So close to NYC yet so very Canadian with a unique and distinct personality all its own. While you might think you know Toronto from having read or seen Scott Pilgrim, Toronto is a lot more than that; although we did find ourselves pointing out places that were referenced in that aforementioned comic. Speaking of comics, Toronto is a great place for comedy and should not be forgotten when one thinks of the great comedy cities of North America. 

Where to Stay

Hotel Le Germain: Our first encounter with this luxury boutique hotel chain was here and we have to say what an encounter it was. We were welcomed with open arms and had a great stay. While one might think that perhaps the level of kindness and attention that were paid to us was because they knew we were travel bloggers, this was not at all what we experienced while watching hotel staff interact with other guests. Whether those guests were 5 years old or looked like busy socialites, time was given to all and everyone's concerns were looked after. We think it speaks highly of a hotel when attention is not just paid to the high rollers or VIPs and we honestly felt like every guest was treated like a VIP. Although we did not find the Maple Square location to be as ideal for our adventures in the city it is very convenient if you're attending a hockey game as it is right next door. The suite was beautiful and we loved the Le Germain brand of understated luxury. The colours were muted and the art was nice for those who appreciate well toned male abs. Unlike some other hotels we have stayed at, there was nothing about the room that said, "we cater to straight men," and we really appreciate that. As heterosexual female business travellers, we dislike rooms that are filled with art that's created for the male gaze. We don't want to return to the room after a long day in meetings and look at naked women, it's just not our thing. Thankfully, unlike the rooms in this chain in Montreal, there are no naked female sex organs on display. Hooray! Our suite had both an exquisite tub and shower and the bed was one of the most comfortable that we have ever slept in our lives. This hotel is one not be missed and we would return to it or its other location in Toronto gladly.

How to Get Around

Buses, subways, streetcars, and cabs will suit you well while visiting Toronto. While you can rent a car, street parking can be difficult to come by depending on what part of the city you're in so, unless you plan on leaving the city proper, a cab is probably not your best bet. 

What to Eat

Hands down our favourite coffee place in the city is Jimmy's Coffee. In King West, a neighbourhood we love, you can find excellent baristas who brew a mean cup of joe. Those who want to check their email and avoid roaming charges will be happy to note that they also have free wifi. We think that no visit to Toronto should happen without visit to King West and Jimmy's Coffee. If you're a vegan, Hot Beans is also a must. Both the omnivores and vegetarians on the team enjoyed Czehoski although we found the art on the walls to be vulgar and kept our eyes on our companions and meal. Toronto has a vibrant food community and we loved seeing the packed farm to table restaurants celebrating fine local cuisine. Many of these aforementioned places were so packed that we were unable to acquire a table… a situation we hope to rectify the next time that we are in town. 

What to Do

Toronto has a great number of boutiques were you can find everything, from elusive vinyl to fine yarn, and we strongly recommend getting away from the central business district and into the neighbourhoods like King West. Our favourite places to visit are Lettuce Knit, Good Egg, and The Workroom. In addition to shopping, Toronto has many fine museums, sporting events, and of course comedy shows and we regret not being able to spend more time absorbing the culture due to our short stay although, fortunately, we were able to visit the historic Casa Loma. Gist of it is anyone who tells you Toronto is boring clearly has never left the CBD; it's a vibrant city with a lot to offer so don't be afraid to dive in. 

What's are your Toronto musts? 

We're not going to lie, the idea for a trip to Hamburg arose when our team was watching the airport from Miniatur Wunderland in action. After our 5th or so viewing of this video we realised that a trip to Hamburg, even if only for Miniatur Wunderland needed to happen. Although our stay in Hamburg was short, we did make it to Miniatur Wunderland and the miniatures were every bit as delightful as we had imagined. 

Where to Stay

While we had hoped to stay at one of the 25hours Hotels in Hamburg, we were unable to make arrangements and instead opted for a flat rental on Airbnb. The flat we chose, while being a little further away than we liked from the city centre, provided a calm atmosphere which was just perfect for where we were on our trip (Hamburg was one stop on a long multi-city tour). While we did not meet the host during our stay, checking in and out was an easy process, communication was excellent and the flat was exactly as pictured. We would highly recommend Juliane's flat to anyone looking to stay in Eimsbüttel.

How to Get Around

Hamburg, like many European cities, has excellent public transit and we took the U-Bahn frequently. Like every German train we've ever been on, it was lightyears cleaner than any NYC MTA offering and was very safe and extremely convenient.

What to Eat

Sadly we did not have a chance to visit any restaurants during this trip, but next time we're in Hamburg we hope to stop into Le Canard Nouveau and Café Koppel. 

What to Do

Our stay in Hamburg was so short that we only had time for Miniatur Wunderland and the Port of Hamburg. We could barely conceal our enthusiasm as we queued up for entry with many children and elderly gentlemen into the Wunderland and were continuously delighted by each new scene that we encountered. Oh, the trains and planes! The craftsmanship and care that goes into each scene is mind boggling and we highly recommend a visit to Miniatur Wunderland; the photos and videos really don't do it justice. While we loved Miniatur Wunderland and found the miniatures exquisite, we were disappointed by the porn postcards in the gift shop. It's not very common at an attraction aimed largely at children to find such things and we were surprised to see them there right alongside the Thomas the Tank Engine postcards. We also found them offensive because it seemed to enforce this idea that to be female on a postcard one had to be naked, but to be male you could be an engineer or a pilot and wear clothes! Our European team members said that it was just a celebration of sex and the human body, but to that we ask: Why, then, were only women naked? The postcards put a damper on an otherwise lovely time at Miniatur Wunderland and we recommend skipping that part of the gift shop during your visit. The Port of Hamburg was bustling and we wished we had enough time to check out the Rickmer Rickmers from 1896. On our next visit we also hope to see Tierpark Hagenbeck, the International Maritime Museum, and the Speicherstadt Museum. Of course, being opera fans, we'd also love to catch one at the Hamburgische Staatsoper next time we're in town.

We'd love to return to Hamburg, what should be on our must-see list?

Singapore is a fantastic place for a working holiday with excellent hotels, great food and--as readers of this site are probably well aware--fun tech shopping. Singapore is safe, clean, and hot. Be sure to stay hydrated while in Singapore as the climate can get to you quickly if you're not used to it. English speakers also rejoice in the fact that English is one of the official languages and they will have no communication or transportation difficulties. We enjoyed our time in Singapore immensely and are happy to share our Singapore tips all tried and tested by The Tech Bird team. 

Where to Stay

Marina Bay Sands: While we love the Raffles for its history we are not so keen on its price tag so, while in Singapore, we opted to stay at the Marina Bay Sands. With a rooftop bar and pool with amazing views and a stunning lobby, we felt we made the right choice in standout accommodations that fit our preferences and budget. Our room had a great view and was clean and well equipped. The tub was a highlight and as many readers know is one of the things that Joelle in particular loves. The tub was long and deep and beautiful designed to cradle the body and was honestly one of the highlights of the stay. The bed was very comfortable and the linens exquisite. We would be happy to return to the Marina Bay Sands and our only regret is we did not spend more time there. 

How to Get Around

The train system is excellent and, thanks to the doors in the station which open to board the train, the stations are not filled with suffocating heat like NYC's in the Summer. Public transit can get quite crowded so be aware of this and try to avoid rush hour if you can. Cabs are also inexpensive and convenient. We do not recommend renting a car while in Singapore. 

Where to Eat

Being huge fans of Indian food we knew we could not go wrong with venturing into Little India. Everything we tried was delicious, whether from cafeteria style or sit down, and we have yet to have Indian food that has come close since returning to New York.  Want a sit down meal filled with classic Singapore glamour? Dine at the Raffles Grill. 

What to Do

One of the big things to keep in mind if you hail from places where smoking is not allowed indoors in restaurants and bars is that that is not the case in Singapore. Be aware that while some establishments do not permit smoking many do and it caused the more allergen aware of our team members much distress when they were trying to enjoy rooftop views at the bar. Even in open air bars this can be problematic so if you suffer from smoke triggered asthma be sure to keep your inhaler with you at all times. Between the humidity and the amount of smoke and scent, Singapore is not a city where one can breathe easy. Don't let this discourage your Singaporean adventures, just keep it in mind and be prepared so that you're not exploring the inside of an ER. Being the nerds that we are, one of the highlights of any trip to Singapore for us is shopping at Sim Lim Square. While shopping here is not for the faint of heart, it is an experience and is a great place to get solid deals on tech. We do not recommend buying software, computers, or other big ticket items, but do find solid deals on accessories and lenses. Always negotiate, price check multiple vendors and stick to your guns when it comes to what you and the vendor have decided on and you'll be fine. One of the ways that tourists shopping there run into trouble is when the vendor changes the deal and the shopper goes along with it even though it is not as good for the shopper as what they originally agreed upon. Do not worry about being rude, this price changing is a known tactic and you are completely in the right for wanting to stick to the original deal. Vendor doesn't seem to be playing fair or is a bit iffy? Walk away, there are plenty of other vendors in this huge shopping plaza. There are many cultural attractions in Singapore and obviously eating and shopping are not the only things to do. 

We hope to return to Singapore and expand on this guide in 2013 and we would love to hear your suggestions of where to go and what to see.

What do you love about Singapore?