Dresden top world city for hotels: London worst, T.O 70th ... Jaunt deal of day

Looking for a great hotel breakfast? Try Dresden, Germany. More a fan of over-priced hotels with small rooms, expensive mini-bars, long lines at check-in and line-ups for breakfast? Check out hotels in London, England.

Yet another hotel rating report has landed on my virtual desk, this one from a German company called Trivago. According to Reuters, Trivago, a "travel metasearch website," compiled hotel reviews from more than 140 accommodation booking sites and found London came last in a list of 100 cities that had at least 135 hotels and 60 reviews. It did not include TripAdvisor postings.

"Dresden came top with its hotels receiving the highest ratings and most positive reviews from guests," Reuters said.

"Users praised Dresden hotels for their value for money, whilst London hotels were criticised for their prices," said a spokeswoman for Trivago. "In particular, reviewers felt the minibars were overpriced and breakfast service was both overpriced and disappointing, whilst hotels in Dresden were praised for their delicious and well-valued breakfasts."

She said London hotels were also criticised for overcrowding at breakfast, long queues at check-in, inability to cope with large groups of people, small rooms and poor views. On the other hand, hotels in Dresden were praised for their exceptional service, efficiency, helpful staff, as well as their spacious rooms with excellent views.

Finishing just behind Dresden in the list of cities with good hotels were Hanoi, Portland (Oregon), Tokyo and then, in the fifth spot, Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The rest of the top ten featured, in order, Gdansk in Poland, Chicago, Seattle, Krakow and Budapest.

The worst ten? From 91st to 100th and dead last, were the following: Los Angeles, Kiev, Frankfurt, Panama City (Panama), Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Rio de Janeiro and London.

Dresden got a "reputation score" of 83.08, while London notched a mark of just 73.42.

It's a rather damning statement for western Europe, with five big name cities in the bottom 10. But fairly decent for the U.S., with three in the top 10; two in the northwest part of the country.

What about Canada, you say? Glad you asked. Montreal finished down in the 58th spot with a 78.67 reputation score. Toronto? Ai-yay-yay: a pretty poor 70th place with a reputation score of just 78.15.

Other notable cities and their placement in the top 100 include Venice (14), Las Vegas (18), Prague (24), Florence (25), New Orleans (32), Barcelona (33), Orlando (40), Madrid (52), Hong Kong (59), San Francisco (62), Dublin (65), New York (67), Sydney (69), Rome (74), Delhi (80) and Glasgow (86).

I have found London to be quite expensive and rooms are small. Rooms tend to be small in most older, urbanized areas of Europe, for sure. But I'm a tad surprised at some of the results. I've been to Hanoi but only stayed in one hotel. It was pretty nice and fairly cheap; maybe $100 for a room with a nice bath and balcony and decent breakfast very close to the city centre. But number two in the world? I don't know about that.

BETTER TEA WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS

Good story in Star Business today by reporter Vanessa Lu, talking about how British Airways worked with Twinings to develop a better-tasting tea for folks at 35,000 feet. Apparently we lose a lot of our taste buds at such high altitudes and in dry airline cabins, so they're worked out a new "formula" to give the best taste.

Personally, I think tea is highly overrated and doesn't even compare to a good cup of coffee. But, then again, I get grief from friends/family about preferring creme in my coffee versus taking it black. And I VASTLY prefer Tim Horton's drip coffee to Starbucks, although I''ll take Starbucks for a good latte.

I tried Aroma coffee bar at Yonge and Eglinton for the first time on Tuesday and had a wonderful latte. Plus the croissants smelled divine!

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a cruise package to Alaska. The deal, with Celebrity Cruise lines, is priced at $1,468, including $339 in taxes, and includes air fare.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• BONUS 1: Inside Stateroom - $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom
• BONUS 2: Oceanview Stateroom or higher - $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom PLUS one of the following for FREE:
  - Classic Beverage package for 2 per day
  - Prepaid Gratuities for two per day
  - Additional $200 Onboard Credit per stateroom
• 7-Night Alaska cruise aboard the Celebrity Century, starting from and ending in Vancouver
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Vancouver with Air Transat, and airport/port transfers
• Ports of call include: Vancouver, Inside Passage, Icy Strait, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau & Ketchikan
• Accommodations in an Inside (Category 11) or Oceanview (Category 4, 5 & 7) Stateroom
• Standard onboard dining included

Why We Love It:

• Days at port are full of adventure, days at sea full of amazing sites
• Travel to Juneau, Alaska's capital, as well as the emblematic Hubbard Glacier
• Choose from a wide variety of excursions that pander to active spirits

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following sailings: May 5, 12, 19, 26 & June 9, 2013
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy):
  May 5:
  Inside: $1259 + $336 tax
  Oceanview: $1659 + $336 tax
  
  May 12:
  Inside: $1149 + $329 tax
  Oceanview: $1599 + $329 tax
  
  May 19:
  Inside: $1199 + $336 tax
  Oceanview: $1799 + $336 tax
  
  May 26:
  Inside: $1129 + $339 tax
  Oceanview: $1849 + $339 tax
  
  June 9:
  Inside: $1149 + $314 tax
  Oceanview: $1749 + $314 tax
• To redeem Bonus 2 for Oceanview bookings, please enter your choice in the Request Box upon booking
• To upgrade to Balcony Stateroom or higher, and receive an additional $50 Onboard Credit, call our travel professionals at: 1-855-GO-JAUNT
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada

 

 

Chicago options expand ... Thailand tourism record ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day

Canadians have cottoned on to Chicago of late, with 27 flights or so a day just from Toronto. I was there last spring and was wowed by the Art Institute, the food, the hotels, the architecture and more.

And now there are even more options. I caught up with Melissa McCarville of Choose Chicago this morning and got an update on the city's burgeoning restaurant and hotel scene and on some special events and emerging neighbourhoods.

The West Loop is booming these days, that being an area west of downtown.

"They're calling it Restaurant Row," said McCarville, outling such spots as Girl and the Goat by top chef Stephanie Izard (see photo at left) and Next. "It's become a real destination spot in what used to be a meatpacking area."

The new SOHO House Hotel is set to open in the region in the next year or two, and if it's anything like the SOHO Beach House in Miami I'm all in favour.

Also taking off lately is the Logan Square area, north of Wrigley Field. Again, there are new restaurants and hotels and cool shops, I was told.

Fairly new in town is the Hotel Lincoln, located in a historic building in Lincoln Park, just north of downtown. There's a rooftop bar with views of the park and the zoo and Lake Michigan, plus a restaurant called Perennial Virant that's said to be getting good reviews. Also new is the IVy Hotel downtown, a 63-room boutique property. Coming soon will be the Langham Chicago downtown and, they hope, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Chicago, which has seemingly been delayed but could open in the next 12 months.

The Book of Mormon, Broadway's hottest musical, is in Chicago for a run that started in December of last year and continues until Sept. 8, 2013. Chicago Restaurant Week runs Feb. 1 to Feb. 10 with prix-fixe menus starting at $22. And the utterly fabulous Art Institute of Chicago will stage a Picasso exhibit, with more 250 items, from Feb. 19 to May 12.

Of course, you can't forget St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, where they dye the Chicago River green and party like it's 1999. McCarville told me they've petitioned the government of Ireland to proclaim Chicago as an official celebration city for St. Patrick's Day, and why not?

Oh, and in case you didn't know, I was told that Chicago is the birthplace of the Twinkie, the zipper, the Ferris Wheel, the mail-order business, the first pinball machine, the window envelope and the first all-colour TV station. Plus it's the birthplace of both Cracker Jacks AND the baseball All-Star Game (a perfect combo, doncha think?).

THAILAND ON THE RISE

The past year was an excellent one for tourism around the globe. The latest numbers I saw came from Thailand, which reports going past the 22 million mark in tourist visits for the first time ever.

Thailand officials said the 2012 number was up almost 16 per cent from 2011.

Who's going? Travelmole reports that six countries, five of which are within the Asia-Pacific region, are now producing more than one million annual visitor arrivals; those being Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea, India and Russia.

European visitors showed a good growth rate of 10.1 per cent to 5.6 million. The U.S. market jumped 12.5 per cent to 767,000-plus.

Tourism officials are predicting 24.5 million arrivals for 2013.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The deal is priced from a very reasonable $2,324, including $325 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• 10-day/9-night tour of Peru, including visits to Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and more
• Includes round-trip flight from Toronto to  Lima, domestic flights as per itinerary, and airport/hotel transfers in Peru
• Transportation throughout the tour via deluxe vehicle, domestic air, train, and bus
• Meals include daily buffet breakfast and two lunches throughout the tour
• Accommodations are double occupancy. Refer to itinerary for hotels (or similar)
• Includes accompaniment of an English-speaking guide and all required entrance fees (as per the itinerary)
• BONUS: June 20th departure date includes VIP access at Inti Raymi festival in Cusco

• You'll travel to Machu Picchu - one of the most famous sites in the world
• Spend some time travelling through amazing landscapes on a scenic train ride
• Tour includes accommodations, breakfasts, all transportation tickets and English speaking guides

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: June 20, July 17, October 16 & November 20, 2013
• Option to upgrade train travel to Vistadome train service for additional $100. offers glass ceilings for better view of scenery, and meals on board. Call to upgrade: 1-855-GO-JAUNT  
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  June 20, 2013
  Single: $2675
  Double: $2255
  Tax: $325
  
  July 17, October 16 & November 20 , 2013
  Single: $2419
  Double: $1999
  Tax: $325
• Valid passport and Visa required for travel from Canada. Visa not included, but available HERE
• Flight information to be confirmed at time of booking
• Refunds available until 5PM EST on January 30, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

More trouble for Boeing`s Dreamliner ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day is the D.R.

I don't know much about the airline business. But I think I know bad p.r. when I see it. And the grounding of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Japan today is most decidedly bad p.r.

Here's a report this morning from Reuters that I think tells the story rather quickly:

REUTERS - Japan's two leading airlines grounded their fleets of Boeing 787s on Wednesday after one of the Dreamliner passenger jets made an emergency landing, the latest in a series of incidents to heighten safety concerns over a plane many see as the future of commercial aviation.

All Nippon Airways Co said instruments aboard a domestic flight indicated a battery error, triggering emergency warnings to the pilots. Shigeru Takano, a senior safety official at the Civil Aviation Bureau, said a second warning light indicated smoke.

Wednesday's incident, described by a transport ministry official as "highly serious" - language used in international safety circles as indicating there could have been an accident - is the latest in a line of mishaps - fuel leaks, a battery fire, wiring problem, brake computer glitch and cracked cockpit window - to hit the world's first mainly carbon-composite airliner in recent days.

"I think you're nearing the tipping point where they need to regard this as a serious crisis," said Richard Aboulafia, a senior analyst with the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia. "This is going to change people's perception of the aircraft if they don't act quickly."

Most definitely a bad situation, and one that Boeing's competitors will no doubt try to take advantage of.

THIS AND THAT

Los Angeles had a banner year for tourism in 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times said the city set a new record with 41.4 million visitors. That's a 2.5 per cent hike over the 40.4 million folks who came to check out the city in 2011. International visitors make up 15 per cent of that amount, and for the first time ever the Chinese led the way, with 339,000 visits. I suspect we'll see a lot more of that in the future with other cities. I could be wrong, but I believe Canadians were traditionally the number one source of international tourists for L.A. ... Barbara DeLollis at USA Today Travel reports that the Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotel group will open the Lion Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia in May. The building was designed in 1817 and was once called home by a princess in the royal family. The hotel is in the historic Admiralteysky district, just two blocks from the renowned Hermitage Museum. Other hotel openings of note this year are the Peninsula Paris in December, the Quin Hotel in New York City in late March in midtown, the Shangri-La at the new Shard building in London in May and the Andaz Maui at Wailea sometime this summer. This will be the first resort for Andaz, a boutique chain by Hyatt. Wailea, if you've never been, is a fabulous stretch of beaches on the driest part of the wonderful island of Maui.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for beautiful Punta Cana for $1,175 ($789 plus $386 in taxes).

Jaunt Highlights

• 7-night all-inclusive stay at the 4-Star Occidental Grand Punta Cana, located in Punta cana, Dominican Republic
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Punta Cana, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Junior Suite, featuring 1 king-size bed plus sofa bed, and balcony or terrace with garden or pool view. Max. occupancy: 3 adults + 1 child or 2 adults + 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• This mega-resort has over ten restaurants and bars to choose from
• The resort has a host of activities from merengue dance lessons and horseback riding to scuba diving and spa services
• Located on one fo the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean with 300m of waterfront

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates: January 25, 27 & 28, 2013
• Pricing (per person, plus tax):
  
  Single: $1089
  Double: $789
  Triple/Quad: $789
  Child (2-12 yrs): $687
  Tax: $386
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

A little used-way to save money on air fares ... United's new bag delivery scheme

I've done this several times before, but a story I spotted this morning out of Dallas made for a good reminder.

One way you can save a bit (sometimes more) on a long-distance air fare is to buy separate tickets.  This works particularly well if you're headed to a smaller destination in Europe or to a far-flung part of the Caribbean. Also to South America and sometimes Asia.

The thing to remember is that there are often are great deals at OTHER airports than Toronto; particularly some in the U.S. and in Europe. Rather than fly, say, Air Canada to London and then on to, say, Prague, you could look at a cheap flight out of London to Prague (see photo) on something like Ryan Air or another discount carrier, and then buy a ticket to London.

Better deals, I think, are often out of New York. That doesn't always work so well for flights to Europe, but it can if the New York-Europe ticket is discounted enough to get you to fly (or even drive) to New York or Newark. It can work quite well on a trip to South America out of New York, or to some Caribbean spots with deals. Likewise, you can fly to some Caribbean spots or South America via Miami.

It also can work if you want to go to Hawaii, as there have been good deals out of Oakland and San Francisco and Los Angeles of late. Ditto for the occasional sale out of L.A. to New Zealand or Australia. If you have Aeroplan points, you might be able to fly to L.A. for the $100 or so you'll get charged by Aeroplan, and then get a $1,200 ticket (or so) to Australia.

UNITED BAG SERVICE

Here's a clever idea. Travelmole.com reports United Airlines has launched a new VIP baggage service, allowing flyers "to avoid luggage lines and have their bags delivered directly to their final destinations."

It would save a hassle if you can afford the fees: $29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for two and $49.95 for three to eight bags. The latter would be handy for a big family that doesn't want to bother waiting around for their bags.

Sadly, the place I know of with the LONGEST WAITS IN THE WORLD for bags, that being Pearson here in Toronto, isn't part of his program.

The new service, called Bags VIP, will first be available to customers departing from any US airport and heading to Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles or Orlando. The bags can be delivered anywhere within 100 miles, and United says it plans to expand the service to nearly 200 airports in the coming months.

I can see this being pretty useful if you're a business person and you have to get to a meeting fast and don't want to wait for the carousel to spit out your suitcase. Maybe not as much for average travelers, but worth considering....

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a Discover Imperial Beijing, China tour on offer. A package from Tour East Holidays, it goes for $1,199 plus $600 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Savings of up to $2300 per couple, compared to what you'd pay had you booked your air, accommodations and tours separately!
• 9-day/7-night tour of Beijing, including visits to the Temple of Heaven, the Imperial Palace, the Great Wall of China, and more
• Includes single-entry China Visa (valued at $115) and gratuities for local driver & guide (valued at $85)
• Includes round-trip, direct flight with Air Canada from Toronto or Vancouver, to Beijing, airport/hotel transfers in China, and all transfers throughout the tour
• Includes 18 meals throughout the tour (as indicated in itinerary below)
• Accommodations are in 4-star hotels, and are based on double occupancy
• Includes accompaniment of an English-speaking guide and all required entrance fees (as per itinerary)

• Fly direct to Beijing, and if you're an Aeroplan member, collect points
• Visit the Great Wall of China - one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• Taste your way through the country from traditional teahouses to Donghuamen Snack Street

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on April 3, 2013 departure
• Pricing (per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto
  Single: $1499
  Double: $1199
  Tax: $650
  
  Vancouver
  Single: $1499
  Double: $1199
  Tax: $600

 

 

 

Trouble in Thailand and Belfast not helping tourism ... Jaunt.ca deal of the day

It's a shame to see such great destinations struggling with tourism concerns.

I spotted an item on travelmole.com's British website today that suggested tour operators in Thailand are nervous about sending clients to at least one major spot; the island of Koh Phangan. Following the fatal shooting of a British tourist in a Thai bar that's popular with backpackers on Koh Phangan, TravelMole did a poll asking about the shooting and if operators felt it puts them off from selling marketing or visiting.

A massive 83% voted yes, it does put them off while only 17% voted no - taken from more than 1,400 votes. I dont' know how scientific that is, but it has to scare folks in Thailand just a little.

There have been other incidents of late, mostly on the islands from what I've seen and not in Bangkok, for what it's worth.

Half a world away, there are tourism concerns about recent protests by pro-British forces in Belfast, Northern Ireland (see photo above right).

Things have been thankfully peaceful in the north since 1998, when a peace deal was struck to end 30 years of conflict between Protestants and Catholics. But riots began again last month when mostly pro-Irish councillors in Belfast voted to end the century-old tradition of flying the British flag atop Belfast City Hall.

A Reuters report today says businesses have been disrupted and Belfast's reputation tarnished by some of the worst scenes in a dozen years.

"We are already aware of investors who have lost interest in Northern Ireland because of these disruptions," said a Confederation of British Industry statement.

From what I've seen there are no threats to tourists. Still, it can't help the country's tourism situation. And the timing is unfortunate as Ireland and Northern Ireland are together celebrating The Gathering 2013 this year, asking folks of Irish heritage (of those who wish they were) to come for all sorts of reunion/gathering activities.

I was quite surprised by Belfast when I visited a couple years ago. The food was exeptionally good and varied, the pubs were (understandably) fabulous and the architecture was hugely impressive. Definitely a spot worth visiting, and here's to hoping things calm down soon.

THIS AND THAT

Google is apparently helping install free Wi-Fi across a wide swath of the Chelsea District of Manhattan. Cool idea ... Elvis Presley would've been 78 yesterday, which meant it was time for fans to flock to Graceland. Personally, I've never been a big Elvis fan. I think mostly because his best years were over by the time I started paying attention to music, that being around the time of the Beatles arrival in North America ... Happy Birthday number 150 today to the London Underground, otherwise known as the Tube. It's still a world-class system, with enormous, snaking lines all over town that should make a Torontonian green with envy. I don't like the endless hallways and stairs, but in an old system you have to expect some inconveniences, I guess. I remember visiting England for the first time ever in 1979 and buying a white t-shirt with a map of the system and the words "I'd be lost without it." The damn thing shrunk in the dryer when I got home and I've been wanting that t-shirt ever since!

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a divison of Torstar, is offering a deal for a Scandinavian cruise from just $678 plus $75 in taxes. The cruise is with Royal Caribbean International's Vision of the Seas and leaves from and returns to Copenhagen. Here are the details:

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes $50 Onboard Credit per cabin
• 7-night Norwegian Fjords Cruise sailing aboard the RCI Vision of the Seas
• Departs and returns to Copenhagen, Denmark. Other Ports of Call include: Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; and Bergen, Norway
• Accommodations in one of the following staterooms: Inside (Category N, M or K), Oceanview (Category I), or Balcony Oceanview (Category D1)

• Ports of call offer a substantial mix of historic insight and natural beauty
• Vision of the Seas offers guests the utmost in comfort and luxury
• Plenty of time to explore each unique and wondrous port of call

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 18, 2013 departure
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category N)
  Double Occupancy
  1st and 2nd passenger: $678
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category M)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $688
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category K)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $728
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Oceanview Stateroom (Category I)
  Double Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $738
  
  Balcony Oceanview Stateroom (Category D1)
  Double, Triple or Quad Occupancy
  1st and 2nd guest: $1439
  3rd and 4th guest: $499
  
  Tax per person for each option: $75

 

Great numbers for Air Canada and WestJet for 2012 ... Starbucks in Vietnam

The good times continue for both Air Canada and WestJet.

For the month of December 2012, Air Canada reported a record system load factor of 82.1 per cent, versus 81.0 per cent in December 2011, an increase of 1.1 percentage points. For the full year 2012, load factor was a record 82.7 per cent, versus 81.6 per cent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points.

Officials said there was a 6.6 per cent hike in U.S. transborder traffic and a 5.1 per cent increase in the Atlantic market.

For the year, Air Canada served more than 33 million customers.

WestJet today reported a record load factor of 81.9 per cent for December 2012. The airline flew 17.4 million guests in all of 2012 which is a year-over-year increase of 8.6 per cent or approximately 1,383,000 additional guests.

Good times for the Canadian airline industry, indeed. And a competitive time. Air Canada last month launched its low-cost airline, Rouge, aimed at Europe and the Caribbean. WestJet this month is expected to outline the cities that will be first up to receive its new regional service, called Encore.

DEAL OF THE DAY

Target Vacations, a division of Torstar, is offering a "cruise blowout March Madness" sale, with eastern and western Caribbean cruises from $982. Prices quoted include roundtrip airfare from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale on WestJet. 

Cruise lines in the deal include Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean. Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!

Vietnamese folks love their coffee, and there's no shortage of good places for it across the country. I saw some fine shops when I was in Hanoi a couple years ago.

Now comes word that that familiar green and white sign might soon sprout up in Vietnamese cities. Starbucks says it will open its first cafe in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) as part of its initial foray into Vietnam and as part of an overall growth strategy in Asia.

"Our prices are affordable for average Vietnamese," an official said.

Still, Vietnam's French past means there's a strong coffee culture, and the American-based chain could find it tough slogging to take on long-time favourites of an independent nature.

MARDI GRAS APPROACHETH

Fat Tuesday is still a ways away (Feb. 12 in New Orleans), but they like to get things started early. The first big event of the official Mardi Gras season is Saturday, Jan. 19, when the Krewe de Vieux and Krewe Delusion kick things off in the French Quarter.

The Phunny Phorty Phellows parade was held yesterday, Sunday Jan. 6. This morning, Mayor Mitch Landrieu was supposed to greet royalty from the Rex and Zulu clubs at histori Gallier Hall, where they were to unveil their official 2013 posters and eat some tasty cake.

ISTANBUL AIMS FOR 2020 GAMES

Officials from the Turkish city of Istanbul today presented their candidate file to the International Olympic Committee. Istanbul is aiming for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The city has aimed for several Olympics prior to this, including the 1996 Games in a fight against Toronto and the ultimate winner, Atlanta. But this time the city has really progressed and I have a very good feeling about their bid.

They're up against Madrid and Tokyo.

The IOC will visit the three finalist cities this spring, and the winner will be announced at an IOC gathering in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7 of this year.

There was some talk of a Toronto bid for 2020 but it never happened. There's a chance the city will bid for the 2024 Summer Games, and the chances likely would be pretty decent, although competition from the U.S. could prove fierce. Possible American bidders include New York and Chicago, which have bid previously, as well as Dallas and Philadelphia.

With the U.S. and the IOC having finally resolved a nasty revenue sharing debate that went on for years, the time looks good for an American bidder.

 

 

Dominican Republic visits soar/Ontarians plan to travel in 2013/Deal of the Day

I reported the other day that visits to Jamaica rose a couple percentage points last year. Nice, but not nearly as good as the Dominican Republic.

One of Canada's favourite getaway spots in the Caribbean, the D.R. saw its tourism numbers grow 6.6 per cent last year, beating forecasts for the country and the region, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia said this week.

Garcia said more than 4.6 million visitors flocked to the beaches and cities and mountains (okay, mostly the beaches) of the D.R. last year. He's hoping to reach 10 million in the next 10 years, a fairly tall order.

I haven't seen figures to verify this, but Garcia said world tourism grew about 4 per cent last year and Caribbean tourism was up 4.8 per cent. He said that 2012 marked the second straight year that the D.R. has led the Caribbean in tourism growth.

There's certainly no shortage of excellent places to stay for folks of all budget ranges. Students make a habit of spring break trips to the D.R. for excellent package deals, while adults can find solitude and fabulous golf courses and beaches in places like Punta Cana, Cap Cana and Casa de Campo, home of the famed Teeth of the Dog golf course.

ONTARIO FOLKS WILL HIT THE ROAD IN 2013

Good news for the Ontario tourism industry. A recent Thomas Cook Travel poll conducted by Decima/Harris found that 73 per cent of Ontarians plan to take a family holiday in 2013. Six out of ten Ontario folks surveyed said they'd spend less on entertainment this year (sorry, Cineplex) so they can their families on a vacation.

Just so you know, 93 per cent of Ontarians rated the safety of a destination/resort as an important factor when making their holiday plans. Seventy seven per cent rated the food selection in restaurants as an important factor in enjoying their vacation, while 67 per cent rated the size of their resort room as an important factor.

In the U.S., a USA Today/Gallup poll in late December found that nearly three quarters of Americans plan to vacation at least 100 miles from home this year, up from 60 per cent who said they did so in 2012. A whopping 94 per cent said they plan to travel within the US, mostly to a lake or a beach. About one third plan trips both within and outside the U.S., however, and 36 per cent said of those taking a vacation plan to pack a passport.

That's a fairly high number for American tourists, actually, and is perhaps encouraging for the Canadian tourism market. Asked where they'd go with their passports, about a third said Europe, with Italy and Ireland leading the pack.

USA Today recently listed its five "buzz-worthy" destinations for 2013. They were Burma (a growing tourism market puts this on many year-end/look-ahead lists), Florida (celebrating the 500th year since its discovery by Europeans), Gettysburg in Pennsylvania (150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address and the awful Gettysburg Civil War battle), Hawaii (the most popular spot mentioned by folks who took the survey, and understandably so) and Ireland (celebrating a tourism plan called The Gathering 2013).

THIS AND THAT

Fairmont has opened Fairmont The Palm on the Palm Jumeirah hotel, the tree-shaped island in Dubai that's said to be the largest man-made island in the world (see photo at right). There are 381 guest rooms and suites on the property, which looks quite lovely ... The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel welcomed WestJet's inaugural flight from Ottawa to Southwest Florida International Airport just before Christmas. The new service will oeprate once a week every Saturday until April 27, departing Ottawa at 8:45 and arriving in Florida at 12:22 p.m. ... Resorts Casino Hotel is spending $60 million on renovations and expansion in Atlantic City in the first half of 2013. In addition to a $35 million Jummy Buffett-themed Margaritaville complex, Resorts also is renovating hotel rooms and bathrooms, adding a food court and new VIP players clubs, as well as making other changes.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has the following deal available for a winter getaway to sunny Cuba. Check www.jaunt.ca for this and other deals.

Jaunt Highlights

• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 5-star Memories Azul Beach Resort, located in Cayo Santa Maria.
• Includes return airfare from Toronto ( other departures available) to Santa Clara and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Cuba
• Accommodations in a Junior Suite Balcony, featuring 1 King or 2 3/4 beds and balcony (Maximum occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children)
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• Part of Sunwing's Family Collection
• There are facilities for all ages, including special pools for children and infants, as well as a mini-club for children
• Enjoy 3 guaranteed a la carte reservations, picnic lunch, and a welcome cocktail

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: January 31 & February  01, 03, 06, 2013
  Ottawa: January 30 & February 03, 13 2013
  Montreal: February 01, 02, 08, 09, 2013
  Calgary: February 02 & 09, 2013
  Vancouver: January 31 & February 14, 21, 2013
  Winnipeg: February 01 & 15, 2013

Pricing (Rates are per person):

Toronto:
Single: $789
Double: $649
Triple: $629
Child (2-12 yrs): $379
Tax: $290

Ottawa:
Single: $839
Double: $699
Triple: $679
Child (2-12 yrs): $379
Tax: $285

Montreal:
Single: $1129
Double: $989
Triple: $969
Child (2-12 yrs): $679
tax included

Calgary:
Single: $1009
Double: $869
Triple: $849
Child (2-12 yrs): $379
Tax: $291

Vancouver:
Single: $1019
Double: $879
Triple: $859
Child (2-12 yrs): $379
Tax: $286

Winnipeg:
Single: $989
Double: $849
Triple: $829
Child (2-12 yrs): $379
Tax: $286

 

 

Sliding Euro makes this a great time to see Europe ... Kudos for Toronto travel

A couple of things worth keeping an eye on if you're even THINKING about a trip to Europe.

Number one is that the Euro, used in almost all European countries (but not the UK, too bad for us) has fallen quite sharply against the dollar in the last while. It was up around $1.40 a year or two ago, and was then down around $1.35 against the Canadian buck for most of 2012.

I checked today and it's all the way down $1.29, which makes a visit all the more attractive. I also spotted an item on Travel Weekly that says tour operators have cut prices from a modest two per cent to a whopping 18 per cent for 2013.

TW said that according to a survey of members of the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), the top emerging destination for 2013 is Myanmar (aka Burma), "the Southeast Asian nation that is emerging from seclusion after years of military rule."

Abercrombie & Kent has seen Myanmar bookings increase more than 80% in 2012 compared with 2011, Travel Weekly said. But with few new hotels coming this year, availability is a challenge.

Other off-the-beaten-path destinations USTOA members see gaining in popularity in 2013 are Vietnam, India, Peru, Cambodia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador, the publication said.

As for Europe, I've seen hotels in Lisbon and Madrid going for crazy-good prices on hotels.com. It's easy to find a ton of three-star and four-star and even occasionally five-star hotels for $100 a night or a bit more. You can find good prices in London, too; often three or four-star places for around $150/night.

The secret is to travel in the off-season. January is a great month for Europe. Sure, it might be cold but the cafes and pubs and museums will be open and if you're not looking to get a tan on the Spanish Steps in Rome (see photo above right) does it really matter if it's 10 degrees in Italy or 20? March and even April aren't bad, either, with probably warmer weather and still reasonable prices.

KUDOS FOR TORONTO TOURISM/TRAVEL

I see that Conde Nast Traveler has named good old T.O. as one of its five "must-see" destinations for 2013.

Funny, but I made the same point in today's paper, citing Toronto's tremendous hotel growth as a factor.

CN Traveler made a similar point. Here's what they had to say about the Big Smoke: "the thrills in Toronto come from the stunning architecture, diverse array of restaurants, and energetic arts and cultural scene. The restaurant scene has really taken off in recent years, with New York's famous chef David Chang just opening a new outpost of his Momofuku empire. Plus, this city has some hot new hotels."

So there you have it. Tourism Toronto folks were understandably chuffed at the news, as the Conde Nast bit also went out on the Today Show on New Year's Day on NBC television in the U.S. (and here, of course).

The other four spots mentioned by Conde Nast? Seoul, Amsterdam, Nashville and New Orleans. I mentioned New Orleans as one of my hot spots for 2013, as well, plus Ireland, The Philippines, Florida (celebrating its first 500 years) and Spain/Portugal/Greece.

 

 

 

 

Canada ranks 18th in world as tourism brand; USA takes home the gold medal

Earlier this year, a group called Future Brand released its annual "Country Brand Index" that rates countries according to their key attributes. They gave Canada the number two spot on the planet in terms of a tourism brand, putting behind only Switzerland.

The third, fourth and fifth spots in the Future Brand report went to Japan, Sweden and New Zealand.

It was a slight drop for Canada, as we finished tops in the Country Brand Index in 2010 and 2011.

But now there's a new report out by a compnay called Bloom Consulting, called the Country Branding Ranking. It would require a degree in something I don't understand to figure out how it's different from Future Brand's report, but one thing they say is that take a ton of factors into account and also that they're the only ones in this business (and I guess there is one) that takes tourist demand into account.

Readers of this blog will remember, perhaps, that Canada has slipped a fair bit in terms of international arrivals the last few years and is no longer in the top ten. Canada ranked seventh in international arrivals in 2007, but the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) recently stated we're now 18th.

And 18th is exactly where we stand in the world in the new Bloom Consulting report, which attempts to measure how much revenue a country could potentially add to its economy via trade and tourism.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's the Bloom report's top 20:

1. United States 2. Spain 3. France 4. China 5. Turkey 6. Thailand 7. Germany 8. Macau 9. United Kingdom 10. Australia 11. Austria 12. Italy 13. Hong Kong 14. Malaysia 15. Netherlands 16. Mexico 17. Switzerland 18. Canada 19. Croatia 20. Russian Federation

So at least we finished ahead of Russia. Let's hope that continues at the World Junior Hockey Championships, eh?

Here are a few other notables: 21. Portugal, 233. India, 24. Greece 25. Republic of Korea 28. Japan 32. Ireland.

The bottom ten? Here ya go: 152. Tajikistan (there goes my holiday plan) 153. Swaziland 154. Federation States of Micronesia 155. Sao Tome and Principe 156. Djibouti 157. Tonga 158. Kiribati 159. Papua New Guinea 160. Burundi and, at the bottom: 161. Marshall Islands (see photo at left, which looks pretty damn good to me).

Asia had eight countries in the top 25. Japan wasn't in that group due to the residual effects of the tsunami.

I don't remember seeing this report last year, but I found a website that shows the 2011 Bloom rankings, and Canada was 23rd. So I guess we're moving in the right direction. The U.S. was first last year as well, followed by Spain, France, Germany and the UK.

Bloom on Thursday also released a U.S. state by state analysis (plus D.C., for 51 ranking spots). Tops was California, no surprise given the plethora of things to do, followed by Florida and New York. Illinois was fourth and then it went Texas, Michigan (good to see), Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado.

The bottom five were: 47. Kansas 48. Vermont (a surprise to me) 49. West Virginia 50. Rhode Island and 51. Delaware. Poor Delaware. Makes me think I should do a trip there sometime and see for myself.

DO WE HATE OUR FAMILIES OR SOMETHING?

Geez. A study by Cheapflights.ca finds that more than 80 per cent of Canadians want to travel tos ee family this Christmas, but less than 30 per cent have actually made travel plans.

Given the economy that might not be surprising.

Based on answers from more than 400 Canadians, the survey also found that just over 18 per cent of us wish we could travel to ESCAPE our family, though only 3.2 per cent of us actually are doing so.

Parents and children topped the list of fave family members to see, while in-laws, shockingly, were at the bottom, with less than two per cent of folks having them on their holiday travel wish-list.

More than 12 per cent of survey respondents said they will avoid seeing their brother or sister. But, just to end this on a nice note, 23 per cent said there were NO relatives they wanted to avoid.

HOTEL OMNI MONT-ROYAL IMPROVEMENTS

The folks at the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal (in Montreal, of course) say they've undergone a "spectacular" $20 million transformation.

Officials said it involved a "complete re-design and refurbishment of its facilities, including all 200 guest rooms and suites" and a new lobby, which now features "an upscale lounge bar and restaurant."

Other amenities include an outdoor pool (for summer, naturally) and "state of the art" fitness centre. They also have added Italian marble bathrooms and 42-inch LCD flat screen TV's.

They say rooms have views of either Mont-Royal Park or the Montreal skyline.

AIR CANADA ADDS VIRTUAL HOLD

This oughta help a few folks. Air Canada sent me a note today to say that what they call "virtual hold" has now rolled out at their call centres in Canada and the U.S. and is currently offered for general reservations and web support services.

“"With this new product, customers are now given an estimated wait time and the option of a call-back rather than remaining on hold," officials said.

Here's what they said about it in an employee newsletter: "Virtual Hold certainly helps alleviate customer frustration from being on hold indefinitely.  The estimated wait time information and option to continue on hold or have a call-back is very much appreciated by our customers - especially during irregular operations. Our IT team worked tirelessly for several months upon months to overcome the multiple challenges of installing new technology on a legacy phone system. The next step is to add a service where customers can schedule a call back time. Call Centres continues to focus on reducing the amount of time customers wait with ongoing hiring and implementation of technology and process improvements."

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a two-for-one Avalon River Cruise special that's exclusive to Jaunt. It's a cruise through central Europe's capital cities on the Avalon Tranquility and it's going for $1,633 plus $133 in taxes for a total of $1,766.

Here are the highlights:

• BONUS: Two for One: for every one person (paid in full), the second traveller's cruise is FREE (reflected in the pricing)
• 12-day River Cruise and stay along the Danube River, starting in Budapest and ending in Prague
• Includes the following ports of call with daily sightseeing programs in: Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; Krems, Austria; Melk, Austria; Grein, Austria; Passau, Germany; and Prague, Czech Republic
• Accommodations in a Deluxe Outside Stateroom, located on the Indigo Deck (Category E) featuring twin windows. Upgraded cabin categories with French Balconies available at 1.855.GO.JAUNT
• Includes all meals on the ship, complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast, soft drinks with lunch, and wine, beer, or soft drinks with dinner
• 2 nights' accommodations in Prague at the InterContinental

More details:

• For every traveller paid in full another traveller's cruise is free
• The tour employs local guides so you have the best exposure to the places visited
• The cruise visits renowned capitals and lesser known destinations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on April 11, 2013 sailing
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy, plus port charges)
  
  Deluxe Outside Stateroom (Category E)
  $1632.50 per person, double occupancy
  Tax: $133
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

London and Moscow top least friendly city ratings; tops are Cancun and Tokyo

Here's a good year-ender: a list of the world's friendliest cities (and not so friendly) by folks who use Trip Advisor.

In a survey that counted 40 cities in a wide variety of categories (including Toronto, and more on that in a minute), Trip Advisor said the top 10 friendly cities were Cancun (must've gone on spring break), Tokyo, Lisbon, Istanbul, Cape Town, Dubrovnik, Bangkok, Punta Cana, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

LEAST friendly were Mumbai (31), Marrakech, Paris, Zurich, Brussels, Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong, London and Moscow.

Toronto was pretty much in the middle at 23. No other Canadian cities appeared in the survey, which is too bad.

There was, of course, much hand-wringing in London over their 39th place ranking. (I'm sure there was some in Moscow but more than likely Russia leader Vladimir Putin is giving Trip Advisor as much of his time as the members of the banned rock band Pussyriot). The Standard newspaper in London said that "the smiling face London presented for the Olympics appears to have been met with frowns by foreign tourists."

London fared poorly in a few other categories, coming 28th for safety, 26th for cleanliness and 35th (oh, that hurts) in value for money. I'm not sure I agree with that. Hotels CAN be expensive but the best museums and galleries are free, as are the parks and just generally admiring the sights.

Anyhoo, London was at least able to brag about coming fourth in shopping (behind New York, naturally, Bangkok and Dubai) and fifth for taxis.

Moscow not only finished last in friendliess but got the worst marks for cabbies, taxis and shopping.

Mumbai had the dirtiest streets, the Standard noted, while it also was rated the hardest city to get around in. Oslo had the worst value for money, while Hanoi had the worst public transport.

Punta Cana in the D.R. was considered the least safe (but also the eighth friendliest, go figure), followed by Rio de Janeiro and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

Tokyo probably has the most to crow about. The Japanese capital won the gold medal for taxis, cabbies, cleanliness, safety and public transport.

Lisbon (see photo at right) got the nod for best value for the money, followed by Budapest and Bangkok. Budapest was given the most underrated title, followed by Lisbon and Cape Town.

Toronto was pretty much middle of the pack in all categories. But we snuck into the top ten in shopping, finishing in the number nine spot. Here's where the Big Smoke finished in other aspects of the survey: Friendliness of taxi drivers, 25th; overall taxi service, 18th; ease of getting around, 26th; public transportation 24th; value, 24th; most underrated, 22nd; and safety, 20th.

In cleanliness of streets Toronto was ranked just 14th. Which makes me wonder: whatever happened to that phrase "New York run by the Swiss?" That's how folks used to describe us. Now it's like we're "Zurich run by New York" or something. Zurich, for the record, came third. New York finished 28th. So at least we're slightly closer to the Swiss than the Americans.

Too bad they didn't have more interesting categories. Best bars or ethnic food would've been good additions. Or maybe "most entertaining mayor." Now THAT'S a category where we could finish on the podium.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a seven-night deal listed for the four-star Grand Bahia Principe in La Romana at a savings of up to $200 per couple. The deal costs $1,199 plus $386 in taxes and features ACV priviliges, including exclusive check-in/check-out, four a la carte reservations per week and more. It also includes return airfare from Toronto to La Romana and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in the Dominican Republic. Accomodations are in a Junior Suite, featuring 2 double or 1 king size bed, and a balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 2 adults + 2 children or 3 adults and 1 child and includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Other features:

Enjoy nightly turndown service, slippers, bathrobe, safe, beach towels and more;

A separate check-in line at reception so you don't have to wait in line at the resort;

Air Canada Vacations guests get a 20% discount at the spa, and an invitiation to an exclusive cocktail party.

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on December 29, 2012 departure from Toronto
• Pricing (Rates are per person plus tax):
  Single: $1539
  Double: $1199
  Triple: $1169
  1st Child (2-12 yrs): $999
  2nd Child (2-12 yrs): $899
  Tax: $386