Andaz New York #1 for 2010?...Canada fails consumers...Jim's deals of the day

I've heard of the New Year's baby. But apparently there's a bit of a contest to be the first hotel to open in New York in the New Year.

Andaz Wall Street makes its Big Apple debut January 11 and they say they think they'll be the first new guy in town for 2010. In a press release, officials said they "can't wait for the artisanal Gimme! Coffee and complimentary mini-bars, wireless internet, local calls, and wine on arrival. It’s the little things, isn’t it?"

Quite often it IS the little things, like a well-placed power outlet with lots of places to plug in your laptop and iPod and cellphone. Or nicer shampoo than the chains. But it's also often the big things, too; a nice lobby, quiet rooms, a nice, new, king-size bed or a shower head like the one Kramer loved in a favourite Seinfeld episode. My wife tells me she was at a Residence Inn near Cleveland recently (lucky her, eh?) and that when she walked into the lobby there was a large refrigerator where you could grab a cold beer or three and take them to your room, as well as a place to buy frozen, microwave dinners. Not quite Wolfgang Puck or Mark McEwan, but if it's late at night and you're a businesswoman or man and don't feel like dragging yourself out to the nearest Chili's or TGIF's it sounds pretty darn good.

Wait a minute, did I hear "complimentary mini-bar" at the Andaz? Suddenly I feel the need for a trip to New York on Jan. 11

CANADA NOT FOLLOWING U.S. LEADERSHIP

You might have read in this space yesterday how the U.S. is bringing in legislation that would force airlines to let people off a plane if they're stranded on a tarmac for more than three hours. Seems perfectly sensible. Especially since the rules will include exemptions for security, safety or "certain airport operating situations," according to a report from Reuters.

That sounds perfectly fair. We know airlines sometimes get screwed, and pardon my Belgian, by weather or airport issues beyond their control. This legislation takes that into account. But of course the folks in Ottawa don't appear likely to stand up to their good buddies in the airline industry, the same buddies that they speak to on a regular basis whenever there's anything the industry might not like.

The head of the Canadian Airlines Council of Canada told the Globe and Mail there's no push for similar legislation north of the border.

"It seems rather arbitrary," said George Petsikas, the president of the CACC. "Is this the right way to respond to the problem? I think we have to be a little more flexible. There is no discretion given to the pilot and flight crew."

  Petsikas said the CACC's members have made a commitment to letting passengers off a stranded airliner after a 90-minute delay, subject to the approval of the pilot and flight crew and circumstances permitting, he said.

 Good. But not good enough. It's time the elected Tory government put the interest of consumers (you know, VOTERS) ahead of big business. Not that we'd expect that sort of thing from PM Stephen Harper.

 

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

 

$29 - Toronto to Fort Lauderdale, return flight ($244 w/tax): mid-January
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=2003

 

$315 - Toronto to Havana, Cuba, 1 week holiday in early January ($525 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=2004

 

From $89 - Niagara Falls Hotel with free extras and EXCLUSIVE TravelAlerts discount
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=2005

 

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

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

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

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

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

Further news, undoubtedly, isn't far behind.

CRUISE NEWS...AND COUGARS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW STAR ALLIANCE PARTNER

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

WEST JET TO COZUMEL

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

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

SANTA CLAUS FUND

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

http://www.thestar.com/santaclausfund

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

EYE OF THE TIGER?

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

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

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

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

AIR CANADA BAG FEES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

BUFFALO OPTION

 

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

 

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

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

HEALTHY AIRPORT FOOD

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Time to pull up your socks, folks. 

 

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

Staycation night in Toronto: Olympics & Men in Grass Skirts!..Jim's Deals of Day

One of the advantages of a relatively high profile job like being Travel Editor at Canada's largest newspaper is that you get invites to all sorts of things. Last night was a great example, taking me from the finest dining in the city accompanied by storied Canadian athletes to a night spent dancing with guys in grass skirts and women with plastic sharks on their heads.

I'd committed to attending the Gold Medal Plates Olympic fundraising event a week or so ago, and it started around 5:30 at the Convention Centre. Incredible, it was, with everyone from storied rower Marnie McBean (pictured here with star chef Mark McEwan) to canoeing medallist Adam Van Koeverden and Sydney gold medallist Simon Whitfield. We got to wander about and taste dishes cooked up by some of the biggest names in Toronto, including McEwan, Marco Zandona of Via Allegro, Lorenzo Loseto of George and Jonathan Gushue of Langdon Hall, which I've never been to check out but should.

I had some remarkable dishes: Zandona made a lovely dish of rosemary braised lamb ribs on a bed of Baco Noir risotto with horseradish, Ontario blueberries and Quebec Bleu Cheese. Yum.

Gushue made, and I'll simply quote this directly from the press release as I'm a little over my head once you get past gourmet cheeseburgers, a "torchon of rouge foie gras and Black Bow Farms Pig Cheek Lentil du Puy, Lobster Pudding with honey-pickled chanterelles and a parsley root with Warsaw Apple Cider Jus." Whew.

I hadn't had pig cheek in weeks, and I'd never HEARD of lobster pudding. But it was smashing stuff.

David Lee of Nota Bene served up a piece of fried chicken skin smeared with plum hoisin sauce and a bit of sour apple compote flavoured with ginger and coriander, with a small piece of chicken cartilage on top that he had pressure-cooked for 24 hours to make it soft. The guys took to it like, well, guys take to things like chicken skin and cartilage. It was really tasty. Probably not on my doctor's list of top things to help reduce your weight and cholesterol, but pretty cool.

The dish was paired with a 2007 "June's Vineyard" Riesling from 13th Street winery in Niagara.

Patrick Lin made a great duck breast served in a spring roll cone with shredded cucumber and scallion and house-made hoisin sauce.

Best Peking Duck I've had since the Olympics last year, that's for sure. Dynamite stuff, and really cool presentation. Anyway, the point of the evening wasn't for journalists to get fat and taste fabulous Canadian wines but to raise money for Canada's high-performance athletes. Since 2004, Gold Medal Plates - which pairs top chefs with top athletes in a competition to win a gold, silver or bronze medal in a culinary competition - has raised more than $2.8 million for Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The goal is $3.6 million by the start of the Vancouver Olympics next February.

Canadian hockey player Sami Jo Small told the assembled crowd how much athletes depend on and appreciate events like Gold Medal Plates.

Don Lowry, president and CEO of Epcor, a main sponsor of last night's event, said it's a pleasure to help the cause.

"Canadian athletes need us to help them get to the next level. We've seen how they have to live in people's basements and all that, so we felt we had to do something.

"Toronto's always been a strong supporter of this event, even during tough economic times. It's a real credit to the city," Lowry said.

In the end, the bronze medal was awarded to Chef Anne Yarymowich from Frank, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, who served a roasted/glazed pork belly with a gentle sauerkraut. The silver medal went to Gushue (good call) and the gold to Lee for his chicken skin and cartilage, and it's a pretty bold move. Chef Lee now has a few days to prepare for the Canadian Culinary Championship in Vancouver, where he will go head-to-head against our champions from the other Gold Medal Plates regional events. 

SIMON WHITFIELD PINES FOR HOME GAMES

 

Canadian triathlete Simon Whitfield, who struck gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, says he's envious of his winter Olympic counterparts being able to ski, skate and slide on home ice at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver/Whistler next year.

 

"I wanna be a skeleton guy and slide down a hill on those things," he said with a laugh at the Gold Medal Plates. "Actually, not a chance. But seeing the Winter Olympics in Canada does make me realize what we're missing with Toronto not getting the Summer Games. It would've been great. But we're a winter sports country, so it's wonderful to have the Games in Vancouver."

 

Whitfield said he's friends with winter Olympians such as Chandra Crawford and expects to travel on the ferry from his home in Victoria at least a few times to take in some Vancouver/Whistler events come February.

 

Whitfield also said he thinks the Pan American Games, recently awarded to Toronto/Southern Ontario for 2015, will be a great event.

 

"It's really exciting," he said. "I think it would be a great way to finish my career."

 

WASTIN' AWAY AGAIN

 

Actually, I was wastin' away for the first time. I had planned to take in the wine show at the Metro Convention Centre after the Gold Medal Plates event, as they were/are featuring Portugal wines and I wanted to get more familiar with them. But late in the day our city desk announced they had 10 tickets for last night's Jimmy Buffett show at the Air Canada Centre.

 

I was all over that faster than you can say "last shaker of salt," as I've been a Jimmy fan for some time.

 

I'd never been to one of his shows, and ideally I'd have gone in the summer at the Molson Ampitheatre or, better yet, in Key West. But when opportunity knocks, you gotta answer. So I had my wife bring down my blue and creme Hawaiian shirt with the flowers on it and my Panama hat, and luckily I had some shell beads left over from my recent Tahiti trip. So I made a quick change in the bathroom at Joe Badali's prior to the show and walked down to the ACC.

 

Jimmy did a great show, and it's great to see a guy play in a t-shirt, Hawaiian shorts (I've got a similar pair at home) and no shoes. I especially like the no shoes bit, as it's long been a goal of mine to spend an entire year without having to wear anything on my feet other than flip-flops. Wouldn't that be great? Maybe a pair of golf shoes, but that's it.

 

Anyway, at least half the guys were decked out in similar duds as me. We ended up with tickets in the front row of the upper deck (thanks, Bruce) and I got some halfway decent shots and a bit of video of him singing "Margaritaville." Sadly, I forgot to take photos of the guys in grass skirts. But it was funny to see them walking to the subway.

 

I walked home in dress pants and dress shoes and a big overcoat, with my Hawaiian shirt and shells and my Panama Hat. Not a look I'd advise folks to try....

 

WEST JET DELAY

 

Continuing issues with their new reservation system has forced WestJet to delay unveiling of their guest rewards or frequent flyer program. It was supposed to happen the week of Nov. 30 but now, they say, will be January.

 

Sounds like that's not a certainty, either.

 

The airline gets great reviews, but it's got to be frustrating to customers to put up with reservation woes and, now, see a delay in the frequent flyer program.

 

 

AIR CANADA WI-FI

 

It's about time. American companies have been offering wi-fi for some time, but now Air Canada is trying it out on flights from Toronto and Montreal to Los Angeles. It's $9.95 U.S. for a laptop and $7.95 U.S. for a personal electronic device like a Blackberry. Pretty cheap for five hours, when you look at it that way.

 

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Resort has a Club Smugglers’ Advantage Package that offers an additional 10 per cent discount for Canadian visitors. Leading in at $109 (U.S.) per adult and $99 per youth three to 17 years old, Club Smugglers’ Advantage includes mountain-side condo lodging, lift tickets, instruction for ages and skill levels and off-slope entertainment. The 10 per cent Canadian visitor discount applies to these lead-in prices as well as regular season pricing throughout the winter, including March Break. Booking information is at www.smuggs.com.

Two more deals!

$497 - Jamaican vacation (includes air + oceanview room + meals & drinks)http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1644

 

$146 - Round-trip flight from Toronto to London, UK ($543 with taxes)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1645

 

 

Tis the Season for Airport Delays...Jim's Deals of the Day: Vegas, Niagara

It's that time again, folks. The holiday season is coming. I heard a Christmas song at the LCBO on the weekend, so I know it's approaching. And did you see that nasty frost on the roofs and the leaves here in Toronto?

 

I'm all for snow for all you skiers and boarders and snowmobilers. It's just that winter weather can wreak havoc at airports, as anyone in Vancouver who lived through last year's terrible delays will know. Or anyone who's sat on the tarmac at Pearson waiting for the de-icing to start.

 

We don't always think about it here in Canada, but American Thanksgiving is just a few days away - next Thursday, Nov. 26 for those of you keeping score at home. And Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year in American airports; crazier than Christmas.

 

(I assume this is because families with little kids want their kids to open their stockings at home. It might be, however, that folks would rather visit family for Thanksgiving because you can only stay Wednesday to Sunday and then it's, "Sorry, love to stick around, favourite mother-in-law of mine, but gotta be at work first thing Monday!" Whereas if you go for Christmas, you might have to stay through New Year's Day).

 

Anywho, there are a couple reports out there that might help if you haven't already made travel plans.

The first one comes from Orbitz, which listed the 10 busiest American airports on Turkey Day and the 10 least busy.

 

Most busy:

 

1. Chicago O'Hare (and terrible winter weather; see more on that below)

2. Los Angeles (no surprise, and what's better than turkey sandwiches on the beach?)

3. Denver (terrible winter weather, part 2)

4. San Francisco (headed there myself next week)

5. Atlanta (always a busy hub)

6. Boston (pesky university students and all that)

7. New York LaGuardia

8. New York JFK

9. Newark Liberty (all three NY combined makes this an area you might want to avoid)

10. Seattle (can be cheaper to fly into than Vancouver if you're headed that way)

 

Least busy? Well, they tallied the easiest of the major airports to use, too.

 

1. San Jose, California (a great option close to Monterey Bay attractions and even SF itself, but you'd have to connect somewhere if you're flying from T.O.)

2. Nashville (never been but imagine there's great ribs and beer)

3. Richmond, Virginia (nice town, actually)

4. Sacramento, California (about 90 minutes from SF; less than an hour, though, from the Napa Valley, and only 90 minutes from California ski country)

5. Jacksonville (close to great Atlantic beaches, and to golf)

6. West Palm Beach (a nice alternative to Miami)

7. Hartford, Connecticut (Go Whalers!)

8. Orange County, California (great for Disneyland or Newport/Laguna Beach)

9. Cincinnati (Motto: gateway to southern Ohio)

10. Fort Myers/Southwest Florida (perfect if you're headed that way or to Naples)

 

Budget Travel magazine in November has a nice chart on airport delays, and it only goes to prove the point I make to people that one should ALWAYS avoid O’Hare Airport if at all possible, at least for connections.  U.S. statistics show only 59 per cent of flights at O'Hare have on-time departures, and I’m surprised it’s that high. Newark Liberty in New Jersey is even worse, at 57 per cent. Scoring high were Charlotte (76 per cent), D.C. Reagan National (72), Houston (75) and Cleveland, which surprised me with a 71 per cent score but maybe it’s not as busy as Chicago. Similar weather, though, which is always a concern.

I didn’t see stats for Denver, but I HATE flying through there in winter. It’s often better to fly south for your connection, even if it’s a little longer, as you’re less likely to run into winter weather conditions.

 

TOUCH AND GO

I've never seen one at a restaurant I've been to, but the Budget Travel mag for November has a piece on restaurants in New York (Clo Wine Bar) and London (Inamo) where you scroll through a list of offerings on a touch screeen and cue in your request, rather than using a waiter. The Clo Wine Bar apparently has dispensers on a wall that spit out your drink, which doesn't sound so romantic. But they have 100 vintages to choose from, so maybe it's not so bad, and you can search by price, grape style, region or look at interesting tasting notes while you dine on pate or cheese.

Inamo in London beams images of the meals onto plate-size disks on their table, according to the Budget Travel story. Diners then use finger pads on the table to place their order or call a taxi (maybe to say, "Get me to a real restaurant?).

A place called uWink in Hollywood, California (where else) has tabletop monitors with more than 70 games you can play while you wait for your burger or mac and cheese. Perfect, cuz god knows you don't actually want to TALK to anyone when you go out for lunch, right?

SPEAKING OF WINTER...

If you ever needed an incentive to take in Quebec City’s Carnival, here it is: a package from Loews Le Concorde offering savings of 15 per cent. Rates start at $209 and include one night’s accommodation overlooking the St. Lawrence River and two passes to Carnival. Loews is even throwing in two snow rafting tickets and two maple taffy lollipops to sweeten the deal. The $209 rate is valid Jan. 28 – Feb. 14 and applies to two adults sharing a room. For each child under 12, add $20. Hotel information is at www.loewshotels.com

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

US$58/night - 11 night 4* Mediterranean pre-Christmas cruise (US$685 w/tax)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1604

$265 - Toronto to Las Vegas, 4-day getaway ($506 with taxes)
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1603

Stay in Niagara Falls from $59.95 during the Winter Festival of Lights
http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1602

 

Cool Dunning Store in N. Toronto, Big Aeroplan Boost, Jim's Deals of the Day

There's a new player on the popular Yonge St. shopping strip north of Eglinton.

 

Ralph Dunning, who's been making golf clothes for years in Markham, opened a shop on the weekend

with a whole line of smart-looking leisure and golf wear. He's got everything from thick sweatshirts and merino sweaters to golf shirts and casually dressy pinstripe, long-sleeve shirts with his Cool Max technology. You also can buy shorts for that winter golf trip to the sunny south, and they'll give you a proper fitting session to make sure you're buying the right sizes.

 

The Cool Max clothes feature a mix of cotton and polyester that are perfect for hot weather or rain, Dunning says.

 

"You could run a marathon in this," he says, holding up a snappy blue and white striped shirt.

 

He's even selling boxers with the Cool Max technology, reasoning that if you're going to wear pants that breathe and resist moisture, why not do the same with your underwear?

 

The shop has slacks for $98 and breathable, water resistant khakis for $48; a good price for something that's great for golf and for resisting wrinkles when dumped into a suitcase the way I usually do.

 

The upper level is general clothing, while the basement features golf stuff. He's also got framed flags from St. Andrews and Pinehurst and photos of some of the golfers who wear Dunning clothes, including 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson.

Some items have a D crest on them; very snazzy. But if you're not a logo person, he's got plenty of choices for you, too.

 

All in all, a very nice addition to the neighborhood and sure to appeal to golfers and lovers of nice, casual wear in general.

JIM'S DEALS OF THE DAY

$59 - Round-trip flight from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale (only $291 with all taxes & fees included)

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1591

 

$497 - All-inclusive package in Riviera Maya, Mexico (includes air, 4* hotel, meals & drinks) - $769 w/tax

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1592

 

Las Vegas Hotels from $20 per night! Statosphere, Bally's, Luxor, New York New York...

http://www.travelalerts.ca/ccount12/click.php?id=1593

 

 

AEROPLAN BOOST

 

Nice of the folks at Aeroplan and Air Canada to wrap up Aeroplan's 25th anniversary by adding 250,000 ClassicFlight reward seats in economy class.

 

They're over and above what was already available and are available now for travel until May 31, 2010 on flights operated by Air Canada and Jazz.

 

For information, go to www.aeroplan.com

 

 

BUCKY THE LUCKY BADGER

 

Thanks to Laura Bly for this link to some fabulous, old-time travel ads from the 1950s. Don Draper, indeed.

 

And you think that Michigan add meant long shoreline or short hemline? Just wondering.

NEW YORK FOOD

NYC and Company, New York's marketing and tourism group, says NYC Restaurant Week will run Jan. 25-Feb. 7. 2010, with the same prices charged since 2006. It's $24.07 three-course prix fixe lunches and $35 for three-course prix fixe dinners, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity.

Incidentally, I saw where some guy the other day wrote that 15 per cent is more or less the minimum for a tip and that good service should net something like 20 per cent. I've gone 20 per cent at times, but I think 15 is more than fine 98 times out of 100.

Close to 300 restaurants are expected to take part this year; the most ever.

The deal isn't valid on Saturday and restaurants have the option to offer it on Sundays. Just so you're warned.

QUEBEC CITY WINTER DEAL

Auberge Saint-Antoine, one of the top hotels I've had the pleasure to stay in, invites guests to enjoy winter with the new Winter Wonderland package. From Dec. 22 to March of next year (depending on the snow) you can enjoy dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing or snowshoeing at Ile d'Orleans, just 15 minutes from town. Afterward, enjoy a cocktail in the swanky Club Artefact and then sit by the fire in your room.

 
Rates start at $219 per person. Transportation is not included. For information, go to www.saint-antoine.com

CLUB MED SALE

The bigger the room, the bigger the savings with Club Med’s Winter Sale event. At the all-inclusive chain’s Cancun Yucatan property, two guests staying seven nights in an ocean view suite can save up to $1,400 per couple. For a family of four (two adults and two kids under 15 years old), suite accommodation has come down by as much as $2,100. Club Med Cancun Yucatan resort recently re-opened after a six week reno project that added a new infinity pool and private cabanas to Jade, the resort’s ‘hotel within a hotel’ and home to its high-end suites. All room categories at Club Med’s Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Florida properties qualify for the sale, as long as you book by Jan. 4 for travel by June 11. See www.clubmed.ca.

 

USA, Canada 1-2 in Country Rankings...West Jet news...Jim's Deal of the Day

They like us. They just like the USA a little more.

The fifth annual Country Brand Index report names the USA as the "top country brand" in the world, followed on the podium by Canada and Australia. It marks the first time the US of A has been number one on the charts. Australia had been first the last three years. Canada was second last year and again in 2009.

"It's logical to assume that the shift in the political climate and renewed optimism surrounding the election of President Obama was a key influencer in the U.S. topping the list," said Rene Mack, president of Weber Shandwick's Travel & Lifestyle Global Practice. The study was conducted by FutureBrand, a consultancy firm, and public relations firm Web Shandwick after a survey of 3,000 international business and leisure travellers.

While the USA was numero uno overall, Canada placed first in several categories; Best Country Brand for Families, Best Country Brand for Resort and Lodging Options (pretty good, I'd say), Best Country Brand for Safety, Best Country Brand for Political Freedom and, best of all, Best Country Brand You Would Most Like to Live In.

Canada came second in the category of best standard of living and was third in natural beauty, environmentalism and "easiest to do business in."

A quote in the report said Canada "continues to do an exceptional job with its branding. Using all the country has to offer, it promotes the experience of adventure, friendly people, diverse culture and beautiful landscapes."

Pretty dang good all around, I'd say.

The USA, in case you were wondering, was tops in Best for Business. But I didn't see any American first-place finishes in other categories, which is interesting. The USA did, however, make the top five in a number of categories where Canada didn't place, including best for advanced technology, best for quality products, best for nightlife (Canada didn't make the top five for nightlife? I guess the experts have never been to Oshawa) and best for shopping.

Here's the full top-10 list of Top Country Brands:

1. USA 2. Canada 3. Australia 4. New Zealand 5. France 6. Italy 7. Japan 8. UK 9. Germany 10. Spain

I'm not so sure I agree with some of the experts, however. Having just returned from Tahiti, I wouldn't rank it first for beaches. Great lagoons and beautiful water, but not a huge number of great beaches. Beaches are much better in Hawaii and Florida and California, although you don't want to swim in California's cool ocean waters in anything other than the heat of the summer.

By the way, the top five for beaches were Tahiti, Bermuda, Aruba, Barbados and the Bahamas.

I WOULD put Tahiti (see photo of Club Bali Hai resort in Moorea, below)  first for natural beauty, yes.

 
And for rest and relaxation, definitely. So no quibbles there.

WEST JET WANDERINGS

Had a cup of coffee with the folks from West Jet and West Jet Vacations yesterday. They're making a big push on the vacations front these days, with 66 destinations in a dozen countries and 11 new ones this fall.

"It's our largest single expansion ever," said Gregg Saretsky, vice president of West Jet Vacations. "We're expecting a million visitors to the sun this year, a 45 per cent hike."

As for specific deals, he says Cuba remains hot, hot and still hot.

"You can get an all-inclusive deal including air, hotel, food and your alcohol for $599 from Toronto," he said. "That's cheaper than staying home."

Saretsky said Cuba expects to attract a million Canadians this year.

"It's interesting that the US might allow visitors to Cuba," he said. "That might drive rates up."

New West Jet destinations this year include Varadero, Cayo Coco and Holguin in Cuba, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, Freeport (Grand Bahamas), Miami, Atlantic City, Cozumel, Lihue (Kauai, Hawaii) and Ixtapa.

"We're the only carrier offering service to all four main islands in Hawaii; Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii," he said. "And we offer 74 weekly services to Las Vegas."

JIM'S DEAL OF THE DAY

Quebec’s Chateau Beauvallon has a special $99.99 rate available through Dec. 18. This lead-in per night rate applies to one-bedroom suites, outfitted with both a king-sized bed in the bedroom and a pull-down Murphy bed in the living room. For two-bedroom suites, the lead-in is $159 and for three-bedroom suites, $209. Each suite’s kitchenette is equipped with a stove top, microwave and a dishwasher. And more crucial for some, the bathrooms have heated floors. Chateau Beauvallon is on the doorstep of Mont Tremblant, offering every winter sport imaginable from skiing and snowboarding to dog-sledding, snowshoeing and snow tubing. See www.chateaubeauvallon.com.

Orlando on sale for Canadians...Sexy Vegas promo...Cruise News...Deal of Day

They've never done it before, but the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau has just instituted a savings program aimed solely at Canadians. The new "Made for Canadians" offers provide Canadian travellers more than 70 options at www.VisitOrlando.com/Canada.

The offers are valid now through April 30, 2010 and range from free nights at hotels to discounts on attractions. Examples include:

 - Book any 3 day golf school at the Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott and get 3 nights FREE lodging in a 1 bedroom villa at Marriotts' Grande Vista Resort;

- Stay 2 nights at the Nickelodeon Family Suites and the get the third night free, plus one $50 USDollar resort credit for food and entertainment;

- Receive a $10 USD discount with the purchase of $20 or more on food or beverages at Planet Hollywood.

Orlando tourism folks say Canada is poised to become Orlando's top international market by the end of the year, surpassing the UK. I find it hard to believe they get more UK visitors than Canadians, but perhaps they're measuring arrivals at the Orlando airport and not counting those of us who tend to roll onto International Drive in minivans packed with Tim Hortons cups, McDonald's wrappers and Cracker Barrel audio tapes.

SEX AND VEGAS GO TOGETHER LIKE....

Sorry, I know they're trying to turn Vegas into a family resort. That's fine. But nobody is confusing Orlando (see above) with Sin City, so let's get to the good stuff.

 

The Signature at MGM Grand down Vegas way on Nov. 1 will start offering "Naughty or Nice" packages, allowing guests to choose between a fun naughty weekend in a luxurious suite or a boring nice weekend.

The dull, sorry, nice package has rates starting at $129 for a junior suite, plus a 40 % discount to Cirque du Soleil's KA, a $25 spa credit, breakfast in bed, champagne and strawberries in your suite as a welcome gift and more. You also get a turndown service with a surprise romance gift.

The interesting, sorry, naughty package has the same rates but you get a 40 % discount at MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris, admission for two to Studio 54 or Tabu Ultra Lounge, a vodka bar in-suite amenity, a $75 beverage credit at Signature or MGM Grand Pools, WET REPUBLIC, Studio 54 or Tabu, plus the surprise romance gift with turndown service.

Personally, I get turned down all the time at hotels. (That's a joke, honey). But seriously, it sounds like a pretty good pre-Christmas deal in what's usually a pretty dreary time of year in Canada, notwithstanding that Prince Charles and Camilla are coming to Toronto.

I asked the p.r. person what romance gift is that comes with the naughty promotion, but all she'd say was it was "along the lines of a spa product."

JIM'S DEAL OF THE DAY

Southern B.C.’s Panorama Mountain Village is offering free nights with stays of two nights or more. The ski resort is offering one night free with two paid nights, two nights free with three paid nights and three nights free with four paid nights. Lift tickets and breakfast are included with the paid nights (and discounted for the freebie nights). Panorama is offering the flexibility of either adding your free nights to your original stay, or using them for a return trip. For travel during the holiday season, including Christmas and New Year’s, the minimum stay for this deal is three nights. More details are available at www.panoramaresort.com.

CRUISE AWARDS

Royal Caribbean won the award for best family cruise line and Carnival won the best for first-timers award in CruiseCritic.com's annual editors' picks awards.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class of ships also won awards for best cruises for kids and best for teens. Holland America won in the best for cabins and best for activities categories, while Carnival won best nightlife. (The only cruise I've been on in my life was Royal Caribbean, and my kids had a great time, just fyi.)

 

Here are a few other winners:

- Best wedding at sea - Princess

- Best new ship - Celebrity Solstice and Equinox sister ships

- Best main dining - Carnival

- Best healthy dining - Celebrity

- Best river cruise line - Uniworld

- Best sailing ship - Windstar

- Best cruise line private island - Disney's Castaway Cay

 

Park'N Fly Food Drive...Worst Airports...Caribbean Warning...Jim's Deal/Day

Here's a nice idea. Park'N Fly here in Toronto is supporting the Daily Break Food Bank in an effort to help stampt out hunger and poverty and give families a happier holiday season.

Between Nov. 2 and Dec. 21, consumers can drop off a non-perishable food item at the Toronto Park'N Fly Valet Location and get one free parking day, with no strings or limitations or restriction. In addition, you can make a cash donation to the Food Bank in that period and get your free day by bringing the electronic donation receipt; just in case it's not handy to get the grocery store. Park'N Fly will match every dollar donated - up to $5,000 during this period.

I say GOOD ON PARK'N FLY for this promotion. And, hey, nice as the offer is, how about taking a big basket or bagful of groceries and not just a single item, folks?

CARIBBEAN UPS AND DOWNS

Interesting International Monetary Fund report the other day on Caribbean travel. The IMF says that as the financial crisis hit the U.S., countries most dependent on American tourism suffered the worst. Countries less dependent on U.S. visitors, including Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Cuba (duh), fared better.

From April to June, the IMF said visits to Mexico dropped 27.6 %, while those to St. Kitts and Nevis were down a surprising 25.5 % and visits to St. Vincent and the Grenadines dropped 24.1 %.

  
 

On the other hand, Barbados (see photo) was down 12. 5 % andSt. Lucia was down only 5.2 per cent. Jamaica was up 6.7 %, while Colombia grew by 13.2 % and Cuba by 3.8 %.

Don't forget it's Caribbean week here in Toronto, culminating with the Rum and Rhythm event at the Distillery District on Friday.

WORST AIRPORTS: LONDON CALLING

A survey by the Priority Pass airport lounge program finds that London Heathrow tops a list of the five worst airports in the world. Paris' Charles de Gaulle came in second, followed by LAX, Frankfurt International in Germany and Miami International.

Singapore Changi was voted the best airport by Priority Pass members, some 14,500 of whom were queried.

Singapore's airport is almost always singled out as world's best, with its massage chairs and movie theatres and rooftop gardens and dozens of other features that make our little Toronto Pearson look rather pathetic. But enough of that.

I don't know about Heathrow being worst. It's HUGELY busy, which can't be good for service. But I've been there twice in the last year, most recently a week ago in the new Terminal 5, and I thought it was pretty good. Haven't been to Paris in a while (note to self - remedy that) or LAX, although I'll be at LAX on Saturday for five hours so I can check it out. I recall my last visit to Frankfurt - on my way to Athens, I think - was dreadful. Miami's pretty poor but I believe it's being rebuilt/renovated.

JIM'S DEAL OF THE DAY

The buzz in cruising these days seems to be either ‘go big’ or ‘go small’. Mega-ships like Royal Caribbean’s 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas will carry 5,400 passengers when it hits the water later this year. That dwarfs the small and cozy river cruise ships gaining popularity on Europe’s waterways. No matter what your preference, there are plenty of deals out there. With Encore CruiseEscapes, you can save up to $200 per stateroom on Royal Caribbean cruises in Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, plus Atlantic Ocean crossings, for ocean view staterooms on select ships and sailings booked by Oct. 31. Higher stateroom categories also qualify. For booking information see www.encorecruiseescapes.com.

AIR WARS IN THE U.S.

I think I'd need a calculator or a really good abacus to figure it out, but the deals sound extraordinary on Southwest and on AirTran down in the U.S. of A. Southwest has launched a goofy (but seemingly popular) sale in which tickets range from $25 to $100, depending on how you go. A flight of up to 375 miles is $25 each way, while flights between 375 and 549 miles are $50 and flights between 550 and 999 miles are $75 each way. Flights of 1,000 miles or more cost, wait for it, $100 each way.

The sale ends Thursday at 11:59 p.m. PST. The sale covers flights between Dec. 2 and 16 and Jan. 5 to Feb. 10 - thus avoiding Christmas and New Year's. Interesting it ends two days prior to the start of the Vancouver Olympics, too.

AirTran has a sale of its own but you'll have to go to their website - www.airtrain.com - to check. Sample flights include Boston to Baltimore/Washington for $39. I was able to find a one-way flight from Buffalo-Niagara to Orlando in mid-November for $67 U.S., which is pretty dang good.

The AirTran sale isn't valid for tickets on Nov. 25, Nov. 28-30, Dec. 18-20, Dec. 22-30 or Jan. 2-3. It, too, ends Feb. 10, and USA Today reports fares are cheapest for flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

HONDURAS CHAIR LIFT: LOOKS GREAT BUT IS THE COUNTRY SAFE?

Carnival passengers will be able to "fly" from the ship to the beach on a new elevated chair lift, when the line debuts its new Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Roatan, Honduras, next month, says USA Today.

The six-minute lift ride, which Carnival is calling the "Magical Flying Beach Chair," will start directly at the cruise terminal and take passengers to Mahogany Beach. According to Carnival it's the first such transport in the Caribbean.

Four-passenger chairs will travel 67 feet above the ground. Carnival will charge a $5 fee for unlimited rides (chair lift passes will also be included in pre-sold beach activities).

The lift is part of Carnival's new $62 million cruise center which debuts with a visit of the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend on Nov. 20. Mahogany Beach is a 10-acre private island featuring a long beach with loung chairs, floats, private cabanas, watersports, a restaurant and two bars.

It's something you don't see everyday, but the Tourism Minister of Honduras was quoted the other day as saying visitors should AVOID his country due to political instability.

"We are still a state without individual guarantees," he said. "The police can come into your house without court order, you can be arrested withour reason, and there's no freedom of movement."

Carnival argues Roatan is 30 miles from the coast and hasn't been affected by the political situation in Honduras and that "we have continued to call there through the past many weeks without incident."

Still....