All You Need To Know for Your Interview *CHEER*

[Sam and Ben 2]

Not going to lie, I'm a little frightened with all of this bedbug talk...

Be glad it's Canada and not Guatemala! Before we go to Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala every few years, we soak our sheets in bug-killing chemicals, and then put *those* on the bed once we get there - take 'em off in the morning, put 'em back on at night. Because the chemicals stay active for up to 6 or so washes, I use them during the off-years for "questionable" hotels, camping, and as a blanket for outdoor events. No bugs for me!

Oi. You can tell how little I travel by the fact that I wouldn't even THINK about stuff like that, anywhere...

[Varba 0]

The nice hotels can also have bedbugs too. It's a problem in NY, from my understanding. I went for close and not the cheapest. Keep a set of clothes packed or hanging in the closet. Inspect the bed, if you know what to look for. Shower in the morning (I know it's already damn early), and wash all clothing when you get home. I'm sure if I spent the time I could've saved 20 bucks, but I just wanted to book it.

I've mostly only stayed in rural areas the majority of my life... With the occasional stop in a city, or extreme area.

I know what to do for mice... and when you're in crazy spots to look for snakes/tarantulas and stuff.... Even killed some snakes - got lucky when a copperhead tried to nom me...

Even stepped on a sting ray and swam near a shark and a barracuda at one point (I don't recommend that... I was pretty lucky with the barracude).

I've no idea what to look for with a city critter like a bed bug. What do I look for?

[KnJ 0]

I booked different hotel last night. I got a couple blocks away. I didn't have enough brain cells or whatever, to figure out the bidding sites. I went with Le Dauphin. It looks nice and comfy, is very close, and it ended up being less than 140 with taxes.

Unrelated question:

VIA Rail -- would I be safe booking a ticket for 17:30 (5:30pm)? I figure that's probably OK. J is driving back to Boston same day, but I just want to make sure I shouldn't book the 9pm train.

I think it still hasn't sunk in. 2 weeks and 2 days, baby!!! wow. 1.5 weeks til I see J. Man it's been too long.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I booked different hotel last night. I got a couple blocks away. I didn't have enough brain cells or whatever, to figure out the bidding sites. I went with Le Dauphin. It looks nice and comfy, is very close, and it ended up being less than 140 with taxes.

Unrelated question:

VIA Rail -- would I be safe booking a ticket for 17:30 (5:30pm)? I figure that's probably OK. J is driving back to Boston same day, but I just want to make sure I shouldn't book the 9pm train.

I think it still hasn't sunk in. 2 weeks and 2 days, baby!!! wow. 1.5 weeks til I see J. Man it's been too long.

We took the 5:30 train, it is the best train to take. It's an express train that doesn't stop as often. I forget where it stops, but it is much quicker.

You can even take an earlier train if you want. We were finished at the Consulate by 10:30 a.m. and then walked around for a bit and ended up heading to the train station at like 3:30 and wished we had booked an earlier train...

[ScooterMac 2]

The nice hotels can also have bedbugs too. It's a problem in NY, from my understanding. I went for close and not the cheapest. Keep a set of clothes packed or hanging in the closet. Inspect the bed, if you know what to look for. Shower in the morning (I know it's already damn early), and wash all clothing when you get home. I'm sure if I spent the time I could've saved 20 bucks, but I just wanted to book it.

I've mostly only stayed in rural areas the majority of my life... With the occasional stop in a city, or extreme area.

I know what to do for mice... and when you're in crazy spots to look for snakes/tarantulas and stuff.... Even killed some snakes - got lucky when a copperhead tried to nom me...

Even stepped on a sting ray and swam near a shark and a barracuda at one point (I don't recommend that... I was pretty lucky with the barracude).

I've no idea what to look for with a city critter like a bed bug. What do I look for?

When you get in the room, peel back the sheets and check the mattress - along the seams, under the tag, at the edges, etc. If the mattress is spotted or stained, that could be a common place they congregate. Look for little black spots (bed bug droppings) or for the little critters themselves. They're small, brownish, wingless flat bugs...probably less than 1/4". Also check cracks and crevices in the nightstand, baseboard, etc. if you want to be super-paraoid. If you see powder on the bed or on the floors, there's a good chance the room's been infected and treated recently.

If you see them, ask for another room (or a refund). Let management know why.

Golly, who'd have thought I'd have learned so much about bedbugs in Guatemala?

[KnJ 0]

I booked different hotel last night. I got a couple blocks away. I didn't have enough brain cells or whatever, to figure out the bidding sites. I went with Le Dauphin. It looks nice and comfy, is very close, and it ended up being less than 140 with taxes.

Unrelated question:

VIA Rail -- would I be safe booking a ticket for 17:30 (5:30pm)? I figure that's probably OK. J is driving back to Boston same day, but I just want to make sure I shouldn't book the 9pm train.

I think it still hasn't sunk in. 2 weeks and 2 days, baby!!! wow. 1.5 weeks til I see J. Man it's been too long.

We took the 5:30 train, it is the best train to take. It's an express train that doesn't stop as often. I forget where it stops, but it is much quicker.

You can even take an earlier train if you want. We were finished at the Consulate by 10:30 a.m. and then walked around for a bit and ended up heading to the train station at like 3:30 and wished we had booked an earlier train...

I'd probably be more stressed to book an earlier train. I can hang in the station.. or visit a friend living in MTL if J takes off right away. Thanks for the advice

[Sam and Ben 2]

The nice hotels can also have bedbugs too. It's a problem in NY, from my understanding. I went for close and not the cheapest. Keep a set of clothes packed or hanging in the closet. Inspect the bed, if you know what to look for. Shower in the morning (I know it's already damn early), and wash all clothing when you get home. I'm sure if I spent the time I could've saved 20 bucks, but I just wanted to book it.

I've mostly only stayed in rural areas the majority of my life... With the occasional stop in a city, or extreme area.

I know what to do for mice... and when you're in crazy spots to look for snakes/tarantulas and stuff.... Even killed some snakes - got lucky when a copperhead tried to nom me...

Even stepped on a sting ray and swam near a shark and a barracuda at one point (I don't recommend that... I was pretty lucky with the barracude).

I've no idea what to look for with a city critter like a bed bug. What do I look for?

When you get in the room, peel back the sheets and check the mattress - along the seams, under the tag, at the edges, etc. If the mattress is spotted or stained, that could be a common place they congregate. Look for little black spots (bed bug droppings) or for the little critters themselves. They're small, brownish, wingless flat bugs...probably less than 1/4". Also check cracks and crevices in the nightstand, baseboard, etc. if you want to be super-paraoid. If you see powder on the bed or on the floors, there's a good chance the room's been infected and treated recently.

If you see them, ask for another room (or a refund). Let management know why.

Golly, who'd have thought I'd have learned so much about bedbugs in Guatemala?

Thank you for that.

[ScooterMac 2]

No problem, glad some of my knowledge comes in handy!! It's a good tip for pretty much any hotel you stay in, nice or not, if you're concerned about bedbugs. I've been bit twice - once in Guatemala and once in West Virginia (insert WV joke here). Both times I got bit on my feet/ankles (I *hate* wearing socks to bed!) and it itched soooo stinkin bad. So there's another good tip - wear socks

Edited October 21, 2009 by ScooterMac

[The_Dude 1,142]

About VIA Rail..... their staff mysteriously forget how to speak english at all at the Ontario/Quebec border Their staff spoke perfect english the first time they came down the aisle with snacks. The second time, somewhere in the Quebec countryside, the same gentleman pretended he had no idea what I was saying. I had to ask my wife, he got a kick out of it when I walked down the aisle to ask for my jus de pomme

[July09Bride 1]

good morning guys

i was wondering, now forgive me if this was asked before; about the payment of the K1 i know that we pay at the interview but what forms of payment do they accept and also is it in american currency( i imagine it is)?

i could probably look this up somehow but i'm going crazy with midterms and this interview date

You pay a flat $131 in US funds, or you pay whatever the going rate is (read: whatever the consulate rate is) in Canadaian funds equal to $131 US. But, yes, cash. I think debit was accepted, but we were wary of that and stuck with US cash only.

[mikey78 6]

I was just wondering about getting from the airport to that hotel next to the consulate (La Tour Centerville)...I read somewhere about the shuttle bus going downtown MTL but then how do we get from there to the hotel? Is there another bus to hop on?

Any ideas? all suggestions appreciated...

[Persona 0]

I really hate having to be without my phone....

cant i just lent it to them for the time i will be in there ?

[mikey78 6]

The nice hotels can also have bedbugs too. It's a problem in NY, from my understanding. I went for close and not the cheapest. Keep a set of clothes packed or hanging in the closet. Inspect the bed, if you know what to look for. Shower in the morning (I know it's already damn early), and wash all clothing when you get home. I'm sure if I spent the time I could've saved 20 bucks, but I just wanted to book it.

I've mostly only stayed in rural areas the majority of my life... With the occasional stop in a city, or extreme area.

I know what to do for mice... and when you're in crazy spots to look for snakes/tarantulas and stuff.... Even killed some snakes - got lucky when a copperhead tried to nom me...

Even stepped on a sting ray and swam near a shark and a barracuda at one point (I don't recommend that... I was pretty lucky with the barracude).

I've no idea what to look for with a city critter like a bed bug. What do I look for?

WOW...I didn't know Indiana Jones was on VJ too! So cool!

[Spoom 8]

When you get in the room, peel back the sheets and check the mattress - along the seams, under the tag, at the edges, etc. If the mattress is spotted or stained, that could be a common place they congregate. Look for little black spots (bed bug droppings) or for the little critters themselves. They're small, brownish, wingless flat bugs...probably less than 1/4". Also check cracks and crevices in the nightstand, baseboard, etc. if you want to be super-paraoid. If you see powder on the bed or on the floors, there's a good chance the room's been infected and treated recently.

If you see them, ask for another room (or a refund). Let management know why.

Golly, who'd have thought I'd have learned so much about bedbugs in Guatemala?

Yet another reason I'm so lucky to have you. <3

[Colleens 40]

Yeah, you don't get to pick your hotel.

Tsk, that sucks.

I wonder if I can find something as cheap on another website... or at least hopefully get something decent picked for me.

Sometimes you can get a decent deal on expedia as well...generally better than if you contacted the hotel directly or thru their website. And you get to book the hotel you want. The only thing is sometimes you have to pay for it right then and there with your credit card, so you can't cancel if something changes. Also with some hotels you can use your frequent flyer miles....since I assume some of you will have collected some of these you may be able to get a free room!!