip is a good day bag.

You need something that looks good, and is big enough or small enough or light enough to suit your needs.

Something that is durable, and won't fall apart on you in the middle of your trip.

You need something that is the right colour or size or shape, with the right length of strap. 

Something you can wear across your body, or over your shoulder, or on your back. 
 
Everyone has different tastes and desires and requirements. 

That's why it's so ding dong hard to find the right bag! 

When my Husband and I went to Africa, I spent hours and hours researching day bags, until I finally found the one I thought was the best fit for me.

Finding the right bag is a very personal journey, and that's why we carry so many different selections for you.  Hopefully, that means everyone will be able to find the bag that's just right for them!

By now, most of you have probably guessed that we are going to be showcasing some fabulous bags.

Just take a look at these: 
 
   



This company was started by two flight attendants, and they do a great job of merging fashion with function!


RFID Double Zip Wristlet

 
 


Colours:  Floral, Stripe and Scarlet


$38.95

~~~~~~~~~

Belfast Mini







Colours:  Mocha and Pacific


$54.95

~~~~~~~~~
 
Bon Voyage





Colour:  Mocha


$64.95

~~~~~~~~~
 
Kensington Mini





Colours:  Aztec, Charcoal and Fern


$64.95

~~~~~~~~~
 
Nassau Satchel





Colours:  Cheetah Black, Cheetah Pewter and Ocean/Fuschia


$64.95

~~~~~~~~~

Venture Crossbody





Colours:  Black/Khaki, Cheetah Mocha, Ocean/Fuschia and Pacific

 
$64.95

~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth Satchel





Colours:  Bark and Black


$79.95

~~~~~~~~~
 
Village Tote





Colour:  Mushroom


$79.95

~~~~~~~~~
 
All in One Tote








Colours:  Azul Blue, Pewter and Poppy


$89.95

~ ~~~~~~~~

Helsinki Crossbody





Colours:  Geo Aqua, Mocha and Pewter


$94.95

~~~~~~~~~

 
  Well, was I right, or was I right?
 
  Baggallini has some pretty nice bags, wouldn't you say?

  And do you want to know what is even nicer? 

  From now until the end of February, if you buy any Baggallini  
    Bagg, you will receive an RFID Credit Card Protective
     Sleeve
absolutely FREE!



 
 
Oh, wait.  There is one small catch!  Just a teeny tiny one!

Because this free offer is only for you lucky Newsletter readers, we have to come up with some kind of a secret phrase, so our staff will know they should give you the RFID Credit Card Sleeve.

Hmm, let's see  . . .

What should it be?

Okay, I know.

When you purchase your new Baggallini Bagg, just tell our Sales Clerk:

"It's All About the Bag!" 

And, if you can sing that to the tune of Meghan Trainor's "It's All About the Bass",  you'll get extra points.

Not extra free stuff, mind you - just extra points!

And, I'll guarantee, if you serenade our staff, you will make them very happy!! 
 
 P.S.:  If you don't know the song, maybe our staff will
sing it to you.  It couldn't hurt to ask!

Oh, man!  They are going to just love me for that last line!
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~




Some of you may have heard of PacSafe, and the wonderful items they carry.  In fact, some of you may already have purchased a PacSafe piece.

Well, whether you are familiar with PacSafe or not, you are going to be thrilled when you hear about this!

PacSafe recently had occasion to clear out some of their stock, so they provided their retailers with the opportunity to get some great gear at incredible savings.

Of course, here at Pipestone Travel Store, we lost no time in taking them up on their gracious offer.

 

And, because we got a good deal - and because you know how much we love our customers - we want to pass the savings along to you!

Now, it's not often that you can find PacSafe at a reduced price, so if you're at all interested, I suggest you come in and check this out right away.

Believe me when I tell you that historically, our Newsletter deals tend to be snapped up very quickly; so why not act on this promotion now, while we still have a great selection to show you?

Just take a look at the pieces we have for you:


Anti-Theft RFID Blocking Travel Organizer

Travelling for business?

Heading off with the guys or family? 

Keep your travel documents organized and easy to find with this durable RFID blocking organizer.

The removable slash resistant metal chain will help protect your essentials against possible theft, while the organizational compartments will keep you one step ahead of the hordes of other tourists and travellers.

You will find a place for everything!  Your passport, credit cards, tickets, confirmation print outs and itinerary.  There's even a spot for a pen!

My Husband would not even consider going on a trip without his organizer.

He always says as long as he has his credit card, his organizer and his wife, he's good to go!


Colour:   Charcoal                                                       Regular Price:     $70.00
      

Special  Offer:     Only $45.00


~ ~~~~~~~~

Anti-Theft Travel Daybag
 
Check out the sites of Istanbul or Costa Rica with this compact, roomy travel bag that secures your iPad®, valuables and identity thanks to 5 anti-theft security features including an RFIDsafe™ blocking pocket.

Flexible, lightweight, stainless steel wire is integrated into the adjustable straps making it invisible to the eye, yet very effective at preventing bag slashers from slicing through and running off with your gear.

The strap also has a smart buckle with a dual release button in order to open and close it.  This allows you to attach your bag to a secure fixture, be it the leg of a table or around a palm tree at a beach, adding a further deterrent to opportunistic thieves.

The bag is constructed with eXomesh® fabric, protecting your gear from a quick slash-and-run theft.  And, the locking zippers will keep the pickpockets out!

Do yourself a favour and come see this bag. 

I'll bet you're going to love it!


Colour:   Olive                                                              Regular Price:     $80.00      


Special  Offer:     Only $55.00


~ ~~~~~~~~
 
Anti-Theft Sling Backpack 
 
This anti-theft cross body sling bag is the perfect, stylish urban companion. It's the consummate bag for at home or away.

The front, top access zipper main compartment gives you instant access to your iPad®, while the removable phone / MP3 pouch keeps you plugged in.

The added bonus of an RFIDsafe™ blocking pocket helps to ensure your identity and personal information stays personal!

Constructed with eXomesh® slash-proof fabric and stainless steel, cut-proof wire in the adjustable strap, your valuables are protected from anyone who would like to relieve you of them!

The Lockabout™ security clip offers 3 levels of security to prevent pickpockets from sneaking their way into your bag. Zip pullers clip & slip easily onto the secure hook, while the barrel slides and locks everything into place. For that extra level of security, a padlock can be added giving thieves not 1 but 3 obstacles to overcome.

Keeping your possessions safe has never been so easy - or looked this good!


Colour:   Sand                                                            Regular Price:     $100.00        

Special  Offer:     Only $70.00

Quote 
  


 

 
  

Well, we made it all the way to the end again.  Thanks for staying with me.

As always, you can send us stories or feedback by sending an e-mail to travelstorecalgary.com

See you next month!
 
Oh, and by the way  . . .
 
 
    


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