Vegas baby, Vegas...Caribbean crime issues...More British Airways...Deals of day

Our friends at travelalerts.ca sent out a note the other day that outlined $29 hotel rooms in Las Vegas. I also spotted a story from USA Today's Kitty Bean Yancey (isn't that a GREAT byline?) saying there are great deals from now to Dec. 24; I guess cuz folks are saving their sinful behaviour until after Santa visits.

Anyway, The Las Vegas Advisor is said to have found 43 Las Vegas casino hotels with rooms for less than $40, compared to 38 last December. Among the properties available were Harrah's, Bally's and Excalibur.

They also found 27 properties for less than $30, two more than last year. Among those are Circus Circus, the Tropicana and Sahara.

Even more amazing, they mentioned seven casinos with rates less than $20; among them the Golden Gate and Hooters, reputed to be Tiger Woods' fave hangout. The Hard Rock was down to $47, Paris was $55 and New York-New York available for as little as $48. All prices are subject to change, so they may not be available right now. Still, there appear to be no end to the bargains.

The Star's Richard Ouzounian, our resident theatre expert and the author of our monthly "Six Meals In" feature in Star Travel, is on his way there today for the big opening of the much ballyhooed, $8.5 billion City Center project, said to be the largest privately financed development in American history and that's saying a lot. There are new hotels (see photo of the Aria at right), shops and glitzy restaurants, as well as a couple casinos, and they'll be pulling out all kinds of stops to make it a splashy entry.

Richard will be filing to the star.com/travel, so check our web site and my blog tomorrow (Wednesday) for his thoughts. And again on Thursday. And check our print version on Saturday for another report as we keep you up to date on one of the most popular destinations for GTA travelers.

CARIBBEAN CRIME?

Folks in Caribbean tourism know how important public perception is, and they're showing understandable concern about recent crime reports.

A dozen Carnival passengers were robbed at gunpoint near Nassau's Queen's Staircase in October. Last month, two groups of passengers from Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line ships were on ship-sponsored tours when they were robbed by men carrying shotguns.

The Nassau Guardian says armed robberies in the Bahamas are up 17 per cent from 2008. It's serious enough that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is pledging a new year's press conference to introduce new anti-crime legislation.

"The current crime wave is totally unacceptable and must be brought under control," he said. "I think that you will see an accelerated set of policing - prevention - taking place very soon and we will seek to make our streets safer and our homes safer," the newspaper reported today.

The Bahamas are not the only place where there are concerns, of course. The New York Times reported the other day that a retired British couple was seriously wounded in a machete attack in Tobago in August and that a pregnant American tourist was abducted and killed during a morning jog in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, in February.

A colleague at the Star correctly points out there's plenty of crime in Toronto and U.S. cities. But do foreign governments warn people about coming to North America? I don't know. I do know that crime happens all over the world. But when you're as dependent on tourism as the folks are in the Caribbean, any crime takes on an even greater importance.

On a related note, the U.S. State Department has lifted its travel alert for Honduras, saying improved security means Americans aren't under immediate threat. The alert was issued following a June 28 coup.

Tourism is said to have dropped 85 per cent on the island of Roatan after the coup, even though it's far from the capital of Tegucigalpa. There's great diving in Roatan, as well as a new, world-class golf course development under construction.

BRITISH AIRWAYS UPDATE

As passengers continue to lash out over a potential Christmas walkout by British Airways cabin crew, the airline is beginning last-ditch legal action to avert a holiday horror show.

Associated Press reports that BA has applied to the High Court for an injunction to prevent the planned 12-day walkout, which is due to start Dec. 22.

"An emergency hearing was schedule for Wednesday," AP said, "But that still left passengers in limbo, contemplating soaring prices for alternative flights - or train journeys."

Virgin Atlantic says it will bring in bigger planes on key routes out of London, including flights to New Yor and Delhi. BMI ran newspaper advertisements saying that "BA is grounded, but you needn't be."

A London accountant hoping to fly from Heathrow to Vancouver on Christmas Day for a vacation with his wife said he's looking at prices of around $3,500 Canadian.

"The likely revenue gift to its competitors couldn’t come at a worse time for BA, which has been one of the airlines worst hit by the global recession because of its heavy running costs and reliance on increasingly unpopular premium fares," AP said.

THIS AND THAT; News from Chicago, New Delhi and Victoria

The Blackstone Hotel in Chicago is celebrating its 100th birthday with $100 rates from Jan. 1 to April 10, 2010. Guests also can get a champagne cocktail, a Singapore Sling and other drinks for just a buck. Wow, that's even cheaper than the Air Canada Centre...The New Leela Palace is set to open in early fall in New Delhi. The Leela Palace Kempinski New Delhi is a five-star spot with 260 rooms and suites, five restaurants, two bars, an ESPA spa and a rooftop swimming pool...Did you know there wasn't a carousel anywhere on Vancouver Island until recently, when they unveiled one at Butchart Gardens in Victoria? Either did I, but they say the Rose Carousel is all decked out for Christmas and has handcarved likenesses of bears, ostriches, zebras and horses.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

It's time to start thinking of your winter/spring break. Here are a couple solid options, brought to you by the folks at travelalerts.ca:

$133 - Toronto to Cancun, return flight during the holidays ($411 w/tax): save $100

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1907

$347 - Toronto to Puerto Plata, DR, 1 week all-inclusive getaway ($667 w/tax)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1908

British Airways warns of "massive disruptions"...Silly travel tips...Sunwing snub?

Not good. British Airways today said travellers face "massive disruptions" after cabin crew voted more than 90 per cent to walk off the job for 12 days, starting Dec. 22.

Bah, humbug. Unless they're being forced to work for slave wages, it's the height of irresponsibility to actually walk out over the Christmas holidays. Negotiate and act tough, for sure. I'm a union guy and I understand that. But to actually go out on strike over Christmas and leave thousands, likely tens of thousands, of people stranded? Not good.

British Airways cabin crew say they're fed up with layoffs and other changes. But the airlines people aren't buying it.

“A 12-day strike would be completely unjustified and a huge over-reaction to the modest changes we have announced for cabin crew which are intended to help us recover from record financial losses.” 

They labelled the Dec. 22 walkout a "cynical decision (that) betrays a total lack of concern for our customers, our business and other employees within British Airways."

 

This promises to get even nastier in coming days.

SILLY TRAVEL TIPS

I almost always learn something when I check out the readers tips section in Budget Travel magazine. The December issue has an item from somebody suggesting you can avoid getting gunk all over your shoes by taking advantage of the free shower caps that some hotels give out. It makes sense. You also could wash your shoes.

The one that struck me as bizarre was an item where someone said they wrap their cellphone charger around their suitcase handle so they don’t forget it in their hotel room. Isn't that a bit extreme. Why not  carry bright pink post-its in your carry-on bag and stick one on your forehead with a request for the person at the hotel check-out desk to ask you if you’re sure you packed your cellphone charger? That also would work.

SUNWING SNUB?

Associated Press reports that Canada's Sunwing Airlines isn't taking offence at the fact that there was no welcoming ceremony in Grenada when it made its inaugural flight last month.

"The absence of formal fanfare for the Nov. 23 flight prompted an outcry from the island's tourism industry and led to the suspension of Grenada's top tourism official, " AP reported. But they quoted Sunwing vice president Lawrence Elliott as saying in a letter that he was "not offended by any lack of a formal greeting for the first flight into Grenada."

Even so, the island will try to make things right with a formal welcoming ceremony for Sunwing on Monday. As well they should. With travel still suffering around the world and Canada being a major market for the Caribbean, it wouldn't hurt to have a brass band..or three. Maybe some egg nog with Grenada nutmeg, just for good measure. (This is funny; I went to change the type face on that last sentence from black to a shade of brown and clicked on this colour, which is called "nutmeg." Okay, it's not THAT funny.)

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

Sale extended! Continue to save up to 50% off with Air Canada

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1885

 

US$409 - 6 night Brazilian cruise from Sao Paulo (US$494 w/tax)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1886

 

 

 

Terrible tour guide jokes...Club Med to China...Air Canada Awards...2010 RV's

Read an Agence France Presse story this morning that talked about how hundreds of tour guides from across Italy staged a demonstration in Rome on Thursday.

Seems they're ticked about a government proposal to bring in a "nationwide qualification" for being a tour guide. Apparently the government wants to have national standards and "national guides" so there's a bit of consistency. But the guides say it's crazy and that local guides need local knowledge and not some sort of national qualification.

I don't know; perhaps the government just wants to have national standards and not subject all guides to having knowledge of cities up and down the Italian peninsula. The reports aren't clear on that front, but the guides were mad enough about it to stage a demo with banners reading things like "endangered species" and "national guide, cultural poverty," so it must be serious. (Not that folks in Italy need much of a reason to demonstrate or strike, right?)

It would be silly to demand a guy or woman in, say, Palermo, understand the history of Milano or Firenze. My idea isn't so much make up any national standards but to PLEASE GOD FIND SOMEONE TO STOP THE HORRIBLE JOKES.

A long time ago, I remember going on a tour of Montreal and some guy pointed out an office building and said it was designed by an Italian architect. "You can tell he was Italian because there's spaghetti hanging out of the windows."

Unbelievable.

A few years later, I remember being on the Wailua River in Hawaii (it's on the island of Kauai and it's the only navigable river in the state in case you're ever on Jeopardy) and some tour guy came up with some remarkable groaners.

"Those are international bathrooms," he said, pointing to some porta-potties. "When you go in, European (you're a peein'). When you come out, you're Finnish (finished)."

HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT?

Someone, please, stop these people. A good tour guide is a wonderful thing. But not all guides are created equal, that's for sure.

RV IT IN VANCOUVER/WHISTLER?

Here's something I hadn't thought of. The folks at GO RVing Canada report RV rentals and campgrounds are still available for folks who haven't been able to find a hotel room but want to catch the Vancouver/Whistler Olympics, which start pretty darn soon (Feb. 12).

Rooms in Vancouver are advertised, they say, for $600 a night. But GO RVing Canada says you can get one of their winterized (I would hope so) units for $200 to $300 a night and can generally accomodate four to six people. Doing the math, that's not bad. Mind you, some hotels can sleep four to six people, too. Or at least two to four.

Anyway, I hadn't thought about a campground. But spots apparently still are available for $40 to $75 a night, depending on proximity to Olympic venues. For info, go to www.gorving.ca

AIR CANADA THUMPS ITS CHEST

The folks at Air Canada say they picked up four awards Thursday night at the Business Traveler magazine awards show in L.A. According to the airline, they were given awards for:

    - Best Flight Attendants in North America
    - Best In-Flight Services in North America
    - Best North American Airline for Business Class Service
    - Best North American Airline for International Travel

It seems fair, although personally, I don't know about flight attendants being the best. They're pretty good but certainly not as friendly, for the most part, as others I've flown with. But I haven't been able to find anything on the web to confirm any of this or explain who voted or when, and the folks at business travel haven't posted anything on their web site.

I'd have to agree about in-flight services with the tv's showing all those movies and all that. But I rarely fly biz class so I don't have much to compare them with. As for best NA airline for international travel, I suspect that's true. But it's not like they're swimming in the deepest pool, folks. Surveys routinely put airlines like Singapore and Cathay Pacific and Emirates at the top of the heap, far above North American airlines.

Still, four awards is four awards. Air Canada says no other airline in the world got that many, so they're obviously doing some things right.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$289 - Save $150 - Toronto to Costa Rica, return flight ($498 w/tax)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1873

From $87 - Stay and play in Montreal - Book your Getaway today!

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1875

 

 

Sunwing Vegas/Florida sale...Cougar Cruise!...Star Santa Fund..Jim's deals/day

You've probably read about the recession that's been battering, oh, most of the world for quite some time. And you've probably read about some great deals in Florida and in Vegas for hotels. I keep getting notices about rooms in Vegas going for $20 or $25 or high-end places offering DEEP discounts.

Now, Sunwing Vacations is offering a deal to get you there. If you buy one seat to Vegas or Florida (see photo) this winter you get the second seat at 50 per cent off. The sale is valid for bookings made between now and Dec. 14 and is applicable for flights from January 1 to March 31 of 2010. The offer covers flights from Toronto to Vegas (every Thursday and Sunday), to Orlando (daily except Tuesday and Wednesday), to St. Petersburg (Monday and Friday) and to Ft. Lauderdale (Sunday and Thursday).

Bookings must be made at www.sunwing.ca, and the sale is applicable only to round-trip fares, with a minimum of two passengers traveling together.

On a related note, the web site Open Jaw is reporting today that the Sunwing/Signature merger has cleared a regulatory hurdle in Ottawa. Details were sketchy, but the site had an item stating that Transport Canada had advised them that the miniser's office issued a letter telling the parties that "there are no public interest issues" at stake with the proposed transaction.

Further news, undoubtedly, isn't far behind.

CRUISE NEWS...AND COUGARS

Terry Dale of Cruise Lines International Association was in town this week and was telling me that 775,000 Canadians have gone on a cruise so far in 2009; up nine per cent from 2008. That's pretty remarkable given the economy.

"Canada is a huge market for us," Dale explained. "It's still something of an emerging market but there are indications Canadians are starting to get the cruise bug."

Yeah, I guess almost a million passengers would suggest that.

Dale says the cruise industry employs 16,000 Canadians and that the total economic impact of cruising for Canada is $2.3 billion, with $1 billion in direct spending. That's something worth considering for the folks in Ottawa, doncha think?

Dale says 15 new ships have been added by CLIA lines this year (including the massive Oasis of the Seas by Royal Caribbean) and 14 last year. Thirteen more are coming in 2010, so there's obviously growth.

CLIA has always held its annual meetings in Ft. Lauderdale, but next June 2-6 they'll convene in Vancouver, where a lot of Canada's cruise action takes place. Eastern Canada also plays a large role with Quebec and the St. Lawrence and the Maritimes, plus Newfoundland and Labrador (want to make a Newfoundlander mad, by the way? Tell them their province is part of the Maritimes.)

Anyway, cruising is big stuff in Canada. Big in San Diego earlier this month, too, where the first-known "Cougar Cruise" took place. Some 300 spaces were booked for "cougars" and "cubs" (I had no idea that was the name, geez) out of 2,000 or so spaces on the Carnival ship Elation, and no I'm not joking that's the name of the ship.

Anyway, there's certainly nothing wrong with consenting adults doing the horizontal bop at sea, and if younger guys like older women, more power to 'em.

I found it funny, though, to see a story and photo in the Mail online out of England showing a young hunk climbing out of a pool and two older women checking him out, or checking out his butt. I think of cougars as 40-50 years old, but this showed what looks like a granny checking out a guy of, oh, 25 or 30 years old.

My final cruise note, at least for today, concerns Azamara Cruises. I saw an item the other day where Azamara Club Cruises has been launched as a "destination-focused cruise line" with longer shore excursions and more overnight stays, as well as new tours. Sounds like a smart move to me.

NEW STAR ALLIANCE PARTNER

Good for news for Air Canada/Aeroplan members. Brussels Airlines has become the 26th member of Star Alliane. The network now covers a whopping 1,077 destinations in 175 countries including four new destinations in Africa: Bujumbura, Conakry, Kigali and Monrovia.

WEST JET TO COZUMEL

West Jet today launched new, seasonal non-stop flights from Toronto to Cozumel, Mexico. Flights depart twice weekly until April 29, 2010, leaving Toronto at 10 a.m. and arriving in Cozumel at 1:17, which leaves plenty of time to get into the water! Coming back, flights depart Cozumel at 2:15 and arrive at Pearson at 7:02 p.m. so you can still get your beauty sleep.

One-way fares are available from $149 plus taxes and fees. Call your travel agent, go to westjet.com or call 1-888-WESTJET.

SANTA CLAUS FUND

Just a reminder, folks, that the Star Santa Claus Fund will once again provide needy children with warm clothes and a toy at Christmas. I've been able to help out in delivering the gift boxes a couple times, and it's a real joy to see the delight on parents' and kids' faces when you drop something off at a home where they don't have a lot of the things that many of us take for granted. So please help with a donation; whatever you can. Thanks. Here's the link:

http://www.thestar.com/santaclausfund

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$38 ($269 w/tax) – Save $150 on a flight to Fort Lauderdale

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1860

$175 - Toronto to Las Vegas, early January 4 day getaway ($416 w/tax)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1861

US$75 pp - 60% off Junior Suite in all-inclusive 4* hotel in Jamaica (Reg. US$189pp)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1862

 

Oh, those pesky customers...Round the world cruise...Jim's deals of the day

I don't get it.

 

I saw report out of the UK today that said nearly half of travel agents living there said they feel they waste 25 per cent of their day looking for low prices for customers.

 

Ummm....sorry to say this folks, but isn't that why we hire you in the first place? Isn't this like a taxi driver saying they love their job, but just don't like having people in their cars?

 

What on earth do they think we hire travel agents for except to find us good deals? Sure, we want their expertise and for them to do some of the paperwork. But to suggest that spending a couple hours a day looking for low prices for customers is a waste of time is remarkable, don't you think?

 

ROUND THE WORLD SILVERSEA CRUISE

Speaking of the high and mighty with plenty of coins in their pockets, Silversea has announced that the new Silver Spirit will embark on a full world cruise "that transverses both hemispheres." And I say : it's about time. I'm so tired of the drudgery of those around the world cruises that stay south of the equator. Yawn. How dull. How trite. How 2008.

Seriously, though, this sounds pretty good. The voyage, called Spirit of Discovery, departs Los Angeles Jan. 19, 2011 and will take no more than 540 guests on a 119-day odyssey, exploring 60 destinations in 25 countries with 11 overnight port visits before finishing up in Bermuda.

Anywho, the ship will go to French Polynesia, Australia, Asia, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Monaco and Portugal. Fares start at, wait for it, $61,924 U.S. per person. There are special deals available, so go to www.silversea.com for info.

Think it's a good story for the Star? Write a letter to my boss and urge him that I should go, will ya? I won't tell it was my idea.

BARBADOS BUMP-UP?

The Guardian is reporting that the prime minister of Barbados, David Thompson, is stepping in to re-start a stalled project that's supposed to include a Four Seasons hotel with butlers, housekeepers, gardeners, chefs, security guards and waiters; and wouldn't that be a nice treat?

Apparently Thompson met with investors during a recent visit to London and is trying, in the words of a spokesperson, "to chart a way forward."

Among those allegedly attracted to the project are Simon Cowell and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some villas are said to carry price tags of more than $30 million U.S.

I'LL TAKE THE FREE BREAKFAST

According to USA Today, the number of meals eaten inside a hotel restaurant, which accounts for roughly a third of the meals tracked, sank 14% for the year ending September 2009 vs. the prior 12-month period, according to a new study from food service industry tracker NPD Group.

Experts say it's possible more folks are moving away from hotels that charge for breakfasts and checking into places that offer free morning meals. Which makes sense. I HATE having to pay $8 for a bagel and coffee or a bowl of cereal at a full-service Marriott when I can get a pretty good breakfast with all sorts of variety for free at a Courtyard. Not to mention Courtyard's, for example, usually offer free Internet. The rooms are usually quite nice. Not as sumptuous as a regular Marriott or a Westin or some such, but usually just fine for me on a business trip.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$335 - Cancun vacation in early January ($612 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1821

 

From $26/night - Las Vegas hotels on sale!
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1822

 

Stupid photo tricks (mea culpa)...More Hong Kong Flights...Jim's Deals of the Day

The things an old guy learns.

I took a bunch of photos on my recent trip to San Francisco, including a half-ton of shots of my family out in my dad's backyard on American Thanksgiving. Clever fellow that I thought I was, I put them all into my Picasa photo program at home and started cropping them to get rid of the edge of the barbeque and all those other, silly things that were in my photos because I wasn't smart enough to arrange the pictures in a more attractive part of the yard.

Anyway, I thought the pictures were wonderfully edited and cropped, so I put them onto a CD and took them down to Black's. I got them back the next day, yesterday, and was outraged at how they'd cropped my son's head off and ruined a bunch of other shots by cutting off arms or legs. I couldn't believe this had happened, so I marched down in outrage.

After a half hour of patient explaining (thanks, guys), I discovered that one CANNOT simply edit photos on your computer and expect them to come out right. Apparently I've been doing a "manual" crop on many of my pictures and I was turning them into squares instead of rectangles. I hadn't thought about it, but it don't work like that. Photos are made in, for the most part, four by six or five by seven or eight by ten formats. In other words, they're rectangles. But I was giving the Black's machine square shapes, so naturally it wasn't fitting properly.

I went back this morning and downloaded the original photos into the Black's computer, then cropped them on site. I think they'll be fine. But I also just a few minutes ago went into Picasa and discovered (HELLO?) that one can go into the cropping program and CHOOSE 4 by 6 shapes. In other words, you can crop pictures and keep them in a rectangular format so the Black's people don't mistakenly whack off my son's head. Yeah, he's 6-2 and five inches taller than me and I resent it, but I still would like to keep his forehead intact in our family photos.

So there's the lesson, folks. And thanks again to the good folks at Black's for holding their tempers and helping me out.

IMPROVED HONG KONG ACCESS FROM T.O.

Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that, starting next March 28, they'll add three flights per week to the existing daily non-stop service between Toronto and Hong Kong. The additional services will depart Toronto at 09:35 every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while the existing daily flights will depart at 01:30 from Toronto.

"With the recent announcement from the Government of China granting Canada Approved Destination Status, this is a great time to strengthen services on a very popular route," said Cathay Pacific Vice President Canada Alex Shum. "The addition of three extra flights per week will bring the service to ten flights weekly and offer more choice to those travelling between Toronto and Hong Kong now, and accommodate a future increase in demand to and from Mainland China.” 

KUDOS TO CANADIAN TOURISM COMMISSION

Marketing magazine and marketingmag.ca has named the Canadian Tourism Commission its' Canadian marketer of the year.

On its web site, the magazine wrote that "the Vancouver-based CTC, whose agency of record is DDB Canada, embarked on an innovative social media strategy, launched its first integrated global marketing platform and created the "Locals Know" campaign, aimed at getting Canadians to travel within their own country."

"In the past few years, a lot of marketers have experimented with social media and user-generated content in their marketing," said Rebecca Harris, co-managing editor of Marketing. "But in our opinion, few have done it so well as the CTC."

"And while the shift away from ‘moose, mountains and maple syrup' actually began a few years ago, we felt 2009 was truly the culmination of the CTC's branding efforts for this country," she added. "Their marketing strategy has resulted in a fundamental shift in how travellers from around the world view Canada. The country is no longer seen as a beautiful but boring place: it's fun, exciting, and even a little exotic."

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$598 - Toronto to St. Kitts, 1 week Christmas holiday ($831 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1812

 

US$209 - Save 77% on this 4 night 4* Baja Mexico cruise (US$258 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1811

Fly While You Can - Prices Going Up...More China Tourism News...

A story in the Independent suggests the air travel bargains we've been seeing won't last long.

According to the paper, the ITB World Travel trends report suggests airlines will have to "significantly adjust their ticket prices" to regain profitability.

"The over-capacity of the world's airline industries has been reduced," said Dr. Martin Buck, vice president at Messe Berlin, the organization behind the research. "The currently unanswered question facing the world's airline industries is whether price-conscious consumers will continue to drive the downgrading trend we are seeing in bookings."

The findings are based on the assessments of 60 tourism experts from 30 countries.

Book while the deals are still good, folks. And don't forget Air Canada's Canadian destinations sale is supposed to end tonight. They're selling tickets for up to half-off, so the bargains are pretty solid.

CHINA BOOM ON THE WAY?

As we reported in this space yesterday, the news that China has granted "approved destination status" should do some serious good for the Canadian tourism biz.

The deal will allow Chinese group tours to come to Canada much more easily, and for Canada to market itself in China. With that in mind, Air Canada says it plans daily, non-stop service from Toronto and Vancouver to Beijing and Shanghai on a year-round basis.

Those routes currently operate only a few days each week outside the peak four-month summer travel season, according to a Reuters report.

"We've been waiting for this for 10 years," Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Duncan Dee said in an interview with Reuters. "The potential for this is really tremendous because of the size of the Chinese market."

SLEEPY IN ATLANTA

Here's a cool idea. Atlanta's Hartsfield airport has introduced sleeps rooms so you can catch some more comfortable winks without torturing yourself into a pretzel on a tiny chair in the waiting lounge, sitting next to the guy with the stinky onion and garlic sandwich and across from the screaming kid whose parents failed to bring a book or a toy to entertain them.

USA Today says the rooms are 7 by 8 feet and are operated by a group called Minute Suites. You get a daybed sofa, pillows with disposable covers and blankets. There's also some sort of noise reduction system and you get a phone, a desk, an office chair and a wi-fi connection, as well as an HDTV that can be converted into an Internet station or the airport's flight tracking monitor, which sounds like fun.

They cost $30 for the first hour and $7.50 for each additional 15 minutes and can be found at Gate 15 on Concourse B.

Sweet dreams.

ROCK ANNEX WAVES BYE BYE

An Associated Press report says the New York City annex to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will close its doors Jan. 3. No reason was given for the closing, but obviously they weren't getting enough business.

Backers had said they wanted to attract a half-million visitors a year but they haven't said what kind of attendance they'd actually been getting.

As noted in the Star last year, there's also the new Grammy museum in Los Angeles and a music-related exhibition in Seattle, so perhaps there's just not enough music stuff around to keep so many museums going.

The Rock Hall says some of the artefacts, potentially including Bruce Springsteen's 1957 Chevy, could become part of a travelling show. In that case, they should definitely make a stop in Toronto, the city that has the original Hard Rock Cafe and has been home to such great musicians as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, The Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne and The Tragically Hip. Not to mention Blue Rodeo, my personal fave.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$397 - Toronto to Varadero, 1 week last-minute all-inclusive vacation
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1802

 

It's the last day to book in Canada for WestJet's current sale, but you can book until Dec 9 for Mexico and the Caribbean.

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1803

 

 

 

 

 

Here Come the Chinese Tourists...Tiger Woods Airline Ad...Air Canada Comments

 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that China has granted Approved Destination Status to Canada. And Tourism Toronto couldn't be happier.

 

The agreement will allow Chinese citizens to more easily obtain tourist visas to travel to Canada for leisure purposes and will allow Canada to "actively market its tourism products in China," according to a press release from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

 

Given China is the most populous nation on earth, it's great news for Canadian travel folks. With all the Chinese-Canadians in the GTA, it would be great to attract folks over here for visits with their relatives, then have them take in a meal or a show in downtown Toronto or wander up to Muskoka or down to Niagara Falls.

 

Tourism Toronto president/CEO David Whitaker told me the only way Chinese could come here up to now is on a business visa or a special visa to see friends and relatives. Some 70,000 overnight visitors from China come to Toronto each year; a relatively paltry amount compared to the overall population. Which just shows the potential for growth, really.

 

Toronto received 78,000 Japanese visitors last year. But Japan doesn't even have 1/10th of China's population.

 

"Now the gloves are off, if you will, and we'll be able to aggressively get in there and really work to harvest and create awareness for Canada and for Toronto, Whitaker said. "We have guarded optimism. I don't think we'll get a flood of visitors overnight but we can build it up. This will require cooperation with tourism operators in China. There will be operations designated to sell in Canada and we'll designate operators to receive visitors here."

 

Of course, just as Toronto is welcoming the move so will be the tourism folks in Vancouver and Montreal and Quebec City and out in Banff. So how will Whitaker sell someone in, say, Beijing or Shanghai on coming to the Big Smoke?

 

"We tend to sell Canada first, but we're the business capital, the cultural capital, the diversity capital of Canada," he said. "Most visitors from major urban centres like to visit other urban centres so they can shop, dine out and take in cultural events. Chinese visitors will be able to come to Toronto and go see Niagara Falls just like folks from Japan, Korea, India, Germany and France."

 

Canadian Tourism Commission stats show 159,000 Chinese visited Canada last year. Almost one-half of those, 70,000 in all, came to Toronto. So there's obviously some appeal.

 

Whitaker said Chinese visitors average $943 in spending per trip to Toronto, about 31 per cent higher than the average. But only five per cent of visitors are under 24, so he's hoping the new status will allow younger folks to come and spend their money on dining, dancing and shopping.

 

"We couldn't advertise in China until now," he said. "I don't think we'll immediately start running TV spots but we can do promos and put out brochures and do TV at some point."

IAC president and CEO Randy Williams was quoted as calling the move a "vital and historic announcement for Canada's tourism industry."

 

TIAC says that by 2020, "China is expected to be the world’s largest outbound market, producing some 100 million outbound tourists. With an emerging middle class that is increasingly looking to spend its disposable income on travel and tourism, there is a tremendous opportunity for Canada to attract a significant flow of visitors across the Pacific."

 

EYE OF THE TIGER?

Hoo, boy. I guess sooner or later someone was going to try to capitalize on the Tiger Woods' domestic dispute and his Cadillac incident.

Turns out it's Spirit Airlines, which has something of a habit of being irreverent. Their ad, which I spotted in the Orlando Sentinel, shows a cartoon tiger piloting his SUV into a fire hydrant as part of a special $9 fare promotion. It's called the "Eye of the Tiger" sale, and I guess his agents won't be hitting up Spirit for any kind of endorsement deal any time soon.

(As an aside, I was fascinated to see how hard fellow golfer Jesper Parnevik came down on Tiger for his marital woes. Parnevik is the guy who introduced Tiger to his former nanny, Elin Nordegren, who married Woods a few years back. He's now saying he regrets the move and that Tiger shouldn't have taken so litterally the "just do it" line from Nike, one of his sponsors. A great quote from Parnevik, but I wonder how it will affect Woods. Tiger has a penchant for remembering every slight, and the list of people who've taken potshots at him over his domestic incident will be a long one.)

I just noticed on Twitter (thanks Roland Hedley) that an airline official at Dulles airport in Washington D.C. estimated that more than 200 people missed their flights today because they were watching Tiger/mistress updates on the television. Isn't that hilarious?

AIR CANADA BAG FEES

Nice to see comments on this blog from folks about the new fees Air Canada is introducing. For those who missed it, AC on Wednesday said it will start forcing passengers with economy tickets (Tango, Tango Plus and Latitude) to the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) to pay $30 for a second checked bag. Passengers heading to Europe and Israel will have to fork over $50 for a second checked bag. The policy is for tickets bought from December 2nd onward and for flights starting Jan. 19 of next year.

Interesting that a couple folks have defended the airline. Here are some of the comments I've received:

Jim Gordon: Speaking as a Canadian living in the US I think it is important to note that all US carriers, with the exception of Southwestern already charge $30 for the first checked bag and significantly more if you check two. This applies to all flights in the US or from the US to Canada. Thus Air Canada is still giving their customers a break as they do not charge for the first checked bag.

Dear Mr. Gordon: That's one way of looking at it; but West Jet isn't charging for any bags - at least not yet.

From Whitfit: I may be in the minority here, but this is a good thing for efficiency and the environment. Bags use extra fuel, and cost money. I would rather ticket prices come down - for all the nickel and diming people complain about, airlines do operate on razor thin margins, and as the costs go down, the prices will too. So, now I'm motivated to pack more efficiently, and if I really need to take my whole wardrobe with me, I will pay a little extra. The environmental and cost benefits are worth it.

Dear Whitfit: Another point here; pack your heavy stuff like books or dress shoes in your carry-on to avoid overweight bag fees.

From Jennifer: I wouldn't mind so much if Air Canada didn't sorely lack in customer service and my bags would actually reach the proper destination. I for one have had my luggage lost and damaged four times in the past year and a half with Air Canada, three times to Europe and once domestically. Their dismal attempts to find my luggage and get it to me without the wheels and handles of my suitcase being ripped off have made me go to their competitors (even if it is more expensive) for any future flights. If I have to pay $30-50 for bags with Air Canada I would hope that it would at least arrive in one piece.

Dear Jennifer: I've only had one or two bag problems with Air Canada in, oh, 28 years of flying them on a regular basis. I don't like the bag fees, but I've never had a serious lost bag problem.

Gotta admit I smiled at a note from a reader/user with the tag of "odd comment," who took me to task for chiding Air Canada's bag fees while at the same linking to an Air Canada seat sale as one of my deals of the day. I guess it's fair comment, but just because I don't like something Air Canada is doing doesn't mean I shouldn't point out a seat sale to our readers.

 

BUFFALO OPTION

 

Thanks to my friends at www.travelalerts.ca for a reminder that folks in Toronto can sometimes save a bundle by flying out of Buffalo. On Wednesday, they were advertising flights from Buffalo to Miami for $88 U.S., including tax. Flights from Buffalo to Tampa were listed at $105 U.S., taxes included.

 

It's worth considering the Buffalo option. It's a hassle if you live in, say, Oshawa or downtown Toronto. But if you're in the western suburbs or Hamilton area it's another story. And parking, I'm told, is dirt cheap at Buffalo versus Pearson. There's also the option of flights out of Hamilton or London.

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

 

$265 taxes included - Toronto to Orlando, return flight this December
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1788

 

$395 - Toronto to Las Vegas, 4 day pre-Christmas getaway at the 4* Luxor
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1789

 

$149 - Niagara Falls Hotel Waterpark Package with $250 in Dining and Attractions
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1790

 

 

New Air Canada baggage fees...Healthiest Airport Food...Jim's Deals of the Day

I guess it was a matter of time, but it's still a shame to see Canadians have to pay more for air travel.

 

Air Canada today announced that it will start charging passengers with Tango, Tango Plus and Latitude fares $30 for a second,checked bag on all flights to the U.S. (except Puerto Rico) and $50 for second bags on flights to Europe and Israel. The policy takes effect for flights on or after Jan. 19. 2010 for tickets purchased from today onwards.

 

Passengers with Economy Class tickets will continue to get two free, checked bags on flights within Canada, as well as to and from Mexico, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Asia and Australia, which I find kinda weird. I mean, if you're charging $50 for a second bag to Europe, why not $50 for a second bag to Asia or South America?

 

The fee for a second checked bag to/from the United States, Europe and Israel will not apply to Air Canada Prestige, Elite, Super Elite members or Star Alliance Silver and Gold members. Executive Class and Executive First customers continue to receive an allowance of three checked bags on all flights, regardless of destination.

 

That's great for those of us who travel a lot, but the average guy gets screwed. A family of four flying to Europe in economy with two checked bags per person would end up forking over another $200. A family flying to Orlando to see the Mouse - or take in a tour of the Tiger Woods domestic bliss display in Isleworth - would pay another $120.

 

Air Canada, of course, couched this in very public relations-like terms, stating not that they were hiking baggage fees but merely saying it had "matched the prevailing checked bag policy of international carriers on U.S. transborder and transatlantic routes." Which makes it sound like it's not their fault and that they simply HAD to fall in line.

 

Customers purchasing Economy Class tickets for travel on or after January 19, 2010 to/from the United States, Europe and Israel will still be able to check one bag for free, in addition to permitted carry-on baggage. But you'll have to pay for bag number two.

 

"This change in baggage policy to match our U.S. and European competitors is an important step as we work toward sustained profitability," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. "In this weak economy it is more critical than ever to continue reviewing all our activities on a regular basis and making adjustments as necessary to remain competitive with our industry peers. We are committed to offering our customers a full range of competitively priced travel options."

Yes, some airlines charge for each bag. And yes, air travel is expensive. But don't you just HATE getting nickeled and dimed sorry, thirtied and fiftied - like this?

For the record, WestJet's p.r. guy tells me they haven't changed their policy; it's still two bags free on all flights.

 

HEALTHY AIRPORT FOOD

 

No offence, but I wouldn't have expected the Detroit Metro airport to have topped a list I spotted of airports in the U.S. with the healthiest meals.

 

A study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine looked at 17 U.S. airports and said 79% offer at least one healthy option (low-fat, high-fibre, cholesterol-free). Detroit Metro scored 100%, meaning all their restaurants have at least one healthy option, and good for them. San Francisco rose to 94%, while the next three were Phoenix Sky Harbour, Houston Intercontinental and Newark.

 

Las Vegas was last with just 66% of places offering a healthy choice. The study said too many Vegas eateries offered only burgers, sausages, hot dogs or pre-made items "full of fat and cholesterol." Chicago O'Hare and Dulles in Washington D.C. each got scores of just 68 %.

 

Time to pull up your socks, folks. 

 

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

 

Up to 50% off - Cheap flights to every Canadian destination with Air Canada

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1769

 

US$69 - Over 75% off! - Peak holiday sale in Orlando near theme parks (sale ends soon)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1755

 

US$444 taxes included - 4 night 4* Disney Bahamas cruise: early January

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1756

 

On the United team? No thanks....Terrific Tweets...Jim's Deals of the Day

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not real big on chatty airline pilots and overly folksy flight attendants.

I was on a United flight from SF to Toronto on Monday, and the pilot kept going on about how happy United was to have me on their team for the day.

"Hey, great to have you on board. Hey, they're just filling up the baggage pits so if you folks would take a seat we can get going. Hey, we're about 10 minutes early but if you look out to your right you can see Lake Tahoe."

I DO like being told about interesting vistas from a plane. I find it endless fascinating to look at dry creek beds in Nevada and croplands in Saskatchewan and mountains just about anywhere. But I don't like professionals acting so folksy that it makes me think they're not taking their jobs seriously enough. Travel is serious business, and I want people who exude a sense of professionalism.

I appreciate the inclusiveness, United, but I don't want to be on your team. You guys fly the plane and keep an eye on my safety and I'll just sit back and try to relax in my crammed, little window seat in economy and tune into the movie. Oh, wait, this isn't Air Canada. I dont' have a seat-back entertainment system. Instead, it's the old flip-down screens you can barely see and only one movie choice - The Time Traveler's Wife. No, thanks.

Still, it was an uneventful flight and we landed safely. So thanks for that, guys. And ladies. The flight attendants were quite good, and I do find that United and other American carriers have have friendlier attendants than Air Canada.

TERRIFIC TWEETERS

Thanks to worldhum for a look at some great "tweets" over the last month. Here are a few of my faves:

@SpudHilton
Vancouver travel tip: Do not get your bearings based on “that tall, skinny apartment building.”

@alexanderbasek
Lesson from last night’s Central Europe Experience party: stuffed cabbage and jaeger schnitzel are not easily transformed into canapés.

@sarahcuda
Middle seat, coach, behind TWO babies for 15 hrs. Thank you whoever invented ambien.

@bhammerling
OH at pool in Mexico: “ask me anything” “ok where’s Dubai?” “India, silly. Ask me a hard one. Like from Cranium”.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$172 - Toronto to Turks and Caicos, return flight this Christmas ($403 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1733

$347 - Toronto to Puerto Plata, 1 week all-inclusive beachfront holiday ($667 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1734

US$59/nt - 12 night 4.5* cruise of Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1735

HARD ROCK RESORT

USA Today reports the Hard Rock chain plans to open its first all-inclusive resort and casino next spring, when it begins operating the 121-acre Moon Palace Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Hard Rock chain - known for a music memorabilia collection that includes an Eric Clapton guitar (and probably a bunch of junk from overrated AC/DC) - runs hotel and casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. The 1,800-room Punta Cana resort will mark the chain's 13th hotel.

Hard Rock International plans to target couples, bridal parties, families, music fans - and gamblers. Expect a major casino with 457 slots, 40 tables, and a high-limit poker room, according to the company's press release.

Yeah, this is just what the world needs.

.