Cheapskates should spend time in Sofia; big spenders in Oslo ... Deal of the day

You could spend three full days in Hanoi or Sofia Bulgaria or Warsaw (almost) for the price of a single day in Oslo, Norway.

The latest TripIndex Cities list for 2013, brought to you by the people at Trip Advisor, shows that the cost of a hotel, taxi, dinner and cocktails in Sofia is $158.42. That same day in Oslo? Try $581.08.

Trip Advisor says Sofia (see photo) checks out as the cheapest big city to check out in the world. Right behind was Hanoi, which I quite enjoyed on a visit a couple years ago, at $176.14, followed by Warsaw at $187.45.

The next cheapest were Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt ($191.34), Budapest ($193.44), Bangkok ($201.15), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ($217.73), Tunis, Tunisia ($218.91), Cape Town ($219.46) and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which clocked in at $220.14 even though you can't get a cocktail.

The highest priced, ranking from 39th to 49th on the list, were Punta Cana ($435.66), Cancun ($441.06), Copenhagen ($443.58), London ($451.35), Sydney ($460.21), Paris ($511.40), New York ($515.97), Stockholm ($521.68), Zurich ($523.41) and then poor Oslo ($581.08, in case you were celebrating the Jays' win in Texas too much last night and drank too much champagne and forget what I just wrote).

Toronto? Yeah, we were up there in the 34th spot in the expense-o-meter, ringing in at a sizeable $389.74, which broke down to $256.57 for the hotel, $23.62 for the cabs, $77.69 for dinner and $31.86 for cocktails.

I'm relatively sure these figures are accurate in terms of weighing one city versus another. We all know Scandinavia is expensive and that big cities in Asia and Eastern Europe tend to be easier on the debit card.

But I was surprised by a few things, one of them the Punta Cana numbers and also that Sydney seems more expensive than London. Mind you, they have somewhat nicer beaches and a bit more sunshine in Sydney than in London. The Aussies even speak a form of English, which makes it a fun place to visit once you discover a "flat white" is a form of cappuccino or cafe latte and not a term used to dismiss Canadian travel writers who take pot shots at folks from Oz; a country that I truly love truth be known.

I'm also taken aback by the prices, as they seem to have found fairly expensive hotels. The index for the study says they specified a four-star hotel found on Trip Advisor or partner booking sites in each destination for a night between June 1 and Aug. 31. Each day's expenses include a traditional or common meal at a mid-range restaurant, including an appetizer and main course for two people with a bottle of house white (ugh) wine. Cocktail prices specified two dry martinis at a top-rated five star hotel and the taxi prices represented a pair of two-mile taxi rides.

The food prices seem okay and the cabs, too, but I know you can hotels for WAY less than the survey suggests in Toronto and other cities by using sites such as hotels.com.

Still, it's a fun survey that does show you how it can pay to stay in a different place than the rest of the crowd. I've often made the point that places like Hanoi and Bangkok are fabulous if you want to save money or if you want to live it up and spend what you'd normally spend on a vacation. Even considering the extra cost of flying to Asia versus Europe, you can save a lot by taking a week in Bangkok versus, say, Rome or Paris.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a trip to the sunny Dominican Republic, priced at $788, including $389 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• SAVINGS: Two travellers save up to $200 by booking with Jaunt.ca!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the Casa Marina Beach Resort, located in Sousa, Dominican Republic

• The resort is located ten minutes from the airport
• The resort is surrounded by world-class golf greens and great diving centres

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on July 10, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Puerto Plata and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in the Dominican Republic
• Accommodations in a Standard Gardenview room,  featuring 1 king or 2 double beds and balcony or terrace. Maximum occupancy: 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Toronto :
  Double : $399 + tax
  Single: $535 + tax
  Triple: $383 + tax
  Quad: $374 + tax
  Child: $289 + tax
  Tax: $389

• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) christens cruise ship ... Deal of the Day

The Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate Middleton and wife of Prince William, took part in a royal tradition today by christening the newest ship from Princess Cruises.

The Duchess, looking her usual resplendent self in a leopard print coat and sporting her baby bump, smashed a champagne bottle (oh, the waste) on the new Royal Princess, a 3,600 passenger ship.

William didn't make the trip to Southampton, England for the christening, leaving his wildly popular wife to take care of things, the Daily Mirror (UK) reported, calling her a "real smasher."

The duchess is due to have her baby next month but isn't letting that stop her from wearing fashionable outfits. She was sporting black high heels for the Princess Cruise event and also showed off a spiffy black fascinator.

 

“I name this ship Royal Princess, may God bless her and all who sail in her,” Middleton said before cutting the rope, according to ABC News.

Very cool lady. And not a bad bit of publicity for Princess Cruises, don't you think?

SPEAKING OF CRUISES...

On a related note, I see that the fire-damaged Carnival Triumph is back in action.

Four months after an engine fire left it to drive for days in the Gulf of Mexico, the nearly 900-foot Carnival Triumph is scheduled to sail today from Galveston, Texas on a four-night cruise to Mexico and the western Caribbean, Associated Press reports.

The ship became disabled during a February cruise of the Caribbean. Passengers had to endure cold food, unsanitary conditions and power outages while the vessel was towed to Mobile, Alabama.

A company statement says the ship underwent $115 million in repairs and upgrades in Alabama and at dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, before returning to Galveston on Tuesday.

Not sure if Carnival put on a fire sale (I'm so sorry about that), but the cruise was sold out.

CALGARY STAMPEDE APPROACHING

There are only 3 weeks left before this festival kicks off and right now Expedia.ca is offering a savings of up to 50 per cent on select Calgary hotels – just in time for the most famous stampede in the country. If not the world.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a divine 7-night cruise in the western Caribbean, priced at $1,253, including $568 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

 

• EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save up to $650 per couple, compared to the cost of booking your air, transfers and cruise separately!
• 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise sailing aboard the MSC Divina
• Departs from and returns to Miami, Florida. Ports of Call include: Falmouth, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

• The Divina is a luxurious cruising experience, complete with marble staircase and Broadway-style theatre
• Enjoy a fully packaged cruising experience, including flight and transfers

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on November 30, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale and round-trip airport/pier transfers 
• Accommodations available in an Inside Stateroom (Category 1/2/3), Oceanview (Category 4/5) or a Balcony (Category 7/8/9) stateroom
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Inside Category (1/2/3):
  $685 + 567.86 tax
  
  Oceanview (Category 4/5):
  $825 + 567.86 tax
  
  Balcony (Category 7/8/9):
  $895 + 567.86 tax
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

Europe faves: Where to get fat in France, plus top views in Rome ... Deal of day

A recent study by the United Nations’ world tourism organization found that 43 per cent of all the tourism money spent in the world last year was spent in Europe.

Meanwhile, the folks at TripAdvisor this week announced their 2013 Travelers’ Choice Destinations, based on reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers. The top 10 was as follows: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, San Francisco, Florence, Prague and Sydney. That’s seven of 10 for the Euros, which is why so many of us book trips to places like Paris and Prague each summer.

With that in mind, here’s a personal look at a few European faves (or not) I’ve discovered over the years.

Favourite Irish pub: Gus O’Connor’s in Doolin, which looks like something out of Lord of the Rings. Great music and Irish camaraderie in a perfect little town (see below).

Best-looking museum (outside): City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. A beautiful interplay of structure and light by Santiago Calatrava, who designed the interior of what’s now Brookfield Place at Yonge and Front Streets (the old BCE Place).

Best-looking museum (inside): The Musee d’Orsay in Paris is a former train station that’s a joy to simply sit in. Toss in some of the world’s best Impressionist art and you’ve got a killer combination.

Sweetest treat: Some folks swear by macaroons in Paris, but I’ll take the crème cakes in Lake Bled, Slovenia; thin pastry with custard-like crème and vanilla and powdered sugar. The views of Lake Bled, a perfect church on a small island, a fort on a towering cliff and the Slovenian alps are even sweeter in what might be the prettiest spot in all of Europe.

Best place to get fat: The Dordogne region of France, east of Bordeaux, features tons of Foie gras, local duck, good wine and more foie gras. The rivers are lined with beautiful castles on high hills, which makes for a great canoe trip to work off some calories.

Best golf course views: Nefyn and District (photo at left) is a fabulous links setup in northwest Wales. The last couple holes are played out (mostly) on a tiny peninsula high on a hill. You can peer down at a small, beachside village that’s achingly beautiful and features the renowned Ty Coch Inn.

Best tour of Paris: Take a ride in an old Citroen and tour the City of Light with a company called 4 roues sous un Parapluie.

Best place to get to another continent: If you stay on the European side of Istanbul, you can take a short ferry across the Bosporus and plant your feet in Asia for lunch.

Best place for a cheap hotel in London: Inexpensive places abound in the area near Bayswater and Paddington, north of Kensington Gardens. Good access to the underground, too.

Best place to get in touch with George Clooney (in your dreams): They say he still hangs out occasionally in the Lake Como area of Italy. It’s a beautiful spot with Swiss effiency, alpine scenery and Italian food. The perfect match.

Best mix of sweet and spicy food: In Holland, be sure to try Indonesian rijstaffel; a huge array of small dishes surrounding a serving of rice. Too exotic? You can’t go wrong with a Dutch pancake house.

Easiest Athens escape: Sick of the crowds in the Plaka? Hop on a short ferry ride to the island of Hydra, where there are no cars but wonderful seaside bars or places to dip into fresh calamari or a giant bowl of rich, Greek yogurt.

Best view of Rome: Snag a room (if you can afford it) or dip into your pocketbook for a drink or a small meal at the Hotel Hassler, built at the top of the Spanish Steps. Magnificent views of beautiful churches, piazzas and The Vatican (see photo at right).

Tastiest coffee: Caffe Al Bicerin is an Italian institution in Turin that serves up a mix of espresso, chocolate and crème in a small but glamorous shop. Heavenly.

Best place to hit the beach in Sweden: Halmstad offers a lovely stretch of sand on this Scandinavian country’s gentle west coast. A great place for a game of beach soccer.

Worst Mexican food: I don’t remember the name but I had without a doubt the most inexcusable, sorry plate of Mexican food at a place in Salzburg a dozen years ago. Yes, I know, why would anyone order Mexican in Austria?

A great place to impress your friends: The island of Corsica is part of France but feels like old-time Italy. Towering, craggy mountains that plunge into impossibly blue seas, small villages that are perched on top of giant cliffs over the water, fabulous drives, terrific food and wine, amazing historical sites and lots more. Easily one of the best places I've ever visited.

Best place to rub something: Folks have been rubbing a likeness of St. John of Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge in Prague for years. They say if you do you’ll return to the city. I gave it a go in 2003 but haven’t returned. Yet.

THIS AND THAT

What's up with the freaking weather? It was four degrees Celsius and windy this morning in Toronto. In northern Italy, heavy snow forced cancellation of stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race. It's almost June; will someone PLEASE turn up the thermostat? ... Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey held a grand opening Thursday for Margaritaville, the $35 million restaurant, bar, and gambling complex that's part of a $70 million expansion and renovation of Resorts ...

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal today for a fabulous trip to Scotland, priced at $1,492, including $623 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 7-day Economy car rental (Ford Fiesta or similar)
• BONUS: 1-day Edinburgh Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour Passes
• 9-Day/7-Night Scotland Freedom vacation with Air Canada rouge, offering the freedom to explore Scotland at your own will!

• Only 3 nights of included accommodation lets you decide where you'd like to stay next

• Scotland's diverse geography is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world
• Having your own car rental leaves you the freedom to choose where you want to go and allows you to travel at your own pace

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on July 4 & 9, 2013
• Includes return airfare from Toronto to Edinburgh via AC rouge
• Accommodations for 3 nights at the 3-Star Edinburgh City Centre Haymarket Premier Inn
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax and based on double occupancy):
  
  July 4, 2013:
  Double: $999
  Tax: $623
   
  July 9, 2013:  
  Double: $869
  Tax: $623
  
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Car rental insurance and local fees not included and to be paid locally
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

Airline mixup sends folks to wrong continent ... Top Canadian cities ... Deal of day

You say Dakar, I say Dhaka. You say Oakland, I say Auckland.

It amazes me how these things can happen in this day and age of the information highway. But every once in a while the airlines give us a doozy.

The latest is a mixup involving a couple from Los Angeles who thought they were flying Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and then on to Dakar, Senegal. Their flight to Turkey was fine and they went to sleep on the second leg, thinking they were headed southwest to Africa. Instead, Sandy Valdivieso woke up and looked at the seatback video and found their plane was flying over the Middle East.

Turns out that there was a mixup at Los Angeles International and she and her husband were mistakenly given tickets to Dhaka, Bangladesh instead of Dakar, Senegal (see photo below right of Goree Island in Dakar, which I'll mention in a minute).

They got things fixed up and were sent back to Istanbul and then on to Dakar. Their luggage arrived a couple days later.

The airline wasn’t doing much for them, apparently, until the Los Angeles Times learned about the incident. The couple was then given free flight passes. In economy.

The story reminds me of the time, way back when before the Internet, when some guy in L.A. allegedly was trying to fly to Oakland, California (a one-hour flight) and couldn’t figure out why two hours later he could still see the Pacific Ocean outside the airplane window. The story goes that he was mistakenly routed to Auckland, New Zealand.

At the risk of offending my home town of Oakland, I think I’d prefer Auckland, actually. Putting aside the 12-hour flight, that is.

I also can recommend Dakar, actually. It’s the only place I’ve been to in Africa, having taken the trip to cover an International Olympic Committee meeting for the Star’s sports department. There are a couple of lovely hotels on the ocean with beautiful pools and even a small golf course with local caddies.

I didn’t see much of the city, although I did conduct an interview with the family of then Toronto Raptor Mamadou N’diaye, who was from Dakar.

The IOC folks also took the media along on a visit to Ile Goree, a pretty island near Dakar with a terrible history as the embarkation point for thousands and thousands of West African slaves. We toured the tiny chambers where people were held against their will while waiting to be put onto ships with deplorable conditions and saw the chains used to bind prisoners.

An awful place, for sure. But also one very much worth seeing (not unlike a World War II concentration camp in Europe) to remind us just how cruel we humans can be to one another.

The slave quarters and the so-called "door of no return" that led to the ships is powerful. But there also are beautiful views of the surrounding ocean and brightly-coloured boats on the beach, plus casual shops selling casual clothes in a million shades of red, green, yellow and blue - and just about any other colour you can imagine.

TOP TRIP ADVISOR CITIES

TripAdvisor today released a list of the most sought-after cities in the world, and the places Canadians are looking for.

The awards, based on reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisior travelers, found Vancouver on top, followed by Montreal, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Quebec City, Banff, Victoria, Whistler, Lake Louise and Ottawa. No surprise, I guess, given the millions of folks who live in the Greater Toronto Area and would be searching for places like Niagara and Ottawa and Montreal for weekend getaways or family trips.

Still, it's too bad we didn't get Halifax or St. John's on the list as they're both tremendous cities to visit.

TripAdvisor also did a world list, with the top 25 listed. No Canadian cities made the top 25. Here's the top ten: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, San Francisco, Florence, Prague and Sydney. Three cities from Italy in the top 10; not bad.

For the U.S., the top ten were New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Washington D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Honolulu and New Orleans. Once again, Minot North Dakota failed to elbow its way into the top 10. Or 25,for that matter.

CALLING ALL LOTTERY WINNERS

Someone down in Florida just won something like $60 million in a lottery. Which is an almost unfathomable amount of money.

The interest alone would be enough to live like a king. Or you could try living the high life in New York City.

A story I spotted on the weekend in the Telegraph (England), talked about the most expensive hotels in New York City. Topping the charts, the paper said, was the St. Regis.

At $823 a night, it’s quite pricey. Then again, there are marble floors, Louis XV furniture from France (I prefer Louis XIV myself; although he was a big fan of Ikea), Waterford crystal and more. Probably they have good soap and shampoo in the washrooms, too. And I bet they don’t bolt the blow dryer to the wall to prevent thefts.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a fabulous-sounding seven-night trip to Sicily, priced at $2,422.

Jaunt Highlights

• 7-Day/6-Night Taste of Sicily Tour, featuring visits to Palermo, Marsala, the Valley of the Temples, Mount Etna and much more!
• 6-Nights' accommodation in a variety of 4-Star hotels, based on double occupancy. See below for hotels included (or similar).
• Includes transportation via deluxe motorcoach, services of an English speaking guide, and all guided city tours as per itinerary
• Meals include 4 breakfasts and 5 dinners

• Early fall in Italy is the absolute best time to visit: perfect weather and less crowds
• Leisure time in Palermo paired with guided tours for the rest of your trip give a perfect balance of freedom and itinerary-based fun
• Visit stunning landmarks in Siracusa, Taormina and the beautiful and towering Mount Etna

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on September 25 & October 9, 2013
• Includes departure airfare from Toronto to Palermo (via Rome) and return airfare from Catania (via Rome) to Toronto, both on Alitalia, plus airport/hotel transfers
• Pricing (rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  September 25, 2013:
  Double: $1949
  Triple: $1949
  Single: $2199
  Tax: $523
  
  October 9, 2013:
  Double: $1899
  Triple: $1899
  Single: $2149
  Tax: $523
  
  For Other DATES or GATEWAYS Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Accommodations Included (or similar): Mercure Hotel (Palermo); Hotel Della Valle (Agrigento) and (Giardini Naxos) Antares or  Caesar’s Palace (Taormina)
• Includes all taxes and service charges
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is refundable until 5 PM EST on May 23, 2013. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

 

Looking for love in the air? Try United or Delta ... Jaunt.Ca deal of the day: Disney

I wrote an item recently about Sir Richard Branson's Virgin airline launching a way for folks to buy each other a drink on board as a way of making a mile-high introduction. Now comes a report suggesting the best airlines (alas, only American ones) for making a love connection.

According to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constituion, your best chances are on a Delta Air Lines flight if the object of your desire is a single woman. The "destination-dating" website MissTravel.com surveyed 2,000 single female travelers to find out which airline they use most often and 28 percent said Delta was their No. 1 choice. The airline was preferred by 13 percent more women than those who chose No. 2 United Airlines. Delta and United are the No. 1 and No. 2 largest U.S. carriers, respectively.

United was followed by US Airways, Southwest, Virgin, JetBlue and AirTran.

Single women also appear to be more talkative while traveling, according to MissTravel.com. Sixty-four acknowledged they speak to strangers at airports or on flights than anywhere else; 39 percent said that they have or would consider dating someone they met during a flight.

Brandon Ware, the website's founder, suggested airlines increase their appeal to women traveling for leisure and the woman "who may have her eyes open for a potential love interest."

CHEAP U.S. AIRPORTS STILL LURING CANADIANS

The exodus of Canadians to cheaper airport south of the border shows no signs of abating. A CBC story out of WInnipeg says folks in Canada's avaiation industry are quite worried.

"What we really need to do is get airports, airlines and government in the room together to develop a new, national air travel strategy," said Daniel-Robert Gooch of the Canadian Airports Council.

Gooch was speaking at the Western Canadian Aviation Forum in Manitoba last week.

Canadians flying from U.S. airports "is a growing problem," said Senator Dennis Dawson, chairman of the Senate transport and communications committee. "It has been a problem for a yew years, but every year it grows by about 15, 20 per cent, so that means it is revenue lost for Canada."

Gooch said Ottawa needs to look at fees and taxes levied on Canadians and that lower fees would encourage Canadians to fly out of Canadian airports. But the federal government appears unwilling to do much about it.

Steven Fletcher, Canada's miniser of state for transport, suggested taxpayers shouldn't subsidize people's flights.

"Why would a Canadian taxpayer want to subsidize a trip to the Caribbean? Because that's essentially what is being argued."

THIS AND THAT: Cabot Links golf open ... Air Canada Vacations ... Wales and New York news

Cabot Links, which is an absolutely outstanding golf course in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is open for the season. They've reworked the course a bit and created a new 12th hole, which means six holes are right on the ocean (and the others have ocean views). They also have upgraded and renovated the clubhouse bar, which has great views of the course ... Members of Aeroplan have another way to earn miles or points. Aeroplan has signed a deal with The UPS Store Canada, giving customers more options for earning flights ... Air Canada Vacations has added Turkey to its lineup for the first time. Starting in June of this year, they'll offer nonstop flights to fabulous Istanbul  ... Happy first birthday to the Wales Coast Path. The path traverses The only footpath of its kind on the planet, the Wales Coast Path encircles all three sides of the Welsh Peninsula, along the entire 870 miles of its pristine coastline, encouraging visitors and residents alike to ‘discover the shape of the nation.’ It's a gorgeous coastline, I can tell you that. I especially loved the area around Nefyn when I was there for a golf trip a few years ago ... Starwood is spending $400 million renovating some of its top properties in New York City, including The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, W New York – Times Square, W New York - Union Square, W New York, The Westin New York at Times Square and The Westin New York Grand Central. I stayed at the W at Union Square last summer and thought it was terrific.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a fine deal on tap for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, Florida, priced at $1,344, including $145 in taxes.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes 7-Day Magic Your Way Base Tickets with FREE UPGRADE to Park Hopper Option which gives you the flexibility to come and go through all 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks on the same day for the entire length of your ticket!
• BONUS: Receive one $25 HBC gift card per adult booked
• 7-night stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Includes return airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Orlando with Air Canada, and round-trip hotel/airport transfers in Florida
• Accommodations in a Standard View Room, featuring 2 double beds. Max. occupancy: 4 adults or 2 adults + 2 children

• The island feel of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort enhances your experience in the world's most magical vacation destination
• You'll be close to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Enjoy the ultimate family vacation - create memories to last a lifetime!

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: June 13, July 30 & Aug 6, 2013                                   
  Montreal: June 6, 2013
• Pricing: (Rates are per person);
  
  Toronto:
  June 13, 2013:
  Double: $1199 + tax
  Single: $1839 + tax
  Triple: $1029 + tax
  Quad: $949 + tax
  Child (age 2-17): $559 + tax
  Tax: $145
  
  July 30 & August 6, 2013:
  Double: $1319 + tax
  Single: $1939 + tax
  Triple: $1159 + tax
  Quad: $1079 + tax
  Child (age 2-17): $699 + tax
  Tax: $145
  
  
  Montreal:
  June 6, 2013
  Double: $1294 tax included
  Single: $1884 tax included
  Triple: $1124 tax included
  Quad: $1044 tax included
  Child (age 2-17): $694 tax included
  
  For FLIGHT TIMES, OTHER DATES and GATEWAYS call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Add a Meal Plan: Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan offers dining at over 50 select restaurants throughout the Walt Disney World Resort and is available to add on to your package. To add Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan to your booking call our travel professionals at 1-855-687-5925.
  
• Magic Your Way Theme Park Ticket with Park Hopper Option: This option gives you the flexibility to come and go through all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
• Why choose Air Canada Vacations?
  Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles, in-flight seat-back entertainment on most flights, airline service and reliability of Air Canada, and more!
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

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

 

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

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

Chris Roberts of Ontario also sent in a note.

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

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

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

Isnt' that cool?

U.S. CAB FARES CITY BY CITY

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

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

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

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

ROM TOURS OF TORONTO

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

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

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

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

JAUNT HIGHLIGHTS

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

 

 

Romance in the skies: Sir Richard Branson at it again with a new drinks idea

You gotta love Virgin's Sir Richard Branson.

The happy-go-lucky travel biz/music biz star has a great and fun video where he pitches an idea involving buying drinks for that attractive gal - or guy - up in row 18 so you "get lucky at 35,000 feet."

Branson talks about how it would be great if you could offer that hot chick or guy you saw at the gate a chance to ride in a sub-orbital space ship or float in a hot air balloon with a bottle of wine but admits not everyone has access to his level of credit card. That means you might have to aim lower. And Branson has the perfect solution: Virgin's on-board system where you can swipe your credit card and order a meal, snack or a drink (I suspect the preferred option) to your hope-to-be friend.

Then, using Virgin's seat-to-seat messaging service (I haven't had the pleasure but it sounds fun), you can text your high-flying would-be friend and set up a rendezvous at your destination. Or not.

"I'm not a betting man but I say your chances of deplaning with a plus one are at least 50 per cent," Branson says. "Best of luck up there. Cheers."

ASIA TRAVEL UPSWING

I've written in this space before about the increase of Chinese tourism in Canada and the U.S., with planeloads of folks arriving every day to spend money in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York and other spots. Now I see there's a VISA study that global travel budgets may rise by an average of 5 per cent this year because of the increase in Asian leisure travel.

A report on Fox News said Asians on average "are likely to increase their travel budgets 46 per cent this year, with travelers from Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong planning to at least double the budget of their last trip in the future."

Forty six per cent? That's amazing. Not to mention potentially huge for the Canadian tourism industry if they can manage to snag a decent portion of that spending.

NEW LONDON HOTEL RATINGS

Forbes Travel Guide has expanded into Europe; unveiling its hotel and spa rating service for London hotels.

 

A story in the Telegraph said that "six London hotels and two London hotel spas were awarded five-star status by the judges, meaning London is among the top three destinations worldwide with the greatest concentration of Five Star properties in the more than 140 markets rated and inspected by the company."

The six luxury hotels in London which achieved five stars are 45 Park Lane, Claridge’s, Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, The Dorchester, The Lanesborough and The Savoy; the two hotel spas to achieve five stars are The Spa at Four Seasons and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London. Just so you know....

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PORTER POLL

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

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

A summary of the results are as follows:

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

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

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

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

TRAVEL AND ESCAPE MAGAZINE LAUNCHED

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

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

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

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY 

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

Jaunt Highlights

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

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

Offer Details

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

 

Bring on transit taxes; it's time to invest in our tourism future ... Deal of Day: Paris

I see in today's Star that Metrolinx is outlining a series of options to squeeze more money out of me. And I couldn't be happier.

Tess Kalinowski's story on page one discusses everything from a gas tax (hear, hear) to a regional sales tax (also a great idea, especially given the lunacy of the federal Conservatives lowering the GST for no good reason), not to mention highway tolls and parking levies and other tools that appear to have favour with Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Heck, even The Board of Trade, that bastion of conservatism that calls for lower taxes 367 days a year, is crying out for new spending to get us out of our morass. It's the only way to do it, and it would be best to bring in small to medium amounts of money from pretty much all the tools being discussed so we spread out the pain. But there has to be pain. I'm going to have to pay more. But that's how you build a city. And a tourism industry.

How did we build a good health care system? With taxes. How is it we have a relatively poor TTC product that's still the envy of many other cities? With taxes. You improve your city and country not by cutting spending, but by investing in your product.

As a veteran traveler and a guy who spent more than 15 years covering municipal politics in this town, I can tell you that going around cutting spending is precisely the wrong approach. Look at the great cities of the world. Look at Paris and London and Tokyo and New York and even Los Angeles of late. They invest massive amounts of money to keep their citizens – and tourists – moving. They understand you have to spend money to make it. You have to invest, just like the local shopkeeper has to keep improving his or her front windows and lighting and marketing.

This is a concept this city has failed to grasp – at a woeful cost. We could've spent relative pennies for 20 years and we wouldn't be facing this mess, but we did the wrong thing time and time again. A lack of foresight and lower than low property tax hikes for decades have forced us into this new tax grab.

Mel Lastman was a salesman/businessman but didn’t get it. David Miller wasn't a business guy so muich but seemed to get, although he didn't force the issue enough. Mayor Ford tells us he's got a business approach but he definitely doesn’t get it.

The great cities of the world aren’t defined by low taxes. I mean, did you ever hear anyone at your local Tim Hortons say to her husband, “Hey, honey, the municipal taxes are really low in Mississauga. Let’s go there for our next trip.”

No offence to Mississauga, but folks in Winnipeg and Moncton and Victoria dream of Paris and San Francisco and Sydney, places with culture and monuments and glittering waterfronts and museums and street art and bustling markets and cheap transit that blankets the city (unlike our paltry system) and  allows them to get around easily and see everything. Places that think big and spend money and bring in tourists who want an escape from their boring, cost-cutting hometowns. It makes tremendous business sense as tourism is one of the easiest industries to boost.

Just look at the massive investments by the U.S. with their Brand USA campaign, which I see on TV all the time and in print. Then look (if you must) at Canada’s plunging support for the tourism biz. And look at Toronto’s decades-long failure to wrestle the congestion monster to the ground.

It is to weep.

When Barcelona won the right to stage the 1992 Summer Olympics, city fathers and mothers invested huge amounts of money in waterfront restoration, parks and public art. And they went from Podunkville, Europe to one of the continent’s top destinations. Overnight. And they’re still riding high more than 20 years after the Games. And look at what Atlanta did for 1996, pinching pennies and hardly investing in the public good, all in the name of affordable Games. Yeah, affordable and almost useless.

If this town is every going to make it to the big leagues of tourism we have to dream big. And spend a little cash. To do nothing is to commit this city to commuter gridlock, and to tourism mediocity.

INDIA WOES

That horrific rape and murder of a woman in India a couple months ago is having a chilling effect on the country’s tourism sector. A study issued on Monday found that tourism is down 25 per cent in India since the incident. And it appears women are taking a pass on visits to this wonderful, majestic country with more than its share of societal woes, as one report I saw suggested visits by women were down 35 per cent.

According to a report on travelmole, incidents such as the horrific rape and murder in New Delhi in December have "raised concerns about the safety of female travellers to the country," said DS Rawat, secretary general at Assocham, which surveyed 1,200 tour operators from different cities.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a nine-day visit to regal Paris, set at $2,312, including $514 in taxes.

SAVINGS: Save up to $674 per couple, compared to the cost of booking your air, accommodations, touring and meals separately!

BONUS: Extend your flight for up to 30 days at no additional cost (accommodations extra) and return from anywhere Transat flies in Europe

BONUS: $100 Future Travel Voucher per person to use on future travel with Transat or Nolitours 9-Day, 7-Night Royal Week in Paris Semi-Escorted Tour including visits to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley and Vaux-le-Vicomte, Palace of Versailles, a cruise along the Seine, and more

- Includes return airfare from Toronto to Paris on board Air Transat, and airport/hotel transfers in France 7-nights' accommodation in 4-Star hotels (double occupancy). See below for hotels included (or similar).

- Includes transportation via deluxe motorcoach, services of an English-speaking tour guide, and all sightseeing/entrance fees as per itinerary Meals include 7 hot buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches (1 including wine) and a farewell dinner with wine

- The tour is a mixture of guided sightseeing and independent time You'll tour famous sites like the Palace of Versailles Explore the amazing castles that dot the French countryside

Offer Details

- Valid for travel on August 23, 2013 Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax): Double: $1798 Single: $2298 Tax: $514.04 We also offer other DATES and GATEWAYS. Call us at 1-855-687-5925.

- Hotels include the following or similar: Mercure Gobelins Place d'Italie or Mercure Montmartre Sacre-Coeur

- Valid passport required for travel from Canada

- This offer is refundable until April 5 at 5PM EST. After that time, this offer is 100% non-refundable.

Make air passengers pay by weight? ... China eclipses UK ... Deal of the day

If we buy meat at the supermarket, we pay by weight. If we ship a box to cousin Joe in Saskatoon we pay more for heavier items. So why not make heavier folks pay more for airline seats?

It's almost certainly never going to fly, pardon the pun, but a professor in Norway is making the point.

Writing in this month's Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management (I get it at home but only for the articles), Dr. Bharat P. Bhatta of Sognog Fjordane University College in Norway said weight and space need to be taken into account when airline tickets are priced.

"Charging according to weight and space is a universally accepted principle, not only in transportation, but also in other services," he noted in a story I spotted on travelmole.com.

Yeah, I want to be the Air Canada worker who says, "Excuse me, ma'am, I have to price your ticket. Can you please go over and step on that scale for me?"

There is a certain fairness in the idea of a basic price for everyone and then perhaps a surcharge if you're making the airline burn way more fuel. But it'll never happen.

CHINA SPENDING IN U.S. ECLIPSES UK NUMBERS

It had to happen sooner or later. I read the other day that China now sends more tourists to Los Angeles in a year than any other country outside North America. Now I see a VISA study that spending by visitors from China grew by a whopping 30 per cent last year, putting the Chinese in third spot in terms of spending by inbound markets in the U.S.

Tops, of course, was Canada, and then Brazil. Canadian spending last year was up 4 per cent from 2011, while Brazil spending went up 6 per cent. The UK is now fourth overall in spending in the U.S., followed by Mexico, Japan, Australia, France, Puerto Rico (counted here even though it's part of the U.S.) and Germany.

The study said more than one-half of all VISA spending took place in Florida (up 10 per cent overall from 2011), California and New York. States with high VISA spending growth included Wisconsin (31 per cent), Hawaii (14) and Washington (12).

The study also lists top places Americans spend their VISA money. Number one was Mexico, followed by Canada, the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Puerto Rico, China, Japan and Spain.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on tap for a great cruise of the eastern Mediterranean and a visit to Rome on top of that, priced at $2,025 (including $676 in taxes).

• XCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Save $700 per couple by booking with Jaunt.ca
• 11-Day/9-Vight vacation including a 7-night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise sailing aboard the MSC Divina, followed by 4-star accommodations for 2 nights in Rome
• Cruise departs from and returns to Venice, Italy. Ports of call include: Venice, Italy; Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; Izmire, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey and Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Flights with Alitalia:  Departure flight from Toronto to Venice (via Rome), and return flight from Rome to Toronto
• Includes accommodations, dining and entertainment aboard MSC Divina. Accommodations available in Oceanview (Cat. 4/5), Standard Balcony Oceanview (Cat. 7/8/9) or Superior Balcony Oceanview (Cat. 10/11/12).
• All transfers between airport, hotels, and piers included
• Post cruise enjoy hotel accommodations in the 4-Star Grand Hotel Beverly Hills in Rome, a 2-hour guided coach tour in Venice and a 3-hour guided tour by coach and on foot in Rome.

• The diversity of the ports of call in four incredible countries
• Accommodations on land in 4-Star hotels
• Experience Venice and Rome on foot and in a coach during your last two days

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on May 10 or 17, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person, plus tax):
  
  Outside (cat. 4/5): $1349
  Balcony Ocean View (cat. 7/8/9): $1499
  Balcony Ocean View (cat. 10/11/12): $1649
  Tax: $676
  
  For CRUISE ONLY option, Other DATES and GATEWAYS
  Call us at 1-855-687-5925.
  
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

View the terms that apply to all Jaunt Vacations offers

More about your Jaunt

A cruise adventure with extra gumption, your time on the MSC Divina will float you toward some of the Mediterranean's most dazzling ports. Once you disembark in Venice, you'll be whisked off to Rome to enjoy more of Italy's effervescent sights with a land tour and luxury hotel stay.

Day 1: Venice, Italy, Depart 4:30 pm

Day 2: Bari, Italy, 10 am - 3:30 pm

Day 3: Katakolon (Olympia), Greece, 8 am - 1 pm

Day 4: Izmir, Turkey, 8:30 am - 3 pm

Day 5: Istanbul, Turkey, 7:30 am - 5 pm

Day 6: At Sea

Day 7: Dubrovnik, Croatia, 11:30 am - 5 pm

Day 8: Venice, Italy, Arrive 8 am

Day 9: Rome, Italy

Day 10: Depart Rome

 

Divine accommodations on the Divina
The MSC Divina displays the company's classic high end interior and every other hallmark of elegance, comfort and luxury elevated to an art form. From the real stone piazza and crystal staircase to the Broadway-style theatre, this ship is dressed to impress. Discover the opulence of the Aurea Spa before perusing the specially commissioned works of art on display at the MSC Yacht Club, and retreat to spacious accommodations with interactive TV and available internet.

 

The ship is outfitted with restaurants to ease any level of hunger, from light snacks to four-course freshly prepared specialties, and the galaxy disco with its retro-chic ambiance and gorgeous panoramic view is the perfect place for a meal or to dance the night away under the stars.

 

Refined Mediterranean exploration

Glorious sights and experiences await you along the Mediterranean's coast. In Bari, you'll get a chance to tour the historical centre, famous Church of St. Nicholas and Castello Svevo. Set on fantastic coastline, Izmir is Turkey's most Mediterranean in style and content. Enjoy the maze of tiny streets filled with shops and covered stalls.

 

Istanbul's skyline is filled with the spires and domes of mosques and medieval palaces. A king's ransom of Ottoman treasures is displayed at the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace (formerly home to the Ottoman sultans and their harems). Meander through the medieval, walled city of Dubrovnik, and delight in a two-hour guided coach tour of Venice upon arrival at the conclusion of your cruise.