The Florida Keys ... Canada shines in tourism report ... Deal of the day: China

"It's a Caribbean-like destination with the safety and security of the United States."

That's a pretty good, one-sentence description of the Florida Keys. I'd take credit, but the line comes from Keys tourism spokesman Andy Newman, who gets to spend his time promoting a beautiful and exotic slice of American travel versus, say, Minot, North Dakota.

"You can dive and fish in all the areas of the Keys, but we really have five distinct areas, each with its own forte," Newman said in a recent visit to these parts. "Key Largo is great for snorkeling and scuba and features John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the U.S. Islamorada (see photo of the Morada Bay resort at right) is great for sport-fishing. It's said there have been more world fishing records off Islamorada than anywhere on the globe. Marathon is great for families as no point of the Keys is more than 90 minutes away. That means you can experience everything and not have to change hotels. And there are two centres for swimming with dolphins."

Newman said Big Pine and the lower Keys is a great eco-centre/wildlife refuge, with herons and mangroves and excellent kayaking/canoeing. It's also where parts of PT 109, the movie about the World War II service of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, was filmed. Little Palm Island and the nearby water stood in for the South Pacific in the film, he said.

Then, of course, there's Key West, with the Hemingway House and the Harry S. Truman Southern White House and great bars and restaurants and colourful houses. There's also a great deal of culture, including the Tennessee Williams Theatre and occasional symphony performances. Also on the cultural side, there's the Morada Way arts and cultural district on Islamorada. Newman said they do art walks with music and food every third Thursday to celebrate the upper keys culture.

If you're heading down in May, you also can check out the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival in Key Largo (where else) from May 2-5.

All in all, an outstanding - and convenient - destination.

CANADA RISES A BIT IN WORLD TOURISM REPORT

The World Economic Forum put out its 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report the other day, and Canada moved up a notch from 2011, taking over the number eight spot.

The report is based on "factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector" in countries around the globe.

Topping the charts this year was Switzerland with a 5.66 score, followed by Germany and Austria at 5.39. Then came Spain and the UK at 5.38 each, followed by the U.S. (5.32), France (5.31), Canada (5.28), Sweden ((5.24) and Singapore (5.23). The next ten were Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Iceland, Finland, Belgium, Ireland and Portugal.

Europe kicked massive butt in this report; nailing down the entire top five and placing 13 entries in the top 20.

As for the bottom 10, the 131-140 spots were held, in order, by Madagascar, Algeria, Yemen, Mauritania (I guess the GET MORE IN MAURITANIA campaign isn't working so well), Lesotho, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Chad and Haiti.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: CHINA AND HONG KONG

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal for a great, 23-day trip to China and Hong Kong, priced at $4,249.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save over $4000 per couple, when compared to similar packages on other sites!
• 23-Day China In-Depth Tour, including a Yangtze River Cruise, visits to the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall of China, Hong Kong Island, and more! 
• Includes round-trip flight with Air Canada from Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver, to  Beijing, airport/hotel transfers in China, and all transfers throughout the tour
• Accommodations in 4 or 5-Star hotels. See Offer Details section below for hotels included (based on double occupancy)
• Includes Visa (valued at $115pp) and gratuities for local driver & guide (valued at $265pp)
• Includes meals throughout the tour (as indicated in itinerary below)
• Includes accompaniment of an English-speaking guide and all required entrance fees (as per itinerary)

Why We Love It:

• Experience rural China and its bustling metropolises
• Includes a visit to Hong Kong
• See the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and other world renowned sites
• Enjoy experiences like an acrobatic show, authentic dinner and a river cruise

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on November 7, 2013 from Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver
  

• Pricing (based on double occupancy, plus tax):
  Single: $4929
  Double: $3879
  Tax: $350
  
  
• Hotels include the following: Oriental Bay Hotel, Beijing; Holiday Inn Vista Hotel, Shanghai; Metro Park Hotel, Suzhou; Xinan Counter Villa Hotel, Tunxi; West Lake Golden Plaza Hotel, Hangzhou; Titan Times Hotel, Xian; Park Hotel, Guilin; Shenzhen Airline International Hotel, Shenzhen and the Regal Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong.
• Valid passport is required for travel from Canada
• Prepaid gratuities (which are already included in the price) are mandatory
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for a March break driving holiday (don't sit on a donut) ... Rio is Deal of Day

 Lots of folks offering advice on driving south during the March Break talk about taking it slow and providing treats and reading material or movies for the kids to watch as you navigate the jaw-dropping scenery of southern Ohio. You know that, unless of course you’re one of those horrible parents who get on airplanes and expect their children to be entertained by themselves and therefore cause the rest of the passengers to suffer for hours while Little Junior pounds the seat in front of him and screams for anything to eat but a $9 Subway sandwich wrapped in plastic with too much icky sauce. 

No, what you need is tips from a seasoned travel person who’s made the joyous minivan voyage himself many times. And lived to tell the tale. So here a few:

1. Most important rule of all is this: avoid Atlanta at rush hour. If you must go through the City Too Busy to Hate (I call it the City With a Million Streets Called Peachtree Because They Have No Imagination and Stole the 1996 Summer Olympics From Toronto), be sure to do it at 3 a.m. Or at least avoid anything close to rush hour. Unless you want to expose your children to an entirely new vocabulary.

2. Do not leave your child’s doll in the Econo-Lodge outside Pittsburgh when you take the Pennsylvania route south. If you do, call the hotel immediately and ask them to put the doll aside. When you come back through, pick up Baby Sarah and explain to your daughter that Sarah also had a vacation, albeit at the bottom of a box in a dark closet and not at the beach.

3. Cheap out at least one night and rent a dump. Our family’s fondest (well, most-told) hotel story regards an absolute trashy joint in south Georgia, with cigarette burns in the moldy bedspread and clumps of hair and a wet towel in the bathtub. We all slept in our clothes. On top of the bed. With the windows open and the car keys in the ready position. Nobody remembers the perfectly adequate Courtyard Marriott in Chattanooga, but we all recall the horrible details of this one spot near Tifton.

4. If you must stop at Krispy Kreme for a donut, be sure to warn your wife that it’s sitting on the front seat before she plops down and squashes into a pile of oozy grease that seeps through the fabric of the seat. And her pants. This is not a look women seem to enjoy.

5. Do NOT attempt to save money by renting a single hotel room in Orlando for $60 for your wife and three kids and telling your six-year-old daughter she can sleep on a bed made of two small chairs tucked together. She will be squished into a pretzel and remember this when she’s 25 and hold you responsible.

6. Leave your watch at home. You won’t need it. Why? Because every 20 minutes (on the dot, I swear) your oldest son will reach across the pile of books and DVD’s in the back seat and slug his little brother in the arm. You can count on it. You can then explain to your confused wife that this is perfectly harmless and it’s what boys do and that you can’t explain it and that the bruising on the youngest son’s arm should go away in four to six months. Seven, tops.

7. Listen to whatever music you want, even if the kids say they hate it. Within 10 years they’ll like Blue Rodeo almost as much as you do. Maybe.

8. If you take your kids into a Wal-Mart in Kentucky, explain to them before you go that your grandmother was born near Louisville and that it is NOT polite to make fun of the employees’ accents.

9. If your son breaks his leg skiing the week before your planned ski trip to New Hampshire, a driving trip to Florida isn’t a bad consolation prize. And by parading said son in front of your family and putting on tremendously sad faces at the Magic Kingdom you’ll get sent to the front of the line and get to go down Splash Mountain 17 times in your first hour in the park.

10. Did I mention Atlanta?

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: RIO DE JANEIRO

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a 10-day tour of Rio de Janeiro Brazil, including air, for $2,850, including $325 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 2 Half-Day Tours of Rio de Janeiro - half-day in Sugarloaf and half-day in Corcovado
• 10-day/7-night Rio Getaway in Brazil, featuring an authentic Brazilian Churrascaria dinner and samba show, a cog-train ride through Tijuca Forest, visits to Saint Sebastian Cathedral, the beaches of Copacabana, and more! 
• Includes return airfare from Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa to Sao Paulo onboard Air Canada, and domestic flight from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. Round-trip airport transfers included.
• 7 nights' accommodation in 3-Star hotel in Copacabana area. Based on double occupancy.
• Includes 7 breakfasts and 1 authentic Brazilian dinner
  
  

• You'll have ten days to explore the city indepth
• Enjoy a cable car ride up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain
• Visit the world renowned beaches of Copacobana and Ipanema

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on any date between August 11 and September 15, 2013 (based on availability)
  If desired date is not listed on our booking page, call 1-855-687-5925 to book!
• Pricing (Rates are per person, and based on double occupancy):
  
  $2525 + $325 tax
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Hotel included to be confirmed at time of booking
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on January 23, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

 

 

 

Hockey sticks back on planes in U.S., but not Canada??!! - Deal of Day: D.R.

So, the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration says it will once again allow folks to carry pocket knives on board airplanes. Ditto for golf clubs and hockey sticks.

Here in Canada? No such plans. At least not yet.

As a Canadian, I’m appalled. I mean, hockey sticks could go on American planes flying from, say, Chicago to Toronto. But not on flights from Montreal to Boston?

It’s like outlawing double-doubles, or having United Airlines institute free poutine in economy class but not Air Canada.

Seriously, I’m not sure how it works. I’d like to think the Canadian folks will go along eventually. But we are, last time I checked, a separate country and we have our own rules and we do not simply follow the U.S. lead.

The TSA announcement from the States says knives with a blade of 6 cm (2.36 inches) or shorter are allowed. They can’t be more than a half-inch across at their widest point, cannot have a molded grip and can’t have a locking or fixed blade.

It'’s interesting. But the bit about golf clubs caught my eye. I mean, at a time when overhead bins are already full to the brim who takes their golf clubs on as a carry-on item? Other than Donald Trump, I mean.

Personally, I’d love to practice my putting at 35,000 feet. Or maybe even try some four-irons, which I could always aim at the guy who likes to slam his seat back into my face as soon as the seat belt light goes off.

MIAMI TOURISM ON THE RISE

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau announced that overnight visitors to what’'s called Greater Miami and the Beaches rose 3.5 per cent last year to a record 13.9 million overnight visitors overall.

It’s the third consecutive year of record overnight visits to the area, which we all know has awesome hotels, restaurants and beaches.

Officials said there was a 5.2 per cent hike in international visitors to 6.8 million. Domestic overnight visits rose 1.8 per cent to 7.1 million.

They also said a record $21.8 billion in visitor expenditures was generated in 2012, an increase of  5.1 per cent from 2011.

I didn’t see a breakdown of countries, but I can imagine Canadians were at the top of international visitors. We go a lot, but we can’t match the folks from Brazil or Russia for spending, I’m told.

"“The Bureau’'s aggressive marketing and expansion of the popular summer and shoulder season promotions, including Miami Museum Month, Miami Romance Month, Miami Spice Restaurant Month, Miami Spa Month, Miami Attractions Month and Miami Live Music Month were enjoyed by more visitors and residents than ever in 2012,”" said visitors bureau president & CEO William D. Talbert, III.
“

"These GMCVB promotions continued to fuel the momentum that established year-round travel and tourism for the destination,”" he said. "In 2012, the GMCVB added to the menu of these popular promotions in March by launching the first Miami Film Month to raise awareness of Greater Miami’s spectacular art cinemas, film festivals and connection to the film and entertainment industry.  In addition, as home to some of the most spectacular, challenging and desirable golf courses in the world, the GMCVB launched the first ever Miami Golf Month in April, providing visitors and residents with extraordinary offers and options at courses and hotels throughout the destination."

The World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship is being held at Miami’s Trump Doral resort this week.

BEST CANADIAN HOTELS FOR FAMILIES

TripAdvisor this week came out with its Travelers' Choice Awards for Hotels for Families. Here are there top 10 for Canada.

1. Safari Beach Condo Resort, Osoyoos, B.C. 2. Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls, 3. Douglas Fir Resort and Chalets, Banff, 4. Sunny Point Resort Cottages and Inn, Parry Sound, Ontario, 5. Lakeview Inn and Suites Miramichi, Miramichi, New Brunswick, 6. La Seigneurie du Triton, Lac-Edouard, Quebec, 7. Super 8 Motel Three Hills, Three Hills, Alberta, 8. Skyline Inn, Niagara Falls, 9. Legends, Whistler, B.C. and 10. Comfort Inn Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls.

That's a nice four of the top ten for Ontario, for those keeping score at home.

STARWOOD ON THE MOVE

Starwood this week said it plans to open 50 new hotels in Europe in the next five years, including three in Turkey and a third hotel in Moscow. They're also getting into Tajikistan and adding a hotel in Kazakhstan. Officials also said they're aiming to have 100 hotels under operation and development in Latin America by the end of 2013. Currently, Starwood has a strong footprint of 71 hotels in 13 countries.

By 2015, six new Aloft branded hotels will open in Latin America, bringing the total number to eight. This year, Aloft will debut in Panama and Mexico and by 2015 the brand will arrive in Asuncion, Paraguay and in Uruguay.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal this week for lovely Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for just $885, including $390 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save up to $560 per couple by booking with Jaunt.ca
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star IFA Villas Bavaro Resort & Spa, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Includes return airfare from Toronto, Halifax or Montreal to Punta Cana, with round-trip airport/hotel transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Superior Room featuring 1 King or 2 Double beds, a French balcony and a garden, pool or partial ocean view
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Why We Love It:

• Seven distinct restaurants and seven bars offer lots of diversity
• Pamper yourself at the IFA Corallium Spa
• Playa Bavaro is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: May 14 ,21, 28 & Jun 4, 11, 18, 2013
  Halifax: May 4, 2013
  Montreal: May 06, 13, 20 & Jun 3, 10, 17, 2013
  
  Other DATES and GATEWAYS available.
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  Toronto:
  Single: $645 plus tax
  Double: $495 plus tax
  Triple: $475 plus tax
  Quad: $455 plus tax
  Children (2-12 yrs): $395 plus tax
  Tax: $390
  
  Halifax:
  Single: $745 plus tax
  Double: $595 plus tax
  Triple: $575 plus tax
  Quad: $555 plus tax
  Children (2-12 yrs): $495 plus tax
  Tax: $392
  
  Montreal:
  Single: $1045 tax included
  Double: $895 tax included
  Triple: $875 tax included
  Quad: $855 tax included
  Children (2-12 yrs): $795 tax included
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on March 13, 2013. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

                

Not good, folks.

Statistics Canada says the country's international travel deficit vis a vis the rest of the world was $4.6 billion in the fourth quarter of last year and that our international deficit for all of 2012 was a whopping $17.8 billion. That's up $1.5 billion from 2011's figure of $16.3 billion.

During the year, Canadians spending abroad rose 6.7 per cent to $35.2 billion. But receipts from foreign visitors in Canada increased by a smaller amount, 4.4 per cent, to $17.3 billion.

It's understandable we have a travel deficit given our winters and all. That's probably never going to change. But the government in Ottawa is doing a horrible job of boosting our profile overseas and luring more visitors to Canada.

They've sent the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Maxime Bernier, to India this week to help boost things. And it's a nice start. But Ottawa also has cut the budget for the Canadian Tourism Commission, reportedly by some 20 per cent. And they've made the cuts at a time when some of our rivals, such as the U.S., are investing heavily in tourism. And don't get me started on how foolish we are to lump "small business" and "tourism" together in the invisible Mr. Bernier's portfolio.

Tourism is a business that's easy to promote. The returns can be easily measured and are often significant. And Canada has a strong brand, as survey after survey indicates. People love our (mostly) peaceful reputation and our lakes and our cities, and we should out there selling ourselves a lot harder than we do.

DINO-MITE ATTRACTION IN SASKATCHEWAN?

The T. rex Discovery Centre near Eastend, Sask. is billed as the home of Canada's largest Tyrannosaurus rex — a beast dubbed Scotty that would have stood about six metres tall and over 12 metres long. Soon it will have a life-size replica of the animal's skeleton, mounted for display, Canadian Press reports.

Fossilized fragments of the creature were discovered in 1991 near Eastend in the Frenchman River Valley. Roughly 65 million years old, they make up one of the most complete T. rex skeletons in the world.

The replica, created by Research Casting International in Trenton, Ont., is set to be unveiled March 16 by Lt.-Gov. Vaughn Schofield at the centre, 140 kilometres southwest of Swift Current.

The community-owned centre, which has a variety of fossil displays, opened in 2000 in Eastend to showcase the area's rich paleontological history. After years of declining attendance at the facility, the Regina-based Royal Saskatchewan Museum said earlier this month it would take over operations in the spring.

A marketing strategy is being planned to raise the centre's profile as a tourism destination in southwest Saskatchewan.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a Disney deal on tap. The package is for $1,068 for a week's stay in Orlando, including $139 in taxes.

 

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 7-Day Magic Your Way Tickets offering access to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom
• 7-night stay at your choice between Disney's All-Star Music Resort or Disney's All-Star Sports Resort located in Orlando, Florida
  
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Orlando with Air Canada, and round-trip hotel/airport transfers in Florida
• Accommodations in a Standard Room, featuring 1 king or 2 double beds. Max. occupancy: 4 adults or 2 adults + 2 children
• Option to Upgrade to include Quick Service Dining: Meal plan offers casual dining at over 50 select restaurants throughout Walt Disney World Resort

• Each of the two resorts has a different theme catering to kids' tastes and personalities
• Magic your Way passes are good for all four Disney theme parks

Offer Details

• Valid for travel from Toronto or Montreal on May 21, 22 & 23, 2013
• For additional information on the Quick Service Dining meal plan click HERE
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $929 plus tax
  Single: $1310 plus tax
  Triple: $825 plus tax
  Quad: $775 plus tax
  Child: $599 plus tax
  Tax: $139
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $1069 tax included
  Single: $1449 tax included
  Triple: $969 tax included
  Quad: $919 tax included
  Child: 739 tax included
  
  Add Quick Service Dining (7 Nights):
  Adult: $279
  Child (10-17): $279
  Child: (3-9): $107
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925 to book.
  
  
• Upgraded Disney Accommodations also available. Call us to book: 1-855-687-5925
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IRELAND TOURISM VIDEO

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

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

TOURISM BOOST FOR IRAN? DOUBT IT

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY: GREECE AND TURKEY

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

Jaunt Highlights

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

 

 

 

 

Best beach? TripAdvisor says Maui (but Tofino gets a vote) ... Deal of the day

I give Trip Advisor a bit of grief now and then over its ratings/voting patterns. But this one I can't argue with too much.

The company this week issued its annual list of reader's favourite beaches, and top of the class is Ka'anapali in Hawaii. Ka'anapali, which came into its own as a resort 50 years ago on the west side of Maui north of Lahaina, is an absolutely stunning piece of landscape with a number of big advantages.

Here are ten. First, it goes on for miles and miles and miles and miles. Second, the sand is soft and a very pretty gold-colour. Third, there are tremendous views of the neighbouring islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i. Fourth, it faces west so the sunsets, mostly over the Pacific but occasionally over one of the nearby islands, are outstanding. Fifth, being Hawaii, the weather seldom varies (although it was quite windy last week a friend tells me). Sixth, there are activities galore: whalewatching from October to April or so; plus sailing and snorkeling and great golf and dolphin tours and parasailing and bodysurfing and lots more. Seventh, the resorts are terrific; everything from glitzy spots like the Westin and Hyatt and Sheraton to the more subdued Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, which has great Hawaiian programming and is very true to the island culture. Eighth, there's a great pathway/walkway all along the sand, so you can go from one resort to another quite easily. Ninth, the food is terrific. Try Hula Grill or check in next door at Leilani's for outstanding fish tacos. Hint: instead of sitting with the crowds down below, go to the second floor deck at Leilani's for a fine view of the passing parade - or the sunset. Tenth, there's great shopping right at the beach at Whalers' Village; with fine jewelry and restaurants (Hula Grill and Leilani's are here) and t-shirt shops and a small museum dedicated to telling the story of the area's whaling history.

Oh, yeah, number 11: If you're a jogger and there are big waves, you might spot an attractive photographer snapping photos. This woman, who I got a picture of a couple years ago, was wearing a thong bikini and somehow grabbed the attention of a male jogger who approached her from behind...

I personally prefer Napili Beach, just up the road, as it's quieter. But it's hard to argue with anyone who puts Ka'anapali at the top of their list.

Oh, yeah, sorry, the next were Siesta Key Public Beach in Sarasota (a beautiful part of Florida), Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola, Florida (I was there for the first time last month and the beaches are stunningly white and soft and powdery, see photo at left) and Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde, Florida (on the gulf, south of St. Petersburg and west of the 275 bridge in case you don't recognize the name Tierra Verde), giving Florida the 2-3-4 spots in the poll.

Coming fifth was Lanikai Beach in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, then Wailea Beach in Wailea, Maui (the south end of the island), Assateague Beach in Virginia, La Jolla Cove near San Diego, California, Laguna Beach (a fine choice) in California and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve outside Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. So, for those of you keeping score at home, that's Hawaii in the number 1, 5, 6 and 10 spots, Florida in positions 2, 3 and 4 and California with spots 8 and 9. Only one beach outside those states got a nod, which is Assateague.

Not to keep harping on Trip Advisor, but this DOES show how tricky these lists are. I'd like to have seen something from, say, New York's Long Island in there or perhaps South Carolina or Texas or even Oregon. And what about beaches on a lake? Don't those count?

Anyway, Trip Advisor also did a list of the world's (outside the U.S.) top strands. In order, those were Rabbit Beach in Lampedusa, Italy, Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos, Whitehaven Beach at Airlie Beach in Australia, Baia do Sancho on the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, Spain, Lopes Mendes Beach in Ilha Grande, Brazil, Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda (a very worthy winner), Eagle Beach in Aruba and Rhossili Bay in Swansea, Wales.

Chesterman Beach in Tofino B.C., a long and lovely stretch with surfing waves and driftwood and a great atmosphere (see photo), came 13th in the world tally. Which is nice, as it means that not everyone thinks we're a land perpetually covered in snow drifts and ice blocks. Just sometimes. Like, um, now.

DEAL OF THE DAY: A CARIBBEAN CRUISE

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a good deal on a Caribbean cruise for $1,128: $999 plus $129 in taxes. I did a similar cruise with my family about ten years ago and everyone loved it.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes $100 USD On Board Credit (applies to Oceanview bookings only)
• 7-Night Southern Caribbean cruise sailing on the RCI Adventure of the Seas
• Accommodations in one of the following staterooms: Inside (Category L), Promenade (Catefory PR) or Superior Oceanview Balcony (Category D2)
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to San Juan, round-trip airport/pier transfers, and flight seat selection
• Cruise departs from and returns to San Juan. Ports of Call include: St. Croix, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados 
• Includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at various complimentary dining options

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on March 24, 2013
  (Other dates and gatways available. Call us at 1-855-687-5925)
• Pricing: (Rates are per person, plus tax, & based on double occupancy)
  
  Inside Stateroom (Category L):
  Toronto: $999 + $129 tax
  Montreal: $1128 tax included
  
  Promenade Stateroom (Category PR):
  Toronto: $1049 + $129 tax
  Montreal: $1178 tax included
  
  Balcony Oceanview Stateroom (Category D2):
  Toronto: $1699 + $129 tax
  Montreal: $1828 tax included
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

Thank God for Canadians.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

Jaunt Highlights

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

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

Offer Details

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

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

 

 

 

"

 

 

Florida backs off on drivers license issue (we think) ... Sunwing Canada sale



Well, that's a little better. I think.

A day after we here at the Star ran our exclusive story on how Florida was now demanding all non-U.S. citizens have an International Driving Permit, the state seems to have backed off. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said it was suspending the rule pending further study.

"International visitors who plan to drive in Florida now need only a valid driver's license issued from their ow country," the department said in a press release. It went on to say the Florida Highway Patrol will defer enforcing the law until they can study the issue of whether the requirement violates the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (and raise your hand if you knew there was a Geneva Convention on Road Traffic).

It's good news. But the announcement appears to cover the Florida Highway Patrol and not necessarily county or local police, such as Miami or Orlando or Tampa or Dade County, etc...

The Canadian Automobile Association, which is the agency in Canada that issues the International Driving Permits for $25 a pop, is suggesting folks heading to Florida in the next little while act on the safe side and get their permit. I don't blame them for exercising caution. But I find it hard to believe a cop in Jacksonville or St. Petersburg would issue a ticket to a Canadian for not having an international permit if they were pulled over for a traffic violation.

Either way, it' amazes me that a state so dependent on tourism would let something like this slip by. And I still think it would be smart if the governor would stand up and promise that any city or local police officer who issues a ticket to someone for not having the international permit will get a personal invitation for his back end to meet the pointed end of the governor's boot.

I mean, wouldn't that be a great video on YouTube or TV on the weekend? "Hi, I'm Governor Rick Scott and I'm here to tell all you wonderful Canadians that if any officer down here in Florida gives you a hard time about your driver's license I will PERSONALLY KICK HIS ASS."

Just a thought....

CARNIVAL CRUISE MADNESS

Boy, those don't look like happy people coming off the Carnival Triumph. I've read great comments this morning about how hard the ship's workers toiled to do what they could for passengers, and good for them, but it still sounds like awful conditions on board after four days almost entirely without power.

Ugh, I can only imagine.

Carnival, of course, faces a tremendous uphill battle to restore its image. And don't forget Carnival owns Costa, which had the incident in Italy a year ago with the ship running aground on an island.

Folks had pretty much got back into the cruise habit a few months after the Costa incident, so I suspect things will rebound pretty quickly in this case. Although mostly for the likes of Royal Caribbean or Holland America or Norwegian; companies not named Carnival.

And I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't point out that the Carnival incident is bound to lead to a slew of sales for Carnival's other ships. One doesn't like to capitalize on someone else's misfortunes, but if you've been eager to try a cruise somewhere I bet you'll get a great bargain on Carnival in the next week or two, if not beyond.

SUNWING CANADA SALE

Sunwing has announced its summer flying schedule across Canada.

"With early bird pricing featuring savings of $200 per person on round-trip fares, if booked by March 15, 2013, families can begin planning their reunions in advance," officials said.

 

Sunwing will offer flights from Toronto to Vancouver on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 20 to Sept. 9, 2013. Vancouver to Toronto departures start June 19 and run until Sept. 24, 2013, with departures on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.

 

Flights between Toronto and Newfoundland will commence on June 19 and operate until

Sept. 6, 2013. Flights between Toronto and St. John’s are on Tuesdays. flights to Stephenville will operate on Wednesdays and flights to Gander will go on Fridays.

 

All Sunwing flights include "Sunwing Airlines' High Frills Service", which features hot towel service, a hot meal or hot snack depending on flight time, wine with hot meals, soft drinks, and complimentary in-flight entertainment, including first run movies. For just $40 more per flight segment, travellers can upgrade to Sunwing's Elite Plus service, which features advance seat selection, separate check-in at a majority of airports, advance boarding, 30 kg baggage allowance, and extra legroom seats.

 

I spotted a flight to Vancouver in June today for $545, including all taxes. Not cheap, but probably cheaper than some of the big boys. A July one-week trip from Toronto to St. John's, Newfoundland, was listed at $457.

 

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on offer for a bus tour of New York City for $389, including two nights' at a hotel outside the city. Here are the details:

• 3-Night, 4-Day Tour of New York City via deluxe motorcoach
• 2 nights' accommodation at the Holiday Inn Newark Airport, and 1 overnight on the bus
• Meals include 2 breakfast and 1 dinner
• Includes guided tour of New York City with stops at Central Park, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral and more

Why We Love It:

• See all the iconic sights of New York City in one trip
• Free time lets you explore the parts of the city you most want to visit
• Try spending March Break or Easter differently this year; right in the middle of the Big Apple

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  March 11, 2013 (March Break), March 29, 2013 (Easter)
  ** Other dates available. Please call: 1-855-GO-JAUNT
• Pricing (includes taxes):
  
  Single: $589 per person
  Double: $389 per person
  Triple: $369 per person
  Quad: $319 per person
  Child (2-11 yrs sharing with 2 adults): $319 per person
• Depart from any of the following pick-up locations:
  
  5:00 am: Scarborough Town Centre (near YMCA)
  230 Town Centre Court
  Scarborough, ON
  M1P 4Y7
  
  6:00 am: Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre
  55-3175 Rutherford Road
  Vaughan, ON
  L4K 5Y6
  
  6:45 am: Square One Shopping Centre
  100 City Centre Drive
  Mississauga, ON
  L5B 2C9
  
  7:45 am: Real Canadian Superstore (parking not available at this location)
  361 South Service Road,
  Grimsby, ON
  L3M 4E8

• Please arrive 30 minutes prior to pick-up time. All departure times are dependant on traffic
• Includes complimentary parking at Sarracini Travel, located at Vaughan Mills departure location
• Valid passport is required. If you are born outside of Canada, you must have a valid passport along with a visitor's visa. We do not take responsibility for anyone who is denied entry into the United States
• This offer is refundable until 5PM EST on February 20, 2013 After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable

Florida crazies say thanks to Canada with new driver license rule ... Ireland deal

What a lovely way to say thank you.

Last year, some three million Canadians weathered fierce snowstorms or long, grueling drives or paid hundreds of dollars to fly to Florida. We spent our hard-earned money in Florida restaurants and Florida hotels and Florida theme parks and, some of us, in Florida tiki bars.

We make up, by quite a large bit, the largest group of visitors to The Sunshine State. So what do we get in return? We get told we’re supposed to pay $25 for an International Driving Permit for the privilege of driving in the state that we help keep in business.

Because, you know, there’s nothing more dangerous than a Canadian driving along I-75 or Biscayne Blvd.

As outlined in today’s Star by reporter Katie Daubs, the rule is supposed to hellp Florida law enforcement folks interpret foreign licenses. But it means Canadians and Chileans and Kiwis and Germans will have to apply for an international permit. In our case, that means a passport picture and $25 at the local Canadian Automobile Association office.

Tourism types are apologizing for the inconvenience, as well they should. And there’s talk that the law might be changed by July 1, at least for folks, get this, with English-language licenses.

What about Quebeckers? Would an exemption cover them or just folks from the rest of Canada? What about Aussies? They have English licenses but they certainly don't speak the language. Ba-da-boom.

We can get angry but I think it makes perfect sense for Florida to take action like this. I mean, people with licenses from Brazil and Mexico and Canada and Australia and Britain are wreaking HAVOC on Florida roads. You think unemployment and immigration issues and, oh, I don’t know, gun control are important? You silly, silly people. Those problems absolutey PALE in comparision with the carnage left behind in Clearwater and Kissimmee by rampaging hooligans from Halifax, with their fancy Nova Scotia licenses that no Florida cop could possibly understand.

So it’s no wonder the state had to do something.

(Hey, I was just driving about in Florida last month with an Ontario license. I guess that makes me something of a criminal. Yeah, just call me James Dean, rebel without an IDP).

This could be a windfall for the cops. They could just park outside the Blue Jays spring training complex and the stadium in Dunedin and hand out tickets to all those law-breaking Canadians. Think of the revenue!

Honestly, some days I just shake my head at the insanity around us. For a state so dependent on tourism, this is unbelievably stupid.

So here’s an idea. How about the Florida governor send out a note of common sense and tell police in the state to ignore this idiotic law until saner heads prevail.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering a Transat deal for a pub and folk music trip to fabulous Ireland for $2,463, including $465 in taxes. Here are the details:

• BONUS: $150 Future Travel Voucher per person
• BONUS: Extend your flight for up to 30 days at no extra charge and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe (accommodations for extension extra)
• 9-day/7-night Irish Pub & Folk Tour with visits to Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Kilarney, Westport and more
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Dublin on Air Transat and transfers to/from airport to hotel
• 7 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels
• Meals throughout your tour (as outlined in itinerary below)
• Includes professionally guided tours of Ireland via air conditioned Deluxe Motorcoach, and all admission fees as per itinerary

• Enjoy the traditional Irish pub life with tours, samplings and shows
• Take advantage of your pockets of free time to explore Ireland at your own pace while still enjoying the services of a local guide in Dublin
• Tour includes entry into popular Irish attractions like the Blarney Castle, Guinness Storehouse and more

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on June 7, 2013 departure
• Pricing:
  Single: $2,498 per person, plus tax
  Double: $2,098 per person, plus tax
  Tax: $465

 

 

West Jet ups the ante in fight with Air Canada, Porter ... Deal of Day is Turkey

Big news in the Canadian airline biz today, as WestJet takes aim at both Air Canada and Porter.

Calgary-based WestJet announced today it will start flying twice weekly between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (see photo at right), beginning May 2. Air Canada doesn't fly that route but Porter does, out of the Toronto island airport.

Myrtle Beach folks are obviously excited to welcome hundreds more Canadians to their beaches, golf courses and fine restaurants each week.

The Star's Vanessa Lu reports that within Canada, WestJet also is increasing the number of flights between Toronto and Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, and will introduce new non-stop service between Toronto and Fort McMurray.

The airline will also boost flights between Toronto and Orlando to 11 weekly from seven a week, which is great news for Florida fans.

It is moving service between Calgary and Los Angeles to twice daily from once a day. Beginning April 29, it is also introducing daily service between Calgary and Dallas-Fort Worth, which is a hub for WestJet’s code-share partner American Airlines, Lu reported.

A lot of that sounds like warning shots across Air Canada's bow to me. And let's hope it means an air fare war of some kind, as prices these days are crazy high.

The Financial Post is reporting that Encore will serve Fort St. John, Saskatoon, and Nanaimo, from Calgary starting June 24. The Post also said they'll provide Encore service between Vancouver and Victoria with a 78-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop.

The airline has plans to expand the Encore service to several other routes including flights between Calgary and Edmonton, Regina, and Grande Prairie as of Aug. 13, the paper said.

Last week, WestJet reported strong profits for 2012 of $242.4 million, or $1.78 a share, up from $148.7 million in 2011. Still the airline is embarking on a $100 million cost-cutting initiative over the next three years.

CHAOS AT PEARSON

It’s not bad enough that ordinary Torontonians don’t know how to drive in the snow. It’s worse when folks at Pearson Airport can’t handle a dump of the white stuff.

It was chaos at Pearson on the weekend. Every time I turned on the news there was some poor schlep standing in front of a camera explaining how he’s been at the airport since 1998, or something like that, and was still waiting to take his trip to Florida.

“The bad news is I’ve had to wait 15 years for the de-icing equipment to work and for a new flight crew to arrive,” I thought I heard one man say. “The good news is I’m now 75 and I won’t have to take off my shoes when I go through security.”

It was not only crazy inside the airport, but a story in today’s Star outlines how folks had to wait hours and hours just to get their cars out of the lot at the Park'N Fly, which seems crazy.

A report on travelmole.com this morning says more than 7,000 flights were cancelled because of the winter storm that hit eastern Canada and the northeast U.S.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for spring and summer. Because all we’ve have to worry about then is flooding and thunderstorms and hurricanes.

CRUISE SHIP TRAGEDY

It was about a year ago that the Costa ship ran aground in Italy. Now comes word of another tragedy, this one, bizarrely, during a drill lifeboat usage.

The incident took place during a safety drill on the cruise ship Thomson Majesty while it was docked in Santa Cruz on La Palma in the Canary Islands.

The lifeboat fell into the water killing five members of crew and injuring three.

Nautilus International, the union for seafarers and maritime professionals, argues that more people get killed and injured during lifeboat drills than rescued by lifeboats.

Andrew Linington, head of communications, said: "This is just ridiculous. There have been dozens of fatalities in the last few years alone due to these drills.”

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has an offering for a trip to fabulous Turkey.

Jaunt Highlights

• 16-day/14-night Ottoman Discoveries Turkey Tour with visits to ancient cities, mosques, Turkish markets and more!
• Optional return air from Toronto to Istanbul via Air Transat. Land-only option also available.
• Includes all transfers in Turkey via air-conditioned motorcoach, services of a professional English speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• 14 nights' accommodation based on double occupancy. See below for hotels included (or similar).
• Includes 40 meals throughout the tour

• Your small tour and boutique-style accommodations ensure a unique, personalized experience
• You'll visit famous sites of antiquity like Ephesus and Troy
• You'll experience the energy of Istanbul and the healing powers of Turkey's countryside

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 19, 2013
• Pricing (based on double occupancy):
  
  Land Only:
  Double: $2029 per person, tax included
  Single: $2679 per person, tax included
  
  Including Toronto Air:
  Double: $2609 + tax
  Single: $3259 + tax
  Tax: $457.60 per person
  
  
• Accommodations included (or similar): Aziyade (Istanbul), Iris (Canakkale), Kalehan (Selcuk), Pam (Pamukkale), Dogan (Antalya), Anamas Konukevi (Beysehir), Upper Greek House (Cappadocia), The Apple Palace (Amasya) & Kadioglu Sehzade Konagi (Safranbolu)
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until Feb 13 at 5PM EST. After this time, this offer is 100% non-refundable