Myrtle Beach shows the love ... Lonely Planet top spots 2013 ... Deal of day

They certainly love Canadians down in Myrtle Beach.

The coastal South Carolina city is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month, and they'll be holding what's called "Can-Am Days" with discounts for Canucks from March 9 to 17. They made an appearance Friday at the Toronto Star Golf and Travel Show down at the convention centre and brought out some appetizers and a birthday/anniversary cake and, naturally, a little bubbly.

There have been a ton of renovations and upgrades at Myrtle Beach hotels, officials said, and the access is easier than ever. Porter began their flights from Toronto Island airport last month, and they also have vacation packages through their Porter Escapes company. WestJet will start run flights from May 2 to Oct. 24 (Thursday and Sunday), and they also have vacation packages with various properties so you can book activities, flights and hotels together and save.

In addition, Myrtle can be reached on direct flights from Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh N.Y. (useful for Montreal folks) and Detroit.

The area has 102 golf courses, most quite affordable and many of them stunners. I played one a couple years ago called Caledonia Golf and Fish Club that was absolutely outstanding; perhaps the prettiest non-oceanside course I've ever seen.

They also have great food and an endless beach and plenty of activities for kids and adults, both. They've created a website called visitmyrtlebeach.com/75secrets with 75 "secret" things to do in Myrtle Beach, ranging from Pirate adventures to dolphin-watching and visiting art museums and wine-tasting.

LONELY PLANET, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOESN'T LOVE US SO MUCH

Lonely Planet recently conducted an online poll/review, asking fans on Facebook, Twitter, Google-plus and Thorn Tree where they've travelled and what they liked most. Their top 20 destinations overall were as follows (in order): Bhutan (see photo below), Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Iceland, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Argentina, U.S.A., Indonesia, Iran, Burma, Peru, Nepal, Colombia, Georgia, Italy and the Maldives.

Interesting. Note the lack of the U.K. and France on the list, which weighs fairly heavy with unusual spots such as Iran (did Ben Affleck get a vote?), Bhutan, Colombia and Burma (Myanmar).

The top 10 for food were Italy, Thailand, India, Japan, Argentina, Vietnam, France, Lebanon, Taiwan and Spain. Top value spots were Thailand, India, Bolivia, Cambodia, Ghana, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia and Bulgaria. Top rated for entertainment were the U.K., U.S.A, Argentina, Australia, Ireland, Thailand, Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil and Singapore.

There were a slew of other categories, including shopping, "meeting locals" and "cultural sights."

Canada, you ask? Well, not so hot. We came in fourth on the safety list (big whoop), behind Japan, Iceland and New Zealand. And we were ninth in the nature category. Which is nice but also pretty boring, when you get down to it. The top 10 in the nature category were Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand, Bhutan, Australia, Namibia, Ecuador, Brazil, Canada and Kenya.

Oh, well.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: ST. MAARTEN

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for lovely St. Maarten in the Caribbean. The deal is for $1,095, including $230 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save up to $328 per couple compared to what's available in market!
• BONUS: Features lower taxes thanks to Sunwing's Tax Buster Promotion
• BONUS: Sunwing inclusions offer a spa discount, unlimited a la carte dining, $20 USD casino vouchers, discount on Hertz car rental and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-star SMILE at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, located in St. Maarten
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to  St. Maarten and round-trip airport/hotel transfers at your destination
• Accommodations in a Deluxe Garden View Room, featuring 1 King or 2 Double beds and private balcony showcasing views of the island and adjacent golf course. Maximum occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

 

• Plenty of activities for kids will keep them in high spirits and you in relax mode
• A guest pass to the nearby Sonesta Great Bay Beach resort gives you access to double the exquisite amenities
• Maho village is known for both its charming boutiques and extravagant nightlife

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: April 11, 18, 21 & 28, 2013
  Montreal: April 11, 18, 21, 25 & 28, 2013
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  
  April 11, 18 & 21:
  Single: $1165 plus tax
  Double: $965 plus tax
  Triple: $930 plus tax
  Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
  Tax: $230
  
  April 28:
  Single: $1065 plus tax
  Double: $865 plus tax
  Triple: $830 plus tax
  Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
  Tax: $230
  
  Montreal:
  
  April 11, 18 & 25:
  Single: $1435 tax included
  Double: $1235 tax included
  Triple: $1200 tax included
  Child (2-12): $545 tax included
  
  April 21 & 28:
  Single: $1375 tax included
  Double: $1175 tax included
  Triple: $1140 tax included
  Child (2-12): $545 tax included
  
  

 

 

U.S. budget situation could play out up here ... Major changes to Pearson YYZ

Folks at Pearson Airport and at U.S. border crossings are keeping a close eye on the budget situation in the U.S. With automatic cuts slated to come to all sorts of U.S. services if there's no budget deal between President Obama and Congress, things could get quite goofy up here in terms of U.S. Customs.

I had no idea, but Toby Lennox, Vice President, Strategy Development and Stakeholder Relations for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, told a business meeting in Toronto on Tuesday that Pearson is the fourth largest entry point for folks headed to the U.S. (Since U.S. customs has a pre-clearance centre here, Toronto is officially an entry point and, right now, is behind only New York, Miami and Los Angeles in terms of number of customers entering the U.S.)

Things at Pearson could be utterly normal by Friday or it might be "a calamity," Lennox told a session of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives at the Ritz Carlton in Toronto on Tuesday.

Lennox said things are happening in a big way at Pearson, with new restaurants (including the just-opened Fetta by celebrity Toronto chef Mark McEwan, announced just today) and new shops and lots of other changes coming down the pipe. Fetta, by the way, is located in Terminal 1 near gate E73 and serves paninis, salads and small plates.  It's part of a plan to install 15 new food and beverage places at Pearson, complete with 2,500 Apple iPads that folks can use to tap out an order for a quick meal, or even a pair of socks from a nearby shop.

Included will be a wine bar called Vinifera in Terminals 1 and 3, plus a place called Marathi for Indian street food.

Transportation is always key at YYZ, and Lennox said the train that will link Pearson to downtown Toronto, with a couple stops along the way, should open in 2015. It's great and will make travel much more reliable, especially for business folks on a tight schedule who can't afford 80-minute commutes to Bay St.. But he also noted the airport draws people from all over the GTA, as well as thousands of workers, and they all need convenient, affordable transportation options.

Pearson draws about 35 million passengers a year now but that could increase soon to 42 million, partly because of growing economies and more travel demand from China and South America, as well as India and Russia. That will mean more night flights and stronger connections to those parts of the world.

Asia already is going gangbusters, Lennox said. "I have to fly next week and it was tough to get a seat."

He also said Colombia is becoming very attractive as a source of passengers for Pearson and that Africa will some day be enormously important.

To his credit, Lennox said there are major changes needed to Terminal 3 at Pearson.

"We're badly in need of renovations. The floor is cracked. It's an energy hog. And the retail isn't adequate."

As much as Pearson would like new customers from places like China, it's hard to get them if would-be Chinese tourists don't know about Canada. And right now, they don't, he said.

Lennox's comments tie into the cuts made recently to the Canadian Tourism Commission's budget and also echo concerns issued by others in the tourism business lately. Namely, that other countries are beating the pants off Canada when it comes to self-promotion and that we're badly missing the boat.

 

 

 

Travel ideas for March, awesome Ireland tourism video and my Deal of The Day

The cardinals are singing their mating songs. The temperature in Toronto is supposed to be above freezing for several days in a row. And daylight savings time is around the corner.

There's hope for spring, folks, and there are plenty of great places to check it out. Here are a few that come to mind on a grey but not overly cold Monday morning in T.O.

Victoria isn't quite in spring conditions yet, but the long-term weather forecast calls for temperatures up around 10 degrees by week's end. And the spring flowers should be coming out about now, which is always heartening.

Mind you, as expensive as it is to fly within Canada these days you may as well head south to something a little warmer. Yeah, they had snow in Tucson, Arizona last week at the WGC Match Play championship golf tourney, but that's pretty rare. The forecast is for daytime highs up around 20 Celsius by mid-week; just about perfect for golf or (for Canadians, anyway) lying by the pool.

It's a little cool right now down Myrtle Beach way, maybe 13 degrees later this week, but in the Tampa Bay area it's supposed to be near 20 and then down around 16 or so later this week. Not hot, but the Blue Jays are now in full spring training mode in Dunedin (see photo) so you don't have to worry if it's not perfect beach weather.

Further afield, here are some expected daytime highs for the next little while in various parts of the world.

Paris: Only 2 degrees today, says the weathernetwork.com, but all the way up to 15 or 17 degrees towards the end of next week. Talk about a change in seasons.

Rome: The cardinals gathering in Rome (as opposed to the ones in my backyard) should expect a bit of rain, but also temperatures soon up around 15 degrees.

Honolulu: Only about 23-24 degree highs the next couple days; downright chilly for Hawaiians. I bet the locals will be wearing toques.

Bangkok: Phew. Daytime highs all week around 35 or 36 with a fair bit of sun. Those luxury hotel swimming pools should be pretty full. Yeah, it's expensive to get there but a four or five-star hotel can often be found for $200.

Sydney: It's supposed to be around 28 today and tomorrow but then cooling off to the low 20's later in the week. Don't forget, for them it's about to turn into fall.

Jamaica: You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows in this part of the world. Daytime highs in Montego Bay ranging from roughly 24 (cool for them) to 28 C this week.

IRELAND TOURISM VIDEO

Ireland has put together a smashingly good travel video to help lure folks for The Gathering 2013, a huge festival where Irish folks - or those who wish they were - get together for festivals of all kinds. There are festivals for left-handed people, for folks named Clair (or Clare or probably Clara) and all sorts of gatherings, including a Messiah festival and a Riverdance festival and a ton of sporting events.

The video is loads of fun, with comedian Andrew Maxwell strolling the city and Ireland's seaside with surfers, babies in beards and folks with red hair (in various places), so check it out here.

TOURISM BOOST FOR IRAN? DOUBT IT

A "best picture" win for Lincoln would undoubtedly have helped boost tourism in Virginia, where much of the film was shot, and in Illinois, where Lincoln was born. Instead, Oscar gives the nod to Argo. Notwithstanding the factual inaccuracies (galore) and the downplaying (severely) of Canada's role, it's not a bad film. But I don't think it'll do a lot to boost tourism in Iran. Just a hunch.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: GREECE AND TURKEY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for a land and sea package for nine days and seven nights in Greece and Turkey for 2,029, including $670 in taxes .

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: FREE UPGRADE - Enjoy 5-Star Hotel Accommodations in Athens, Outside Cabin Stateroom on cruise portion, and Business Class for Ferry transfers
• BONUS: Extend your flights post tour for up to 30 days at no additional cost (return from Athens)
• 9-day/7-night Greek Islands & Turkey Cruise onboard the Louis Cristal, including 3 night post-cruise stay in Athens
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Athens on Air Transat
• Ports of Call include: Piraeus, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Patmos, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Crete, Greece; and Santorini, Greece
• Includes 15 meals

• You'll have the chance to explore Greece in the heart of its most dynamic city, and to traverse its diverse islands
• Your ship provides comfortable, upscale accommodations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on July 7 & July 14, 2013
  (Other dates available. Please call: 1-855-687-5925)
• Pricing (Rates are per person, and based on double occupancy):
  
  Single: $1739
  Double : $1359
  Tax: $670
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until Feb 28, 2013  at 5PM EST. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

 

 

 

 

 

We want WiFi! / Hong Kong, Massachusetts and Scottsdale news / Deal of day

No kidding.

An amenities survey by hotels.com shows free Wi-Fi tops the list of what Canadians want out of a hotel.

The survey found that 70 per cent of us named standardized, free Wi-Fi as our top wish list item for 2013. Which is no surprise given our dedication to email and iPads and the Internet. I still find it shocking that so many hotels charge people, although one can often get around that by joining a hotels' frequent stay program, such as the Presidents Club with Fairmont.

Similarly, when asked what amenity is a must when booking a hotel for leisure travel, 37 per cent of Canadians said free Wi-Fi. On the other hand, 38 per cent of us raised our hand for "happy hour and wine tastings" as our favourite, newly offered hotel amenity. And 46 per cent of us said they wish they saw more complimentary bottled water in hotel rooms.

Asked about hotel turn down service, 31 per cent of Canadians said it's not worth the hype. I agree. I mean, I get turned down at hotels all the time. Bah-da-boom!

Other findings:

31 per cent of Canadians hope for free breakfast in hotels.

26 per cent of Canadians say a high-end coffee maker or espresso machine is is our favourite "modern" amenity.

35 per cent of us don't think the mini-bar is worth the hype.

70 per cent of Canadians say they don't take anything from a hotel, but that toiletries don't count.

Finally, the survey found that the most outrageous hotel amenity Canadians are hoping to experience is the free use of a Rolls Royce Phantom. That got 54 per cent of the vote. I bet if you had free Wi-Fi in the Rolls it would've scored even higher. And a happy hour/wine tasting bar, too.

TOURISM UPDATES IN TOWN

It was a busy week for tourism folks in Toronto. Hong Kong took advantage of Chinese New Year to talk at a meeting Wednesday night about their plans for luring more Canadians to HK this year.

Officials said there were 48.6 million visitors to Hong Kong last year, up 16 per cent. Of those,  393,000 were Canadians. That's an increase of 4.4 per cent on the Canadian side of the equation.

Hong Kong will be sending out some new commercials and new You Tube videos soon, with plenty of sights and sounds to entice would-be visits; dragon boat races and shoppers and colourful festivals and food spots and plenty more. So keep an eye out for those.

Hong Kong is billed as Asia's World City, and it's one of those places that truly has something for everyone; awesome food, great shopping, incredible markets and fascinating neighbourhoods, plus beautiful beaches and islands and mountains and world-class hiking trails and great golf courses. It's one of my favourite places on the planet, with a great cultural mix. It's Asian enough to be foreign and exciting for Canadians, but western enough to be comfortable.

Earlier in the day, a dozen or so representatives from Massachusetts regaled a group of journalists with information about their offerings. We Canadians know a fair bit about Boston and something about Cape Cod, but I suspect most of us don't know a lot about the Berkshires in the west part of the state and the whitewater rafting and the mountain hiking and the pretty valleys and former industrial towns turned into artsy centres with romantic inns and a bustling music scene.

It seems that every year the famed Boston Pops (I didn't know this, but the Boston Pops is basically the same as the Boston Symphony Orchestra but with a lighter music style for summer time, emphasizing things like jazz or even rock and roll music instead of heavy winter fare like Brahms or Beethoven) sets up summer camp in the Berkshires at a place called Tanglewood. This year they'll team up with the likes of Megan Hilty of Glee and Vince Gill on opening night.. Of course, you'll often find James Taylor in the area, singing his song about the how first of December was covered with snow, and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston" and how the "Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frostin." Apparently Taylor is working on a new CD/album and might not appear this year, however. Just so you know.

Anyway, there's tons going on in Massachusetts. Boston (see photo at left) is opening new parks and new museums and the seaport area south of downtown is booming with new restaurants and a new waterfront. Cape Cod is as pretty as ever, I suspect, with hundreds of miles of beaches and a national park/seashore. They're starting a new train this year from Boston to Hyannis on the cape, rumoured to be around $32 a pop for a 90-minute ride that will run from Memorial Day in late May to Labour Day in September. Sounds like a winner to me.

There also are beautiful coastline towns on the Atlantic, plus the historical Salem area that's famous for its witch trails and the Plimouth Plantation at Plymouth Rock, where Pilgrims landed from Europe almost 400 years ago.

Some 684,390 Canadians visited Massachusetts last year. Of those, about 302,000 were from Quebec and 216,000 from Ontario, which makes sense given Montreal is only a few hours drive from Boston.

All in all, quite a lot packed into a relatively small state that probably doesn't get its fair due.

Down in Scottsdale, there's always a ton going on. There's a new, fun restaurant at the Four Seasons called Proof, with casual attire and good whisky and a fun atmosphere that includes shuffleboard, a soda fountain, local beers and tables that slide around on railway tracks. It doesn't look anything like a Four Seasons restaurant, and that's a fun thing to see. This summer they'll be offering rooms on weekdays for $129 and weekends for $169; excellent prices.

There's also a new B and B in Scottsdale and a couple of new, fun and affordable smaller properties. There's a cool canal that runs through town and also a free trolley to get you around if you want to avoid walking, or don't want to drive after tasting some local beers or having a glass of whisky at the fabled Pink Pony restaurant and bar.

 

AEROPLAN'S SWEET OFFERING

Aeroplan has created a one time event in Toronto for a weekend in March; a chance to create your own personal perfume.

The  experience will be offered Saturday March 16 at noon, 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. and on Sunday March 17 at noon, 3 or 6 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel's Harbour Suite on the lakefront in Toronto.

For 23,500 Aeroplan miles, you'll get the chance to check out different scents and create their own, personalized 50 ml bottle perfume with perfume creator and international model Ruby Brown during a two-hour workshop.

It's billed as a unique and glamorous experience, and would surely impress a special loved one.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, which would hit the spot on a wintry, bitter cold day like today in Toronto. 

 

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 3 a la carte dinners, early check-in/late check-out, a bottle of rum per room, and more!
• BONUS: Sunwing's SMILE inclusions - Two children (2-12 yrs) FREE (just pay for flight)
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the SMILE At Casa Marina Beach Resort, located in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
• Includes return airfare from various gateways (see pricing below) to Puerto Plata and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Superior Gardenview room,  featuring 1 king or 2 double beds and balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• With children's activities and special pricing, this resort is the perfect family retreat

• Puerto Plata is a haven of outdoor exploration
• You'll enjoy special extras like a welcome cocktail and 3 a la carte reservations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: March 17, 19, 24, 26, 2013
  Ottawa: March 15 & 22, 2013
  Halifax: March 12, 2013
  Charlottetown: March 5 & 12, 2013
  Montréal: March 19, 22 & 26, 2013
  Québec City: March 18 & 25, 2013
  (Other dates available. Call us at 1-855-687-5925)
  
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person): 
• Toronto:
  Single: $655 plus tax
  Double: $495 plus tax
  Triple: $475 plus tax
  Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
  Tax: $290

Ottawa:

Single: $655 plus tax
Double: $495 plus tax
Triple: $475 plus tax
Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
Tax: $291

Halifax:
Single: $655 plus tax
Double: $495 plus tax
Triple: $475 plus tax
Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
Tax: $392

Charlottetown:
Single: $655 plus tax
Double: $495 plus tax
Triple: $475 plus tax
Child (2-12): $295 plus tax
Tax: $390

Montréal:
Single: $955 tax included
Double: $795 tax included
Triple: $775 tax included
Child (2-12): $595 tax included

Québec City:
Single: $955 tax included
Double: $795 tax included
Triple: $775 tax included
Child (2-12): $595 tax included

 

 

 

 

Thank God for Canadians.

That's not quite the message of the day in tourism, but it could be. In the last 24 hours, I've received press releases extolling the virtues of travellers from Canada enriching economies around the world.

We're great travellers. Of course, given days like today when I walked down Yonge St. and spotted small patches of lawn outside the Star building covered with brown-grey ice and bits of litter and cigarette butts, and with a stiff wind whipping off Lake Ontario just for added misery, it's easy to see why so many of us take to the roads and the skies.

Florida, naturally, is one of our favourite targets of tourism largesse. The Sunshine State this week announced that a record 89.3 million visitors arrived last year, up 2.3 per cent from the record 87.3 million in 2011. Of those 89.3 million visitors, about 10.2 million were international visitors and 3.6 million of those were Canadians.

VISIT FLORIDA said both the international and Canadian visitation numbers are record highs. International visits were up 9 per cent and Canadian visits up 7.3 per cent from 2011.

Officials also said the number of direct travel-related jobs in 2012 was also a record high, with 1,030,600 Floridians employed in the tourism industry.

Later on Tuesday I got a note saying that visits to Korea are on the upswing. Maybe it's the search for something new in Asia, or maybe it's Psy and his viral Gangnam Style video, but I've seen more stories on Korea tourism in the last year than in the previous couple combined.

The note the tourism folks sent out says tourist arrivals in 2012 were up 13.7 per cent over 2011, with more than 11.1 million arrivals in all. Canada's numbers were up 5.1 per cent to 128,000.

“Canadians continue to pick Korea as not only a top stopover destination in Asia, but also for its unique culture, cuisine and history," said NJ Park, director for Korea Tourism. "Easy transfers to many of Asia’s top destinations, a 5,000 year history as well as transit tours have been key in our increasing numbers."

Park said Canada and Korea are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

(On a related note, I saw an item from Associated Press on Tuesday that quoted North Korea tourism folks as insisting that tourism is booming since they launched their latest nuclear bomb test. Hey, if North Korea says tourism is booming it must be true.)

Finally, I got another note Wednesday (you might have guessed, but there's a theme here folks) to announce that Jamaica recorded an increase in Canadian visitors in 2012, the ninth year of increases in a row. Jamaica welcomed 403,200 Canadians in 2012, an increase of 6.4 per cent over 2011 and a remarkable 38.9 per cent hike since 2009.

“We are thrilled to report our ninth year of growth in Canadian visitors to Jamaica,” said Philip Rose, Regional Director of Canada for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). “Our efforts to drive demand have been successful thanks to great partnerships with our airline, resort and attractions partners who continuously deliver great Jamaican experiences to visitors. It’s clear Canadians have cultivated a strong relationship with Jamaica which we will continue to foster.”

I was on the island in the summer of 2011, touching down at Half Moon A Rock Resort outside Montego Bay, which was spectacular; with a great beach and wonderful food and beautiful grounds. You can even ride a horse out into the surf.

I also spent some time in Montego Bay on the so-called Hip Strip and spent a night at the lovely Sandals resort in Negril, where I got to take in the cliff-diving at nearby Rick's Cafe. I topped it off with a stay at one of my favourite spots in the world, Jakes at Treasure Beach; a funky and fun and vibrant spot on the south coast that's a bit out of the way but well worth it.

So, all in all, some pretty impressive numbers for Canadian visitors. Let's hope our economy stays solid so we can keep it going and take even more trips in 2013.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a deal on a 13-day trip to beautiful Thailand. The trip is listed at $1,599 for land only, while a double including air transfer is $3,544 (including $425 in taxes). 

Jaunt Highlights

• 13-Day Enchanting Thailand Tour, including visits to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Thai temples, markets, hill tribes and more
• Land-only OR Air-Inclusive from Toronto via Cathay Pacific Airways, plus all transfers in Thailand. Pricing for both options below.
• Tour transportation via deluxe motorcoach and accompanied by English-speaking guide. Includes all admission fees, excursions and cruises specified in itinerary
• 11 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels (double occupancy). Accommodations include stays in the following or similar: Montien Surawongse (Bangkok), The Legend (Chiang Rai), Empress (Chiang Mai) and Veranda Resort and Spa (Cha Am)
• Meals include 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners throughout your tour

• You'll have small tour groups with English-speaking guides
• See all the distinctive regions of Thailand from Bangkok to the jungles of Chiang Mai and the beaches of Cha Am
• Enjoy unique accommodations like a boutique river resort

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on October 26, 2013 departure
• Pricing (per person):

• Land Only:
  Double: $1599
  Single: $2209
  
  Toronto Air-Inclusive:
  Double: $3119 + $425 tax
  Single: $3759 + $425 tax
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Refunds available until 5PM EST on February 13, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

 

"

 

 

WestJet expands T.O. options, FinnAir cheap flights to Europe, Whistler news

A lot of the focus from WestJet on Monday was, understandably, the naming of Nanaimo and Fort St. John B.C. as cities to be served by their new, regional carrier, called Encore.

From a Toronto standpoint, and we all know the world revolves around this fair city, there's plenty of news from regular WestJet. At the same time it was slipping into new destinations in B.C., they also announced twice-weekly service from The Big Smoke to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and upped the Orlando service from seven times a week to 11.

What I hadn't noticed in the flurry of announcements was an increase of WestJet flights from Toronto to Miami (see photo at right) from seven a week to eight, plus new flights (three times a week) from Toronto to Fort McMurray, Alberta. They also significantly bumped up flights from here to Saskatchewan, adding three more per week to both Regina and Saskatoon for 10 flights a week to each city in total.

As well, they added two more flights a day from Toronto to Vancouver (now 11 per day), Calgary (also now 11 in total) and Edmonton (8 per day). They'll fly to Winnipeg from Toronto five times a week.

One of the company's press releases on Monday also said they'll extend service to Aruba , Liberia , Costa Rica , and Trinidad and Tobago on a year-round basis and add one extra flight each week between Toronto and Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica , Varadero, Cuba , St. Martin, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Cancun.

There are rumours WestJet may soon take aim at Air Canada's international network, and wouldn't that be fun to watch?

SKI WITH AN OLYMPIAN - AND GO WATCH SOME AT THE GAMES

A couple of things to note for fans of the Olympics. Whistler-Blackcomb  has expanded its Snow School offerings with the addition of a "Ski with an Olympian" program. The new offering lets ordinary folks hear stories and get tips and spend time with an Olympic athlete as their personal guide.

You get a full day of skiing or riding with an Olympic athlete, with capacity limited to just five people per group. Guests also get lift line priority.

Thirteen ski and snowboard athletes are taking part, including noted Olympic skier Rob Boyd. For more information, visit whistlerblackcomb.com.

Speaking of the Olympics, tickets for the 2014 Winter Games (how did this happen so quickly?) in Sochi, Russia are now available for Canadians to buy at cosport.com. Fans will be able to choose from a variety of packages that combine tickets with hotel stays or hospitality services.

Individual tickets start as low as $22. I suspect a ticket for the gold medal hockey game would be slightly, just slightly, more than that. 

FINNAIR BARGAINS TO EUROPE

Finnair is offering a series of round-trip economy deals for spring. Prices start at just $679 Canadian for flights from Toronto to Helsinki, Saint Petersburg, Stockholm, Warsaw and even Prague (with a stop in Helsinki). I went online this morning and found a roundtrip flight from Toronto to Prague for just $778; which is about the same as a round-trip flight on Air Canada to San Francisco in April.

The deal is valid for a host of other cities, including Riga, Oslo, Norway and Krakow. Travel must be taken from May 23 to June 20 and from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on offer for a beautiful Alaska cruise, priced at $1,315 (including $591 in taxes) Here are the details:

• 7-night Alaska Cruise sailing on the ms Amsterdam, departing and returning to Vancouver, BC
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Vancouver
• Ports of Call include: Vancouver, BC; Glacier Bay; Skaqway, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; & the Inside Passage
• Accommodations in one of the following staterooms: Oceanview (Category H) or Verandah (Category BB or BC)
• Includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at various complimentary dining options  
• The ms Amsterdam is an exquisite ship with fanciful details and beautiful artwork
• Alaska is as exhilarating as it is beautiful, with breathtaking scenery and fascinating wildlife
• Enjoy culinary demonstrations and other delicious activities in the Culinary Arts Centre

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, September 6, 13, 2013
• Pricing: (Rates are per person, plus tax, & based on double occupancy)
  
  Toronto:
  May 24:
  Oceanview: $724 + $591 tax
  Verandah: $1446 + $569 tax
  
  May 31:
  Oceanview: $804 + $591 tax
  Verandah: $1526 + $591 tax
  
  June 7:
  Oceanview: $884 + $602 tax
  Verandah: $1709 + $602 tax
  
  June 14:
  Oceanview: $884 + $602 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $602 tax
  
  June 21 & 28:
  Oceanview: $936 + $602 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $602 tax
  
  July 5:
  Oceanview: $936 + $585 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $602 tax
  
  July 19:
  Oceanview: $936 + $602 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $602 tax
  
  July 26:
  Oceanview: $936 + $585 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $585 tax
  
  August 2 & 9:
  Oceanview: $936 + $585 tax
  Verandah: $2018 + $585 tax
  
  August 16:
  Oceanview: $936 + $585 tax
  Verandah: $1709 + $585 tax
  
  August 23 & 30:
  Oceanview: $884 + $598 tax
  Verandah: $1709 + $598 tax
  
  September 6 & 13:
  Oceanview: $884 + $598 tax
  Verandah: $1709 + $598 tax
  
  

 

 

Romance blooms in Ontario (of all places!) - a look at Canada's romantic hotels

Well, what do you know. I'm often on the case of the poor folks at Trip Advisor, gently (sometimes) ribbing them about reader polls they do that seem to favour those lucky saps out in Vancouver who probably are already looking at crocuses and daisies popping out of their (wet) gardens.

Time after time, it seems, I get reader polls or what have you that give all the kudos to hotels in British Columbia and all but ignore Ontario and even Quebec. Let alone the poor Maritimes and Newfoundland. But now, just in time for Valentine's Day, comes a Trip Advisor Readers' Choice awards with more geographical balance, Canada-wise.

Their latest offering lines up the 10 most romantic hotels in Canada, and Ontario takes the top prize. I frankly don't know how they get such rewards on Trip Advisor, but Harbour House Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake got top spot for romance in Canada, followed by the Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa in B.C. The next four spots in a row, which I find unrealistic as well, went to Ontario: Woodland Echoes Resort in Magnetewan, Sterling Inn and Spa in Niagara Falls, The Charles Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Riverbend Inn and Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

In seventh spot came Hotel Kutuma in Montreal, followed by Le Relais Lyonnais in Montreal, Mercer Hall Inn in Stratford, Ontaro and Smugglers Cove Inn in lovely Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

This means Ontario grabbed six of the top ten spots, Quebec two, British Columbia a paltry one (heh, heh) and good old Nova Scotia one.

I put very little faith in these things, to be honest. They're fun to write about but I haven't a clue how people judge these things. Niagara is a romantic place that deserves some spots in the top ten, but 40 per cent?

It's fun to see Ontario beat out those romantics in Quebec, but I simply can't believe there's no place in beautiful Banff that doesn't deserve the top 10. Let alone places I've visited that are absolutely stunning: The Wickaninnish in Tofino, B.C. and Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec (see photo at left of Panache restaurant), which might be the top property in the country. Not to mention Toronto's Ritz-Carlton, Hazelton, Four Seasons, Trump and Shangri-La, or the lovely St. Germain on Mercer Street; still my favourite hotel in the city.

For what it's worth, Trip Advisor also listed the ten most romantic hotels in the U.S. and in the world. Here they are:

U.S. ROMANCE SPOTS

1. Bardessono, Yountville, California, 2. Koa Kea Hotel and Resort, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii, 3. Inn of the Five Graces, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 4. Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California, 5. Honor Mansion, a Wine Country Resort, Healdsburg, California, 6. Ocean Lodge, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7. Casa Laguna Inn and Spa, Laguna Beach, California, 8. Mountain Home Lodge, Leavenworth, Washington, 9. Tickle Pink Inn, Carmel, California, 10. Henderson Park Inn, Destin, Florida.

Lots of California content, for sure. And, once again, North Dakota gets robbed.

WORLD ROMANCE SPOTS

1. Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece, 2. La Minerva, Capri, Italy, 3. Cranleigh Boutique, Bowness-on-Windermere, United Kingdom, 4. Cedar Manor Hotel and Restaurant, Windermere, UK, 5. Baros Maldives, North Male Atoll, Maldive Islands, 6. Casa del Mar, Langkawi, Malaysia, 7, Bardessono, Yountville, California, 8. Al Maha Desert Resort, Dubai, 9. Layana Resort and Spa, Ko Lanta, Thailand, 10. Veligandu Island Resort, North Ari Atoll, Maldives Islands.

Nice, but no mention of Tahiti's overwater bungalows? For shame! On the other hand, I've actually been to one of these, Al Maha Desert Resort in Dubai. It's stunning and I had an outdoor spa/tub overlooking the desert and a watering hole with, I think, a type of gazelle hanging about. Alas, I was alone...

TROUBLES IN MEXICO

Associated Press reports that six Spanish tourists were raped by a gang of armed, masked men in the Mexican resort of Acapulco, the latest chapter of violence that has tarnished the once-glamorous Pacific coast resort.

The attackers burst into a house the Spaniards had rented on the outskirts of Acapulco, in a low-key beachside area, and held 12 Spanish men and women and one Mexican woman at gunpoint before dawn on Monday. They tied up the six men with phone cords and bathing suit straps and then raped the six Spanish women, said Acapulco Mayor Luis Walton at a press conference later Monday.

"This is a regrettable situation, and of course it is going to damage Acapulco," said Walton. The once-glittering resort that attracted movie stars and celebrities in the 1950s and 60s has already been battered by years of drug gang killings and extortions, but except for a very few incidents, the violence largely has not touched tourists.

Walton said he believed, but wasn't sure, that the assailants in Monday's attack didn't belong to a drug gang.

"From what the attorney general has told me, I don't think this was organized crime, but that will have to be investigated, we don't know," Walton said.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department issued a statement saying it regretted the attack, and suggesting it was not drug-cartel related.

That's nice. But it doesn't help their tourism situation.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY - JAMAICA

Snow's on the way, folks, so it's a good time to think about a sunny getaway. Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a deal for the lovely island of Jamaica, at the Grand Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check in/late check out (subject to availability), 4 guaranteed à la carte reservations per week, 20% spa discount, nightly turn down service and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica, located in Runaway Bay, Jamaica
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Montego Bay, and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Jamaica
• Accommodations in a Junior Suite, featuring 1 king or 2 double beds and private balcony or terrace. Max. occupancy: 3 adults and 1 child, or 2 adults and 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Why We Love It:

• Continue the relaxation in your Junior Suite with your own hydro massage tub
• The experience of swimming in a 3-lake style interconnected pool
• The sleek and unique Victorian-style accomodations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departures:
  Toronto: March 12, 16, 17, 18, 20 & 23, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Single: $1449
  Double: $999
  Triple: $979
  1st Child (2-12): $879
  2nd Child (2-12): $399
  Tax: $377
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of bookin

 

Man in New Zealand claims wild parrot stole his money ... Jaunt.ca Deal of Day

To paraphrase Monty Python, Now that's what I call a (not) dead parrot. Or maybe it will be if a guy who had his money stolen catches up with the bird.

Travelmole.com today reports that a Scotsman visiting New Zealand claimed all his holiday savings were stolen by a wild parrot.

Here's what Travelmole had to say: "Peter Leach, from Glasgow, said the cheeky bird stole hundreds of dollars from his campervan.

The Scottish tourist left the windows down on his van after stopping to snap photos, including one of an unusual bird on the ground near his vehicle.

"A Canadian couple walked by and said: 'We've just seen that bird take something out of your campervan'," he said.

"It took all the money I had. I was left with 40 dollars in my pocket."

Stuff NZ reported that the unsuspecting tourist had stashed his travel cash - aboot $1,300 NZ dollars (roughly  $1,100 Canadian) - in a small cloth bag and left it on the dashboard, where the bird apparently found it.

The bird - a kea - grabbed the bag and flew off."

Guess campervans should come with hotel mini-safes. Or maybe windows you can, you know, actually roll up for safety?

As for the bird, I'm told by my NZ sources that he has some friends who are Norwegian Blue parrots and is saving all he can for a flight to the fjords.

HEADED OUT ON BUSINESS? STAY IN CANADA AND AVOID MOSCOW

We think we have it bad in Canada sometimes, don't we? High air fares for sure. High restaurant and alcohol prices, also for sure. But we don't pay much for hotels, especially for business hotels.

I constantly see good hotels in major Canadian city centres for $100 or so a night on sites like hotwire.com or hotels.com. And those prices are a JOKE compared to what biz people pay around the world.

A new report by U.K.-based Hogg Robinson Group says business travelers to Moscow can expect to pay a whopping $410 a night. Not far behind are Lagos, Nigeria (where folks seem to want five-star security) at $358, and New York City at $346/night. After that came Hong Kong, Zurich, Geneva, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Sydney and Stockholm.

The cheapest of the 55 cities surveyed was Hyderabad, India, which averaged just $138. Which means they either didn't survey any Canadian cities or that all Canadian cities average less than $138.

The latter would surprise me as the survey seems to be quoting rack rates. I guess some biz folks can still simply book without checking prices. But it's awfully easy to get big discounts these days and I think any business person who spends $346 per night for New York isn't working the old Internet too hard.

I spotted seven U.S. cities on the list. The highest priced was San Francisco at $300 (11th overall in the world), while the cheapest in American city in the top 55 was Atlanta, which finished 44th with an average nightly rate of $184.

As for which cities are seeing higher prices and which are better deals, Hogg Robinson said Rio prices jumped 19 per cent last year, followed by Sao Paulo (18), Tokyo (11), San Francisco (10) and Mexico City (a nine per cent hike). Prices fell 14 per cent for the year in Washington D.C., followed by Bangalore (12 per cent drop), Abu Dhabi (11), Istanbul (10) and New Delhi (a nine per cent fall).

THIS AND THAT

Westin is poised to open its 200th hotel worldwide this year. The hotel group says it will open 11 new hotels this year, the vast majority in fast-growing markets including China, India, Singapore and Panama ... They're calling it the world's highest skating rink. Folks at the John Hancock Tower in fabulous Chicago have opened an artificial ice rink some 1,000 feet above downtown. The rink features tempered glass wall boards, offering skaters an amazing view of Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago Skyline from the 94^th floor ... Congrats to Vancouver for winning rights to the prestigious TED conference, which attracts deep thinkers from all over the globe. It should provide a nice boost in publicity to the city and B.C. in general. And, of course, Canada in general, too.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a comprehensive, 15-day Ireland tour package on tap for $3,062, including $464 in taxes. Here are the details:

Jaunt Highlights

• 15-Day Shamrock Royal Ireland Tour, featuring coast to coast touring and visits to the Giant's Causeway, Malahide, Cahir Castle and more!
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Dublin via Air Transat
• Includes all transfers in Ireland via first class motorcoach, services of a professional tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• 14 nights' hotel accommodation in First Class 4-Star Hotels (based on double occupancy) in ensuite rooms
• Includes full Irish breakfast daily, 11 full course evening meals in hotels, and a farewell dinner with entertainment

• Enjoy a luxury coach and first class accommodations
• A hop-on hop-off Dublin bus tour is included
• Enjoy famous sites like Giant's Causeway, the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher and more

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: April 15, 29, May 6, 24, June 7, 14, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax, based on double occupancy):
  
  April Dates: $2598 + $464 tax
  May Dates: $2798 + $464 tax
  June Dates: $2998 + $464 tax
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada

 

 

 

 

Where to save money in Europe this year & where to spend ... Jaunt Deal of Day

Nothing like a good list to bite into on a Monday morning. And today there are some excellent ones to look at.

A website called priceoftravel.com puts out a series of lists each year to outline what places in the world are the most affordable to visit. I spotted their backpackers' list for Europe last year, but just this morning I found a vast amount more; not only backpacking places in Europe but also 3-star places in Europe and a backpacking daily cost index for North America and for the entire world; very cool.

I can't vouch for the results, but their rules seem fair. For backpackers, they choose the cheapest bed in a good, central hostel with good reviews for one night, then add in two public transit rides, one paid famous attraction, three budget meals and three cheap, local beers or glasses of wine. It's a similar deal for 3-star hotels but they change transit to two short cab rides and aim for better restaurants (but still in the budget category).

For North America, here are 12 cities they reviewed in order of cheapest to most expensive: Las Vegas ($57.90/day U.S.), New Orleans, Washington D.C., Montreal ($63.59), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Miami Beach, Toronto ($78.59), Chicago, Vancouver ($82.02) and New York City ($89.30). The most expensive in the world was Zurich at $115.96, good for 116th and last place. Close behind were Oslo, Venice, Stockholm, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Sydney.

For Toronto, they cited the high cost of public transit but also said the city is one of the nicest and cleanest (not so much any more, I'd say, personally) around and that transit isn't too much of an issue given the compact downtown. They said the nightlife district is one of the best in the world, which is good to hear.

For Europe 3-star travelers, the cheapest was Sofia Bulgaria (see photo below right) at $48.55 per day. Then came Bucharest, Budapest, Krakow, Riga Latvia, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Bratislava Czech Republic, Kiev and Tenerife, Spain (in the Canary Islands). Most expensive were Helsinki, Copenhagen, Rome, Brussels, Stockholm, Oslo, London, Venice, Paris and Zurich, at a whopping $201.88 per day. Which means you could spend almost FOUR DAYS in Sofia for the price of one day in Zurich. I like Zurich a lot and have never been to Sofia, but I imagine the Bulgarian city would be pretty decent at a quarter the cost of Switzerland.

The website also rated the most and least affordable spots in the Caribbean, using a 3-star hotel room for a week and a return flight from New York City. Which isn't so useful for Canadians as we don't fly south out of New York very often. Most affordable was Cancun, then Negril, San Juan Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata and Barbados. Most expensive in their survey were Grenada, La Romana in the Dominican, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and, no surprise, exclusive St. Bart's.

For all-inclusive places (again, not flying out of Canada, so potentially misleading for us) the list was as follows: Cancun, Puerto Plata, Ocho Rios, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Negril, La Romana, Samana in the D.R., St. Lucia, Nassau, Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados and, lastly, Aruba.

Looking to really save money as a backpacker? The cheapest spots in the world survey were Pokhara, Nepal ($14.75; see photo at left), Hanoi, Kathmandu, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Delhi, Goa in India, Quito Ecuador and Hoi An, Vietnam. That's three spots for Vietnam in the top 10.

I could go on and on but that provides a pretty good overview of a fun site. Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia continue to provide excellent value for students. And adults, too. You spend more to get there, perhaps, at least to Southeast Asia. But the daily savings can be huge compared to Rome or Paris or Scandinavia. Let alone poor Zurich.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a seven-night deal on tap for a lovely looking getaway in Venezuela (see photo below right) for $944, including $345 in taxes.

• 7-night All-inclusive stay at the 3.5-Star Dunes Hotel Beach & Resort, located in Margarita, Venezuela
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Margarita, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in Venezuela
• Accommodations in a Room featuring 1 king, queen or 2 twin beds. Max. Occupancy: 3 adults (max 1 child per room)
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• The resort is in the heart of Venezuela's vacation hub
• Enjoy world class diving on off of shores that rival the best in the world
• Choose from a variety of activities on the resort

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: February 20, 27 & March 6, 2013
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Single: $699
  Double: $599
  Triple: $549
  Child (2 yrs): $299
  Child (3-6 yrs): $349
  Child (7-12 yrs): $499
  Tax: $345.04
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on February 4, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

Air Canada low-cost airline hiring ... Hong Kong visits climb ... Jaunt deal of day

A bit of good news on the job/aviation front.

Air Canada rouge announced today that it will hire 150 flight attendants from the GTA as it gears up for its scheduled launch of summer service to the Caribbean and Europe.

In case you missed it in December, Air Canada rouge is the company's long-awaited low-cost carrier. A press release sent out today says the new recruitment campaign "is focused on Torontonians and GTA-ers and is targeted to those who ideally have customer service or hospitality experience and are passionate about travel."

"This is an ideal job for recent GTA high school, college or university grads," officials said. "With the ongoing slump in the job market for young people and the increased appeal of taking time off between school and careers, a stint as an Air Canada rouge flight attendant provides the unique opportunity to travel to exciting locations like the Caribbean and Europe while providing warm, welcoming service to vacationers."

Air Canada talked in December about bringing in a company such as Disney to help train rouge workers and give the airline a kind, gentle feel. They didn't like it much when I asked if maybe that suggested the current crop of Air Canada flight attendants aren't quite as friendly as they could be, but I think it's a fair point.

Anyway, it's good news for local workers, although one has to recognize that a low-cost carrier won't be able to pay the same as Air Canada does for flight attendants. Or pilots or other workers, one presumes.

HONG KONG VISITS UP ... BUT NOT FROM CANADA

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced that total visitor arrivals in 2012 reached 48,615,113, an increase of 16.0% over the yearly total in 2011. Of the total figure, 48.9%, or 23.77 million, were overnight visitors, 6.5% more than in the previous year. 

Arrivals from many short-haul markets posted positive growth figures, affected by the fact that many vacationers in the region cancelled their trips to Japan following that country’s earthquake and related incidents in 2011, officials said. In the long-haul regions, the sluggish performance of both European and Americans economies caused a slight drop in the number of arrivals. UK visits were up 5.3 per cent, but visits from Canada dropped from 410,591 in 2011 to 392,519 last year; a decrease of 4.4 per cent.

If you've never been, you're missing a great destination with tremendous food and culture and shopping, not to mention a remarkable energy. It's also got great natural beauty, with fabulous hiking trails and beautiful coastlines and a couple very nifty golf courses, to boot.

It's Asian enough to make you feel you're on a different continent, but familiar enough to westerners that it's not a total shock. So it makes an ideal entry point for an Asian trip, or at least a way to dip your toes in the water.

I didn't think I'd like it a lot the first time I went but it has quickly become one of my favourite places...

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for some Caribbean sunshine. They're offering a seven-night stay at the Hilton Curacao, a colourful spot with great winter weather, for 1,613, including $299 in taxes.

 

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save up to $488/couple!
• BONUS: FREE upgrade to an Oceanview Room (March 23rd departure only)
• BONUS: Enjoy welcome cocktails upon arrival, free Casino Matchplay coupons, free shuttle service to downtown area, and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 3.5-Star Hilton Curacao in Willemstad, Curacao
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Curacao, and round-trip hotel/airport transfers in Curacao
• Accommodations in a Islandview Room, featuring 1 king bed or 2 double beds and balcony. Max. occupancy: 4 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• The Hilton offers special extras like welcome drinks and an exclusive cocktail party
• The hotel has a beautiful beachfront property on pristine Piscadera Bay

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: March 23 & 30, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1399
  Triple: $1299
  Quad: $1249
  Child (2-12): $499
  Child: (13-17): $1169
  Tax: $214
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable 100% non-refundable at time of booking