Born on "Hornyold Road" in England/ROM T.O. Tours/U.S. cab fares/Deal of day

 

I had a bit of fun in a recent Star Travel column, talking about funny place names such as Butts, Georgia and Dildo, Newfoundland. I got a few comments from readers, one of them talking about a spot in Ontario.

"Enjoyed your Sat. 27th article...brought a broad smile," John Rankin said in an email. "Here in Prince Edward County Ont. we have a hamlet (a few houses) called Gomorrah in Sophiasburg township.  No record of a Sodom."

Chris Roberts of Ontario also sent in a note.

"Really enjoyed your Saturday piece which I read while in Thunder Bay.  (Just got home yesterday.)  I was born during the war on Hornyold Road in Malvern (England), which now gets a laugh when I mention it.   

Recently, I looked this name up and found that it is a family name with a very long history in Worcestershire, going back to at least the Norman Invasion, when it was known as "de Horning Wold." In 1068 John de Horning Wold was a former Saxon Chief who was hanged "for stirring up discontent against the Normans."

In 1547 a descendent was Auditor of the Exchequer for Henry V111 and later, Queen Elizabeth 1, acquiring a manor and enormous estate of over 3,000 acres, also with a very long and sometimes dramatic history.

Isnt' that cool?

U.S. CAB FARES CITY BY CITY

Heading to the U.S. anytime soon? You might want to know what it’ll cost you for a cab ride.

Turns out, according to USA Today, that the most expensive city for taxis in the u.S. (no figures were available but you can bet Toronto would be sky-high) is San Jose, California, at $8.01 for the first mile. Tied for second were San Francisco and Honolulu at $7.78.

Chicago cabs cost $7.25 for the first mile, while a taxi in New York costs a relatively paltry $6.31 for the first mile. Buffalo is more expensive than New York at $6.39, while the first mile costs $7.06 in Las Vegas.

The cheapest taxi cities in the U.S. were Tulsa at $3.70 for a mile (just $1.50 when you step into the cab) and Detroit at $4.35. It’s just $5.04 for a mile in Miami and $5.55 in Tampa.

ROM TOURS OF TORONTO

I had no idea, but it seems the Royal Ontario Museum has been conducting tours of Toronto for a while now. Canadian Press reported this week that the city’s entertainment district has been added to the lineup.

The performing arts and the ever-growing list of names on Canada's Walk of Fame on King Street West are among the themes of the latest addition, along with a look back at the city's early history and the more recent rise of upscale hotels. Participants also stroll by the iconic CN Tower, CP said.

Most of the walks are free (the Entertainment District walk, called Arts & Entertainment Plus, costs $10).

The Annex, Cabbagetown and Wychwood Park are some of the distinctive neighbourhoods on this year's list, as well as tours along Jarvis, Front and Adelaide streets that take in historic architecture.

The walks are held every Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon from May through October.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for a great trip to exotic Thailand, priced at $2,140, including $350 in taxes.

JAUNT HIGHLIGHTS

• 11-day/10-night Island and Beach Hopping in Thailand Tour, including visits to Bangkok, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, Lanta Island and more!
• Includes round-trip flight from Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary to Bangkok, domestic flights as per itinerary, and airport/hotel transfers in Thailand
• Transportation throughout the tour via deluxe vehicle, domestic air and ferry
• Meals include 9 daily buffet breakfasts throughout the tour
• Accommodations based on double occupancy. Refer to itinerary below for hotels (or similar) 

• Thailand’s beaches have picture-perfect shorelines, warm waters and white sand that’s almost unbelievable at first sight
• Koh Lanta, one of 52 islands that make up  the Mu Koh Lanta National Park, is home to exotic species, coral reefs and tropical rain forests
• Accommodations are set in lush surroundings and feature modern amenities like bathrobes, air conditioning, hot and cold showers and a balcony sure to have an amazing view

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on October 12, 28 & November 4, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $2140 + Tax
  Single: $2530 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $2240 + Tax
  Single: $2630 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  Vancouver:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $1790 + Tax
  Single: $2180 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $1890 + Tax
  Single: $2280 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  Calgary:
  October 14, 2013:     
  Double: $2090 + Tax
  Single: $2480 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  October 28 & November 4, 2013:
  Double: $2190 + Tax
  Single: $2580 + Tax
  Tax: $350
  
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking.

 

 

 

Hotel concerts a great idea ... Westin T.O. deal for sports fans ... Deal of the day

I hadn’t heard this, but it seems the folks at Aloft Hotels (a division of Starwood) have been trying to draw in guests by staging concerts in the lobby with local musicians. It’s a fine idea for both musicians and hoteliers, I’d say; good publicity for both. Dan Young at Starwood tells me the Aloft property at Vaughan Mills north of Toronto has a different band, artist or DJ come in on occasion. They had an L.A. band called Wicker play last June and you can click here for the video.

Of course, Hotel California would be a popular hit. And also Heartbreak Hotel, I guess. I’ve always liked Motel Matches by Elvis Costello. And don’t forget Gordon Lightfoot’s Hangdog Hotel Room.

WESTIN TORONTO SPORTS DEAL

Here’s a nice one for sports or music fans. The Westin Harbour Castle on the Toronto waterfront has a deal through Sept. 2 where guests can save on their stay if they come to town for a special event such as a Jays game or Leafs playoff contest or a concert. Guests must show the front desk their ticket for an event scheduled within 48 hours of their stay when they check in to get the offer, which can be booked with rates from $139 per night. Call 1-866-716-8101 or mention the EVENTS rate plan or visit www.westintoronto.com for more information. Rates are fully prepaid at time of booking and priced per room, per night based on single/double occupancy and are subject to availability. Advance reservations are required. Go Leafs, Go.

PENINSULA HOTELS UPDATE 

Peninsula Hotels are celebrating some big anniversaries this year. The New York property (Fifth and 55th) is celebrating a quarter century in business. There’s a new restaurant at the New York property, designed by the Toronto firm of YabuPushelberg. It’s set to open in the fall and will feature modern American cuisine with plenty of produce and other items from the American northeast. If you’ve never been, the rooftop bar at the New York property is quite something.

Elsewhere, the Peninsula Beverly Hills has finished an extensive renovation of its 193 guest rooms, suites and villas. Officials say it’s the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star hotel in Southern California for 20 consecutive years.

In Bangkok, the Peninsula is celebrating its 15th anniversary. I had a chance to stay for a couple of nights two years ago and loved it: an incredible spa and a beautiful pool and fabulous food, combined with excellent service. Last I checked you could get a room for about $200 and it’s well worth it. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about when I visited was the lobby, which seemed rather old-fashioned. But I saw pictures of the new one and it’s jazzy and bright and modern; a nice change.

The venerable Hong Kong property – easily one of the top hotels of the world – is celebrating it’s 85th birthday this year and just finished a $60 million renovation. There will be year-long celebrations such as traditional tea dances (see photo below) and puppet shows and they also have specials.

They’re set to open their first property in Europe with the opening (probably next year but given French unions who knows) of a hotel in an old Beaux Art building on Avenue Kleber in paris, a short walk from the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. The outdoor terrace looks outstanding and there will be a rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace with killer views of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Peninsula announced last week that they’re proposing a hotel for Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) on the site of the former headquarters of the Burma Railway Building. It’s remarkable when you consider Myanmar was almost nowhere on the travel radar screen two or three years ago…

In addition to fine hotels, Peninsula likes to offer guests great local experiences. In New York you can arrange theatre tickets plus a chat with an actor or director and a behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway production. Or you can go casual by foraging for food in Central Park and having a picnic lunch (with or without the wild mushrooms you might have picked). Not your style? How about a tour of Brooklyn in a bespoke Mini Cooper and some great local pizza. At the Peninsula in Manila, you can take a helicopter ride to a distant river and have a picnic on a boat or check out the war history of the Philippines.

No word on a Canadian property any time soon but you'd have to think it's only a matter of time until Peninsula steps into the market.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a great 12-night cruise from Rome to Athens for $2,145, including all fees and taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE TO JAUNT 2 for 1: For every one person paid in full, the second traveller's cruise is FREE! (Two for one pricing already reflected in the price)
• 12-Night Athens to Rome Cruise on board the Aegean Odyssey, starting in Athens, Greece and ending in Rome, Italy
• Includes excursions in the following cities and/or ports of call: Athens, Greece; Piraeus, Greece; Nauplia, Greece; Syracuse, Sicily; Trapani, Sicily; Palermo, Sicily; Sorrento, Italy; Bonifacio, Corsica; Livorno, Italy; and Rome, Italy 
• Accommodations in a Standard Inside Cabin (Category M)
• Includes open-seating dining, plus wine included with dinners on board
• Enjoy top lecture series and guest speakers on board to complement your cruise itinerary
• Includes gratuities on board, plus unique onboard experiences like lectures and fresh local fare
• A smaller cruise ship means exposure to less visited ports
• See Rome, Athens, Pompeii, Sicily and more

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 24, 2013 sailing
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy)
  
  Standard Inside Cabin (Category M): $2145 tax included
  
  NOTE: 2 for 1 pricing above reflects the following breakdown:
  1st passenger: $3300 + $495 port tax = $3795
  2nd passenger: $0 + $495 port tax = $495
  = $2145 tax included per passenger
• Option to upgrade your package and include airfare, transfers and hotel stays pre or post-cruise. Call our travel professionals to book: 1-855-687-5925
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking 

 

 

 

 

A quick tour around Santa Cruz, California ... U.S. border fee a no-go?

SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA - The far north coast of California is famous for its redwoods, as is Muir Woods in Marin County, just outside San Francisco. But it’s hard to beat the ones you’ll find towering magnificently around the coast near the surf town of Santa Cruz, an hour and a bit south of San Francisco. 

On a quick visit last week I started the morning at The Ugly Mug coffee shop in the town of Soquel, just down the road from my family cabin. It’s a fabulous coffee spot on the main drag, just up from Capitola Beach, with a great local vibe. In the Santa Cruz area, that means advertisements for acoustic music and raw milk in the window, local art on the walls and a list of characters that run the gamut from flower child to motorcycle dudes to local ranchers and surfers, all rolling in for their morning lattes and pastries.

If you opt to stay and drink your coffee, you can fill up with any of dozens of mugs (only some of them truly ugly) that are washed out daily and put out for folks to use. I opted for a rather garish one from Universal Studios in southern California if you must know. 

I got back to our cabin and told my Dad about how I’d read something in one of the local magazines about a good German restaurant in a nearby town called Ben Lomond. My Dad being fond of German food (he also used to turn on the radio on Sunday mornings and listen to oom-pah-pah music, or so my Mom used to tell me), I mentioned it to him.

Hearing about Ben Lomond prompted him to recall being a teenager in Oakland and driving down in a friend's Model A to go to dances or go swimming in the area. He also talked about a place called the Brookdale Lodge, where he said a river ran through the dining room.

I’ve seen a place like that in Kelowna, B.C., a Best Western hotel with a huge atrium and a powerful, rushing river, but I didn’t know there was one in northern California. So we hopped in the car and went for a drive to check it out and see about some schnitzel or sauerbraten for lunch.

Alas, the German place was closed for lunch and the Brookdale Lodge has been shuttered for a couple years. It’s in a state of dusty disrepair but the security guard was nice enough to briefly show off the place to a couple of nostalgic visitors.

The dining room doesn’t look too much different from the way it did back in the day, my Dad said. The river still runs down the middle, and there are banks of tables that rise toward a high wall featuring stained glass segments. There’s a magnificent glass light fixture hanging over it all and a small bridge at one end. It’s said that former U.S. President Herbert Hoover used to fish off the bridge for brook trout, and my Dad said that back in the day you could catch your own fish in the stream and give it the kitchen staff, who’d prepare it for your dinner.

The place needs a ton of work and probably has too many rooms by half, I’d say. But I can imagine some dot.com billionaire from the nearby Silicon Valley giving it a shot. I hope so, as it would be a great story and a fun place to bed down in the redwoods.

The nearby town of Ben Lomond (see photo at left) feels like a small city you’d find in Oregon or the interior of British Columbia, with old wood fronts and a casual, outdoorsy feel. We stopped at the old Mac’s Bar, where folks used to pin dollar bills to the ceiling with darts. It’s now a fun shop featuring all sorts of old-time knick knacks; Pinocchio dolls and old car models and fun signs.

From there we backtracked to Felton and then took Highway 9 back into Santa Cruz. It’s a winding road that drops through a line of incredibly tall, beautiful redwood trees. It’s a thick, luscious canopy that feels like a cathedral, with broken light cascading through the green treetops and the deep smell of redwood and fog and sunshine all at once.

We motored into Santa Cruz and opted to have a bowl of chowder and a beer out on the pier, where you can dine behind tall panes of glass that keep out the wind. The surfers were dashing about in the waves off to the west at Steamer Lane - a legendary surf break in California - and noisy sea lions were barking on the pier below us as we dined.

The pier in Santa Cruz is a great shop for a bite or a stroll or for fishing. And the views are great. You can see the dun-coloured cliffs and colourful homes on West Cliff Drive. Off to one side and, to the east, the old-timey Santa Cruz boardwalk with its historic merry-go-round and one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world.

We also stopped at a hole-in-the-wall (I mean that in a good way) Mexican joint on Water St. called Tacos Moreno, where for about $5 you get a massive quesadilla filled with chicken and beans and cheese and oozing hot sauce. I can only imagine how filling a $6 burrito would be.

U.S. BORDER FEE A NO-GO?

Canadian Press reports that a U.S. congressman says Canadians should not be overly concerned about a proposed border crossing fee, saying it just isn’t going to happen.

Democratic representative Brian Higgins, who is from the border city of Buffalo, N.Y., told CTV’s Question Period on Sunday that he has a lot of allies in the U.S. Congress who will stop any legislation that includes a fee.

Higgins, who is a member of the Homeland security committee, has been a vocal critic of a proposed feasibility study on a border fee since it was spotted last week buried deep in the department’s 2014 budget.

New York Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, has also spoken out in opposition.

The Canadian government said it would lobby against such a fee.

But Higgins says there is sufficient political opposition to stop any such fee in its tracks.

“I’m telling you it’s not going to happen,” Higgins said. “The early indications are that both Democrats and Republicans oppose it and any new fee would have to get by both the House of Representatives, of which I am a member, and also the United States Senate, which Senator Schumer is a member. I’m going to fight this very very aggressively and I have a lot of allies.”

 

HOT AIR BALLOON DEATHS

You have to wonder about the safety of these things. Travelmole.com reports two people are missing, feared dead, after a hot air balloon carrying six tourists crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru.

Peruvian authorities rescued five women on Sunday but the pilot and another man are still missing. The women were found clinging to the balloon's floating basket. Peru's Interior Minister criticised the balloon's owner, Globos Peru SAC, for failing to provide life jackets and for not equipping it with a GPS tracker.

 
In February, you may recall, a hot air balloon crashed in Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 tourists. Star Travel columnist Arthur Frommer wrote a story about the safety of balloons after that incident, and his words seem remarkably prescient today.

Oregon: one vastly under-rated state ... Porter adds Boston/Chicago flights

Folks from all over Canada know California.

Many of us, especially those in British Columbia, are familiar with Washington state, B.C.'s neighbour to the south.

Oregon? Not as much. This is a state that gets sandwiched between two bigger west coastAmerican brothers and probably doesn't get the visitation it deserves. It's a bit far for a day trip from B.C. and it's a hundreds of miles north of San Francisco.

But if you don't check it out you're missing a huge treat; a wildly diverse state that has just about everything you could want in a relative compact package: endless, beautiful beaches; towering mountains; alpine lakes; gorgeous and trendy cities with fabulous food and pubs, a vast desert area with world-class golf and adventure and a deeply green valley that grows some of the best wines in the world; especially Pinot Noir.

Oregon officials pride themselves especially on their food and drink scenes and on adventure travel. Because they have the Willamette Valley, they can grow darn near anything in a climate that's cooler than California but warmer than B.C., for the most part.

They didn't invent farm-to-table cuisine, one official told me over coffee this week, they just live it. Portland has an amazing food scene, with tons of fresh seafood and Oregon beef and inventive, cosmopolitan dishes. It's also one of the leading brewpub cities of the world.

Portland likes to be different. There's a large (and popular) wall in town that says "Keep Portland Weird."

The traditional downtown (for tourists anyway) on the west side of the river has been a lively spot for years, but now the neighbourhoods on the east side are becoming just as hip, with new distilleries hawking homemade gin, vodka and whisky. I'm told you can take a $20 pedicab tour and check out several distilleries, all the while admiring traditional neighbourhoods and cool architecture.

It's only 45 minutes to the Columbia River Gorge from Portland, 30 minutes to the Willamette Valley and 90 to the Pacific Ocean. The state has 580 km of oceanfront property,and it's all open to the public. Some of it is rocky and looks like Big Sur in California, while other parts offer broad, sweeping beaches and cute fishing villages. You also can check out some of the best golf on the planet at Bandon Dunes, a true links course where they have several options, including a par-3 course. Some of the sand dunes nearby are open for folks to try sandboarding; like snowboarding but without the ice. And the cold. Mind you, with the Cascade Mountains you can try real skiing or snowboarding for large stretches of the year, too.

The area around Bend, in the centre of the state, is famous for its low humidity and beautiful river canyons. Lots of rafting and watersports and hiking and golf and biking in the area.

Further west and north is Pendleton, home of the famous Western shirts. This is cowboy country, with rolling hills and endless ranches and a real western feel.

Toss in some good university towns and natural spots such as Crater Lake National Park and you've got perhaps one of the most diverse states in the U.S.

And there's no sales tax, even on your food and drink purchases. So it's great for shopping.

The best way to get there for now is through Calgary or Vancouver but Oregon officials are hoping to someday soon land a direct flight from Portland to Toronto.

PORTER ADDS OPTIONS

Porter Airlines today announced added weekend flights from the Toronto Island Airport to both Boston and Chicago, effective immediately. They're also adding another weekday flight from the island (Billy Bishop Airport) to Chicago's Midway airport from June 24 to Aug. 30.

This has increased the number of weekly options to as many as 43 roundtrips, for both Boston and Chicago, including eight weekend roundtrips to both cities, officials said.

“Boston and Chicago have always been popular markets, but with the launch of Porter Escapes, our new packaged vacations platform, we are seeing even higher demand for leisure travel to these two cities,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “The additional Saturday flights allow greater flexibility for weekend travel, providing convenient options for any schedule.” 

 

 

A $1.56 million trip of a lifetime ... New flights T.O. to Dublin ... Halifax golf

It’s a tad expensive as trips go. Roughly $1.56 million, to be precise. But it promises to be the vacation/expedition of a lifetime.

A company called VeryFirstTo.com is selling an Ultimate Journey package that includes the Taj Mahal, Petra in Jordan, Angkor Wat in Cambodia (see photo below), the Forbidden City in Beijing and Peru’s Machu Picchu. And a few other spots, such as, get this, every one of the world’s 962 World Heritage Sites.

Although various governments current advise against visiting some World Heritage Sites, including Pasargadae in Iran and Leptis Magna in Libya, the firm apparently will try to make everyone happy, according to the Daily Telegraph in London.

The trip includes overland travel and flights (in business class cabins or superior), while tours of the different sites will be guided (presumably by workers carrying peacock feathers and iced Grey Goose martinis). Accommodation will be at a range of luxury hotels, including Sandy Lane in Barbados (a lovely spot I got to stay in - briefly - a few years ago) the Hotel George V in Paris and The Plaza in New York (a Fairmont property, also a very fine hotel).

The trip – billed as the ‘world’s most expensive holiday’ – was launched last month by VeryFirstTo.com. Now the company’s founder, Marcel Knobil, says two wealthy travellers have expressed firm interest in becoming the first people to embark on what the Telegraph called “an epic odyssey.”

The first chap is said to be a Chinese fellow who can’t go until he’s finished his PhD tudies next year. An Italian industrialist also is on the verge of booking, according to Knobil.

Just in case you have cash to spare, VeryFirstTo.com also is willing to book you a trip into space for $108,000 and the chance to wake up surrounded by more than one million rose petals for a $110,000.

The latter seems kind of expensive to me. I think you probably could drive to Ottawa and lie down in front of Parliament Hill and wake up in mid-May with about a million tulip petals all around. And you’d only have to pay for your bail after the cops arrest you.

ON THE OTHER HAND

If you’re more in the market for value, Fox News recently put out a list of its top value hotels around the world.

Among them was the Coco Palm Resort in St. Lucia, which I’ve heard previously is a good deal, as well as Le Richelieu in the French Quarter of New Orleans, The Dean Street Townhouse in London, England and Hotel Le Germain Dominion in Quebec City.

Fox cited the Germain’s “historic, wood-and-stone façade” and bank vault doors that are played off against stylish, modern décor. Breakfast is included and there’s also free Internet (hurray) and a Nespresso coffee machine in each room.

I went online and found a room in early May for $222. Not cheap but not bad for what looks like a nice property.

IRELAND RISING

More than a million folks from Canada and the U.S. visited Ireland last year and spent more than $994 million, an increase of 9.3 per cent. This year marks a year-long event called The Gathering, a series of festivals and events celebrating “the unique nature of what it means to be Irish.” Which means numbers could increase even more. Air Canada this week announced it will start year-round service from Toronto to Dublin on its new, discount airline, Rouge, beginning May 1, 2014. Service this year is from May 17 to Sept. 30.

THIS AND THAT 

Toronto golf designer Tom McBroom has announced a new, championship course for Halifax. It’s called The Links at Brunello and is slated to open in June 2015. There hasn't been much in the way of new golf course construction in this country for a while, so it's a good sign. I hope … I guess we can put our pocketknives – and hockey sticks – back in cold storage. After suggesting they’d lift the ban on those and other items on airplanes, the folks at TSA in the U.S. now say they need to consult pilots, airline workers and other concerned parties (many of whom have expressed alarm at the proposal) before they can revoke the ban … Nice way to start a vacation? Not really. It seems a worker at Los Angeles International Airport the other day mistakenly hit a switch and, for eight minutes, caused flight status signs to flash the message “Emergency: Leave the Terminal.” …

Rudest spot in Britain: Butt Hole Road? New Travel + Escape mag ... Deal of day

I've been hanging onto this one for a while, not quite sure whether it fits a family newspaper like the Star. But I spotted a BBC post today on the rudest place names in Britain, so I figured I may as well let loose with my own findings on unusual/suggestive place names in Canada and the U.S.

First, the BBC report. The Brits, of course, have always had colourful names for everything from towns to food, such as Toad in the Hole. Much more inventive than North America, where we serve hot dogs and club sandwiches and chicken wings (although in Buffalo you can get Beef on Weck, which actually sounds like a farming community in England when you think about it).

Anyway, the BBC story is a hugely fun piece that talks about places like Cockermouth, Crotch Crescent, Fanny Hands Lane, Twatt (there are two of them, apparently), Hornyold Road, Back Passage and Cocks, not to mention Shitterton and Sandy Balls. The BBC also cites a place called Beaverclose, which is an easy one for Canada of course and, therefore, too easy a target.

There used to be a street in England called Butt Hole Road in Conisbrough but they changed it a while back to Archers Way, which is really, dreadfully dull. But it's easy to understand city fathers' desire to change things.

I had fun (hey, somebody has to do it) some time back checking out some Canadian examples. The most obvious and best-known is, of course, Dildo Newfoundland. There's also Come-by-Chance, Newfoundland and a few notable others.

But you might not know about a few places I stumbled across, including Climax, Saskatchewan, Crapaud, Prince Edward Island and Ta Ta Creek, British Columbia (not sure if it's a bodacious creek or just normal-sized). There must be some rude spots in Ontario, prudish as we may be, but I haven't been able to find them.

The U.S., however, is a gold mine: Butts, Georgia; Nutts, Arkansas, New Erection, Virginia; Hooker Hole, Louisiana; Fort Dick, California; Intercourse, Pennsylvania; Fanny, West Virginia; Easytown, Indiana; Assawoman Bay, Maryland; and Threeway, Mississippi among them.

Got more? Drop me a line at jbyers@thestar.ca.

PORTER POLL

Porter Airlines sent out a press release today saying that a new poll suggests two-thirds of Torontonians support Porter's plans for jets at the Toronto Island/Billy Bishop Airport, provided they're quiet enough.

This result is based on an unprecedented public opinion survey of 19,500 people, which is the largest-ever sample size for a publicly-released poll in Toronto, the airline said.

A summary of the results are as follows:

•         When asked, “Do you support allowing jets to fly out of the airport if they make a comparable amount of noise to the turboprops currently being flown from the Island Airport?”, 66.2 per cent supported these plans, 22.3 per cent were opposed and 11.5 per cent undecided or unsure.
•         When asked, “Do you support lengthening the runway if the area currently used by boats will not be changed?”, 62.5 per cent supported these plans, 22.3 per cent were opposed and 15.2 per cent undecided or unsure.
•         When asked, “Should Toronto City Council allow jets to fly out of the Toronto Island Airport?”, 51.3 per cent supported these plans, 28.7 per cent were opposed and 20.0 per cent undecided or unsure.

“These results show strong public support for the introduction of CS100 jet aircraft at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and also the required runway extension to support the use of these aircraft,” said Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines.

Good numbers, for sure. But I still suspect Porter's plan will face a rough ride at Toronto City Council.

While I'm on the subject, don't you just love the phrase "whisper jet?" I mean, is that brilliant marketing or what?

TRAVEL AND ESCAPE MAGAZINE LAUNCHED

Travel + Escape, the TV folks, have launched a digital travel magazine. It's only available for iPad and iPhone at the moment but an Android version is on the way.

Travel+Escape’s inaugural adventure issue features five of the world’s most gripping travel destinations: Norway, Chile, California, British Columbia and the stratosphere, according to a press release.

Get a head-cam view and behind-the-scenes look at the world of wingsuit flying with Norway’s champion BASE jumper, Espen Fadnes. Learn about the state of space tourism and what to expect in years to come. Readers can discover luxurious retreats, chic boutique hotels, oddball accommodations (including an Arctic ship hotel) and swipe through stunning retina-quality image galleries. Watch full-screen videos, including a high definition time-lapse of a serene Yosemite National Park.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY 

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a good deal on hand for a great trip to New York City, priced at $829 including air fare.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 3 New York City Excursions per person. Excursions included are:
  
  • The New York City Highlights Cruise
  • The Sex and the City Hotspots Tour
  • The New York City Hop-on/Hop-off 24-hour Downtown Loop Bus Tour
• 3-night stay at the 5-Star Millennium Hilton, located in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Newark or from Montreal to LaGuardia
• Accommodations in a Double 1 King Bed Room. Maximum occupancy: 4

• Stay in the middle of the financial district surrounded by neighbourhoods like SoHo, Greenwich Village and Tribeca
• Included excursions take you to the filming locations of Sex and the City and other quintessential New York City sights
• Enjoy a cruise down the Hudson for a great photo op of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21. 27 & 28, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $699 + tax
  Single: $1065 + tax
  Triple: $731 + tax
  Child (2-17yrs): $335 + tax
  Tax: $130
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $944 tax included
  Single: $1314 tax included
  Triple: $970 tax included
  Child (2-17yrs): $570 tax included
  
  We also offer Other DATES and GATEWAYS.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

Canadians want more airline competition...Naked body scanners...Deal of Day

More flights. More airlines. More purchasing options.

A study conducted for the Consumers Association of Canada shows Canadians are strongly in favour of more access for international carriers.

The group’s polling found that 60 per cent of Canadians believe foreign airlines should be allowed to increase their service to Canada. Only 14 per cent of respondents were opposed.

Looked at another way, 61 per cent of Canadians said they think foreign airlines should be allowed to compete with Canadian airlines for their business, with only 20 per cent opposed.

Air Canada has been fighting to keep Emirates from adding more flights to Canada, saying it would hurt the Canadian economy and cost jobs in this country. The Harper government, so far, has been swayed by that argument. But there’s been a thaw in relations between Ottawa and the United Arab Emirates government, and it could be that efforts by Emirates to get more landing spots in Canada will soon be renewed.

The CAC poll had some other findings that weren’t too surprising. Asked if allowing more foreign airlines to fly to Canada would lead to more competition for their travel dollar, a full 77 per cent of folks agreed. Only six per cent disagreed. Asked if allowing more foreign airlines to come here would lead to lower travel costs, 69 per cent said yes and 12 per cent disagreed.

But those are silly questions. Of course more airlines means more competition. The question that matters is whether that competition is a good thing. Sure, it’s good for our travel budget. But it might not be good for the economy as a whole, which is what Air Canada argues with some justification. I’d like to see more competitition, but I am mindful of the effects it might have here at home. So is the Prime Minister.

The CAC said it will use the poll “to renew our call for Canada to adopt a dramatically different approach to international aviation.”

“Current policy has protected vested interests,” said CAC president Bruce Cran. “It is time to open Canada’s skies and welcome foreign carriers into this market to compete for the business of Canadian travelers.”

Good luck, sir. Good luck.

CANADA’S SENATE WEIGHS IN ON AIR TRAVEL

The Canadian senate has weighed in with a report on the future of the aviation industry in this country.

The Standing Committee on Transport and Communications issued a report called “One Size Doesn’t Fit All: The Future Growth and Competitiveness of Canadian Air Travel.” Putting aside the sexy title and all, I can’t for the life of me tell what the report is supposed to mean by reading the committee’s press release.

The top sentence in the release says this: “Canada needs a single, cohesive national air travel strategy, which must take into account the needs and challenges of all regions, particularly in the North, to chart a new course toward increased air travel in Canada.”

The release says the committee determined that “efforts to improve the competitiveness of regional and northern air transport should begin with transportation strategies that support air traffic growth, and infrastructure improvements that lead to accessible pricing for all Canadians.”

Later I discovered, it talks about how airport rents should be phased out to make airlines more competitive. This also was in the committee's interim report and is an interesting item.

The National Airlines Council of Canada sent out a release today saying it welcomes the Senate report "supporting its position that air travellers are being unduly penalized by excessive taxes and fees that are making air travel more costly for Canadians."

LESS INTRUSIVE SCANNERS AT CANADIAN AIRPORTS

It’s probably a good thing that the Harper government says it will bring in new software that will reduce the size of the images revealed by so-called naked scanners at the airport.

Officials in Ottawa said the new software will produce a computer-generated stick figure, and not so much a realistic body image, while still protecting Canadians with proper security.

I guess it’s good. But I never bought into the whole civil liberties argument about body scanners and all those crazy folks screaming about invasion of privacy.

I mean, do folks honestly think that airport security workers who can access any pornography they want at home will get their jollies by looking at wavy, grainy images on a computer screen in a back room at Pearson Airport? I don’t think so.

BLUE MOUNTAIN CHANGES

Skyline International Development Inc. today announced the closing of a $20 million investment and acquisition in Blue Mountain.  Skyline has purchased both retail and undeveloped residential land interests in and adjacent to the renowned Blue Mountain Village at the base of Blue Mountain Resort.

"Under the retail portion of the agreement, Skyline has acquired 50 per cent of existing commercial retail space within the Blue Mountain Village from current owner Intrawest ULC. In addition, Skyline will manage the remaining 50 percent of the Village's retail space. Skyline has also acquired the land to build an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of retail space to expand the Village retail. Skyline's retail interest under agreement at Blue Mountain is currently generating $1.5 million of net operating income.

In the residential portion of the acquisition, Skyline has acquired 136 acres of remaining developable land in and adjacent to the Village, with plans to double the Village's current residential footprint. Skyline intends to develop 1,200 residential units, townhouses and single-family homes along the golf course and in the Village centre in the years ahead.

 

“We are very excited to be part owners of one of North America’s premier destinations. The Blue Mountain Village acquisition is an important milestone for Skyline’s growth. As of today, we can offer visitors and home buyers a unique set of four-season activity-focused destination communities, extending from downtown Toronto and reaching across southern Ontario,” says Gil Blutrich, Skyline Chairman. “We look forward to bringing the knowledge and expertise of our team to the table to make Blue Mountain this country’s top vacation destination, while offering more home buyers the chance to live in the heart of this thriving resort community and be connected to the rest of our portfolio.”

 

CARNIVAL IMPROVEMENTS

Good to see that Carnival Corp., the cruise operator that has suffered so many black eyes this year, will spend around $700 million or more on fire protection and backup systems across its 101-ship fleet.

According to Bloomberg News, Carnival will install added emergency generators and reinforce shipboard systems to prevent losses of power like the one that occurred on the Carnival Triump in February.

“Safety is our highest priority,” said Carnival vice chair and COO Howard Frank.

If it wasn’t before, it damn well should be now.

Nice moves, but the cruise company had little choice but to make a splash (pardon the pun) given the problems they’ve had.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for Cancun that includes a $1,500 resort credit and ticket to see the wonderful Beach Boys. It's priced at $1,727, including $348 in taxes.

• BONUS: Enjoy $1500 USD Resort Credit and 2 FREE Adult Beach Boys Concert Tickets per room!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4.5-Star Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, located in Cancun, Mexico
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Cancun, and round-trip airport/resort transfers in Mexico
• Accommodations in a Superior Garden View Room featuring 1 king or 2 double beds. Maximum Occupancy: 4 adults
• Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Why We Love It:

• Enjoy the laidback beach beats of The Beach Boys in concert
• Pamper yourself with the world class spa services and golf course
• Entertain the whole family with Kids Clubs and numerous dining options

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on August 3, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1379
  Single: $2069
  Triple: $1319
  Quad: $1259
  Tax: $347.56
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
• Use your $1500 resort credit for a range of perks including spa treatments, select excursions, golf and more! For a full breakdown of how to use your credit CLICK HERE
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

Honours for Canada hotels and YVR, WestJet teams w/ Iceland Air, Deal of Day

A couple of Toronto's newest hotels have made a mark. 

Conde Nast Traveler the other day issued its hot list of the top new hotels in the world. The new Four Seasons in Yorkville and the new Shangri-La on University Avenue both made the grade, as did the Ritz Carlton in Montreal and La Ferme in Baie-St. Paul, the new hotel built at the Le Massif ski hill by Daniel Gauthier of Cirque du Soleil fame.

The magazine described the look of the Four Seasons (see photo below right) as "uber-polished and somewhat austere, with huge, dark wood columns and 1,700 commissioned pieces of art." They said the "taupe and beige colour scheme and stone floors lend a somewhat chilly atmosphere to public spaces" but that "rooms are softer, with flowered fabric headboards and sweet little framed prints of Canadian wildlife."

They also said the new Four Seasons is a "clear departure from the old-fashioned, out-of-date original," that the sleek Daniel Boulud restaurant is "a magnet for Toronto's upwardly mobile" and that the 30,000 square foot spa is the largest urban spa in the Four Seasons chain.

I gotta admit I find the lobby area a bit cramped and not overly welcoming, but I'm a big fan of old-fashioned hotels with welcoming chairs and don't really like the artsy, austere look.

I personally much prefer the lobby space at the Shangri-La, with its Asian touches and sofas and open spaces. It seems like the Conde Nast folks agree. They call the look "urban zen" and commented on the subtle Asian elements, such as the Japanese watercolours and orchids that dot the property. They said the hotel "feels illuminated and airy thanks to a soaring lobby space with plenty of blonde wood and travertine stone (and the occasional pop of magenta from a silk pillow or rug).

"Guest rooms are painted in soft cream, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Toronto skyline create a cheery atmosphere, even on overcast winter days. Enormous bathrooms are swathed in veined marble and include the now almost ubiquitous TV in the mirror."

Although it may attract biz types, the magazine noted the Shangri-La "has all the necessities for a city vacation, including indoor cabanas surrounding a whirlpool, a gorgeous hammam spa and the excellent lobby-level restaurant, Bosk."

Heady praise, indeed.

In addition to citing both hotels, Conde Nast also named their respective spas as blissful hot spots for 2013.

Heading to Quebec? Conde Nast called La Ferme's look "eclectic and whimsical," with rooms that vary wildly in style. They seemed to like the French comfort food at the restaurant, Les Labours, but cited the lack of a good spa. They had lots of great things to say about the Ritz Carlton in Montreal, citing it's "turn-of-the-century grandeur" and the "Gilded Age fantasy" of the Palm Court, combined with modern, sleek rooms. They said the pool and gym feel cramped, but overall gave the place a very solid review.

WORLD'S BEST AIRPORTS

The folks at Skytrax, who do regular airline reviews, have issued a new list of the top airports on the planet. Vancouver's YVR was, understandably, named the best airport in North America, finishing eighth overall. YVR was the only North American airport in the top ten.

It marks the fourth straight year Vancouver was named tops in North America, based on a survey of 395 airports that looked at everything from comfort to efficiency to signage and amenities. The Vancouver airport has a bright, lively feel to it, with great shops and a large fish tank and even a liquor store on the way out. It beats the living daylights out of Toronto Pearson. which came 46th to finish second in Canada. Also in the top 100 from a Canadian angle were Halifax/Stanfield at 58 and Montreal/Trudeau, which came 83rd.

I said Vancouver was the only North American airport in the top ten. Actually, it was the only North American airport in the top 29. The next best facility in North America after YVR was Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky at number 30. Other American facilities in the top 50 were Denver (36), San Francisco (40) and Atlanta/Hartsfield (48).

Changi Airport in Singapore came first overall in the world, a common occurrence for the renowned facility with shops and spas and all kinds of attractions. Next was South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, followed by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Hong Kong International and Beijing Capital International Airport.

WESTJET TEAMS WITH ICELAND AIR

WestJet continues to sign deals with world airlines to make things easier for Canadians heading out of the country. It was announced today that WestJet and Icelandair "have launched a new interline agreement opening up the skies for passengers connecting between the Americas and more than 20 Icelandair destinations throughout Europe." 

"Passengers can now book a single combined e-ticket for WestJet and Icelandair flights which includes the conveniences of single check-in for all flights and baggage sent through to the final destination. When connecting in the Americas, Icelandair customers will enjoy WestJet’s fleet of Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft serving more than 80 cities in North America, Central America and the Caribbean."

"Icelandair and WestJet share many of the same philosophies including offering our passengers a refreshing travel experience” said Helgi Mar Bjorgvinsson, Icelandair's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "Our complementary customer service and connections through Toronto and Halifax make this a natural partnership. We also look forward to further opening the skies of Canada for both inbound and outbound passengers."

Earlier this year Icelandair expanded its seasonal service from Toronto to a year-round operation with plans to increase capacity next summer. Icelandair will also resume seasonal service from Halifax with two flights a week starting June 1, 2013. 

“We’re excited to welcome Icelandair as WestJet’s thirty-second partner airline,” said Todd Peterson, WestJet’s Director, Alliances. “Icelandair and WestJet share a reputation for quality service and great value. The new relationship between our airlines will enhance options for travel between North America and Europe.”

AIR TRANSAT IMPROVEMENTS

Missed this last week when I was away, but the Star's Vanessa Lu reported the other day that Air Transat  is rolling out Italian leather slimline seats on its newly revamped Airbus 330 planes, which are often used on transatlantic routes.

Joseph Adamo, Transat's vice-president of marketing (see photo), said while the pitch - the distance from any point on one seat to the exact same point on the seat in front of or behind it - doesn't change, it will feel roomier.

"We can't say it's more space, but it's a better experience," Adamo said as Transat  held a media event in Toronto to show off a mockup of its revamped cabin. "The seat is thinner with new generation foam."

The airline also is replacing its outdated entertainment system with individual seatback touch screens that feature movies, books and games like Sudoku.

It's adding LED lighting inside the cabin that switches colours, depending on the situation, including orange for when a plane is arriving in Europe to mimic a sunrise, and supposedly reduce jet lag.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for the sunny Dominican Republic for $836, including $387 in taxes.

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $100 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check-in/check-out, 10% spa discount, turndown service and in-room beach towels
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the Barcelo Puerto Plata, located in the Dominican Republic
• Includes return air from Toronto to Puerto Plata, with hotel/airport transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Double Room, featuring 1 king or 2 twin beds and a balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 3 adults + 1 child
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• Beachfront property gives you direct access to the Caribbean sea
• The resort offers unique activities like dance lessons and horseback riding
• Barcelo is located directly on the beach at Playa Dorada, five minutes from downtown

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 8, 15 & 22, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $449
• Single: $500
  Triple: $423
  Child: $399
  Tax: $387
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

Canada a nation of towel stealers? ... Hello Eaton Chelsea T.O. ... Deal of day

Are we really terrible people?

Well, maybe not as bad as Americans. Or Colombians. But not nearly as nice or considerate – or honest – as the Danes.

A study by hotels.com found that 88 per cent of Danish travelers say they’ve never taken an item from a hotel room, a number I find astonishing. They found that 85 per cent of folks from Holland said the same thing, followed by 84 per cent of Norwegians and 81 per cent of people from Brazil and those from Quebec. English-speaking Canada? Shame, shame: 70 per cent.

The survey didn’t include toiletries from the bathroom, since, in the words of the hotels.com press release, “everyone takes those.”

Worst on the list, if you can believe the numbers, were folks from Spain (64 per cent said they never take things), India (62), Mexico (60) and Colombia (only 43 per cent).

The company also asked people what their must-have hotel amenity is. To no one’s surprise, the answer was free Wi-Fi. Also scoring points were high-end coffee makers, free bottled water and happy hours.

DELTA CHELSEA CHANGING NAMES

Say hello to the Eaton Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.

Owners of what has been for years the Delta Chelsea on Gerrard announced Monday night that the hotel will be renamed the Eaton Chelsea Toronto starting July 1.

The hotel is owned by Great Eagle Holdings Limited, which counts Langham Hospitality as one of its subsidiaries. Part of the Langham group are Asian hotels with the name Eaton, with properties in Shanghai, Hong Kong and New Delhi. As luck would have it, what is now the Delta Chelsea is just two blocks from Toronto's Eaton Centre (where there's no Eaton's anymore, not to confuse things too much). The bustling hotel is an official sponsor of Canada's best known shopping centre, as well.

Major renovations are set to begin in a couple weeks, with millions to be spent improving the exterior, particularly the balconies, as well as on sprucing up the lobby and restaurants and bars. And continuing renovations on the rooms and on the function spaces.

I thought they might try to use the Langham name on the old Delta Chelsea but it's far too big a property to be branded a luxury hotel (it's 1,590 rooms make it Canada's largest hotel). The Eaton name should work well in its stead.

There already are Langham's in London, Sydney, Boston, Auckland, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Pasadena, California, and other cities, and there are new ones coming to New York, Chicago and other cities.

Officials said the Eaton Chelsea will be a "first-class hotel" with a focus on "great service and great rates" and that all workers will be kept on. So folks shouldn't notice too big a difference other than the updates/renovations and a new name.

“We are very excited about the addition of Eaton Chelsea, Toronto to the Langham family,” said Josef Ebner, Regional Vice President and Managing Director of Eaton Chelsea, Toronto.  “In repositioning to an Eaton brand that will include some significant renovations, we are excited to now share a design philosophy of smart, modern and uncomplicated interiors and an enthusiastic “can do” service culture which will set us apart from the competition in downtown Toronto.”

CALGARY TOURISM AD SPARKS REAX

I might have been wrong on this one. I mentioned on Twitter the other day that I liked a Maclean’s story that criticized a new ad for tourism in Calgary. I thought the author of the piece made a good point in saying cities need to stay true to themselves and not be too generic when they create their ad campaigns.

I still think that but on looking at the video a second time I must say I kinda like it. A little more in the way of cowboys and mountain views wouldn’t hurt, but there are some sleek and sexy bits to the video that probably gives us freezing in the dark Easterners a better view of what’s becoming a very cool city.

TURBULENT TIMES AHEAD?

In the future, white-knuckle fliers may be able to blame those brutally bumpy flights over the Atlantic on greenhouse gases. In a story in the Los Angeles Times, it was stated that turbulence will be stronger and occur more often if carbon dioxide emissions double by 2050 and the atmosphere heats up, according to a study in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Not good news for nervous fliers.

CHINA RISES

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) says China’s total business travel spending should increase by 15.1 per cent in 2013 to $226 billion. The projected expansion of 16.9 per cent in 2014 is more than twice the rate of the U.S.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a southern Caribbean cruise, set at $1,668, including $148 in taxes.

 

• BONUS: Includes FREE prepaid gratuities & non-stop flight from Toronto (in comparison to if you had booked your air and cruise separately!)
• BONUS: Concierge Class features priority check-in, personalized Concierge service, priority seating time preferences in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, upgraded room service menu, evening hors d'oeuvres and veranda with lounge seating.
• 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise sailing aboard the Celebrity Summit
• Departs from and returns to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ports of Call include:  St. Croix, U.S.V.I.; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Roseau, Dominica; St. George's, Grenada and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to San Juan and round-trip airport/pier transfers
• Accommodations in a Balcony (Category C2) Concierge Class stateroom
• All meals included

• Summit is a newly redesigned cruise ship offering the best in modern amenities from an energizing martini bar to an authorized Apple reseller
• The ports of call introduce the diverse landscapes of the Caribbean, from the jungles of Dominica to the stunning bay area of St. Thomas (see photo above).
• Explore the islands on a variety of exciting and optional shore excursions

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on January 4, 2014
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Balcony (Category C2) Concierge Class stateroom:
  1st & 2nd Passenger: $1520
  Tax: $148
  
  We also offer Other DATES and Gateways.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• To book dining times please fill out the 'Requests' form specifying preference for first or second seating at time of booking
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on Oct 14, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

 

American Graffiti flashback ... China conquering tourism world ... Deal of Day

I try to stick to travel themes and news in this blog. But occasionally travel can take you to a rather personal space, so allow me a small indulgence today.

To set up the story, I've got to go back in time a bit. I grew up in a small town outside San Francisco called Castro Valley; a semi-rural (at the time) township where former Blue Jays General Manager Pat Gillick once worked on a chicken farm that was either owned by my Uncle Jerry or was right across the street (neither of us could quite figure it out last time we talked).

It was so traditionally American that it's to laugh; mostly white, fairly conservative, with jocks occupying the top of the social ladder and a main drag where folks would actually cruise on a Friday night in 1974. Much like they do in Modesto, California in American Graffiti, which I watched Thursday night on a flight from Toronto to San Francisco, which is kinda the theme to my Friday posting.

The movie, a masterpiece in my humble opinion, came out in the early 1970's. And it was hugely popular at my high school, where I was (sorry if this sounds like bragging) senior class president and reasonably well known if not top of the social scene. I was getting ready to head out of town to go to university in Los Angeles. A few kids in my high school were going to university in the Bay Area, but only a few of us were venturing so far away.

It's not quite like American Graffiti, where two of the four main male characters are spending their last night in Modesto before (they think) heading East to college. But it's similar.

The joke in my high school, I guess, is that I was something of a Ron Howard (see photo above) kind of guy. Pretty straight, involved in student council, all that. I didn't date the head cheerleader like Howard's character, Steve Bolander. A shame, that.

At the end of the film, Steve reverses the course he talks about all movie long and decides to stay with his pretty girlfriend in Modesto. His buddy, Curt, played marvellously by Richard Dreyfuss, opts to ignore his previous instincts and fly east to explore the world.

The similarities between Bolander/Howard and I were strong enough that when the time came for my high school paper to put out an end-of-term, pretend look at where various Castro Valley High students would be in ten years, some smart-ass dplace me in the same spot as Bolander. The school paper story mirrored the end of the movie by stating that 10 years after graduation I'd be the same as Ron Howard's character, namely "Insurance Salesman, Modesto, California."

It was pretty funny, I gotta admit. And I've laughed about it over the years whenever I've thought of the movie or of Modesto or my semi-awkward days in high school, where I really wanted to be the cool football player and not a student council geek.

I got on the plane on Thursday night to fly back to my childhood home to visit my Dad in the San Francisco Bay Area. I scanned the movie list on Air Canada and, lo and behold, found American Graffiti. I watched it and smiled and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of a marvellous, marvellous movie that's touching and ironic and interesting and fun and wonderful in every way.

I've thought about the movie a lot over the years. I had a great time at UCLA and took a trip to Europe after I graduated. In Italy I met a wonderful girl from Don Mills who I ultimately fell in love with. I ended up moving to Toronto in 1981, where I've been working in journalism (32 years at the Star come August) ever since.

Anyway, as the movie ends, they flash up the main characters and explain where they were later in their pretend lives. I laughed when I saw the bit about Steve Bolander being an insurance guy in his hometown. But what slew me was the next part, which I'd completely forgotten about. The next sequence in the bit about "where are they now" is an update on what happens to Curt (see photo), the Richard Dreyfuss character who left the clutches of his small town home for a college life back east. What do they have him doing? "A writer living in Canada."

Wow. All these years I've laughed about being pegged as the insurance guy, played by Ron Howard. Instead, my life arc took me in the direction of Richard Dreyfuss, who became a writer living in Canada.

I was freaked out. I mean, what are the odds of a movie that takes place in a town so similar to where I grew up plays out so much like my life, and then my watching it for the first time in years on a plane from Canada, where I work in journalism, back to my Modesto-like home town in California? It was so bizarre. I was gobsmacked and had to get up and shake out the cobwebs. One of the flight attendants asked me what was wrong, so I guess I was either white as a ghost or talking to myself. Or both.

I explained the whole movie/life thing to her. I think she thought I was nuts. And maybe I am. But it just slays me. I mean, whoever wrote that high school story and put me as Steve Bolander had the right movie, just the wrong guy. I was Curt, Steve's best friend. But I guess I could easily have been Steve if I hadn't wanted to see the world a bit. Or maybe if a cute cheerleader had thrown her arms around me after a drag race crash and begged me not to leave my hometown for the lights of L.A.

Life is like that. You take a left turn walking down the street in Barcelona and in seconds you find something that changes your life. In my case, I was in Rome in 1979 with some girls who I liked a bit but not a lot. We were supposed to meet at the main train station in Rome one morning and travel together to Florence. I couldn't find them so I hopped on the train and started chatting with one of several girls travelling together. One of them ended up being my wife of nearly 32 years, bless her patient soul.

Typing up this blog on Friday I'm still shaking my head over the movie and how it intertwines with my life. And I'm glad I wasn't one of the other main male characters in the film. John Milner, the tough guy/racer with a heart of gold, ends up being killed by a drunk driver. Terry, the nerd who dates the goofy, ditzy blonde, ends up dying in Vietnam.

I got to be the writer living my dream job in a great country like Canada. How lucky is that?

CHINA ON THE MOVE

I wrote the other day about how China has become the number two source of tourists for Canada, surpassed only by the United States. Now I see there's a United Nations World Tourism Organization report that saw CHina is the top tourist source market IN THE WORLD.

I guess it was only a matter of time, but in 2012 Chinese folks spent $102 billion abroad.

Back in 2000, only 10 million Chinese went abroad. Last year? Try 83 million.

In 2011, Chinese tourists spent 73 billion dollars abroad. Last year it was $102 billion, an increase of 40 per cent, said Xinhua news agency in China.

Amazing.

Back in 2005, China was seventh in terms of international tourism spending. Now they're on the top of the heap. And I can't see them giving up the title any time soon.

Also rising up are Brazil, wiith $22 billion in spending, and Russia, which saw international spending jump 32 per cent last year, according to Xinhua.

No wonder every tourism board in the world is chasing the Chinese, Russians and Brazilians.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a crazily priced Sunwing flight from Toronto to Amsterdam, set at just $599 all in. That's less than a flight to Vancouver a lot of days.

Jaunt Highlights

• Sunwing prides itself on providing you with the best in-flight services and entertainment equipment.
  Your return airfare to Amsterdam includes:
  • Complimentary glass of champagne
  • Hot in-flight meals
  • Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks]
  • Complimentary wine with meals
  • Complimentary headsets
  • In-flight audio/visual entertainment
  • Hot towel service

• Extremely attentive in-flight service means you will be ready to conquer the city when you disembark
• See famous art in the Van Gough museum and Rijksmuseum
• Soak up the cozy charm or gezelligheid

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on either of the following dates:
  Departs June 24 – Returns July 1, 2013
  Departs August 23 – Returns August 30, 2013
  
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto:
  Base: $119 + $480 tax
  
  We also offer Other DATES and GATEWAYS.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925 or visit our partner at targetvacations.ca for other great charter flights
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking